A Description of Kmhmu’ Lao Script-Based Orthography

Issue Date: 
2013
Is Part Of Series: 
Mon-Khmer Studies, 42
Extent: 
pages 12-25
Abstract: 
Kmhmu’ is a language of the Mon-Khmer language family. Extensive linguistic research and analysis of the varieties of Kmhmu’ spoken in Southeast Asia has led to the grouping of Kmhmu’ into three dialect categories, generally referred to as Northern, Western and Southern (Svantesson 1989). The orthography described in this paper was developed for the Southern dialect and utilizes a Lao-based script. Suksavang and Preisig (Suksavang et al 1994) were instrumental in refining this orthography. This description of the Southern Kmhmu’ orthography explains how the Lao script is used and/or adapted to represent the Kmhmu’ phonemes, presents orthographic conventions for writing words of various structural types and summarizes teaching/learning experiences observed in mother-tongue Kmhmu’ speakers.
Description: 
The Kmhmu’ Lao script-based orthography is an efficient representation of the Southern Kmhmu’ dialect and is being used by the Kmhmu’ community as an effective tool for written communication. This orthography is particularly easy to learn for mother tongue speakers of the Southern Kmhmu’ dialect who can also read and write Lao. The elements of the orthography that are not found in Lao, such as the uniquely- Kmhmu’ final consonants and consonant clusters, require extra practice to learn in order to gain reading fluency. This orthography could also be used in a mother-tongue-first literacy program and would assist learners bridging into Lao language literacy. Further study needs to be done to investigate whether or not this orthography can be used by speakers of the Northern Kmhmu’ dialects by assigning a number of alternate phoneme- grapheme correspondences.
Publication Status: 
Published
Table of Contents: 
1. Introduction 12-13; 2. Kmhmu' orthography 13-17; 3. Orthography conventions 18-22; 4. The Kmhmu' orthography in use 23-24; 5. Summary and outlook 24-25.
Country: 
China
Laos
Vietnam
Subject Languages: 
Content Language: 
Scripts: 
Work Type: 
Nature of Work: 
Entry Number: 
54039