nyob zoo! hello! hmong language & culture seassi 2009

Nyob zoo!

Hello!

Hmong Language & CultureHmong Language & Culture

SEASSI 2009SEASSI 2009

Hmong RPAHmong RPA1. Luang Prabang Province

• Lindwood Barney (Protestant Missionary) • William A. Smalley (American linguist, anthropologist and

missionary, at that time, he studied Khmu in Luang Prabang).

• Ntxawg Yaaj (Hmong Advisor: tus pab tawm tswv yim, tsim kho suab)

• Tuam Xyooj (Hmong Advisor: tus pab tawm tswv yim; tsim kho suab)

2. Xeev (Kiu Katiam) (, Luang Prabang

• Father Yves Bertrais [Txiv Plig Nyiaj Pov] (French Roman Catholic Missionary)

– Ntxoov Yeej Yaj(Hmong Advisor, pab tawm tswv yim; tsim kho suab)

– Txawj Hawj Thao (Hmong Advisor, pab tawm tswv yim; tsim kho suab)

Single Consonants (17)

C D F H K L M N

P Q R S T

V X Y Z

• Moob Ntsuab: aa, dl, ndl, dlh, ndlh

Double Consonants (22)

CH DH HL HM HN

KH ML NC NK NP

NQ NR NT NY PH

PL QH RH TH TS

TX XY

 Triple Consonants (14)

HML HNY NCH NKH

NPH NPL NQH NRH

NTH NTS NTX PLH

TSH TXH 

Quadruple consonants (3)

NPLH NTSH NTXH

Moob Ntsuab: aa, dl, ndl, dlh, ndlh

Single vowels (6)

a e i o u w  

Tone Markers:

B M J V _ (no symbol) S G D

Double Vowels (8)

aa ai au aw ee

ia oo ua

Hmong Language [Lus Hmoob]Hmong Language [Lus Hmoob]

• Hmong language is a tonal language.• Hmong language has 8 tones.

1. B [high level pitch; maintain level pitch throughout the syllable]

2. M [low falling/mid range; exhale]

3. J [high falling; start high but drop quickly]

4. V [mid rising; maintain your level pitch first and then raise your voice at the end]

5. _ [no tone; mid level]

6. S [low level; start below middle rang, maintain level, then drop voice slightly at end]

7. G [breathy/whispery falling; falling pitch]

8. D [low rising; noticeable longer than other tones]

Lus Piv Txwv [Example]Lus Piv Txwv [Example]

• Cuab = to set a trap Cuam = to throw/gibbon • Cuaj = number 9 Cuav = fake • Cua = Wind/ChewCuas = in-law• Cuag = to reach Cuad =

• Pob = ball Pom = to see• Poj = a female Pov = to throw• Po = spleen Pos = to cover up• Pog = grandmother Pod =

Sob Lus : SentencesSob Lus : Sentences• Peb pom Pov tuaj pw_ tos Pog ped.• We saw Poa sleeping over waiting for grandmother up there.We saw Poa sleeping over waiting for grandmother up there.

• Pov pog pom lub pob.• Pao’s grandmother saw a ball.

• Pov pom Pos pov pob.• Pao saw Poa tossing balls.

• Pos pw pem Pov ped.• Poa sleep over there by Pao.

• Peb pom Pov pog pw pem Paj.• We saw Pao’s grandmother sleep up there by Pa.

• Pos puas paub Paj pog?• Did Poa knows Pa’s grandmother?

Hmong Oral Expression MarksHmong Oral Expression Marks

• mas = yog mas [yes, it is true]

• lov = ua li ntawd lov [really, is it really?]

• nab = puas yog nab? = [is it true?]

• os = ua li ntawd os [okay, that is fine]

• nawb = ua li nawb [okay, leave as is]

• laiv = yog li kuv mus lawm laiv [in that case, I’m leaving now]

• yom = koj nrog kuv mus yom? [can you come along with me?]

Kev Sib Hu: GreetingKev Sib Hu: Greeting• A: Nyob zoo sawv ntxov, tav su, tsaus ntuj os.• a: Nyob zoo tav su os. • B: Nyob zoo os!• b: Hello/Hi! • A: Koj nyob li cas hnub no os?• a: How are you today? • B: Nyob zoo mas, koj ne?• b: Fine, and you? • A: Kuv nyob zoo thiab mas. • a: I’m doing fine too.

Lus Txuas [Classifiers]Lus Txuas [Classifiers]1. rab {tools, log objects}

2. lub {utensils, furnitures, round objects}

3. daim {use for flate objects}

4. phau {things come in volume}

5. sab {side of things; body parts}

6. txhais {side of thing, body parts}

7. tsob {living plants}

8. tus {people, log objects, animals, insects}

9. txoj {string objects}

10. zaj {songs, stories}

HmongHmong

• Hmoob Dub = Black Hmong

• Hmoob Dawb = White Hmong

• Hmoob Leeg/Ntsuab = Green Hmong

• Hmoob Txhaij = Stripe Hmong

• Hmoob Liab Hau = Red Head Hmong

• Hmoob Suav = Chinese Hmong

Red Head HmongRed Head Hmong

Green HmongGreen Hmong

Stripe HmongStripe Hmong

Black HmongBlack Hmong

White HmongWhite Hmong

Chinese HmongChinese Hmong

Kwv TxhiajKwv Txhiaj

• Kwv txhiaj plees = love song

• Kwv txhiaj ntsuag = orphanage song

• Kwv txhiaj ua nyab = marriage song

• Kwv txhiaj tuag = dying/funeral song

• Kwv thiaj tsiv teb tsaus chaws = migrate song

• Kwv txhiaj ua tsov ua rog = War song

• Kwv thiaj ua tshoob ua kos = Wedding song

Ni Yai…txiv leej tub……….Ni Yai…txiv leej tub……….

Luag tsuas cav zoj tias tusLuag tsuas cav zoj tias tus nploojnplooj tsawbtsawb twbtwb zoo tsis cuag lawm tus zoo tsis cuag lawm tus nploojnplooj ntsentse…es ntxhais nkauj xwb niam xav tsa ncauj nrog lawm koj …es ntxhais nkauj xwb niam xav tsa ncauj nrog lawm koj hais los twb tsis paub lawm hais los twb tsis paub lawm koj npekoj npe sas Hmoob om……. sas Hmoob om…….

Tab nov ntsheb txiv leej tub………Tab nov ntsheb txiv leej tub………

Luag tsuas cav zoj tias tus Luag tsuas cav zoj tias tus nplooj ntsenplooj ntse twb zoo tsis cuag lawm tus twb zoo tsis cuag lawm tus nploojnplooj nqeebnqeeb…kuv ntxhais nkauj xwb niam xav tsa ncauj nrog lawm …kuv ntxhais nkauj xwb niam xav tsa ncauj nrog lawm koj hais los twb tsis paub lawm koj hais los twb tsis paub lawm koj xeemkoj xeem mog Hmoob om……. mog Hmoob om…….

Ni yai…..me ntxhais nkauj xwb……Ni yai…..me ntxhais nkauj xwb……

Tus cua tuaj los cua tshuab es yuav tshuab tag tus nplooj Tus cua tuaj los cua tshuab es yuav tshuab tag tus nplooj lwg poob tas tej lwg poob tas tej sib lis niabsib lis niab es kuv txiv leej tub tias yog es kuv txiv leej tub tias yog koj lub ncauj dag tuaj tsis yuav tiag ces tsis txhob dag kuv koj lub ncauj dag tuaj tsis yuav tiag ces tsis txhob dag kuv txiv leej tub nyob txiv leej tub nyob mus dai siabmus dai siab sas nkauj xwb om… sas nkauj xwb om…

Tab nov ntsheb me ntxhais nkauj xwb….Tab nov ntsheb me ntxhais nkauj xwb….

Tus cua tuaj los cua tshuab es yuav tshuab tag tus nplooj Tus cua tuaj los cua tshuab es yuav tshuab tag tus nplooj lwg poob tas tej lwg poob tas tej sib lis zawvsib lis zawv es kuv txiv leej tub tias yog es kuv txiv leej tub tias yog koj lub ncauj dag tuaj tsis yuav tiag ces tsis txhob dag kuv koj lub ncauj dag tuaj tsis yuav tiag ces tsis txhob dag kuv txiv leej tub nyob txiv leej tub nyob mus dai plawvmus dai plawv sas nkauj xwb om… sas nkauj xwb om…

Kwv Txhiaj Plees [Nyuam Qhuav Sib Ntsib]Kwv Txhiaj Plees [Nyuam Qhuav Sib Ntsib]

Kwv Txhiaj Plees [Sib Hlub]Kwv Txhiaj Plees [Sib Hlub]

NCAS [Mouth Harp]NCAS [Mouth Harp]

Raj [Flute]Raj [Flute]

Raj Pum Liv [Blade Less Flute]Raj Pum Liv [Blade Less Flute]

Qeej [Khang]Qeej [Khang]

Qeej [Khang]Qeej [Khang]