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
20 core words in Thao
Water
nanum
/nanum/
Fire
azpu
/azpu/
Sun
fitulha
/fituʎa/
Moon
lhmiat
/ʎmiat/
Mother
ina
/ina/
Father
ama
/ama/
Eat
kuman
/kuman/
Drink
naqayan
/naqajan/
Love
suka
/suka/
Heart
putul
/putul/
Tree
lhalum
/ʎalum/
House
kayan
/kajan/
Dog
atu
/atu/
Cat
posi
/posi/
Hand
lima
/lima/
Eye
mata
/mata/
Hello
ya
/ja/
Thank you
mihu
/mihu/
One
tata
/tata/
Good
kapah
/kapah/
Sources
Words compared
Compared with related Austronesian languages
| Meaning | Thao | Sakizaya | Amis | Bunun | Tao/Yami | Paiwan | Ngaju |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | nanum /nanum/ | nanum /nanum/ | nanom /nanom/ | danum /danum/ | ranom /ranom/ | zaljum /zaɭum/ | danum /danum/ |
| Fire | azpu /azpu/ | lamal /lamal/ | namal /namal/ | sapuz /sapuz/ | apuy /apuj/ | sapuy /sapui/ | apui /apui/ |
| Sun | fitulha /fituʎa/ | cidal /tʃidal/ | cidal /tsiðal/ | vali /vali/ | araw /araw/ | qadaw /qadaw/ | matanandau /matanandau/ |
| Moon | lhmiat /ʎmiat/ | ʔulalalalal /ʔulalal/ | folad /folað/ | buan /buan/ | vehan /vehan/ | qiljas /qiɭas/ | bulan /bulan/ |
| Mother | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | tina /tina/ | ina /ina/ | kina /kina/ | indu /indu/ |
| Father | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | tama /tama/ | ama /ama/ | kama /kama/ | bapa /bapa/ |
| Eat | kuman /kuman/ | hekal /hekal/ | komaen /komaen/ | maun /maun/ | kuman /kuman/ | keman /kəman/ | kuman /kuman/ |
| Drink | naqayan /naqajan/ | mihecak /mihetʃak/ | minom /minom/ | muqun /muqun/ | minum /minum/ | temekel /təməkəl/ | mihop /mihop/ |
| Love | suka /suka/ | kapah /kapah/ | maolah /maolah/ | madaidaz /madaidaz/ | makakdeng /makakdəŋ/ | nasaqaqa /nasaqaqa/ | sinta /sinta/ |
| Heart | putul /putul/ | gawang /ɡawaŋ/ | faloko' /falokoʔ/ | is-ang /isaŋ/ | paso /paso/ | varung /vaɾuŋ/ | atei /atei/ |
| Tree | lhalum /ʎalum/ | kilang /kilaŋ/ | kilang /kilaŋ/ | kahu /kahu/ | kayo /kajo/ | kasiw /kasiw/ | kayu /kaju/ |
| House | kayan /kajan/ | luma /luma/ | loma' /lomaʔ/ | lumaq /lumaq/ | vahay /vahaj/ | umaq /umaq/ | huma /huma/ |
| Dog | atu /atu/ | waco /watʃo/ | wacu /watsu/ | asu /asu/ | ino /ino/ | vatu /vatu/ | asu /asu/ |
| Cat | posi /posi/ | posi /posi/ | posi /posi/ | ngingiyaw /ŋiŋijaw/ | koving /koviŋ/ | ngiaw /ŋiaw/ | posa /posa/ |
| Hand | lima /lima/ | kamay /kamai/ | kamay /kamaj/ | ima /ima/ | kamay /kamaj/ | lima /lima/ | lengen /ləŋən/ |
| Eye | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | maca /matsa/ | mate /mate/ |
| Hello | ya /ja/ | marayas /maɾajas/ | nga'ay ho /ŋaʔaj ho/ | uninang /uninaŋ/ | akokay /akokaj/ | masalu /masalu/ | tabea /tabea/ |
| Thank you | mihu /mihu/ | lalumahan /lalumahan/ | aray /araj/ | uninang /uninaŋ/ | ayoy /ajoj/ | masalu /masalu/ | sahindai /sahindai/ |
| One | tata /tata/ | cacay /tʃatʃai/ | cecay /tsetsaj/ | tasa /tasa/ | asa /asa/ | ita /ita/ | ije /ije/ |
| Good | kapah /kapah/ | kapah /kapah/ | kapah /kapah/ | masial /masial/ | mapia /mapia/ | nguanguaq /ŋuaŋuaq/ | bahalap /bahalap/ |
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