Yoy language


Yoy is a Tai language of Thailand and Laos. The Yoy language is now in the critical endangered state due to a rapid language shift, which may eventually lead to complete language loss.

Phonology

The phonology of Yoy, according to Phakkahn.

Consonants

Only occur in word-final position. Yoy also has six initial consonant clusters which are,,,,, and.
Some words show alternate pronunciations between the initial syllable consonants:

Vowels

Yoy has two different phonemic vowel lengths. There are nine short vowels and nine long vowels. In the word-final open syllables, there is no contrast between short and long vowels, but in closed syllables and non-final open syllables, short and long vowels are distinctive.

Tones

Yoy has five phonologically distinctive tones in non-checked syllables. Checked syllables in Yoy can carry only tone 1, tone 2, and tone 5.

Vocabulary

Verbs

EnglishYoy
to gopaj³
to openpɤːt⁵
to dreampʰan³
to falltok²
to wash top²
to dietaj³
to waittʰaː⁵
to bitekat²
to asktʰaːm³
to thinkkʰɯt⁴
to throwkʰwæŋ⁵
to smelldom³
to burnʔuːt⁵
to sitmep⁵
to likemak⁵
to smileɲiːm⁴
to wantɲaːk⁵
to eatkin²
to dohet¹
to teachsɔːn³
to runlæn⁴
to playlin⁵

Nouns

EnglishYoy
eyetaː³
sunta¹ wen²
skytʰɔŋ⁴ pʰaː⁵
milktu²
skinkʰiːŋ²
firepʰaj²
mountainpʰu¹ kʰaw³
fishpaː³
woodpæn⁴
treekok¹ maj¹
toothkʰæːw⁵
legkʰaː³
chinkʰaːŋ²
eggkʰaj²
peoplekʰon²
ricekʰaːw⁵
leafbaɯʔ³
soildin³
waternaːm⁴
cloudmek¹
dogmaː³
birdnok⁵
bloodlɯat¹

Adjectives

EnglishYoy
farkaj³
near, short kaɯ⁴
oldkaw¹
newmaj⁵
gooddiː³
fatpʰiː²
beautifultɕop²
reddæŋ³
blackdam³
whitekʰaːw⁵
softʔon⁵
stupidpɯk²
wetʔɯn³
dryhæŋ⁵
bigɲaɯ²
fewnoj⁵