Buyang language
Encyclopedia
Buyang is a Tai–Kadai language spoken in Guangnan
and Funing
counties, Yunnan
Province, China
by the Buyang people
. It is important to the reconstruction of Austro-Tai as it retains the disyllabic roots characteristic of Austronesian languages
. Examples are /matɛ́/ "to die", /matá/ "eye", /qaðù/ "head", and /maðû/ "eight". (See Austro-Tai for proposed connections.)
The Buyang language was only recently discovered in 1990 by Chinese linguist Liang Min. In 1999, a doctoral dissertation and book was published for Buyang. The book has also recently been translated into English.
Many speakers of Buyang are also fluent in Zhuang
.
Province, China. It is spoken in at least 8 villages in Gula Township 谷拉乡, Funing County
富宁县, Wenshan Zhuang–Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan
, China. Buyang is divided into the following groups:
Weera Ostapirat (2000) splits the Buyang language into two branches:
Ostapirat also classifies Buyang and Qabiao
together as Eastern Kra, while Paha
is classified as Central Kra. Together, the two branches form one of the two primary Kra
branches, namely Central-East Kra. The En language
has also been recently included in Eastern Kra (also called Yang–Biao, from [Bu]yang–[Pu]biao).
Li (2010) divides the Buyang language as follows:
Eastern
Western (Paha
)
Languages closely related to Buyang include Qabiao
, En
, and also Paha
if considered a separate language.
The three high vowels and the low vowel can be long.
than is any modern dialect of Buyang.
Guangnan County
Guangnan County is located in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China.-Climate:-Historical sites:Grave of Princess Anhua...
and Funing
Funing County
Funing may refer to the following locations in China:*Funing, an old name for Ningde Municipal Region, Fujian*Funing County, Hebei , of Qinhuangdao, Hebei*Funing County, Jiangsu , of Yancheng, Jiangsu...
counties, Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
Province, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
by the Buyang people
Buyang people
The Buyang people are an officially unrecognized Kra ethnic group living in Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan and Napo County, Guangxi in China. They are closely related to the Laha, Qabiao, Gelao, and Lachi...
. It is important to the reconstruction of Austro-Tai as it retains the disyllabic roots characteristic of Austronesian languages
Austronesian languages
The Austronesian languages are a language family widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with a few members spoken on continental Asia that are spoken by about 386 million people. It is on par with Indo-European, Niger-Congo, Afroasiatic and Uralic as one of the...
. Examples are /matɛ́/ "to die", /matá/ "eye", /qaðù/ "head", and /maðû/ "eight". (See Austro-Tai for proposed connections.)
The Buyang language was only recently discovered in 1990 by Chinese linguist Liang Min. In 1999, a doctoral dissertation and book was published for Buyang. The book has also recently been translated into English.
Many speakers of Buyang are also fluent in Zhuang
Zhuang language
The Zhuang languages are any of various Tai languages used by the Zhuang people. Most speakers live in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region within the People's Republic of China, where the Wuming variety is an official language...
.
Subdivisions
The Buyang (布央) dialect cluster is spoken by a total of around 2,000 people living mostly in the Gula (谷拉) River valley of southeastern YunnanYunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
Province, China. It is spoken in at least 8 villages in Gula Township 谷拉乡, Funing County
Funing County
Funing may refer to the following locations in China:*Funing, an old name for Ningde Municipal Region, Fujian*Funing County, Hebei , of Qinhuangdao, Hebei*Funing County, Jiangsu , of Yancheng, Jiangsu...
富宁县, Wenshan Zhuang–Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
, China. Buyang is divided into the following groups:
- Langjia 郎架 is spoken in Langjia 郎架, Funing CountyFuning CountyFuning may refer to the following locations in China:*Funing, an old name for Ningde Municipal Region, Fujian*Funing County, Hebei , of Qinhuangdao, Hebei*Funing County, Jiangsu , of Yancheng, Jiangsu...
富宁县, YunnanYunnanYunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
along the GuangxiGuangxiGuangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
border. It is split by EthnologueEthnologueEthnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...
into Langnian Buyang (ISO 639-3: yln) and E'ma Buyang (ISO 639-3: yzg). The name Langjia comes from Zhuang [laːŋ˧˥tɕaːi˧˩], which means "dried bamboo shoot." - Ecun 峨村 is spoken in Ecun 峨村, Funing CountyFuning CountyFuning may refer to the following locations in China:*Funing, an old name for Ningde Municipal Region, Fujian*Funing County, Hebei , of Qinhuangdao, Hebei*Funing County, Jiangsu , of Yancheng, Jiangsu...
富宁县, YunnanYunnanYunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
along the GuangxiGuangxiGuangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
border. - Yalang 雅郎, also called Yalhong, is spoken in Rongtun 荣屯 (near Longhe Township 龙合乡), Napo CountyNapo CountyNapo County is a county of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Baise city....
那坡, GuangxiGuangxiGuangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
. It is listed in EthnologueEthnologueEthnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...
as Yerong (ISO 639-3: yrn). - PahaPaha languagePaha is a Kra language spoken in northern Guangnan County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan. The two villages are located near the border with Longlin County, Guangxi. Paha is often considered to be part of the Buyang dialect cluster and is the most divergent form...
巴哈 is considered a separate language by Thai linguist Weera Ostapirat. It is spoken in Yangliancun 央连村 (jaaŋ24 lɛŋ31 in Zhuang), Diyu Township 底于乡 and Anshecun 安舍村, Bada Township 八达乡, which are both in Guangnan CountyGuangnan CountyGuangnan County is located in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China.-Climate:-Historical sites:Grave of Princess Anhua...
广南, YunnanYunnanYunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
. It is listed in EthnologueEthnologueEthnologue: Languages of the World is a web and print publication of SIL International , a Christian linguistic service organization, which studies lesser-known languages, to provide the speakers with Bibles in their native language and support their efforts in language development.The Ethnologue...
as Baha Buyang (ISO 639-3: yha).
Weera Ostapirat (2000) splits the Buyang language into two branches:
- North (Buyang Proper): Ecun and Langjia
- South: Yalang (Yalhong)
Ostapirat also classifies Buyang and Qabiao
Qabiao language
Qabiao is a Tai–Kadai language spoken by the Qabiao people in northern Vietnam and Yunnan, China. Alternative names for Qabiao include Kabeo, Ka Beo, Ka Bao, Ka Biao, Laqua, Pubiao and Pen Ti Lolo...
together as Eastern Kra, while Paha
Paha language
Paha is a Kra language spoken in northern Guangnan County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan. The two villages are located near the border with Longlin County, Guangxi. Paha is often considered to be part of the Buyang dialect cluster and is the most divergent form...
is classified as Central Kra. Together, the two branches form one of the two primary Kra
Kra languages
The Kra languages , also called Gēyāng in China, are a branch of the Tai–Kadai family spoken in southern China and in northern Vietnam. Out of the entire Tai–Kadai family, the Kra branch is the least studied...
branches, namely Central-East Kra. The En language
En language
En is a Kra language spoken in Vietnam. Before its discovery in 1998, En language was undistinguished from Nùng, which is a Central Tai language closely related to Zhuang...
has also been recently included in Eastern Kra (also called Yang–Biao, from [Bu]yang–[Pu]biao).
Li (2010) divides the Buyang language as follows:
Eastern
- The Funing CountyFuning CountyFuning may refer to the following locations in China:*Funing, an old name for Ningde Municipal Region, Fujian*Funing County, Hebei , of Qinhuangdao, Hebei*Funing County, Jiangsu , of Yancheng, Jiangsu...
dialects of Ecun 峨村, Dugan 度干, Zhelong 者龙, Nada 那达, Longna 龙纳, Maguan 马贯, Langjia 郎架, and Nianlang 念郎. These villages are known collectively as Buyang Bazhai 布央八寨, or "the eight Buyang villages." Together, they make up the largest group of Buyang speakers, numbering about 1,000 speakers collectively. - Central Pohe Township 坡荷乡, Napo CountyNapo CountyNapo County is a county of Guangxi, China. It is under the administration of Baise city....
, western Guangxi. More than 300 speakers reside in Rongtun 荣屯村 and Gonghe 共合村 villages, while over 100 live in Shanhe 善合, Yong’an 永安, and Guoba 果巴 villages. 400 speakers total.
Western (Paha
Paha language
Paha is a Kra language spoken in northern Guangnan County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan. The two villages are located near the border with Longlin County, Guangxi. Paha is often considered to be part of the Buyang dialect cluster and is the most divergent form...
)
- In Guangnan CountyGuangnan CountyGuangnan County is located in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China.-Climate:-Historical sites:Grave of Princess Anhua...
, Yanglian has around 500 PahaPaha languagePaha is a Kra language spoken in northern Guangnan County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan. The two villages are located near the border with Longlin County, Guangxi. Paha is often considered to be part of the Buyang dialect cluster and is the most divergent form...
speakers, and Anshe only has about 100 speakers left. 600 speakers total.
Languages closely related to Buyang include Qabiao
Qabiao language
Qabiao is a Tai–Kadai language spoken by the Qabiao people in northern Vietnam and Yunnan, China. Alternative names for Qabiao include Kabeo, Ka Beo, Ka Bao, Ka Biao, Laqua, Pubiao and Pen Ti Lolo...
, En
En language
En is a Kra language spoken in Vietnam. Before its discovery in 1998, En language was undistinguished from Nùng, which is a Central Tai language closely related to Zhuang...
, and also Paha
Paha language
Paha is a Kra language spoken in northern Guangnan County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan. The two villages are located near the border with Longlin County, Guangxi. Paha is often considered to be part of the Buyang dialect cluster and is the most divergent form...
if considered a separate language.
Consonants
Buyang has the following consonants.| Labial Labial consonant Labial consonants are consonants in which one or both lips are the active articulator. This precludes linguolabials, in which the tip of the tongue reaches for the posterior side of the upper lip and which are considered coronals... |
Coronal Coronal consonant Coronal consonants are consonants articulated with the flexible front part of the tongue. Only the coronal consonants can be divided into apical , laminal , domed , or subapical , as well as a few rarer orientations, because only the front of the tongue has such... |
Palatal Palatal consonant Palatal consonants are consonants articulated with the body of the tongue raised against the hard palate... |
Velar Velar consonant Velars are consonants articulated with the back part of the tongue against the soft palate, the back part of the roof of the mouth, known also as the velum).... |
Uvular Uvular consonant Uvulars are consonants articulated with the back of the tongue against or near the uvula, that is, further back in the mouth than velar consonants. Uvulars may be plosives, fricatives, nasal stops, trills, or approximants, though the IPA does not provide a separate symbol for the approximant, and... |
Glottal Glottal consonant Glottal consonants, also called laryngeal consonants, are consonants articulated with the glottis. Many phoneticians consider them, or at least the so-called fricative, to be transitional states of the glottis without a point of articulation as other consonants have; in fact, some do not consider... |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| plain | pal. | lab. Labialisation Labialization is a secondary articulatory feature of sounds in some languages. Labialized sounds involve the lips while the remainder of the oral cavity produces another sound. The term is normally restricted to consonants. When vowels involve the lips, they are called rounded.The most common... |
plain | lab. | plain | lab. | plain | lab. | plain | lab. | |||
| Plosive Stop consonant In phonetics, a plosive, also known as an occlusive or an oral stop, is a stop consonant in which the vocal tract is blocked so that all airflow ceases. The occlusion may be done with the tongue , lips , and &... |
plain voiceless | p | pʲ | pʷ | t | tʷ | tʃ | tʃʷ | k | kʷ | q | qʷ | ʔ |
| voiceless aspirated | pʰ | pʲʰ | pʷʰ | tʰ | tʃʰ | kʰ | kʷʰ | qʰ | |||||
| plain voiced Voice (phonetics) Voice or voicing is a term used in phonetics and phonology to characterize speech sounds, with sounds described as either voiceless or voiced. The term, however, is used to refer to two separate concepts. Voicing can refer to the articulatory process in which the vocal cords vibrate... |
b | bʲ | bʷ | d | ɡ | ɡʷ | |||||||
| voiced aspirated | bʱ | bʲʱ | dʱ | ɡʱ | |||||||||
| Fricative Fricative consonant Fricatives are consonants produced by forcing air through a narrow channel made by placing two articulators close together. These may be the lower lip against the upper teeth, in the case of ; the back of the tongue against the soft palate, in the case of German , the final consonant of Bach; or... |
voiceless | f | θ | θʷ | ʃ | ʃʷ | χ | h | |||||
| voiced | ð | ðʷ | ɣ | ||||||||||
| Nasal Nasal consonant A nasal consonant is a type of consonant produced with a lowered velum in the mouth, allowing air to escape freely through the nose. Examples of nasal consonants in English are and , in words such as nose and mouth.- Definition :... |
voiceless aspirated Aspiration (phonetics) In phonetics, aspiration is the strong burst of air that accompanies either the release or, in the case of preaspiration, the closure of some obstruents. To feel or see the difference between aspirated and unaspirated sounds, one can put a hand or a lit candle in front of one's mouth, and say pin ... |
m̥ʰ | n̥ʰ | ɲ̊ʰ | ŋ̊ʰ | ||||||||
| voiced | m | mʲ | mʷ | n | ɲ | ŋ | ŋʷ | ||||||
| Laterals Lateral consonant A lateral is an el-like consonant, in which airstream proceeds along the sides of the tongue, but is blocked by the tongue from going through the middle of the mouth.... |
voiceless | lʱ | |||||||||||
| voiced | l | ||||||||||||
| Approximant Approximant consonant Approximants are speech sounds that involve the articulators approaching each other but not narrowly enough or with enough articulatory precision to create turbulent airflow. Therefore, approximants fall between fricatives, which do produce a turbulent airstream, and vowels, which produce no... |
voiceless | ȷ̊ | w̥ | ||||||||||
| voiced | j | ɥ | w | ||||||||||
Vowels
Buyang has the following vowels.| front | central | back unrounded | back rounded |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | i | ɯ | u | |
| Hi-Mid | e | ə | o | |
| Lo-Mid | ɛ | ɔ | ||
| Low | a |
The three high vowels and the low vowel can be long.
Diachronic evolution of consonants
Pre-Buyang, the stage in the evolution of the language that can be reconstructed from internal evidence, appears to have had a slightly different phonemic inventory than the modern dialects: a voiced stop *ɢ paired with *q, as well as voiced *ɦ alongside *h, and a pair of sibilants *s, *z. In addition, it doesn't appear to have had a series of aspirated consonants, a condition still found in the Ecun dialect. Thus reconstructed pre-Buyang is more similar in its phonemic inventory to reconstructed Proto-AustronesianProto-Austronesian language
The Proto-Austronesian language is the reconstructed ancestor of the Austronesian languages, one of the world's major language families. However, Ross notes that what may be the most divergent languages, Tsou, Rukai, and Puyuma, are not addressed by the reconstructions, which therefore cannot...
than is any modern dialect of Buyang.