Phukha language

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Phukha
Phula
Native toChina, Vietnam
Ethnicity18,000 Phula people (undated – 2009)[1]
Native speakers
100,000 (2008–2011)[1]
Sino-Tibetan
Language codes
ISO 639-3phh
Glottologphuk1235
ELPPhula
This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.

Phukha is a Loloish language spoken by the Phula people of Vietnam and China.[1]

Distribution

Phukha is spoken near Lao Cai town; Xin Mun District of Ha Giang Province and Lai Chau and Son La Provinces in Vietnam and villages in Maguan, Malipo and Hekou Counties in China. Phula people in Yen Bai Province do not speak Phukha but speak Laghuu.

Phonology

Consonants

Phukha has the following consonants.[2]

Labial Coronal Retroflex Palatal Velar Uvular
Plain Lateral Sibilant
Plosive/
Affricate
Aspirated tɬʰ tsʰ tʂʰ tʃʰ
Voiceless p t ts k
Voiced b d ɡ
Fricative Voiceless f s ɬ ʂ ʃ χ
Voiced v z ɮ ʐ ʒ ʁ
Laryngealized ʒ̰
Nasal m n ŋ
Approximant w l j

Vowels

Phukha has the following vowels.[2]

front central back
unrounded rounded
High i ɨ ɯ u
High-mid e ə o
Low-mid ɛ ʌ ɔ
Low a

Tones

Phukha has five tones:[2] high /˥/ (/55/), mid /˧/ (/33/), low /˨/ (/22/), low-rising /˨˦/ (/24/), and low-falling /˨˩/ (/21/).

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Phukha at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b c Pelkey 2005.

References