2. Syllables¶
Each word is composed of CVT. We will list the consonants, vowels and tones here again.
Consonants (56)
c, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, x, y, z
ch, dh, hl, hm, hn, kh, ml, nc, nk, np, nq, nr, nt, ny, ph, pl, qh, rh, th, ts, tx, xy
hml, hny, nch, nkh, nph, npl, nqh, nrh, nth, nts, ntx, plh, tsh, txh
nplh, ntsh, ntxh
Vowels (13)
a, e, i, o, u, w
ai, au, aw, ee, ia, oo, ua
Tones (7)
j, s, v, m, g, b, _
Pick any single consonant, vowel and tone, and you most likely have spelled a Hmong word, or made a Hmong syllable, at the very least. Let’s say we pick
c(as the consonant),a(as the vowel), andg(as the tone).
The spelling cag is a Hmong word, meaning root (as in tree roots) in English.
Warning
We stated previously that there are 5,200 total possible syllables in RPA, however, this number of permutations does not mean that there are only 5,200 total Hmong words. RPA has limitations; there are Hmong words that RPA cannot spell; some words are spelled exactly the same but are completely different words (homonyms). An example of a homonym is kab which may mean line (as a in straight line) or insect. Lastly, some Hmong words are multi-syllablic.
Considering all these factors, with some very unrealistic and strong assumptions, the theoretical upperbound of permutations of Hmong words based on RPA alone, is huge: \(5200 + ^{5200}P_{2} + ^{5200}P_{3} + ^{5200}P_{4}\). The dominating term \(^{5200}P_{4}\) is already over 730,000,000,000,000 (730 trillion)!
Warning
Sometimes we will state syllable or word, but the context should make the meaning clear.
From this point onward, creating Hmong words should be fun, as it is as easy as mixing and matching elements from C, V and T. The challenge, however, is enunciation, especially with respect to tones.
Note
It might also help to have a geometric view of the space of possible syllables in RPA. By this, we mean, think of the X-Y-Z 3-dimensional (3D) Cartesian coordinate system. When you move along the X, Y and Z axes and stop, you end up with a x-y-z coordinate in 3D space. Instead of X-Y-Z, replace these axes with C-V-T. Of course, there is no cardinality with the consonants, vowels or tones, but we may order them as we have been doing so along these axes. Traveling along these axes will also map to a c-v-t coordinate pointing to a unique syllable.
2.1. Mono-consonant syllables¶
Click on the syllables to hear what they sound like.
j |
s |
v |
m |
g |
b |
_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2.2. Bi-consonant syllables¶
Click on the syllables to hear what they sound like.
j |
s |
v |
m |
g |
b |
_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2.3. Tri-consonant syllables¶
Click on the syllables to hear what they sound like.
j |
s |
v |
m |
g |
b |
_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2.4. Quadra-consonant syllables¶
Click on the syllables to hear what they sound like.
j |
s |
v |
m |
g |
b |
_ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|