Tones of Tai Wat, Ban Fukfan and Tai Wat, Ban Huoyyong,Et District, Houaphanh Province, Laos PDR

Abstract

This article aims to study tones of Tai Wat, Ban Fukfan and Tia Wat, Ban Huoyyong, Et District, Houaphanh Province, Laos. The study shows that Tai Wat living in Ban Fukfan has 6 tones, namely, 1. Midlow-rising 2. mid-level 3. Midhigh-rising 4. mid-falling 5. Midhigh-level 6. Midlow-rising, and there are fivetones of Tai Wat in Ban Huoyyong, namely, 1. Midlow-rising 2. mid-level 3. Midlow-rising 4. Midhigh-level 5. mid-high.
There are tonal mergers and splits of Tai Wat, Ban Fukfan and Tia Wat, Ban Huoyyong –Tai Wat, Ban Fukfan has tonal splits in A1-234 and BCDLDS123-4;and tonal mergers in A234=B123,
C123=DS4,andC4=DL,DS123.However, Tai Wat, Ban Huoyyong has tonal splits in A1-234 B,DS1234
and C123-4;and tonal mergers in A234=B1234=C123 and DL123=DS1234. Keywords : Tai Dam, Tai Tones, Tai Wat, Wat District