Mảng language
Mảng is an Austroasiatic language of Vietnam, China, and Laos. It is spoken mainly in Lai Châu Province, Vietnam and across the border in Jinping County, China. It was first documented only in 1974.
In China, the Mảng people are also called Chaman, Abi, Mengga, Bageran, and Mo. They are officially classified by the Chinese government as ethnic Bulang .
Distribution
In Lai Châu Province, Vietnam, Mảng is spoken by 2,200 people in the districts of Sìn Hồ, Mường Tè, Phong Thổ, and in other nearby areas, including in Nậm Ban Township, Sìn Hồ District, Lai Châu Province. In China, Mảng speakers numbered 606 people in 1999. The Mảng of China claim to have migrated from Vietnam in recent times. Gao's Mảng data is from Xinzhai, Nanke Village, and Jinshuihe Township.The Jinping County Gazetteer from the Republic of China period lists 12 Mảng villages: Gongdaniu, Luowuzhai, Pinghe, Hetouzhai, Guanmuzhai, Naxizhai, Bianjiezhai, Longshuzhai, Caoguoping, and Nanke.
Phonology
Vowels
Diphthongs iə and ɯə are only found in closed syllables, while ua are more common in open syllables.Suprasegmentals (tone, register)
Mang is described as having five tones distributed in unchecked sonorant-final syllables and another two tones in checked syllables.Lexicon
Numerals
The basic cardinal numbers from 1 to 1000 are:| 1 | măk⁶ |
| 2 | ʑɯəi² |
| 3 | pe³ |
| 4 | pun² |
| 5 | hăn² |
| 6 | ʑɔ̆m² |
| 7 | tăm¹ py³ |
| 8 | tăm¹ ham² |
| 9 | tăm¹ θin² |
| 10 | ʑi³ mɛ⁴ |
| 100 | ran⁵~ʑan⁵ |
| 1000 | păn⁵ |
Vocabulary comparison
Comparison of some basic vocabulary words in Mảng with other branches of Austroasiatic:| Gloss | Mảng | proto-Waic / proto-Palaungic | Khmu | Bolyu | Bugan | proto-Vietic | Mon / Old Mon |
| ‘I’ | ʔuː⁴ | *ʔɨʔ / *ʔɔːʔ | ʔoʔ | ʔaːu⁵⁵ | ɔ³¹ | *soː | ʔoa / ʔɔj |
| ‘water’ | ʑum¹ | *rʔom / *ʔoːm | ʔom | nde⁵³ | nda²⁴ | *ɗaːk | dac / ɗaik |
| ‘two’ | ʑɨəj⁴ | *ləʔar / *ləʔaːr | baːr | mbi⁵⁵ | bi³¹ | *haːr | ba / ɓar |
| ‘fire’ | ɲɛ² | *ŋɒl / *ŋal | pʰrɨə | mat³³ | a̠u³¹ | *guːs | kəmot / – |
| ‘blood’ | haːm¹ | *hnam / *snaːm | maːm | saːm⁵³ | sa⁴⁴ | *ʔasaːmʔ | chim / chim |
| ‘five’ | han² | *phɒn / *pəsan | me³¹ | mi⁴⁴ | *ɗam | pəsɔn / sun | |
| ‘eye’ | mat⁷ | *ʔŋaj / *ˀŋaːj | mat | mat⁵³ | mɛ̱³³ | *mat | mòt / mɔt |