I used to read a linguistic article about the phonological similarities between Hmongic languages and Wu Chinese family of languages. I mean it is probable that Hmongic groups existed in eastern China before moving to the southwest. And autosomal DNA results for Eastern Chinese based on my results seem to be about somewhere 85-90% split of half Hmongic and half Koreanic and about 11-15% Tibeto-Burmese for the rest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVvJv0HTKvc
I don't speak Japanese, but from the look of things it seems to me that some Japanese are attempting to make far-fetched connections to Tai-Kradai. However, I think there's very little credibility to connect Japonic with Tai-Kradai. The limited similarity the two have is most likely due to the fact that both have borrowed some ancient and medieval Sinitic vocabulary, but apart from that there's very little (practically zero) similarity in terms of their native vocabulary.
I'll use the Hlai as an example since it is the least Sinitic influenced out of all Tai-Kradai languages (yes even less than Thai). Let's compare the native Hlai words with native Japanese words and you'll see they are completely unrelated.
Hlai - Japanese - English
Tsha Hwan - Hi / Pi - Sun
Nyaan - Tsuki - Moon
Raau - Hoshi / Poshi - Star
Faa - Sora - Sky
Deek Faa - Kumo - Cloud
Fun - Ame - Rain
Hwoot / Viu - Kaze - Wind
Laang - Umi / Wata - Sea
Veng - Umi - Lake
Phou - Suna - Sand
Gom Tshiin - Ishi - Stone
Nom / Nam - Mizu - Water
Fei / Pew - Hi - Fire
Khaau Dom - Asa - Morning
Hwan - Hi - Day
Tshop - Yoru - Night
Gaan / Deeng - Aka - Red
Khiiu - Midori - Green
Zeeng - Ki - Yellow
Khaau - Shiro - White
Dom / Look - Kuro - Black
Last edited by MNOPSC1b; 11-27-2022 at 10:05 PM.
Some Hlai vocabulary that I found online, this language is very unique and interesting, and is definitely very different from Chinese, Korean, or Japanese
Hlai - English
Ba - Five / Dog
Pas - Father
Blauus - Close / Near
Blongs - House / Home
Bluek - Termite
Bhaux - Crab
Bhiengx - Beer / Wine
Max - There
Maeu - To Flow
Waeu - Bowl
Fas - Sky
Fang - Late
Fan - To Dream
Va - Boat
Da - No
Dax - Field
Tax - Meal
Dhas - To Be Scared
Dhai - Porcupine
Na - He / She
Noms - Water
Lax - To Eat
Hla - Fish
Hlaus - Two
Roenx - Bamboo
Raeu - To Laugh
Jien - Money / Folk Song
Zaen - To Shout
Ca - Eyes
Qia - Car
Qias - Paper
Dzax - Snake
Dzai - Ears
Nyaen - Moon
Yous - Not / Do Not
Gas - Horse / Knife
Kaen - Up
Ghou - Eight
Ghia - To Cough
Ghoei - Iron
Nge - Goose
Ngais - To Cry
Hun - Hair
Gwaeix - County
Kweis - To Marry / Will
Ghwaen - Hundred
Ghwa - To Plant
Ngwous - To Wear
Ngwoux - Pillar
Hwan - Sun / Day
Hwous - Mountain
Hweeng - To Lift Up
Hya - Thatch
Hyanx - Bug
Analyze a sentence in Zhuang
Boux lwg sai naengh youq baih laeng gou haenx dwg boux gyaeuj ban raeuz
English translation: the boy who is sitting behind me is our class president.
Word by word translation:
Boux: person / classifier of person
Lwg: kid / child
Sai: man / male
Naengh: sit
Youq: at
Baih: side
Laeng: back
Gou: I / me
Haenx: there
Dwg: be
Boux: person / classifier of person
Gyaeuj: head / leader
Ban: class
Raeuz: we / our
Again, this demonstrates a major difference between Zhuang (as well as other SE Asian languages) and Northeast Asian languages (Korean, Mandarin, and Japanese) in terms of grammar. Zhuang would always put the modifier behind the noun without exception.
Last edited by MNOPSC1b; 12-17-2022 at 11:59 PM.
Here're some more Hlai vocabulary based on the book Introduction to the Hlai Language by Wen Mingying and Wen Jing (2006). I found the Hlai language to be particularly interesting to examine since it has preserved a lot of native Austro-Tai vocabulary that are lost in other Kradai languages.
Hlai - English
A
Aek - Meat (Funny that "aek" means "chest" in Zhuang whereas the word for meat in Zhuang is "noh")
Aek Bou - Pork (where "aek" = "meat" and "bou" = "pig", so literally "pig meat")
Aek Kai - Chicken Meat ("kai" = "chicken")
Aek Roeis - Deer Meat ("roeis" = "deer")
Aenx - Cake / Biscuit
Aeu - Person (this word is different from all other Tai-Kradai languages that I know, in Zhuang the word for person is "boux" or "vunz", whereas in Tai Lue it is "kun")
Aeu Dza - Old Person ("dza" = "old")
Aeu Long - Adult ("long" = "big", so literally "big person")
Aeu Reek - Bad Person ("reek" = "bad")
Ahaux - Tomorrow
Ai - Melon
Ang - Hillside
As - Watermelon
B
Ba - Five / Dog
Ba Haen - Hunting Dog
Ba Hwous - Wolf ("hwous" = "mountain", so literally "mountain dog")
Bais - Mother / Woman / Female, also has the meaning of "whole, total" when used as an adjective
Bais Bou - Sow ("bais" = "female" and "bou" = "pig")
Bais Bhous - Whole Village ("bais" = "whole" and "bhous" = "village")
Beeng - Edge / Margin
Bhai - Raft
Bhanx - Chisel
Bheenx - Board / Plank
Bheuu - Leaf
Bheuu Cai - Vegetables
Bhiengx - Wine
Bhienx - Coir Raincoat
Bhingx - Buttocks
Bhong - Wisteria
Bhous - Village
Bhous Blongs - Village Folks
Bhoux - Crab (when used as a noun) / To Feed or To Breed (when used as a verb)
Bhueis - Cotton
Bi - Flute
Bien - Wild Hemp
Blas - Forehead
Bleek - Mud
Blongs - Home / House / Room
Blongs Roengx Tax - Kitchen ("blongs" = "room", "roengx" = "to cook", "tax" = "meal", so literally = room to cook meal)
Bluek - Termite
Boet - Flea
Bok - Belly / Stomach
Boms - Mouth
Bou - Pig
Boux - Year
Boux Baen - New Year
Boux Neix - This Year
Boux Nyaen - Years / Stories
Boux Toei - Smooth Year
Last edited by MNOPSC1b; 01-21-2023 at 08:36 PM.
Continued
Hlai - English
C
Ca - Eyes
Ca Hwan - Sun ("hwan" = "day", so the literal meaning is "eye of the day")
Cai - Tree
Calieng - Late Night
Cas - Father-In-Law / Maternal Grandfather
Caux - Rattan or Wisteria (when used as a noun) / To Peck or To Support (when used as a verb)
Ceeng - Flower
Cei - Lime / River Snail
Ceny - Torch
Coei - Lips
Coem - Fruit
Cok - Illness / Sickness (when used as a noun) / To Ache (when used as a verb)
Coms - Bag
Coms Dza - Pipe
Cop - Evening or Night (when used as a noun) / To Shut or To Close (when used as a verb)
Copceix - Spider
Copcun - Rainbow
Cuengs - Hole / Cave
Cuengs Haeis - Anus
Cuns - Seasons
D
Daens - To Disperse / To Spread Out
Daeps - Thick Rope
Dang - Dragon (when used as a noun) / To Withstand or To Stop (when used as a verb)
Das - Maternal Grandmother
Daty - Bird
Daty Moei - Magpie
Daus - Stove
Dauxmuty - Fox
Dax - Field / Farm
Deek - Otter
Des - Surname
Dety - Feet
Deuu - Up or Upward (when used as a preposition) / To Wake Up (when used as a verb)
Deuu Fas - Heaven ("deuu" = "up, upward" and "fas" = "sky")
Deuux - Thing / Matter
Dhaeus - Mountain / Hill
Dhaeus Loek - Forest
Dhai - Porcupine
Dhang - Face / Front
Dhe - Tea (likely a loanword from Hainan Min)
Dheets - Green Parrot (not sure which type of parrot this word refers to, maybe an Indian ringneck?)
Dhety - Mushroom
Dhieus - Field / Place / Site (could be a loanword from Hainan Min)
Dhis - Grandson
Dhoei - Rope
Dhop - Cloth
Dhou - Urine
Diep - Arrow (native Hlai word) / Plate (likely a loanword from Hainan Min)
Ding - Shell
Dings - Corpse / Ghost
Diu - Rat
Duis - Water Buffalo
Duueng - Beasts
Dza - Medicine or Tobacco (when used as a noun) / Old (when used as an adjective)
Dzaengs - Appearance
Dzai - Ears
Dzax - Snake
Dzeeng - Goat (when used as a noun) / Yellow (when used as an adjective)
Dziengx - Fingers
Dzing - Leech
Dzom Dzop - Surroundings
Dzuuen - Outside
Last edited by MNOPSC1b; 01-21-2023 at 10:05 PM.
E
Hlai - English
Eek - Crow / Raven
Eeps - Duck
Eix - Chair
Enyx - Small
F
Faep - Magic
Faeu - Reed
Fais - Quilt
Fan - Teeth / Seed
Fan Moux - Types
Fas - Sky (when used as a noun) / Sour (when used as an adjective)
Fauus - Nine / Aunt
Feek - Skin or Shell (when used as a noun) / To Vomit (when used as a verb)
Feengs - Millet
Fei - Fire (as a noun) / To Walk (as a verb)
Fiek - Shoulder Pole (as a noun) / To Carry or To Bear (as a verb)
Fiens - Handle / Hilt
Foeix - Uncle
Fok - Place
Fou - Under / Beneath
Fou Fas - Under the Sky / World
Foux - Dust / Powder
Fuet - Ten
Fun - Rain
Funx - Thread
Last edited by MNOPSC1b; 01-22-2023 at 12:46 AM.
Continued
Hlai - English
G
Ga - Jail
Gaen - (Bamboo) Bed Board
Gaet - Tree Frog
Gaeusdhom - Morning
Gai - Jar
Gaida - Small Jar
Gaighei - Rice Jar
Gan - Money / Silver
Gans - Grass
Gas - Knife / Horse
Gaty - Porana Decora (a type of plant)
Gaux - Lungs (as a noun) / To Sleep or To Lie Down (as a verb)
Gax - Cannot / Should Not
Geen - Soap
Gei - Root
Ges - Price (as a noun) / More (as an adverb)
Ghang - Mountain (likely to be a cognate to the Malay word "gunung", which also means mountain)
Ghaus - Shell
Gheek - Taro
Ghei - Rice
Ghieu - Tendon / Muscle
Ghoei - Iron
Ghoeis - Net
Ghoem Cop - Every Evening / Every Night
Ghoem Hwan - Every Day
Ghoms - Meat
Ghoms Kai - Chicken Meat
Ghotieu - Noise
Ghueng - Younger Brother / Younger Sister
Ghueng Bais Cuty - Beautiful Girl / Cutie
Ghwaeis - Glutinous Rice Cake
Ghweis - Oil (as a noun) / Fat (as an adjective)
Ghwous - Head
Ghwous Blongs - Head of Family / Parents
Goep - Fence (as a noun) / To Put Inside (as a verb)
Goet - Lid / Door
Gom - Place / Area / Region
Gom Gaeis - Surroundings
Gom Hlai - Hlai Regions
Gom Moei - Han Regions
Gong - Work / Craft (likely a borrowing from Mandarin)
Guek - White Hair
Guen - Road
Gueng - Sargentodoxa Cuneata (a type of plant)
Guix - Box
Guns - Firewood
Guty - Needle (as a noun) / To Sweep or To Clean (as a verb)
Gutygaus - Firefly
Guuemx - Sword (could be a borrowing from Middle Chinese)
Guuhauxdok - Breakfast
Gwaeis - County (as a noun) / Tall or High (as an adjective)
Last edited by MNOPSC1b; 01-27-2023 at 04:50 AM.
H
Ha - Legs
Haeis - Excrement / Poop
Haeisfuns - Head Bun / Head Knot
Haek - Phlegm
Hans Neix - Now / Present / At The Moment
Hauus - Older Sister
Heen - Idle Time or Spare Time (as a noun) / Easy (as an adjective)
His - Year (could be a borrowing from Hainan Min, the native Hlai word for year is Boux)
Hla - Fish
Hlaety - Blood
Hlaeu Fei - Flame
Hlaeus - Heart
Hlai - Hlai People (Endonym)
Hlaus - Older Brother (as a noun) / Two (as a numeral)
Hlaus Ghueng - Brothers / Siblings
Hleengs - Bamboo Hat
Hleny - Good
Hlenygong - Treasure
Hleuu - Son-In-Law / Bridegroom
Hleuu Ghueng - Brother-In-Law
Hloei - Many / A Lot
Hloek Cop - Late Night
Hloengtom - Middle / Center
Hluens - Plague / Epidemic
Hluuek - Kid / Child
Hos - Question Particle
Hueis - Leopard (as a noun) / To Take (as a verb)
Huen - Body
Huengs - Claw
Huen Kuun - Body Weight
Hun - Hair or Feathers (as a noun) / To Bring Somebody To Some Place (as a verb)
Hwan - Day / Time
Hwan Neix - Today
Hweek - Banana
Hweengs - Kudzu
Hweuu - Soul
Hwien - Monsters / Devils
Hwiengx - Earrings
Hwiuhwoet - Wind
Hwoek - Heart
Hwoen - Smoke
Hwom - Wine Cake
Hwous - Ridge / Mountain
Hwous Peek - High Mountain
Hwous Tauus - Low Mountain
Hya - Thatch
Hyaens - Sore / Ulcer
Hyanx - Bug
Hyoen - Rice Field Levees
Hyoens - Tip Of Tree Branch
Last edited by MNOPSC1b; 01-29-2023 at 07:38 AM.
To the ones who claim that Hlai is related to or sounds like Japanese, does the Hlai vocabulary listed here is even remotely similar to Japanese? I think they’re very much unrelated.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote