Thaw a tnaw
Thao
Austronesian
Thao (Sao, autonymously Thaw a tnaw "the Thao language") is one of the most critically endangered Austronesian languages, with only ~5 fluent native speakers remaining among ~600 ethnic Thao. The Thao are concentrated at Sun Moon Lake (also known as Lake Candidius) in central Taiwan, where they are the original inhabitants. Linguistically, Thao is the only surviving Western Plains Formosan language — sister to several extinct Plains Formosan languages of the Taiwanese west coast (Hoanya, Babuza, Papora, etc.) that died out during 17th-19th century Han Chinese settlement. Thao's linguistic isolation makes it especially valuable for Austronesian historical reconstruction. Recognized as Taiwan's 10th official aboriginal nation in 2001 after extensive community advocacy.
Where it is spoken
31 core words in Thao
Water
nanum
/nanum/
Fire
apuy
/apuj/
Sun
fitulha
/fituʎa/
Moon
furaz
/fuɾað/
Star
fitu'ish
/fituʔiʃ/
Mother
ina
/ina/
Father
ama
/ama/
I
yaku
/jaku/
You
ihu
/ʔihu/
Name
tanan
/tanan/
Eye
maca
/maθa/
Hand
lima
/lima/
Heart
putul
/putul/
Love
suka
/suka/
Tree
lhalum
/ʎalum/
House
kayan
/kajan/
Dog
atu
/atu/
Cat
posi
/posi/
Eat
kuman
/kuman/
Drink
naqayan
/naqajan/
One
tata
/tata/
Two
tusha
/tuʃa/
Hello
ya
/ja/
Thank you
mihu
/mihu/
Good
kapah
/kapah/
Sources
Words compared
Compared with related Austronesian languages
| Meaning | Thao | Sakizaya | Amis | Tao/Yami | Proto-Austronesian | Bunun | Ngaju |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | nanum /nanum/ | nanum /nanum/ | nanom /nanom/ | ranom /ranom/ | *daNum /daNum/ | danum /danum/ | danum /danum/ |
| Fire | apuy /apuj/ | lamal /lamal/ | namal /namal/ | apuy /apuj/ | *Sapuy /Sapuy/ | sapuz /sapuz/ | apui /apui/ |
| Sun | fitulha /fituʎa/ | cidal /tʃidal/ | cidal /tsiðal/ | araw /araw/ | *waRi /waRi/ | vali /vali/ | matanandau /matanandau/ |
| Moon | furaz /fuɾað/ | bulad /bulad/ | folad /folað/ | vehan /vehan/ | *bulaN /bulaN/ | buan /buan/ | bulan /bulan/ |
| Star | fitu'ish /fituʔiʃ/ | bo'is /boʔis/ | fo'is /foʔis/ | vituen /vituən/ | *bituqen /bituqen/ | bintuhan /bintuhan/ | bintang /bintaŋ/ |
| Mother | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | *ina /ina/ | tina /tina/ | indu /indu/ |
| Father | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | *ama /ama/ | tama /tama/ | bapa /bapa/ |
| I | yaku /jaku/ | zaku /ʐaku/ | kako /kako/ | yaken /jakən/ | *aku /aku/ | saikin /saikin/ | aku /aku/ |
| You | ihu /ʔihu/ | kisu /kisu/ | kiso /kiso/ | imo /ʔimo/ | *iSu /iSu/ | suu /suʔu/ | ikau /ikau/ |
| Name | tanan /tanan/ | ngangan /ŋaŋan/ | ngangan /ŋaŋan/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ | *ŋajan /ŋajan/ | ngaan /ŋaan/ | aran /aran/ |
| Eye | maca /maθa/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | *maCa /maCa/ | mata /mata/ | mate /mate/ |
| Hand | lima /lima/ | kamay /kamai/ | kamay /kamaj/ | kamay /kamaj/ | *lima /lima/ | ima /ima/ | lengen /ləŋən/ |
| Heart | putul /putul/ | gawang /ɡawaŋ/ | faloko' /falokoʔ/ | paso /paso/ | *pusuq /pusuq/ | is-ang /isaŋ/ | atei /atei/ |
| Love | suka /suka/ | maolah /maolah/ | maolah /maolah/ | makakdeng /makakdəŋ/ | — /—/ | madaidaz /madaidaz/ | sinta /sinta/ |
| Tree | lhalum /ʎalum/ | kilang /kilaŋ/ | kilang /kilaŋ/ | kayo /kajo/ | *kaSiw /kaSiw/ | kahu /kahu/ | kayu /kaju/ |
| House | kayan /kajan/ | luma /luma/ | loma' /lomaʔ/ | vahay /vahaj/ | *Rumaq /Rumaq/ | lumaq /lumaq/ | huma /huma/ |
| Dog | atu /atu/ | waco /watʃo/ | wacu /watsu/ | ino /ino/ | *asu /asu/ | asu /asu/ | asu /asu/ |
| Cat | posi /posi/ | posi /posi/ | posi /posi/ | koving /koviŋ/ | — /—/ | ngingiyaw /ŋiŋijaw/ | posa /posa/ |
| Eat | kuman /kuman/ | hekal /hekal/ | komaen /komaən/ | kuman /kuman/ | *kaen /kaen/ | maun /maun/ | kuman /kuman/ |
| Drink | naqayan /naqajan/ | mihecak /mihetʃak/ | minom /minom/ | minum /minum/ | *inum /inum/ | muqun /muqun/ | mihop /mihop/ |
| One | tata /tata/ | cacay /tʃatʃai/ | cecay /tsetsaj/ | asa /asa/ | *isa /isa/ | tasa /tasa/ | ije /ije/ |
| Two | tusha /tuʃa/ | tusa /tusa/ | tosa /tosaʔ/ | doa /doa/ | *duSa /duSa/ | dusa /dusa/ | due /ˈdue/ |
| Hello | ya /ja/ | marayas /maɾajas/ | nga'ay ho /ŋaʔaj ho/ | akokay /akokaj/ | — /—/ | uninang /uninaŋ/ | tabea /tabea/ |
| Thank you | mihu /mihu/ | lalumahan /lalumahan/ | aray /araj/ | ayoy /ajoj/ | — /—/ | uninang /uninaŋ/ | sahindai /sahindai/ |
| Good | kapah /kapah/ | kapah /kapah/ | kapah /kapah/ | mapia /mapia/ | — /—/ | masial /masial/ | bahalap /bahalap/ |
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