Avala audio word list

Avala (a21 va21 la21) is a previously undocumented Angkuic lect that I had recorded on April 30, 2014 in Bangliu 邦六, Manghuai Township 芒怀乡, Yun County 云县, Yunnan, China. Avala is practically extinct, and there is only one elderly man in the entire village cluster who remembers any words from the language – 83-year-old Chen Zhifang 陈织芳. Chen is hard of hearing and has lost most of his teeth; hence elicitation was difficult, resulting in inconsistent speech as well. Fortunately, of the 30 or so words I managed to elicit from him, he also remembered the autonym. Chen claims he does not remember any more words in Avala other than the ones that I have elicited from him.

Locals in Manghuai Township reported more ethnic Bulang residing in Niuquan 牛圈, Maolan Township 茂兰镇, Yun County, but it is unknown whether they speak Avala (Bulang) or not.

Avala is most similar to Luce’s P’uman and to Bulang of Nanjian County as recorded in Chinese characters by the Nanjian County Gazetteer (1994).