# Hlai languages

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Kra–Dai language family of China

Hlai Li Ha dialect Qi dialect Run dialect Meifu dialect) Jiamao language Native to China Region Hainan Ethnicity Hlai Native speakers (667,000 cited 1999)[1] Language family Kra–Dai Hlai–Jiamao? Hlai Early form Proto-Hlai (reconstructed) Writing system Latin Language codes ISO 639-3 Either: lic – Hlai cuq – Cun Glottolog nucl1241 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.

The **Hlai languages** ([Chinese](/source/Simplified_Chinese_characters): 黎语; [pinyin](/source/Pinyin): *Líyǔ*) are a primary branch of the [Kra–Dai](/source/Kra%E2%80%93Dai_languages) language family spoken in the mountains of central and south-central [Hainan](/source/Hainan) in [China](/source/China) by the [Hlai people](/source/Hlai_people), not to be confused with the colloquial name for the [Leizhou](/source/Leizhou_Min) branch of Min Chinese ([Chinese](/source/Simplified_Chinese_characters): 黎话; [pinyin](/source/Pinyin): *Líhuà*). They include [Cun](/source/Cun_language), whose speakers are ethnically distinct.[2] A quarter of Hlai speakers are monolingual. None of the Hlai languages had a writing system until the 1950s, when the [Latin script](/source/Latin_script) was adopted for Ha.

## Classification

Norquest (2007) classifies the Hlai languages as follows.[3] There are some 750,000 Hlai speakers.

- [Proto-Hlai](/source/Proto-Hlai_language) - Bouhin (*Hēitǔ* 黑土) – 73,000 - Greater Hlai - Ha Em 哈炎 (*Zhōngshā* 中沙) – 193,000 - Central Hlai - East Central Hlai – 344,000 - Lauhut (*Bǎodìng* 保定) – 166,000, the basis of the literary language - Qi 杞 (also known as *Gei*) – 178,000 - Tongzha (*Tōngshí* 通什) – 125,000 - Zandui (*Qiànduì* 堑对) – 29,000 - *Bǎotíng* 保亭 – 24,000 - North Central Hlai – 136,500 - Northwest Central Hlai – 62,500 - [Cun](/source/Cun_language) 村语 (Ngan Fon, *Gēlóng* 仡隆) – 60,000 - *Nàdòu* 那斗 (*Dōngfāng* 东方) – 2,500 - Northeast Central Hlai – 74,000 - *Měifú* 美孚 (Moifau) – 30,000 - *Chāngjiāng* 昌江 - Moyfaw (*Xīfāng* 西方) - *Rùn* 润 (*Zwn*; also known as *Běndì* 本地) – 44,000 - *Báishā* 白沙 – 36,000 - *Yuánmén* 元门 – 8,000

Nadou is spoken by approximately 4,000 people in the two villages of *Nàdòu* 那斗村 (in *Xīnlóng* Town 新龙镇) and *Yuè* 月村 (in *Bāsuǒ* Town 八所镇), in [Dongfang, Hainan](/source/Dongfang%2C_Hainan). Speakers refer to themselves as *lai¹¹* and are officially classified by the Chinese government as ethnic Han Chinese.[4]

[*Jiāmào*](/source/Jiamao_language) 加茂 (52,000 speakers) is a divergent Kra-Dai language with a Hlai superstratum and a non-Hlai substratum.[3]

## Reconstruction

Main article: [Proto-Hlai language](/source/Proto-Hlai_language)

The Proto-Hlai language is the [reconstructed](/source/Linguistic_reconstruction) ancestor of the Hlai languages. Proto-Hlai reconstructions include those of Matisoff (1988), Thurgood (1991), Ostapirat (2004), and Norquest (2007).

## Phonology

The following displays the phonological features of the modern Hlai dialects:[5][6][7]

### Consonants

Bilabial Labio- dental Alveolar Alveolo- palatal Velar Glottal plain lab. plain lab. pal. Plosive voiceless p t ȶ k kʷ ʔ aspirated pʰ tʰ kʰ kʰʷ voiced ɡ ɡʷ implosive ɓ ɗ Affricate voiceless t͡s aspirated t͡sʰ Fricative voiceless f s x h hʷ hʲ voiced v z ɣ lateral ɬ Nasal m (ɱ) n ȵ ŋ ŋʷ Trill r Approximant l ˀj ˀw

- [ɬ], [f] mainly occur word-initially among various dialects. [ɬ] may also be realized as [tɬ].

- [[x](/source/Voiceless_velar_fricative)], [[ɣ](/source/Voiced_velar_fricative)] mainly occur among the Xifang dialects.

- [ɣ] can also occur as an allophone of /ɡ/.

- /t͡s/, /t͡sʰ/, /z/ are pronounced as alveolo-palatal sounds [t͡ɕ], [t͡ɕʰ], [ɕ], among other various dialects.

- /r/ can have allophones as [ɾ, dɾ].

- For a brief period of time Yuanmen distinguished /m/ and /ɱ/ after */ŋw/ became /ɱ/ which soon merged with /m/.[8]

### Vowels

Front Central Back High i ɯ u Mid e ə o ɛ ɔ Low a

- Among other Hlai dialects, /a, i, e, o/ can have allophones of [ɐ, ɪ, ɛ, ɔ].

- Vowel sounds /ɛ/ and /ɔ/ are common among the Baisha and Jiamao dialects.

- /ə/ occurs among some dialects.

## History

Liang & Zhang (1996:18–21)[9] conclude that the original homeland of the Hlai languages was the [Leizhou Peninsula](/source/Leizhou_Peninsula), and estimate that the Hlai had migrated across the [Hainan Strait](/source/Hainan_Strait) to Hainan Island about 4,000 years before present.[9]

According to Ostapirat (2026), Hlai originated much further to the southwest from north-central Vietnam. The ancestors of present-day Hlai speakers migrated directly to southern Hainan but not northern Hainan, since they followed a migration route that skipped the [Leizhou Peninsula](/source/Leizhou_Peninsula).[10]

## See also

- [Proto-Hlai reconstructions](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Proto-Hlai_reconstructions) (Wiktionary)

- [Has Hlai grammar](/source/Has_Hlai_grammar)

- [Hlai people](/source/Hlai_people)

- [Proto-Hlai language](/source/Proto-Hlai_language)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-e18_1-0)** [Hlai](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/lic/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required) [Cun](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/cuq/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Ethnologue mistakenly lists Cun among the [Kra languages](/source/Kra_languages).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Norquest_2007_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Norquest_2007_3-1) Norquest, Peter K. (2007). *A Phonological Reconstruction of Proto-Hlai* (Ph.D. thesis). University of Arizona. [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[10150/194203](https://hdl.handle.net/10150%2F194203).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Fu, Changzhong 符昌忠 (2020). *Nadouyu yanjiu 那斗语研究*. Beijing: Minzu chubanshe 民族出版社. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1294545717](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1294545717).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Ostapirat, Weera (2008). "The Hlai Language". In Diller, Anthony V. N.; Edmondson, Jerold A.; Luo, Yongxian (eds.). *The Tai-Kadai Languages*. London & New York: Routledge. pp. 623–652.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Yuan, Zhongshu 苑中树, ed. (1994). *Líyǔ yǔfǎ gāngyào* 黎语语法纲要 [*An Outline of Li Grammar*] (in Chinese). Beijing: Zhongyang minzu daxue chubanshe. pp. 1–10.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Ouyang, Jueya 欧阳觉亚 (1980). *Líyǔ jiǎnzhì* 黎语简志 [*Description of the Li language*] (in Chinese). Beijing: Minzu chubanshe.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Norquest (2007)](https://repository.arizona.edu/bitstream/handle/10150/194203/azu_etd_2517_sip1_m.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y), p. 106

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Liang_1996_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Liang_1996_9-1) Liang, Min 梁敏; Zhang, Junru 张均如 (1996). *Dòng tái yǔzú gàilùn* 侗台语族概论 [*An Introduction to the Kam–Tai Languages*] (in Chinese). Beijing: Zhongguo shehui kexue chubanshe. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9787500416814](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9787500416814).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Ostapirat2026_10-0)** Ostapirat, Weera (2026). "Kra-Dai Migration and Austro-Tai Numerals". In Kikusawa, Ritsuko; Okamoto, Susumu; Suzuki, Hiroyuki (eds.). [*Establishing Spatiotemporal Linguistics: Toward an Interdisciplinary Approach to the History of Language and of Human Movement*](https://brill.com/display/book/9789004762077/BP000011.xml). Brill. p. 41–54. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1163/9789004762077-004](https://doi.org/10.1163%2F9789004762077-004). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-04-76207-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-76207-7).

## References

- Ostapirat, Weera (2005). ["*The Cun Language*, by Ouyang Jueya. Shanghai Far East Publishers. 1998"](http://sealang.net/sala/archives/pdf8/weera2005review.pdf) (PDF). *Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area*. **28** (1): 99–105.

- Ouyang, Jueya 欧阳觉亚; Zheng, Yiqing 郑贻青 (1983). *Líyǔ diàochá yánjiū* 黎语调查研究 [*Li Language Investigation and Research*] (in Chinese). Beijing: Zhongguo shehui kexue chubanshe.

## Further reading

- [Miyake, Marc](/source/Marc_Miyake). 2013. The other Kra-Dai numerals (Parts [1](http://www.amritas.com/131005.htm#10052320), [2](http://www.amritas.com/131012.htm#10062359)).

- [Miyake, Marc](/source/Marc_Miyake). 2011. [Is Jiamao Hlai?](http://www.amritas.com/110924.htm#09202204)

- [Miyake, Marc](/source/Marc_Miyake). 2008. [Hlai -ɯ](http://www.amritas.com/080607.htm#06072354).

- [Miyake, Marc](/source/Marc_Miyake). 2008. Implosives on Hainan (Parts [1](http://www.amritas.com/080719.htm), [2](http://www.amritas.com/080726.htm)).

- [Miyake, Marc](/source/Marc_Miyake). 2008. [Hlai initial verification](http://www.amritas.com/080621.htm#06172348).

- [Miyake, Marc](/source/Marc_Miyake). 2008. [Hlai initial glides](http://www.amritas.com/080614.htm#06092330).

- [Miyake, Marc](/source/Marc_Miyake). 2008. [Hlai palatal codas](http://www.amritas.com/080614.htm#06082323).

- 中国科学院少数民族语言调查第一工作队海南分队编. 1957. Guanyu huafen Liyu fangyan he chuangzuo Liwen de yijian 关于划分黎语方言和创作黎文的意见. 黎族语言文字问题科学讨论会.

- Norquest, Peter K. 2015. [*A Phonological Reconstruction of Proto-Hlai*](https://brill.com/view/title/32092). Languages of Asia, Volume 13. Leiden: Brill. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-04-30052-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-30052-1)

## External links

***[Hlai test](https://incubator.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wp/lic)*** of [Wikipedia](/source/Wikipedia) at [Wikimedia Incubator](https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Incubator)

- [Bible recordings in various Hlai languages](http://globalrecordings.net/language/10649)

- [ABVD: Proto-Hlai word list](https://web.archive.org/web/20150114122049/http://language.psy.auckland.ac.nz/austronesian/language.php?id=692)

- [Hlai-language Swadesh vocabulary list of basic words](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Swadesh_lists_for_Tai–Kadai_languages) (from Wiktionary's [Swadesh-list appendix](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Swadesh_lists))

- [Hlai languages learning website](https://tunhlai.com/) (both in Mandarin Chinese and English)

v t e Languages of China Official Standard Chinese Varieties of Chinese Danzhou Mandarin Northeastern Beijing Ji-Lu Jiao-Liao Zhongyuan Lan-Yin Jin Southwestern Sichuanese Southeastern Gan Hakka Hui Mai Min Southern Hokkien Teoswa Hainanese Eastern Puxian Central Northern Shaojiang Pinghua Shaozhou Tuhua Shanke Wu Chu–Qu Jiangshan Qingtian Quzhou Oujiang Taihu Jinxiang Northwestern Changzhou Hangzhou Northern Zhejiang Ningbo Shaoxing Su–Jia–Hu Shanghainese Suzhou Wuxi Taizhou Taizhou proper Wuzhou Jinhua Xuanzhou Xiang New Old Yue Cantonese Regional ARs / SARs CantoneseHK/MC EnglishHK MongolianNM PortugueseMC TibetanXZ UyghurXJ ZhuangGX Prefecture Hmong Kam Bouyei Tujia Korean Qiang Yi Kyrgyz Kazakh Tai Nüa Tai Lü Zaiwa Lisu Bai Hani Zhuang Counties/Banners numerous Indigenous Sino-Tibetan languages Lolo- Burmese Mondzish Kathu Maang Manga Mango Maza Mondzi Muangphe Burmish Achang Chashan Lashi Lhao Vo Pela Xiandao Zaiwa Loloish Hanoish Akeu Akha Amu Angluo Asuo Baihong Bisu Budu Bukong Cosao Duoni Duota Enu Habei Hani Honi Jino Kabie Kaduo Lami Laomian Laopin Mpi Muda Nuobi Nuomei Phana’ Piyo Qidi Sadu Sangkong Suobi Tsukong Woni Yiche Lisoish Eka Hlersu Kua-nsi Kuamasi Laizisi Lalo Lamu Lavu Lawu Limi Lipo Lisu Lolopo Mangdi Micha Mili Sonaga Toloza Xuzhang Yangliu Zibusi Nisoish Alingpo Alugu Aluo Axi Azha Azhe Bokha Gepo Khlula Lope Moji Muji Muzi Nasu Nisu Nuosu Phala Phola Phowa Phukha Phuma Phupa Phupha Phuza Samei Sani Thopho Zokhuo Other Gokhy Katso Kucong Lahu Naruo Namuyi Naxi Nusu Samu Sanie Zauzou Qiangic Baima Choyo Ersu Guiqiong Horpa Japhug Khroskyabs Laze Lizu Na Muya Namuyi Naxi Pumi Northern Qiang Southern Qiang Shixing Situ Tshobdun Zbu Zhaba Tibetic Amdo Baima Basum Central Tibetan Choni Dao Dongwang Drugchu Groma Gserpa Khalong Khams Kyirong Ladakhi Tseku Zhongu Zitsadegu Other Bai Caijia Derung Jingpo Longjia Nung Tujia Waxianghua Other languages Austroasiatic Bit Blang Bolyu Bugan Bumang Hu Kuan Mang Man Met Muak Sa-aak Palaung Riang U Va Wa Hmong–Mien Hmongic A-Hmao Bu-Nao Gejia Guiyang Hm Nai Hmong Hmu Huishui Kiong Nai Luobohe Mashan Pa-Hng Pa Na Pingtang Qo Xiong Raojia Sanqiao Sheyu Small Flowery Xixiu Younuo Mienic Biao Min Dzao Min Iu Mien Kim Mun Mongolic Bonan Buryat Daur Eastern Yugur Kangjia Khamnigan Monguor Oirat Ordos Santa Torgut Kra-Dai Zhuang Bouyei Dai Min Ningming Nong Tai Dam Tai Dón Tai Hongjin Tai Lü Tai Nüa Tai Ya Yang Yei Other Ai-Cham Biao Buyang Cao Miao Chadong Cun Gelao Hlai Jiamao Kam Lakkja Mak Maonan Mulam Naxi Yao Ong Be Paha Qabiao Sui Then Tungusic Evenki Manchu Nanai Oroqen Xibe Turkic Äynu Fuyu Kyrgyz Ili Turki Salar Western Yugur Other Sarikoli (Indo-European) Tsat (Austronesian) Formosan languages (Austronesian) Minority Kazakh Korean Kyrgyz Russian Esperanto Tatar Tuvan Uzbek Vietnamese (Kinh) Wakhi Creole/Mixed E Hezhou Lingling Macanese Maojia Qoqmončaq Tangwang Wutun Extinct Ba–Shu Jie Khitan Old Yue Rouran Saka Tangut Tocharian Tuoba Tuyuhun Xianbei Zhangzhung Sign Chinese Sign Hong Kong Sign Tibetan Sign GX = Guangxi HK = Hong Kong MC = Macau NM = Inner Mongolia XJ = Xinjiang XZ = Tibet

v t e Kra–Dai languages Kra Laha Lachi Paha Buyang En Qabiao Gelao Vandu A'ou Mulao Hagei Telue Qau Kam–Sui Mulam Kam (Dong) Cao Miao Nuoxi (Naxi Yao) Then Maonan Chadong Sui Mak Ai-Cham Biao Biao Lakkia Lakkia Hlai Bouhin Ha Em Lauhut Tongzha Zandui Baoting Cun Nadou Changjiang Moyfaw Baisha Yuanmen Jiamao Jiamao Be–Jizhao Be Jizhao Tai (Zhuang, etc.) Northern Standard Zhuang Bouyei Hezhang Buyi Yei Zhuang Longsang Zhuang E Saek Tai Yo (Nyaw) Yoy Tai Pao Central Nong Zhuang Dai Zhuang Min Zhuang Yang Zhuang Pyang Zhuang Myang Zhuang Nùng Tày Tsʻün-Lao Southwestern (Thai) Northwestern Shan Tai Ya Tai Nuea Tai Long Tai Hongjin Khamti Tai Laing Phake Aiton Khamyang Ahom Turung Lao–Phutai Lao Phu Thai Isan Tai Yo (Nyaw) Lao Nyo Kaloeng Chiang Saen Thai (Siamese) Northern Thai Tai Daeng Tai Meuay Tai Dón Tai Hang Tong Tai Lue Yong Tai Dam Khün Phuan Thai Song Tày Tac Southern Southern Thai (other) Sapa Pa Di Tai Muong Vat Tai Thanh Tai Khang Kuan (mixed) Cao Lan (mixed origins) Hezhang Buyi E Cao Lan Jiamao proposed groupings Kam–Tai Proto-languages Proto-Kra–Dai Proto-Kra Proto-Tai Proto-Kam–Sui Proto-Hlai Italics indicate extinct languages

Authority control databases National United States Israel Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hlai languages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hlai_languages) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hlai_languages?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.