Achang (Ngachang)

The Achang language is a member of the Northern Burmish branch of the Lolo-Burmese language family. It is spoken in parts of Yunnan province in southern China by about 60,000 people (in 2007). Achang speakers are known as Achang or Maingtha, and the native name of the language is Ngachang [ŋa˨˩tʂhaŋ˨˩]. The language is also known as Ngochang, or 阿昌 (Āchāng) in Chinese.

Achang is spoken mainly in the counties of Longchuan (陇川县), Lianghe (梁河县) and Longling (龙陵县), and in Mang City (芒市 - formerly known as Luxi). Each area has its own dialect, and there is little mutual intelligibility between them.

Achang alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

x is pronounced [ɕ] before i
The letters f and r are only used in loanwords

Download a Achang alphabet chart (Excel)

Source: A preliminary Ngochang-Kachin-English Lexicon

Sample text (The Lord's Prayer)

Maukhung mha nyeis, ngamoq dah Uwus eh, Nah nyings gyingshang nyeis bas jungh. Nah munghdan jweh los bas jungh; Maukhung mha nah ehnyet tap joq zis yah dvyhangteh, Nyeisjvng mas eq tap joq bas jungh. Ngamoq chah nyeis dah wom jeis khvnyhik ngamoq lyis dyei aq. Ngamoq lyis cu bang dah yobos lyis ngamoq khyuot dyei zis yah dvyhangteh, Ngamoq cu dah yobos lyis khyuot dyei aq. Ngamoq lyis shiwu yvmas vshwih loh; Ma gis cho mhayah ngamoq lyis khyuot kat aq: khasoeh ge lyis munghdan yomsoq yahge phunk nyoqnho ngelang gas vcaiq vto nah zis nghuot.

Source: https://www.bible.com/en-GB/bible/373/MAT.6.NGCL

Translation

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/2836/GEN.1.LAIAKB

Information provided by Michael Peter Füstumum and Wolfram Siegel

Sample videos

Information about Achang | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about Achang
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achang_language
http://www.ethnologue.com/19/language/acn/
http://wals.info/languoid/lect/wals_code_acn
https://www.academia.edu/7152888/A_preliminary_Ngochang_-_Kachin-_English_Lexicon

Lolo-Burmese languages

Achang, Akha, Bisu, Burmese/Myanmar, Hani, Lahu, Lashi, Lipo, Lisu, Lolopo, Marma, Nisu, Nusu, Nuosu, Sani, Zaiwa

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 13.03.25

[top]

You can support this site by Buying Me A Coffee, and if you like what you see on this page, you can use the buttons below to share it with people you know.

Conversations - learn languages through stories

If you like this site and find it useful, you can support it by making a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or by contributing in other ways. Omniglot is how I make my living.

Note: all links on this site to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.fr are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission if you click on any of them and buy something. So by clicking on these links you can help to support this site.

[top]