Tai Muong Vat language


Tai Muong Vat is a Southwestern Tai language spoken in Yên Châu District, Sơn La Province, northwestern Vietnam. Tai Muong Vat is described in Theraphan Luang-Thongkum. Theraphan's Tai Muong Vat data was collected in the following 2 villages.
Theraphan points out that Tai Muong Vat is not the same as the Tai Dam language, even though the Tai Muong Vat are surrounded by Tai Dam speakers in Yên Châu District, Vietnam. This was first noted by Chamberlain, who suggests that it may be more closely related to the Tai Neua variety of Xieng Kho, Laos than to Tai Dam of Son La, Vietnam. Tai Dam is the dominant language in Yên Châu, while Ksingmul, a Khmuic language, is also spoken in both Yên Châu and Xieng Kho. As a result, the Tai Muong Vat and Ksingmul share many cultural customs with the Tai Dam, and have similar ethnic dress as well.
Additionally, like Lao, Tai Muong Vat is a /ph/-type language, rather than a /p/-type language like Tai Dam .
Theraphan lists the following lexical differences between Tai Muong Vat and Tai Dam.
GlossTai Muong VatOld Black Tai
to shootɲiŋ A2*bɛn B1
to crave forzaak DL1*ʔɛ B1
cheaphɛ A1*tʰuʔ D1
guntʰuŋ B1*ʔoŋ B1
to practicetʰɤp DS2*ʔɛp D1
spearcaw B1*hɔʔ D1
soaking wetmɯk DS1*cɯm A2
small basketsa-lɔ C1*sɔŋ C1
to fanpʰɤŋ A2*vi ~ bi A2
dip-netviŋ A1*ka-sa A1