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The Hmong language is complex and tonal, even though words in Hmong are
generally monosyllabic. The Hmong did not have a written language until
missionaries in Laos introduced the Romanized Popular Alphabet(RPA) in
1953.
(more
about RPA...)
The last consonant in a word will determine the tone on which the preceding
vowel is produced. This ending tone also often determines the meaning
of the word. The consonants and their related tones are as follows:
b high tone
j high falling tone
v mid rising tone
s mid-low tone
g low glottalized tone
d low rising tone
These are a few of the Hmong words used in Being Hmong Means Being
Free:
 paj
ntaub (Flower Cloth)
The Hmong are known for their fine needlework. Originally, this needlework
was observable as geometric shapes embroidered onto the backs of shirts,
funeral garments for burials and baby carriers. They have also embroidered
detailed folk stories and reports of other historically significant events
onto cloth.
(Listen to the pronunciation.)
dab nyeg (household spirits)
The dab nyeg are spirits which inhabit various parts of the Hmong
house and protect the household.
(Listen to the pronunciation.)
dab qus (forest spirits)
The dab qus are wild spirits which inhabit certain parts of the
natural landscape and roam around ready to attack or capture human souls.
(Listen to the pronunciation.)
 Txiv
Neeb (shaman)
The shaman acts as the bridge between the spirit world and the living
world. Spirits choose the shaman, who may be either male or female.
(Listen to the shaman.)
 Txiab
neeb
A rattle made of an iron hoop with pieces of of metal on it used by the
shaman.
(Listen to the pronunciation.)
(Listen to the txiab neeb.)
Mej koob
A marriage broker or negotiator in the traditional Hmong wedding.
(Listen to the pronunciation.)
(Listen to the mej koob singing.)
Phib laj
The "best man" in a traditional Hmong wedding.
(Listen to the pronunciation.)
Pe
The groom and phib laj bow to pay homage to all male relatives and members
of the household.
(Listen to the pronunciation.)
 Kab
taub
A game played with a bamboo ball that looks like a cross between volley
ball and soccer.
(Listen to the pronunciation.)
qeej
 The
Hmong have a few, very specialized musical instruments. The main instrument
is called the qeej. This consists of six bamboo pipes of various
lengths, which pass through a wind chest of hardwood. A long neckpiece
tapers up from the wind chest to a metal mouthpiece. The haunting music
that is played can be heard both during the players' intake and exhalation
of breath, making the sound continuous. Hmong music is distinctive in
that it is closely tied to their lyrical, tonal language. For the Hmong,
music can actually "speak" their language.
(Listen to the music.)
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