- Say these English sentences:
Is the food too salty?
No, not to salty.
Are you going soon?
Well, pretty soon.
Now, say them again and hum the answers. Note the tone on
the words 'salty' and 'soon'. Do not let this kind of English intonation interfere
with the tone of Lao words. Practice these questions and answers.
ຫວານບໍ |
wǎan bɔɔ |
Is it sweet? |
| ບໍ່ຫວານ |
bɔ̄ɔ
wǎan |
not sweet. |
| ຮ້ອນບໍ |
hɔ̀ɔn bɔɔ |
Is it hot? |
| ບໍ່ຮ້ອນ |
bɔ̄ɔ
hɔ̀ɔn |
not hot. |
| ເພັດບໍ |
phét bɔɔ |
Is it spicy? |
| ບໍ່ເພັດ |
bɔ̄ɔ
phét |
not spicy. |
- Try these phrases. Pay close attention to the rhythm.
| ບໍ່ສູງບໍ່ຕ່ຳ |
bɔ̄ɔ sǔuŋ
bɔ̄ɔ tām |
neither tall nor short |
| ບໍ່ຕຸ້ຍ ບໍ່ຈ່ອຍ |
bɔ̄ɔ tùy bɔ̄ɔ
cɔ̄ɔy |
neither fat nor thin |
| ບໍ່ໜາວ ບໍ່ຮ້ອນ |
bɔ̄ɔ nǎaw
bɔ̄ɔ hɔ̀ɔn |
neither cold nor hot |
| ບໍ່ໜຸ່ມ ບໍ່ແກ່ |
bɔ̄ɔ nūm
bɔ̄ɔ kε̄ε |
neither young nor old |
| ບໍ່ງ່າຍ ບໍ່ຢາກ |
bɔ̄ɔ ŋāay
bɔ̄ɔ ñàak |
neither easy nor hard |
| ບໍ່ໄວ ບໍ່ຊ້າ |
bɔ̄ɔ wáy bɔ̄ɔ
sàa |
neither fast nor slow |
|
