Hlai

Introduction

Hlai is a language of China. It is spoken in Central and southern Hainan Province, Wanning, Tunchang, Danxiang, Chengmai, Baisha.

Dialects

Bendi (Baisha-Yuanmen, Local Li, Zwn), Ha (Luohua-Hayan-Baoxian), Meifu (Moifau), Qi (Gei, Tongshi-Qiandui-Baocheng). Some dialects may be separate languages. Matisoff (1988) lists 8 varieties: Baoding, Xifang, Tongshi, Baisha, Qiandiu, Heitu, Yuanmen, and Baocheng. Luowo subdialect of Ha dialect is considered the standard. Lexical similarity: 27% with Gelao, 26% with Dong (See: Dong, Northern) and Qabiao (See: Qabiao), 25% with Lachi (See: Lachi?).

The Hlai Verb

Verblist

• caus
• dheng
• ghais
• haus
• tiep
• tun

• beȵ1 -- to fly
• bu:n1 -- to split
• da:n3, pɯ:n1 -- to come
• da3 -- to fear
• fan1 -- to dream
• fe:k7 -- to vomit
• fei1, hei1 -- to walk
• gip7, tsa:u3 -- to hunt
• gwa1 -- to plant
• ha:i1 -- to sniff, smell
• hau3, mi:k8 -- to kill
• hi:ŋ1 zai1, pleɯ1 -- to hear
• hja:u1, o:k9, tshɯp7 -- to drink
• hjut7, tshou1 -- to dig
• ka:i3, to:p7 -- to throw
• ka:ȵ3 -- to bite
• kau2, tso:n1 -- to sleep
• kho:n3 -- to tie up, fasten
• khu:ŋ1, khu:ŋ1 gweɯ1 -- to know, be knowledgeable
• kiu1, la:i3, zu:i3 -- to see
• ɬa:u2, hɯt7 -- to die, be dead
• la2 -- to eat
• ɬan1 -- to choose
• loŋ1 -- to grow
• ma:u1 -- to flow
• ȵop7 -- to sew
• ŋai3 -- to cry
• ŋau1 -- to hide
• ŋop7 -- to think
• ou2 -- to blow
• phi2 -- to spit
• ra:u1 -- to laugh
• ri:n1 -- to say
• ro:ŋ2 -- to cook
• te:k7 -- to chew
• tha:i2 -- to hit
• thok7 -- to fall
• tseɯ1 -- to shoot
• tshaȶ7 -- to buy
• tshi:u3 -- to hold
• tsoŋ3 -- to sit
• tsu:n1 -- to stand
• un1 -- to swell
• vi:p -- to live, be alive
• vo:n1 -- to cut, hack
• vu:k7 -- to work
• wa2 -- to open, uncover
• zok7 -- to steal