Gaeml
Southern Dong
Kra-Dai (Kam-Sui)
Southern Dong, or Kam, is a Kam-Sui language of the Kra-Dai family, spoken by around 1.5 million of the Dong nationality, which numbered 2.9 million in the 2010 census, along the Guizhou-Hunan-Guangxi borderlands. Its tone system is one of the largest anywhere: nine tones on open syllables and six on checked ones, fifteen by the traditional count. The 1958 Latin orthography marks them the way Hmong RPA does, with a silent consonant letter at the end of the syllable — -l for 55, -p for 35, -c for 212, -s for 323, -t for 13, -x for 31, -v for 53, -k for 453, -h for 33 — so bal is 'fish' and bav is 'leaf'. That orthography is built on the Rongjiang (Zhanglu) speech, which is this southern branch. Dong is best known outside China for kgal laox, the Grand Song: unaccompanied polyphonic choral singing in parts, inscribed by UNESCO in 2009, and for drum towers and wind-and-rain bridges built of interlocking timber without a single nail.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Southern Dong
Sources
- Long Yaohong & Zheng Guoqiao — The Dong Language in Guizhou Province, China (SIL/UTA, 1998)
- Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database — Dong, Southern
- Glottolog: Southern Dong
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Kra-Dai (Kam-Sui)
| Meaning | Southern Dong | Sui | Mulam | Maonan | Ha Hlai | Bouyei | Achang |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | nɐm31 /nɐm˧˩/ | nam3 /nam˧˧/ | nəm4 /nəm˨˦/ | nam3 /nam˥˩/ | nom3 /nom˩˩/ | raamx /ðaːm˧˩/ | ti55 /ti˥˥/ |
| Fire | pui55 /pui˥˥/ | vi1 /vi˩˩/ | fi1 /fi˦˨/ | vi1 /vi˦˨/ | fei1 /fei˥˧/ | feih /fei˧˩/ | poi31 /poi˧˩/ |
| Sun | ta53 mən55 /ta˥˧ mən˥˥/ | ⁿda1 van1 /ⁿda˩˩ van˩˩/ | thəu5 fan1 /tʰəu˦˦ fan˦˨/ | la:k8 van1 /laːk˨˦ van˦˨/ | tsha1 hwan1 /tsʰa˥˧ hwan˥˧/ | ngonzbyaaiz /ŋon˩˩pjaːi˩˩/ | ni31 mɔ31 /ni˧˩ mɔ˧˩/ |
| Moon | kwaŋ55 ɲan55 /kwaŋ˥˥ ɲan˥˥/ | njen2 /njen˧˩/ | kɣa:ŋ1 njen2 /kɣaːŋ˦˨ njen˩˨˩/ | ni4 njen2 /ni˨˦ njen˨˧˩/ | ȵa:n1 /ȵaːn˥˧/ | ronh /roːn˧˩/ | pʰă31 lɔʔ31 /pʰă˧˩ lɔʔ˧˩/ |
| Star | ɕət55 /ɕət˥˥/ | zət7 /zət˥˥/ | la:k8 m̥ət7 /laːk˩˩ m̥ət˥˥/ | zət7 /zət˥˥/ | ra:u1 /raːu˥˧/ | ndaux /ɗaːu˧˧/ | kʰʐə55 /kʰʐə˥˥/ |
| Night | ɲɐm53 /ɲɐm˥˧/ | saan2 /saːn˧˩/ | mu2 /mu˩˨˩/ | ʔȵam5 /ʔȵam˦˦/ | tshop7 /tsʰop˥˥/ | haemh /ham˧˩/ | ni31 tɕʰot35 /ni˧˩ tɕʰot˧˥/ |
| Rain | pjən55 /pjən˥˥/ | fən1 /fən˩˩/ | kwən1 /kwən˦˨/ | fin1 /fin˦˨/ | fun1 /fun˥˧/ | — | mau31 ʐo55 /mau˧˩ ʐo˥˥/ |
| Snow | nui55 /nui˥˥/ | ʔnui1 /ʔnui˩˩/ | nui1 /nui˦˨/ | tɕu5 /tɕu˦˦/ | — | nail /nɐi˨˦/ | xan31 ʑai55 /xan˧˩ ʑai˥˥/ |
| Wind | ləm212 /ləm˨˩˨/ | lum1 /lum˩˩/ | ləm2 /ləm˩˨˩/ | ləm1 /ləm˦˨/ | hwo:t7 /hwoːt˥˥/ | rumz /ðum˩˩/ | l̥i55 /l̥i˥˥/ |
| Earth | nam33 /nam˧˧/ | hum5 /hum˧˥/ | na:m6 /naːm˩˩/ | khəm5 /kʰəm˦˦/ | van1 /van˥˧/ | naamh /naːm˧/ | mi55 /mi˥˥/ |
| Stone | pja55 /pja˥˥/ | tin2 /tin˧˩/ | tui2 /tui˩˨˩/ | tu:i2 /tuːi˨˧˩/ | tshi:n1 /tsʰiːn˥˧/ | hinl /hin˨˦/ | laŋ31kɔʔ55 /laŋ˧˩kɔʔ˥˥/ |
| Sea | hɐi13 /hɐi˩˧/ | haai3 /haːi˧˧/ | hai3 /hai˥˧/ | hai3 /hai˥˩/ | la:ŋ3 /laːŋ˩˩/ | haaic /xaːi˥˧/ | nam31 tɕu31 /nam˧˩ tɕu˧˩/ |
| Mother | nɐi31 /nɐi˧˩/ | ni4 /ni˥˩/ | ni4 /ni˨˦/ | ni4 /ni˨˦/ | pai3 /pai˩˩/ | meeh /me˧/ | mauʔ51 /mauʔ˥˩/ |
| Father | pu31 /pu˧˩/ | pu4 /pu˥˩/ | pu4 /pu˨˦/ | tɛ2 /tɛ˨˧˩/ | pha3 /pʰa˩˩/ | poh /po˧/ | teʔ55 /teʔ˥˥/ |
| Daughter | pəi31 /pəi˧˩/ | laak8 ʔbjaak7 /laːk˦˨ ʔbjaːk˧˥/ | la:k8 ʔja:k7 /laːk˩˩ ʔjaːk˦˨/ | la:ʔ8 piəʔ8 /laːʔ˨˦ piəʔ˨˦/ | ɬɯ:k7 pai3 khau2 /ɬɯːk˥˥ pai˩˩ kʰau˥˥/ | — | tsaŋ31 ʑi31 /tsaŋ˧˩ ʑi˧˩/ |
| I | jau212 /jau˨˩˨/ | ʔai2 /ʔai˧˩/ | həi2 /həi˩˨˩/ | ɦe2 /ɦe˨˧˩/ | hou1 /hou˥˧/ | gul /ku˨˦/ | ŋɔ55 /ŋɔ˥˥/ |
| You | ɲa212 /ɲa˨˩˨/ | ȵa2 /ȵa˧˩/ | ȵa2 /ȵa˩˨˩/ | ŋ2 /ŋ˨˧˩/ | meɯ1 /meɯ˥˧/ | mengz /məŋ˩˩/ | nuaŋ55 /nuaŋ˥˥/ |
| We | tau55 / tɕiu55 /tau˥˥ / tɕiu˥˥/ | ȶən1 ⁿdaau1 / ȶən1 ⁿdiu1 /ȶən˩˩ ⁿdaːu˩˩ / ȶən˩˩ ⁿdiu˩˩/ | hɣa:u6 / niu2 /hɣaːu˩˩ / niu˩˨˩/ | ⁿda:u1 / ⁿde1 /ⁿdaːu˦˨ / ⁿde˦˨/ | ga / fa1 /ɡa / fa˥˧/ | rauz / dul /ðɐu˩˩ / tu˨˦/ | ŋɔ55 tuʔ31 /ŋɔ˥˥ tuʔ˧˩/ |
| Name | kwan55 /kwan˥˥/ | ʔdaan1 /ʔdaːn˩˩/ | ʔɣa:n1 /ʔɣaːn˦˨/ | da:n2 /daːn˨˧˩/ | phe:ŋ1 /pʰeːŋ˥˧/ | mingz /miŋ˩˩/ | a31 nʲiŋ55 /a˧˩ nʲiŋ˥˥/ |
| Person | ɲən212 /ɲən˨˩˨/ | zən1 /zən˩˩/ | śən1 /ɕən˦˨/ | zən1 /zən˦˨/ | u2 a:u1 /u˥˥ aːu˥˧/ | wenz /wɯn˩˩/ | tʂo55 /tʂo˥˥/ |
| Head | kau323 /kau˧˨˧/ | ku3 /ku˧˧/ | kɣo3 /kɣo˥˧/ | ko3 /ko˥˩/ | gwou3 /ɡwou˩˩/ | jauc /tɕɐu˥˧/ | nă31kuaŋ31 /nă˧˩kuaŋ˧˩/ |
| Eye | ta55 /ta˥˥/ | ⁿda1 /ⁿda˩˩/ | l̥a1 /l̥a˦˨/ | ⁿda1 /ⁿda˦˨/ | tsha1 /tsʰa˥˧/ | daa /taː˨˦/ | nʲɔʔ55 tsiʔ31 /nʲɔʔ˥˥ tsiʔ˧˩/ |
| Ear | kha35 /kʰa˧˥/ | qha1 /qʰa˩˩/ | khɣa1 /kʰɣa˦˨/ | kha1 /kʰa˦˨/ | zai1 /zai˥˧/ | riez /ðiə˩˩/ | ni31 ʈʂʰua31 /ni˧˩ ʈʂʰua˧˩/ |
| Nose | mɐŋ55 /mɐŋ˥˥/ | ʔnaŋ1 /ʔnaŋ˩˩/ | kə5 naŋ1 /kə˦˦ naŋ˦˨/ | ʔnaŋ1 /ʔnaŋ˦˨/ | khat7 /kʰat˥˥/ | ndangl /ɗɐŋ˨˦/ | n̥ʲɔŋ55 /n̥ʲɔŋ˥˥/ |
| Mouth | ʔəp55 /ʔəp˥˥/ | paak7 /paːk˧˥/ | pa:k7 /paːk˦˨/ | pa:k7 /paːk˦˦/ | pom3 /pom˩˩/ | bas /pa˧˥/ | n̥ʲot55 /n̥ʲot˥˥/ |
| Tooth | pjɐn55 /pjɐn˥˥/ | vjən1 /vjən˩˩/ | fan1 /fan˦˨/ | hi:u3 /hiːu˥˩/ | fan1 /fan˥˧/ | heuj /hɐu˧˥/ | tɕoi55 /tɕoi˥˥/ |
| Tongue | ma212 /ma˨˩˨/ | ʔu1 ma2 /ʔu˩˩ ma˧˩/ | ma2 /ma˩˨˩/ | ma2 /ma˨˧˩/ | ɬi:n3 /ɬiːn˩˩/ | linx /lin˧˩/ | ɕɔ55 /ɕɔ˥˥/ |
| Hand | mja212 /mja˨˩˨/ | mjə1 /mjə˩˩/ | nja2 /nja˩˨˩/ | si:m3 /siːm˥˩/ | meɯ1 /meɯ˥˧/ | faengz /faŋ˩˩/ | lɔʔ55 /lɔʔ˥˥/ |
| Foot | tin55 /tin˥˥/ | tin1 /tin˩˩/ | tin1 /tin˦˨/ | ti:n1 /tiːn˦˨/ | khok7 /kʰok˥˥/ | dinl /tin˨˦/ | tɕʰi55 /tɕʰi˥˥/ |
| Heart | səm323 /səm˧˨˧/ | ɕim1 /ɕim˩˩/ | — /—/ | sam1 /sam˦˨/ | ɬa:u3 /ɬaːu˩˩/ | saamh /saːm˧˩/ | n̥ʲa55 lum31 /n̥ʲa˥˥ lum˧˩/ |
| Bone | lak323 /lak˧˨˧/ | laak7 /laːk˧˥/ | hɣa:k7 /hɣaːk˦˨/ | da:k8 /daːk˨˦/ | vɯ:k7 /vɯːk˥˥/ | ndos /ɗo˧˥/ | a31ʐau31 /a˧˩ʐau˧˩/ |
| Blood | phat13 /pʰat˩˧/ | phjaat7 /pʰjaːt˧˥/ | phɣa:t7 /pʰɣaːt˦˨/ | phja:t7 /pʰjaːt˦˦/ | ɬa:ȶ7 /ɬaːȶ˥˥/ | lweed /luət˧˧/ | sui31 /sui˧˩/ |
| Love | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | gaais /kaːi˧˥/ | — /—/ |
| Tree | mɐi31 /mɐi˧˩/ | mai4 /mai˥˩/ | mai4 /mai˨˦/ | mai4 /mai˨˦/ | tshai1 /tsʰai˥˧/ | faix /fai˧˩/ | saŋ31 tseŋ55 /saŋ˧˩ tseŋ˥˥/ |
| Dog | ŋwa35 /ŋwa˧˥/ | m̥a1 /m̥a˩˩/ | ŋ̊wa1 /ŋ̊wa˦˨/ | ma1 /ma˦˨/ | pa1 /pa˥˧/ | ma /ma˨˦/ | xui31 /xui˧˩/ |
| Cat | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | meeuq /meːu˧˧/ | — /—/ |
| Fish | pa55 /pa˥˥/ | mom6 /mom˨˦/ | məm6 /məm˩˩/ | ᵐbjai3 /ᵐbjai˥˩/ | ɬa1 /ɬa˥˧/ | bya /pjaː˨˦/ | ŋa31 ʂua31 /ŋa˧˩ ʂua˧˩/ |
| Bird | mok21 /mok˨˩/ | nok8 /nok˧˩/ | nɔk8 /nɔk˩˨/ | nɔk8 /nɔk˨˧/ | taȶ7 /taȶ˥˥/ | rog /ðɔk˧/ | m̥ɔʔ55 /m̥ɔʔ˥˥/ |
| Butterfly | ma55 mən323 /ma˥˥ mən˧˨˧/ | ʔba3 /ʔba˧˧/ | wa3 /wa˥˧/ | phuŋ6 pa4 /pʰuŋ˨˩˧ pa˨˦/ | pɯ1 tshom1 /pɯ˥˧ tsʰom˥˧/ | mbax /ɓa˧˩/ | phă31ʐam35tʂam55 /pʰă˧˩ʐam˧˥tʂam˥˥/ |
| Egg | kɐi53 /kɐi˥˧/ | kai5 /kai˧˥/ | kɣəi5 /kɣəi˦˦/ | kai5 /kai˦˦/ | zɯ:m1 /zɯːm˥˧/ | jais /tɕɐi˧˥/ | uʔ31 /uʔ˧˩/ |
| Bear | me55 /me˥˥/ | ʔmi1 /ʔmi˩˩/ | jɔŋ2 /jɔŋ˩˨˩/ | moi1 /moi˦˨/ | mui1 /mui˥˧/ | moil /moi˨˦/ | ɔm55 /ɔm˥˥/ |
| Horse | ma31 /ma˧˩/ | ma4 /ma˥˩/ | ma4 /ma˨˦/ | mja4 /mja˨˦/ | ka3 /ka˩˩/ | max /ma˧˩/ | m̥ʐaŋ31 /m̥ʐaŋ˧˩/ |
| House | jan212 /jan˨˩˨/ | ɣaan2 /ɣaːn˧˩/ | ɣa:n2 /ɣaːn˩˨˩/ | ja:n1 /jaːn˦˨/ | ploŋ3 /ploŋ˩˩/ | ranz /ðaːn˩˩/ | in55 /in˥˥/ |
| Milk | nɐm31 məi323 /nɐm˧˩ məi˧˨˧/ | tiu4 /tiu˥˩/ | ne6 /ne˩˩/ | tsɛ5 /tsɛ˦˦/ | nom3 tshei1 /nom˩˩ tsʰei˥˧/ | — | nau35 /nau˧˥/ |
| Honey | mət212 taŋ212 /mət˨˩˨ taŋ˨˩˨/ | taaŋ2 luk8 /taːŋ˧˩ luk˧˩/ | — | — | nom3 ko:i1 /nom˩˩ koːi˥˧/ | — | — |
| Salt | jim212 /jim˨˩˨/ | ʔdwə1 /ʔdwə˩˩/ | cwa1 /cwa˦˨/ | kwo1 /kwo˦˨/ | ȵa:u3 /ȵaːu˩˩/ | guel /kuə˨˦/ | tɕʰɔ31 /tɕʰɔ˧˩/ |
| Wine | kwau323 phu212 thau212 tɕiu53 /kwau˧˨˧ pʰu˨˩˨ tʰau˨˩˨ tɕiu˥˧/ | haau3 ʔit7 /haːu˧˧ ʔit˥˥/ | — | — | bi:ŋ2 phu3 tha:u3 /biːŋ˥˥ pʰu˩˩ tʰaːu˩˩/ | — | — |
| Iron | kwat35 /kwat˧˥/ | ɕət7 /ɕət˥˥/ | khat7 /kʰat˥˥/ | tɕhit7 /tɕʰit˥˥/ | go:i1 /ɡoːi˥˧/ | faz /fa˩˩/ | ʂam55 /ʂam˥˥/ |
| Wheel | lok55 /lok˥˥/ | quk8 luk8 tshə3 /quk˧˩ luk˧˩ tsʰə˧˧/ | lan2 tshja1 /lan˩˨˩ tsʰja˦˨/ | lun6 tsha1 /lun˨˩˧ tsʰa˦˨/ | pai3 tshia1 /pai˩˩ tsʰia˥˧/ | — | — |
| Silk | ɕu212 /ɕu˨˩˨/ | min2 /min˧˩/ | tsau2 /tsau˩˨˩/ | tɕɔn5 /tɕɔn˦˦/ | diu3 /diu˩˩/ | — | phe55 /pʰe˥˥/ |
| Book | le212 /le˨˩˨/ | le1 /le˩˩/ | lɛ2 /lɛ˩˨˩/ | lɛ1 /lɛ˦˨/ | bui1 tshia3 /bui˥˧ tsʰia˩˩/ | sel /sɯ˨˦/ | a31pʐo55 /a˧˩pʐo˥˥/ |
| Eat | tɕan55 /tɕan˥˥/ | ʔman3 /ʔman˧˧/ | tsa:n1 /tsaːn˦˨/ | na4 /na˨˦/ | la2 /la˥˥/ | gianl /ɡian˧˥/ | tɕɔ31 /tɕɔ˧˩/ |
| Drink | wum31 /wum˧˩/ | ɣəm4 /ɣəm˥˩/ | hɣop7 /hɣop˥˥/ | na4 /na˨˦/ | hja:u1 /hjaːu˥˧/ | gunl /ɡuŋ˧˥/ | ʂoʔ55 /ʂoʔ˥˥/ |
| Sleep | nun212 /nun˨˩˨/ | n̥ak7 /n̥ak˥˥/ | nun2 /nun˩˨˩/ | nu:n2 /nuːn˨˧˩/ | kau2 /kau˥˥/ | ninh /nin˧˩/ | e31 /e˧˩/ |
| One | ʔi55 /ʔi˥˥/ | to2 /to˧˩/ | n̥a:u3 /n̥aːu˥˧/ | tɔ2 /tɔ˨˧˩/ | tsheɯ3 /tsʰeɯ˩˩/ | ndeeul /ɗeu˨˦/ | ta31 /ta˧˩/ |
| Two | ja323 /ja˧˨˧/ | ɣa2 /ɣa˧˩/ | ɣa2 /ɣa˩˨˩/ | ja1 /ja˦˨/ | ɬau3 /ɬau˩˩/ | song /soːŋ˨˦/ | sək55 /sək˥˥/ |
| Three | sam35 /sam˧˥/ | haam1 /haːm˩˩/ | ta:m1 /taːm˦˨/ | sa:m1 /saːm˦˨/ | fu3 /fu˩˩/ | sam /saːm˨˦/ | sum31 /sum˧˩/ |
| Four | si453 /si˦˥˧/ | hi5 /hi˧˥/ | ti5 /ti˦˦/ | si5 /si˦˦/ | tshau3 /tsʰau˩˩/ | sis /si˧˥/ | mi31 /mi˧˩/ |
| Five | ŋo31 /ŋo˧˩/ | ŋo4 /ŋo˥˩/ | ŋɔ4 /ŋɔ˨˦/ | ŋɔ4 /ŋɔ˨˦/ | pa1 /pa˥˧/ | hac /xa˥˧/ | ŋɔ31 /ŋɔ˧˩/ |
| Hundred | pek323 /pek˧˨˧/ | pek7 /pek˥˥/ | fɛ:k7 /fɛːk˦˨/ | pɛk7 /pɛk˥˥/ | gwa:n1 /ɡwaːn˥˧/ | bas /pa˧˥/ | pak35 /pak˧˥/ |
| Hello | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | meez ndil /meː˩˩ ɗi˨˦/ | — /—/ |
| Thank you | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | gangzhainh /ɡaŋ˩˩haiŋ˧˩/ | — /—/ |
| Good | lai55 /lai˥˥/ | ʔdaai1 /ʔdaːi˩˩/ | i1 /i˦˨/ | da:i2 /daːi˨˧˩/ | ɬeȵ1 /ɬeȵ˥˧/ | ndil /ɗi˨˦/ | tɕi55 /tɕi˥˥/ |
| New | mɐi453 /mɐi˦˥˧/ | m̥ai5 /m̥ai˧˥/ | m̥ai5 /m̥ai˦˦/ | mai5 /mai˦˦/ | pa:n1 /paːn˥˧/ | mos /mo˧˥/ | ʂək55 /ʂək˥˥/ |
| Red | ja453 /ja˦˥˧/ | haan3 /haːn˧˧/ | l̥a:n3 /l̥aːn˥˧/ | la:n3 /laːn˥˩/ | de:ŋ3 /deːŋ˩˩/ | ndeengz /ɗɛŋ˨˦/ | na55 /na˥˥/ |
| White | pak31 /pak˧˩/ | paak8 /paːk˦˨/ | pa:k8 /paːk˩˩/ | kwa3 /kwa˥˩/ | kha:u1 /kʰaːu˥˧/ | haaul /xaːu˨˦/ | pʰʐo55 /pʰʐo˥˥/ |
| Black | nɐm55 /nɐm˥˥/ | ʔnam1 /ʔnam˩˩/ | nam1 /nam˦˨/ | nam1 /nam˦˨/ | dom3 /dom˩˩/ | foonx /foːn˧˩/ | lɔk55 /lɔk˥˥/ |
| Green | su35 /su˧˥/ | ȶhu1 /ȶʰu˩˩/ | śau1 /ɕau˦˨/ | ju1 /ju˦˨/ | khi:u1 /kʰiːu˥˧/ | — | nʲau55 /nʲau˥˥/ |
| Blue | pha35 su55 /pʰa˧˥ su˥˥/ | śu1 /ɕu˩˩/ | phoŋ3 /pʰoŋ˥˧/ | pha1 /pʰa˦˨/ | khi:u1 /kʰiːu˥˧/ | — | səm31 /səm˧˩/ |
| Sugar | taŋ212 /taŋ˨˩˨/ | taaŋ2 /taːŋ˧˩/ | ta:ŋ2 /taːŋ˩˨˩/ | ta:ŋ2 /taːŋ˨˧˩/ | nom3 tha:ŋ3 /nom˩˩ tʰaːŋ˩˩/ | diangz /tiaŋ˩˩/ | năm31muai31 /năm˧˩muai˧˩/ |
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