Bisu language


Bisu is a Loloish language of Thailand, with a couple thousand speakers in China. Varieties are Bisu proper and Laomian, considered by Pelkey to be distinct languages.
The Laomian are classified within the Lahu ethnic group; the Lahu proper call them the "Lawmeh".

Distribution

According to Bisuyu Yanjiu 毕苏语研究, there are over 5,000 Bisu speakers in Yunnan, China, and a total of nearly 10,000 Bisu speakers in all countries combined. Within Yunnan, it is spoken mostly in Pu'er Prefecture, as well as neighboring parts of Xishuangbanna.
In Thailand, two dialects of Bisu are spoken in the following villages of Phan District, Chiang Rai Province.
Another variety of Bisu differing from the Phayao variety is spoken in Takɔ, Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai Province.
In Laos, Bisu is spoken in Phudokcham village, Phongxaly District.
In Myanmar, Bisu is spoken in three or two villages of Shan State, and Bisu speakers live alongside Pyen speakers

Orthography

In Thailand, the Bisu language is written with the Thai script.

Vowels

There is no different meaning between long and short vowels. However, check syllables may sound shorter than non-checked ones when speaking. Thai standard uses only long vowels.
  • -า – a –
  • -ี – i –
  • -ือ/-ื – ɨ –
  • -ู – u –
  • เ- – e –
  • แ- – ɛ –
  • โ- – o –
  • -อ – ɔ –
  • เ-อ/เ-ิ – ə –
  • เ-ีย – ia –

Tones