Does [ni] (this) have 2 tones? Options

[Diamondsmith]

Hello. Could I ask anyone in this forum the following questions?

1) I know that ນີ້ is usually read as a high level tone, but can I read the following ນີ້ as a high falling tone?
ຄ່ຳນີ້; ວານນີ້; ຄົນນີ້; ຕົ້ນນີ້; ໂຕນີ້… …

2) Can ນີ້ be used as the subject or object like:
ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ມັກນີ້ (I don’t like this), or perhaps we can only say: ຂ້ອຍບໍ່ມັກອັນນີ້?
ນີ້ບໍ່ດີ (This is not good), or perhaps we can only say: ອັນນີ້ບໍ່ດີ?

3) If it can be used as the subject or object, then in what tone is it read in this case, a high falling tone or high level tone?

Many thanks!

This post has been edited by Diamondsmith: Jul 24 2012, 07:32 PM

[Buddhalove]

could not see what you were posting.

[Diamondsmith]

could not see what you were posting.

I guess your PC does not have the Lao font. Let me Romanize them. My questions:

1) I know that [ni] is usually read as a high level tone, but can I read the following [ni] as a high falling tone?
kham ni: (tonight);
wa:n ni: (yesterday);
khon ni: (this person);
ton ni: (this plant);
to: ni: (this animal)… …

2) Can [ni] be used as the subject or object when referring to an object, like:
[khoy bo mak ni] (I don’t like this),
(or perhaps we can only say [khoy bo mak an ni]?)
[ni bo di] (This is not good),
(or perhaps we can only say [an ni bo di]?)

3) If it can be used as the subject or object, then in what tone is it read in this case, a high falling tone or high level tone?

Many thanks!

[Buddhalove]

Usually Viengchan and southerner read (Ni) as a high level tone, and northerners usually read high falling tone. At the end of the day, people can still understand you.

Just curious, are you Lao?

[Diamondsmith]

Usually Viengchan and southerner read (Ni) as a high level tone, and northerners usually read high falling tone. At the end of the day, people can still understand you.

Just curious, are you Lao?

Thanks for the reply. I am not Lao. I am learning Thai and find that [nii] in Thai is read as two tones: khon nii "this person" (high level) and ju nii "at this place, in here" (high falling). I check this in a Lao dictionary, [ni:] in Lao is also read as two tones but it does not elaborate when to use which tone. Other Lao grammar books do not talk about this either. I just want to get in contact with some native Lao teachers who speak English.