Tsat language


Tsat, also known as Utsat, Utset, Hainan Cham, or Huíhuī, is a language spoken by 4,500 Utsul people in Yanglan and Huixin villages near Sanya, Hainan, China. Tsat is a member of the Malayo-Polynesian group within the Austronesian language family, and is one of the Chamic languages originating on the coast of present-day Vietnam.
Unusually for an Austronesian language, Tsat has developed into a solidly tonal language, probably as a result of areal linguistic effects and contact with the diverse tonal languages spoken on Hainan including varieties of Chinese such as Hainanese and Standard Chinese, Tai–Kadai languages such as the Hlai languages, and Hmong–Mien languages such as Kim Mun.

Tonogenesis

Hainan Cham tones correspond to various Proto-Chamic sounds.
Tone value
Type of tone
Proto-Chamic final sound
55High*-h, *-s; PAN *-q
42Falling*-p, *-t, *-k, *-c, *-ʔ; *-ay
Voiced final: default
24Rising*-p, *-t, *-k, *-c, *-ʔ; *-ay
Voiceless final: voiced stop / affricate initial
11LowVowels and nasals
Voiced final: default
33MidVowels and nasals
Voiceless final: voiced stop / affricate initial