TONAL VARIATION IN THE (1) A1-2-3-4 (A1=A3, A2=A4), LUE DIALECTS OF comprising patterns 1 and 6; (2) A1-23-4, comprising patterns 2 and 7, THAILAND (3) A1-234, comprising patterns 3 and 8, (4) A12-34, comprising pattern 4; and 1 Kanita Chaimano (5) A123-4, comprising patterns 5 and 9. The tonal system and tone features of Abstract pattern 3/2 were found to be distributed widely in many provinces (Chiang Mai, This study analyzes the tonal variation of Lamphun, Lampang, and Nan). The tonal Lue dialects spoken in Thailand. These system and tone features of patterns 5/1 dialects are classified into groups based and 8/2 are found in Chiang Rai province; on structural differences in their tonal and those of patterns 4 and 7/1, in Chiang systems, and this classification then forms Mai province. the basis for a linguistic map of Thailand’s Lue dialects. The data were collected from Introduction 45 villages in 7 provinces in the northern part of Thailand. Three informants were According to Ruengdet Pankhuenkhat’s selected to represent each village, for a (1988) classification of the Tai language total of 135 informants participating in family, Lue has two main dialects: Lue this research. William J.Gedney’s (1972) and Yong. Some linguists identify the Lue wordlist was used to elicit tonal data. The and the Yong as belonging to a single tonal features of the dialects were ethnic group. Indeed linguistically, the analyzed using auditory information and Yong living in Thailand are of the same the personal computer programs “PRAAT, group as the Lue, but both of them call ver.4.5.12” and Microsoft Excel. themselves Yong because they originated in Mueang Yong, Myanmar. Maliwan My research categorizes the Lue dialects Tuwakham (2005) expands on this by into two major classes with tonal systems noting that the Yong were originally Lue consisting of, five and six tones, respectively. speakers who migrated from Sipsongpanna Deeper analysis of each dialect’s tonal to Mueang Yong in the Shan state of system and tone features supports further Myanmar, where they assumed power over division into nine basic patterns (patterns the indigenous people. The Lue then became 1–5 with five tones and pattern 6–9 with the majority group in Mueang Yong and six tones), with additional subdivisions in renamed themselves Yong after the name pattern 3, 5, 7, and 8. Furthermore, these of Mueang where they were living. When nine basic patterns may also be organized these Lue were later forced to move to into five groups based on the tone splits Lamphun, Thailand, they preserved their and mergers in column A of Gedney’s ethnicity by insisting that they were Yong. (1972) tone chart: A number of previous studies have investigated the sound systems of Lue and Yong, surveying the languages as they are 1 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Linguistics, spoken both in Thailand and in other Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand countries with Lue and Yong populations. Downloaded from Brill.com09/23/2021 02:57:39PM via free access MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities, Special Issue No.17, 2009 Because those studies utilized data collected location. Comparative studies of Lue and/or both here and abroad, their phonological Yong dialects from different locations analysis differs in terms of consonant have not yet been conducted. The present phonemes and tonal systems, Tonal systems study addresses this lack by presenting an of Lue and Yong presented in those overview of the tonal systems of all Lue studies are summarized in tables 1 and 2. dialects in Thailand (including Yong dialects as a subclass of Lue), using tonal These previous studies on the tonal system analysis to classify these dialects, and and tone features of both Lue and Yong providing a linguistic map of Lue dialects, dialects surveyed dialects in only one which has never been done before. Table 1: The tonal system of Lue dialects Researcher Area(s) Studied Number Tones of Tones Chamnan Chiang Kham, Chiang Rai 5 1. mid level Rodhetphai (1974) 2. low level 3. high falling 4. high rising 5. low rising Seree Veroha Ban Yon, Tambon Yong, 6 1. mid level (1975) Chiang Kham, Chiang Rai 2. low level 3. high level 4. high falling 5. mid rising 6. low rising Li (1977) Cheng Tong, Yunnan 6 1. mid level (22) 2. mid level (33) 3. low rising (13) or low level (11) 4. high level (55) 5. mid falling (31) 6. high rising (25) Nanthariya Ban Hua Fay, Tambon Kluay 6 1. mid high falling Lamchiagdase Phae, Mueang, Lampang 2. low tone (1984) 3. mid falling 4. high falling 5. high rising 6. mid low falling Pornsawan Ban Sanmafan, Chiang Rai 6 1. mid low rising Ploykaew (1985) 2. high level 3. mid level 4. mid low level 5. low level 6. mid low falling 2 Downloaded from Brill.com09/23/2021 02:57:39PM via free access Tonal Variation in the Lue Dialects of Thailand Objectives of the study grouped on the basis of comparative tonal data. Then a linguistic map of the dialects The purpose of this study is to analyze the will be created based on the tonal systems tonal system and tone features of Lue identified. dialects in Thailand. These dialects will be Table 2: The tonal systems of Yong dialects Researcher Area(s) Studied Number Tones of Tones Ruengdet Pa Sang, Lamphun 6 1. mid Pankhuenkhat 2. low (1978) 3. high 4. falling 5. rising 6. low falling Somchit Davies Ban Don Chai, Mae Tha 6 1. mid level (1979) Valley, Lamphun 2. mid falling 3. lower low level 4. high falling 5. higher low level 6. rising Mary E Sarawit Pa Sang and Makhua Jae, 6 1. mid (1979) Lamphun 2. low 3. high falling 4. mid rising 5. rising 6. low falling Wisuttira Neamnark Mueang, Pa Sang, Ban Hong 6 1. mid (1985) and Mae Tha, Lamphun 2. low rising 3. high falling 4. mid rising 5. mid falling 6. rising falling 3 Downloaded from Brill.com09/23/2021 02:57:39PM via free access MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities, Special Issue No.17, 2009 Methodology system was used to identify the tonal contour of all the Lue dialects. The theoretical orientation of this study follows Gedney’s (1972) checklist for These results formed the basis for a determining tones. The Lue dialects under description the tonal system and tone consideration will be classified on the features of Lue dialects. Comparison of basis of their tone splits and mergers. In the tonal systems was used to classify the numbering the tones in this research, tones dialects into groups, and these groups were on smooth syllables are numbered, while then displayed in language maps. the tones on checked syllables are treated as allotones of smooth-syllable tones. Research Instruments The tone features of Thailand’s Lue Gedney’s (1972) checklist for determining dialects were analyzed using the software tones has been adapted for this research. program “PRAAT, ver.4.5.12”. First, each The wordlist comprises minimal sets or word uttered was recorded with the pairs. For each consonant class, I have program, and then the program calculated selected words which evince the maximum the fundamental frequencies and the number of similarities across the tone fundamental frequency curves of each columns so that, in most cases, the only utterance. The results are displayed as the differences among words in a single row relation between the fundamental frequency are the tones. Such a selection prevents the and the duration of each tone. elicited tonal data from being affected by differences in consonant or vowel sounds Microsoft Excel was used to plot charts and thus producing errors in the tonal the fundamental frequencies, producing analysis. tonal contours for each word. A number Table3: A checklist for determining tone in Lue dialects A B C DS DL 1 phǎ: phà: phâ: phàk (nâ:) phà:k ‘cliff’ ‘to chop’ ‘cloth’ ‘vegetable’ ‘forehead’ 2 pa: pà: pâ: pàk pà:k ‘to throw’ ‘forest’ ‘aunt’ ‘to stick in’ ‘mouth’ 3 ba:n bà: bâ: bàt bà:t ‘to bloom’ ‘shoulder’ ‘mad’ ‘card’ ‘to cut’ 4 tha: thâ: thá: thák thâ:k ‘to rub’ ‘pier’ ‘to challenge’ ‘to greet’ ‘snail’ 4 Downloaded from Brill.com09/23/2021 02:57:39PM via free access Tonal Variation in the Lue Dialects of Thailand Data collection local area. The nonlinguistic criterion was that villagers should continue to engage in The area studied covered seven provinces: traditional practices or important Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, ceremonies and rituals, such as the call for Lampang, Phrae, Nan, and Phayao. These the tutelary spirit, the chasing of unlucky seven provinces contain 37 districts. In past deeds, and the ceremony for good most cases, one village was chosen from fortune. All told, this produced a total of each district, and three informants were 45 villages and 135 informants. The selected to represent each of these villages. informants were all women not less than This held true for the 29 districts where all 50 years old. speakers identified themselves as Lue. In eight of the districts, however, villagers Tone comparison of Lue dialects self-identification divides them into two in Thailand groups: Lue and Yong. Therefore, two villages were chosen from each of these Comparison of tone numbers districts, making 16 villages with three informants each. Villages selected had to The tonal systems of the Lue dialects meet two linguistic criteria and one spoken in Thailand have either five or six nonlinguistic criterion. The linguistic criteria tones on smooth syllables.