- Part of sounding like a Lao person
depends on mastering the rhytm of the Lao language. This depends greatly on long and
short vowels. Practice these phrases, first slowly, then working up to normal speed,
but with proper rhythm.
ບໍ່ເຂົ້າ ບໍ່ອອກ |
bɔ̄ɔ
khâw bɔ̄ɔ ɔ̂ok |
not enter, not exit |
| ບັງຍິງ
ບັງຊາຍ |
bāŋ
ñíŋ bāŋ sáay |
female, male |
|
ຢູ່ພຸ້ນ ຢູ່ພີ້ |
jūu
phùn jūu phìi |
stay there, stay here |
| ຜູ້ຂົດ
ຜູ້ຊື່ |
phūu
khōt phūu sȳy |
dishonest man, honenst man |
- The mid tone must be level. The voice goes neither up nor
down at the end.
|
ອື່ນ |
ȳyn |
other |
|
ຢູ່ |
jūu |
stay |
|
ບໍ່ |
bɔ̄ɔ |
no, not |
|
ສິ |
sīi |
will |
|
ໜຶ່ງ |
nȳŋ |
one |
|
ຂີ່ລົດ |
khīi
lōt |
ride in a car |
|
ບໍ່ແມ່ນ |
bɔ̄ɔ
mε̄εn |
That's not right. |
|
ຜູ້ອື່ນ |
phūu
ȳyn |
someone else. |
|
ໝູ່ຍ່າງ |
mūu
ñāaŋ |
my friend's walking. |
|
ຕື່ນຢູ່ |
tȳyn
jūu |
Awake |
- Note the tone patters in the following and practice them.
|
ເຄີ່ງໝວດ |
khǝ̄ŋ
mûat |
half a platoon |
|
ເຄີ່ງກ້ອນ |
khǝ̄ŋ
kɔ̀ɔn |
half a lump |
|
ເຄີ່ງຊົ່ວໂມງ |
khǝ̄ŋ
sūamóoŋ |
half an hour |
|
ເຄີ່ງໂລ |
khǝ̄ŋ
lǒo |
half a dozen |
|
ເຄີ່ງໜ່ວຍ |
khǝ̄ŋ
nūay |
half a fruit |
|
ເຄີ່ງມື້ |
khǝ̄ŋ
mỳy |
half a day |
|
ໝວດເຄີ່ງ |
mûat
khǝ̄ŋ |
one and a half platoons |
|
ຊົ່ວໂມງເຄີ່ງ |
sūamóoŋ
khǝ̄ŋ |
an hour and a half, etc |
- Be sure you can say the vowel ື yy correctly. Lips should be unrounded. Without stopping say the
following sequence several times by alternately rounding and unrounding your
lips : ູ ື ູ ື
ູ ື ູ ື ູ
ື uuyyuuyyuuyyuuyyuuyy.
Compare uu and yy.
|
ໝູ່ |
mùu |
friend |
|
ມື |
mỳy |
hand |
|
ສູນ |
súun |
zero |
|
ຊື່ນ |
sýyn |
lively |
|
ອູນ |
ūun |
(no translation) |
|
ອື່ນ |
ȳyn |
other |
|
ຫູ |
húu |
ear |
|
ຫື |
hýy |
(no translation) |
|
