Tai Dam language

Short description: Tai language spoken in Southeast Asia

Tai Dam

Black Tai
Template:Script/Tai Viet; ไทดำ
Native to| Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, China
Ethnicity| Tai Dam

Native speakers

| (760,000 cited 1995–2002)[1]

Language family

Kra–Dai

* Tai
* Southwestern (Thai)
* Chiang Saen
* Tai Dam

Writing system

| Tai Viet
Official status

Recognised minority
language in

Vietnam
Thailand

Language codes
ISO 639-3| `blt`
Glottolog| `taid1247`[2]
| You may need rendering support to display the uncommon Unicode characters in this page correctly.

|

Tai Dam (Chinese: 傣担语; pinyin: Dǎidānyǔ), also known as Black Tai (Thai: ภาษาไทดำ; pronounced [pʰāː sǎː tʰāj dām]; Vietnamese: tiếng Thái Đen; "Black Tai language"; Chinese: 黑傣语; pinyin: Hēidǎiyǔ), is a Tai language spoken by the Tai Dam in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and China (mostly in Jinping Miao, Yao, and Dai Autonomous County).

The Tai Dam language is similar to Thai and Lao (including Isan), but it is not close enough to be readily understood by most Thai and Lao (Isan) speakers. In particular, the Khmer, Pali and Sanskrit additions to Thai and Lao (Isan) are largely missing from Tai Dam.[3]

## Contents

* 1 Geographical distribution
* 1.1 Official status
* 2 Phonology
* 2.1 Consonants
* 2.1.1 Initials
* 2.1.2 Finals
* 2.2 Vowels
* 3 Vocabulary
* 4 Grammar
* 4.1 Pronouns
* 4.2 Syntax
* 5 Writing system
* 6 Further reading
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## Geographical distribution

Tai Dam is spoken in Vietnam, China, Laos, and Thailand. In central Thailand, it is known as Thai Song.

Tai Dam speakers in China are classified as part of the Dai nationality along with almost all the other Tai peoples. But in Vietnam they are given their own nationality (with the White Tai) where they are classified (confusingly for English speakers) as the Thái nationality (meaning Tai people).

In China, Tai Dam (Chinese: 傣朗姆) people are located in the following townships of Yunnan, with about 20,000 people in Yunnan (Gao 1999).[4]

* Maguan County 马关县: Muchang Township 木厂乡, Dalishu Township 大栗树乡, and Pojiao Township 坡脚乡
* Wenshan County 文山县: Dehou Township 德厚乡, Panzhihua Township 攀枝花乡
* Hekou County 河口县: Qiaotou Town 桥头镇 (in Baihei Village 白黑村 and Gantianzhai 甘田寨)
* Yuanjiang County 元江县: Dashuiping Township 大水平乡 (in Gaozhai 高寨 and Yangmahe 养马河)

### Official status

In Vietnam, all Tai peoples are taught a standardized Tai language based on the Tai Dam language, using the standardized Tai Viet script.[5]

## Phonology

### Consonants

#### Initials

| Labial  | Alveolar  | Palatal  | Velar  | Glottal

|
|
|
|
|

plain | lab.
Plosive  | tenuis | [p] | [t] |  | [k] | [kʷ] | [ʔ]
aspirated |  | [tʰ] |  |  |  |
voiced | [b] | [d] |  |  |  |
Affricate  |  |  | [t͡ɕ] |  |  |
Nasal  | [m] | [n] | [ɲ] | [ŋ] | [ŋʷ] |
Fricative  | voiceless | [f] | [s] |  | [x] | [xʷ] | [h]
voiced | [v] |  |  |  |  |
Approximant  |  | [l] | [j] |  |  |

* Sounds /b/ and /d/ can fluctuate to voiced implosive sounds [ɓ], [ɗ]. /d/ may also fluctuate to a lateral sound [l]. /v/ can fluctuate to sounds [b~ɓ].
* In some rare cases /j/ can be realized as a [z] sound.

#### Finals

| Labial  | Alveolar  | Palatal  | Velar  | Glottal

|
|
|
|
|

Plosive  | [p] | [t] |  | [k] | [ʔ]
Nasal  | [m] | [n] |  | [ŋ] |
Approximant  | [w] |  | [j] |  |

* Final plosive sounds /p t k/ can be realized as unreleased [p̚ t̚ k̚].

### Vowels

| Front  | Central-Back  | Back

|
|
|

Close  | i | ɨ ~ ɯ | u
Glide  | iə̯ | ɨə̯ ~ ɯə̯ | uə̯
Mid  | e | ə ~ ɤ | o
Open  | ɛ | a aː | ɔ

* There is also /əw/ that corresponds to Proto-Tai *aɰ.
* /ɛ/ can tend to fluctuate to a more open sound [æ].
* /ɨ/ fluctuates to a back unrounded sound [ɯ].[6]

## Vocabulary

The Khmer, Pali and Sanskrit additions to Thai and Lao (Isan) are generally absent from Tai Dam.[3] Tai Dam lacks many of the Khmer and Indic (via Khmer) loanwords found in Thai, Lao and Isan.

Lack of Khmer and Indic (via Khmer) loan words in Tai Dam  Khmer loan word  | Isan  | Lao  | Thai  | Tai Dam  | Gloss

|
|
|
|
|

ទន្លេ
tônlé1 | /tɔːn leː/  | ทะเล
thale | /tʰāʔ léː/  | ທະເລ
thalé | /tʰāʔ léː/  | ทะเล
thale | /tʰáʔ leː/  | Template:Script/Tai Viet
noang luang | /nɔŋ˨.luə̯ŋ˨/  | 'sea'
រៀន
reăn | /riən/  | เฮียน
hian | /híːən/  | ຮຽນ
hian | /híːən/  | เรียน
rian | /riːən/  | Template:Script/Tai Viet
ʼaep | /ʔɛp̚˦˥/  | 'to learn'
भाषा
bhāṣā2 | /bʱaːʂaː/  | ភាសា
pheăsa | /pʰiə saː/  | ภาษา
phasa | /pʰáː săː/  | ພາສາ
phasa | /pʰáː săː/  | ภาษา
phasa | /pʰaː sǎː/  | Template:Script/Tai Viet
kwaam | /kʷaːm˥/  | 'language'
राज
rāja2 | /raːdʒaː/  | រាជា
reăcheă | /riə ɕiə/  | ราชา
racha | /láː tɕʰáː/  | ຣາຊາ
raxa | /láː sáː/  | ราชา
racha | /raː tɕʰaː/  | Template:Script/Tai Viet
pua | /puə̯˨/  | 'king'
वेला
velā2 | /ʋe laː/  | វេលា
véreǎ | /veː liːə/  | เวลา
vela | /wéː láː/  | ເວລາ
véla | /ʋéː láː/  | เวลา
wela | /weː laː/  | Template:Script/Tai Viet
nyaam | /ɲaːm˥/  | 'time'
សប្បាយ
sǎpbay | /sap baːj/  | สบาย
sabai | /sáʔ baːj/  | ສບາຽ/ສະບາຍ
sabay | /sáʔ baːj/  | สบาย
sabai | /saʔ baːj/  | Template:Script/Tai Viet
xan doa | /xan˧˩.dɔː˨/  | 'to be well'
រាក់
raek3 | /raːk/  | ฮัก
hak | /hak/  | ຮັກ
hak | /hak/  | รัก
rak | /rák/  | Template:Script/Tai Viet
hak | /hak˥/  | 'love'

* ^1 Khmer tônlé generally signifies 'lake' or 'large canal'. Similarly, the Tai Dam term for the sea means 'large lake'.
* ^2 Sanskrit source of following Khmer word. Thai and Lao adopted Sanskrit terms via Khmer, but restored their vowels pronunciations.
* ^3 The term rak was borrowed from Proto-Mon-Khmer *r[a]k meaning 'to love, beloved, dear' although now the term raek means 'friendly, cordial, pleasant; intimate, affectionate' in modern Khmer.

## Grammar

### Pronouns

Pronoun | Formal | Informal

|
|

I | ꪄ꫁ꪮꪤ (khhɔy3) | ꪀꪴ (ku1)
We | ꪏꪴꪙ ꪄ꫁ꪮꪤ (sun4 khhɔy3) | ꪏꪴꪣ ꪠꪴ (sum4 fu1)
You | ꪹꪊ꫁ꪱ (caw3) | ꪣꪳꪉ (mueng4)
You (plural) | ꪏꪴꪙ ꪹꪊ꫁ꪱ (sun4 caw3) | ꪎꪴ (su1)
He/ she | ꪹꪝ꪿ꪙ (puean5) | ꪣꪽ (man4)
They | ꪏꪴꪙ ꪹꪝ꪿ꪙ (sun4 puean5) | ꪹꪎꪱ (saw1)

For the word "I"

* When addressing parents the word ꪩꪴ꪿ꪀ (luk5) is used instead.
* When addressing grandparents the word ꪨꪰꪣ (laam1) is used instead.

Pronoun | Formal | Informal

|
|

My | ꪄꪮꪉ ꪄ꫁ꪮꪤ (khhɔng1 khhɔy3) | ꪄꪮꪉ ꪀꪴ (khhɔng1 ku1)
Our | ꪄꪮꪉ ꪏꪴꪙ ꪄ꫁ꪮꪤ (khhɔng1 sun4 khhɔy3) | ꪄꪮꪉ ꪏꪴꪣ ꪠꪴ (khhɔng1 sum4 fu1)
Your | ꪄꪮꪉ ꪹꪊ꫁ꪱ (khhɔng1 caw3) | ꪄꪮꪉ ꪣꪳꪉ (khhɔng1 mueng4)
Your (plural) | ꪄꪮꪉ ꪏꪴꪙ ꪹꪊ꫁ꪱ (khhɔng1 sun4 khhɔy3) | ꪄꪮꪉ ꪎꪴ (khhɔng1 su1)
His/ her | ꪄꪮꪉ ꪹꪝ꪿ꪙ (khhɔng1 puean5) | ꪄꪮꪉ ꪣꪽ (khhɔng1 man4)
Their | ꪄꪮꪉ ꪏꪴꪙ ꪹꪝ꪿ꪙ (khhɔng1 sun4 khhɔy3) | ꪄꪮꪉ ꪹꪎꪱ (khhɔng1 saw1)

For the word "my"

* When addressing parents the word ꪄꪮꪉ ꪩꪴ꪿ꪀ (khhɔng1 luk5) is used instead.
* When addressing grandparents the word ꪄꪮꪉ ꪨꪰꪣ (khhɔng1 laam1) is used instead.

### Syntax

Tai Dam uses an SVO word order.

## Writing system

A text in Tai Viet script

The Tai Dam language has its own system of writing, called Tai Viet, which consists of 31 consonants and 14 vowels. At the beginning, there was no tone marker although the language is tonal. Tone markers emerge in the 1970s in two sets: combining marks like Thai/Lao, and modifiers like New Tai Lue/Tai Nuea which are now less popular. According to Thai authors, the writing system is probably derived from the old Thai writing of the kingdom of Sukhotai.[3]

## Further reading

* Miyake, Marc. 2014. Black and white evidence for Vietnamese phonological history.
* Miyake, Marc. 2014. *(C).r-usters in Black Tai and Bao Yen.
* Miyake, Marc. 2014. S-implificaition in Black Tai and Bao Yen.

## References

1. ↑ Tai Dam at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
2. ↑ Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds (2017). "Tai Dam". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. http://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/taid1247.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bankston, Carl L.. "The Tai Dam: Refugees from Vietnam and Laos". Passage: A Journal of Refugee Education 3 (Winter 1987): 30–31. https://tulane.academia.edu/CarlLBankston/Papers/936717/The_Black_Tai_Refugees_from_Vietnam_and_Laos.
4. ↑ Gao Lishi 高立士. 1999. 傣族支系探微. 中南民族学院学报 (哲学社会科学版). 1999 年第1 期 (总第96 期).
5. ↑ Choowonglert, Achariya (2015). We Do Not Want to be Inferior: Politics of Difference in Teaching and Studying Tai Languages in North-Central of Vietnam. https://www.academia.edu/26480940.
6. ↑ Fippinger, Jay W. and Dorothy C. (1970). Black Tai Phonemes, with Reference to White Tai. Anthropological Linguistics.

## External links

* Tai Dam alphabet
* Tai Dam Language, Literature, and Culture
* SIL Tai Heritage Pro fonts
* Basic Tai Dam phrases
* Tai Viet script notes

* v
* t
* e

Languages of China

Official|

* Standard Mandarin

Regional|

| ARs / SARs|

* CantoneseHK/MC
* EnglishHK
* MongolianNM
* PortugueseMC
* TibetanXZ
* UyghurXJ
* ZhuangGX

|

Prefecture|

* Hmong
* Kam
* Bouyei
* Tujia
* Korean
* Qiang
* Yi
* Kyrgyz
* Kazakh
* Tai Nüa
* Tai Lü
* Zaiwa
* Lisu
* Bai
* Hani
* Zhuang

Counties/Banners|

numerous

Indigenous|

Sino-Tibetan languages

| Lolo-
Burmese|

| Mondzish|

* Kathu
* Maang
* Manga
* Mango
* Maza
* Mondzi
* Muangphe

|

Burmish|

* Achang
* Xiandao
* Pela
* Lashi
* Chashan
* Lhao Vo
* Zaiwa

Loloish|

| Hanoish|

* Akeu
* Akha
* Amu
* Angluo
* Asuo
* Baihong
* Bisu
* Budu
* Bukong
* Cosao
* Duoni
* Duota
* Enu
* Habei
* Hani
* Honi
* Jino
* Kabie
* Kaduo
* Lami
* Laomian
* Laopin
* Mpi
* Muda
* Nuobi
* Nuomei
* Phana’
* Piyo
* Qidi
* Sadu
* Sangkong
* Suobi
* Tsukong
* Woni
* Yiche

|

Lisoish|

* Eka
* Hlersu
* Kua-nsi
* Kuamasi
* Laizisi
* Lalo
* Lamu
* Lavu
* Lawu
* Limi
* Lipo
* Lisu
* Lolopo
* Mangdi
* Micha
* Mili
* Sonaga
* Toloza
* Xuzhang
* Yangliu
* Zibusi

Nisoish|

* Alingpo
* Alugu
* Aluo
* Axi
* Azha
* Azhe
* Bokha
* Gepo
* Khlula
* Lope
* Moji
* Muji
* Muzi
* Nasu
* Nisu
* Nuosu
* Phala
* Phola
* Phowa
* Phukha
* Phuma
* Phupa
* Phupha
* Phuza
* Samei
* Sani
* Thopho
* Zokhuo

Other|

* Gokhy
* Katso
* Kucong
* Lahu
* Naruo
* Namuyi
* Naxi
* Nusu
* Samu
* Sanie
* Zauzou

Qiangic|

* Baima
* Choyo
* Ersu
* Guiqiong
* Horpa
* Japhug
* Khroskyabs
* Laze
* Lizu
* Na
* Muya
* Namuyi
* Naxi
* Pumi
* Northern Qiang
* Southern Qiang
* Shixing
* Situ
* Tshobdun
* Zbu
* Zhaba

Tibetic|

* Amdo
* Baima
* Basum
* Central Tibetan
* Choni
* Dao
* Dongwang
* Drugchu
* Groma
* Gserpa
* Khalong
* Khams
* Kyirong
* Ladakhi
* Tseku
* Zhongu
* Zitsadegu

Other|

* Bai
* Caijia
* Derung
* Jingpho
* Longjia
* Nung
* Tujia
* Waxianghua

Other languages

| Austroasiatic|

* Bit
* Blang
* Bolyu
* Bugan
* Bumang
* Hu
* Kuan
* Mang
* Man Met
* Muak Sa-aak
* Palaung
* Riang
* U
* Va
* Wa

|

Hmong-Mien|

| Hmongic|

* A-Hmao
* Bu-Nao
* Gejia
* Guiyang
* Hm Nai
* Hmong
* Hmu
* Huishui
* Kiong Nai
* Luobohe
* Mashan
* Pa-Hng
* Pa Na
* Pingtang
* Qo Xiong
* Raojia
* She
* Small Flowery
* Xixiu
* Younuo

|

Mienic|

* Biao Min
* Dzao Min
* Iu Mien
* Kim Mun

Mongolic|

* Bonan
* Buryat
* Daur
* Eastern Yugur
* Kangjia
* Khamnigan
* Monguor
* Oirat
* Ordos
* Santa
* Torgut

Kra-Dai|

| Zhuang|

* Bouyei
* Dai
* Min
* Ningming
* Nong
* Tai Dam
* Tai Dón
* Tai Hongjin
* Tai Lü
* Tai Nüa
* Tai Ya
* Yang
* Yei

|

Other|

* Ai-Cham
* Biao
* Buyang
* Cao Miao
* Chadong
* Cun
* Gelao
* Hlai
* Jiamao
* Kam
* Lakkja
* Mak
* Maonan
* Mulam
* Naxi Yao
* Ong Be
* Paha
* Qabiao
* Sui
* Then

Tungusic|

* Evenki
* Manchu
* Nanai
* Oroqen
* Xibe

Turkic|

* Äynu
* Fuyu Kyrgyz
* Ili Turki
* Lop
* Salar
* Western Yugur

Other|

* Sarikoli (Indo-European)
* Tsat (Austronesian)
* Formosan languages (Austronesian)

Minority|

* Kazakh
* Korean
* Kyrgyz
* Russian
* Tatar
* Tuvan
* Uzbek
* Vietnamese (Kinh)
* Wakhi

Varieties of
Chinese|

* Mandarin
* Southwestern
* Dongbei
* Jiang Huai
* Gan
* Hakka
* Hui
* Jin
* Min
* varieties
* Ping
* Wu
* Wenzhounese
* Xiang
* Yue
* Cantonese

Creole/Mixed|

* E
* Hezhou
* Lingling
* Macanese
* Maojia
* Qoqmončaq
* Sanqiao
* Tangwang
* Wutun

Extinct|

* Ba-Shu
* Jie
* Khitan
* Ruan-ruan
* Saka
* Tangut
* Tocharian
* Tuoba
* Tuyuhun
* Xianbei
* Zhang-Zhung

Sign|

* Chinese Sign
* Hong Kong SignHK/MC
* Tibetan SignXZ

* GX = Guangxi
* HK = Hong Kong
* MC = Macau
* NM = Inner Mongolia
* XJ = Xinjiang
* XZ = Tibet

* v
* t
* e

Kra–Dai languages

Kra|

* Laha
* Gelao
* Lachi
* Paha
* Buyang
* En
* Qabiao

Kam–Sui|

* Mulam
* Kam (Dong)
* Cao Miao
* Naxi Yao
* Sanqiao
* Then
* Maonan
* Chadong
* Sui
* Mak
* Ai-Cham

Biao–Lakkia|

* Biao
* Lakkia

Hlai|

* Hlai
* Cun

Jiamao|

* Jiamao

Be–Jizhao|

* Be
* Jizhao

Tai
(Zhuang)|

| Northern|

* Standard Zhuang
* Bouyei
* Hezhang Buyi
* Yei Zhuang
* Longsang Zhuang
* E
* Saek
* Tai Yo (Nyaw)
* Yoy
* Tai Pao

|

Central|

* Nong Zhuang
* Dai Zhuang
* Min Zhuang
* Yang Zhuang
* Pyang Zhuang
* Myang Zhuang
* Nung
* Tày
* Tsʻün-Lao

Southwestern
(Thai)|

| Northwestern|

* Shan
* Tai Ya
* Tai Nuea
* Tai Long
* Tai Hongjin
* Khamti
* Tai Laing
* Tai Phake
* Tai Aiton
* Khamyang
* Ahom
* Turung

|

Lao–Phutai|

* Lao
* Phu Thai
* Isan
* Nyaw
* Lao Nyo
* Kaloeng

Chiang Saen|

* Thai (Siamese)
* Northern Thai
* Tai Daeng
* Tai Dón
* Tai Hang Tong
* Tai Lue
* Tai Dam
* Khun
* Phuan
* Thai Song
* Tày Tac

Southern|

* Southern Thai

(other)|

* Sapa
* Pa Di
* Tai Muong Vat
* Tai Thanh
* Tai Khang
* Yong
* Kuan

(mixed)|

* Caolan

(mixed origins)|

* Hezhang Buyi
* E
* Caolan
* Sanqiao
* Jiamao

proposed groupings|

* Kam–Tai

Proto-languages|

* Proto-Kra
* Proto-Tai
* Proto-Kam–Sui
* Proto-Hlai

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