Grammar Notes 15
  
  1. The pronouns khanɔ̀ɔy ຂ້ານ້ອຍClick to Listen   'I',  thāan ທ່ານClick to Listen    'you', and phǝ̄n ເພິ່ນClick to Listen 'he, she' are called deferential pronouns.  They are used in formal settings to show respect to someone of higher position or greater age.  phǝ̄n ເພິ່ນClick to Listen   should be used when speaking of one's parents.  There are also other ways to address those of greater age.

  1. One uses khanɔ̀ɔy ຊ້ານ້ອຍClick to Listen   at the end of a sentence when speaking to a superior. 
  ລາວສິໄປ ຂ້ານ້ອຍClick to Listen   láaw si pay khanɔ̀ɔy He is going, sir.

       

In this case, khanɔ̀ɔy ຊ້ານ້ອຍClick to Listen   does not mean 'I'.   It shows respect for the person spoken to, somewhat in the way the word 'Sir' would show respect in English.

  1. náaŋ ນາງClick to Listen   and thàaw ທ້າວClick to Listen    are used for persons of school age and above, up to middle age.  Other terms are used for older people.  náaŋ ນາງClick to Listen   and thàaw ທ້າວClick to Listen      may be used in place of the pronouns 'you', 'he', and 'she'.  
  ນາງສິໄປໄສ Click to Listen náaŋ si pay sǎy Where are you (female) going?
      
  1.    ñáa ຍາ Click to Listen  is a term of respect used before such words as phɔ̄ɔ ພໍ່ Click to Listen   and mε̄ε ແມ່Click to Listen  and personal names.
  ຍາພໍ່ Click to Listen ñáa phɔ̄ɔ honored father
  ຍາແມ່ Click to Listen ñáa mε̄ε honored mother
  ຍາແສງແກ້ວ Click to Listen ñáa sε̌εŋ daaw honored Sengdao
  ຍາພໍ່ຂ້ອຍສິໄປ ໃນເມືອງ Click to Listen ñáa phɔ̄ɔ khɔ̂y si pay náy mýaŋ honored father is going to town.

Although  ñáa phɔ̄ɔ ຍາພໍ່Click to Listen   and ñáa mε̄ε ຍາແມ່Click to Listen     literally mean 'honorable father' and 'honorable mother', they are often used in addressing persons who are not one's parents but who are about the same age as one's parents.  Like náaŋ ນາງClick to Listen   and thàaw ທ້າວ,Click to Listen   they can be used as pronouns.

  ຍາພໍ່ສິໄປໄສ Click to Listen ñáa phɔ̄ɔ si pay sǎy Where are you (father) going?

When addressing one's father or a man of one's father's age.

  ຍາພໍ່ຂ້ອຍສິໄປ  ñáa phɔ̄ɔ khɔ̂y si pay My honorable father is going
  ໃນເມືອງClick to Listen náy mýaŋ to town.

Referring to one's father or a man of his age.

     
  1. Note the word order of the following phrases.
   ເຂົ້າຈີ່ສອງກ້ອນ Click to Listen khâw cīi sɔ̌ɔŋ kɔ̀ɔn Two Loaves of bread
  bread two loaves
  ເບຍແກ້ວໃຫຍ່ສອງແກ້ວClick to Listen bia kὲεw ñāy sɔ̌ɔŋ kὲεw Two large bottles of beer
beer bottle big two bottle
         
        
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