We know the two most common Hmong dialects are White Hmong and Green/Blue Hmong with White Hmong the most commonly spoken in the United States, we have yet to discuss nuances of the Hmong language itself and how that applies to language translation.

To begin with, Hmong is a tonal language and was an oral language until Missionaries started writing it in 1952, so new words are constantly being borrowed from Thai, Vietnamese and Lao. This linguistic evolution creates a rich and complex language that should only be translated by professional native speakers.

For instance, when translating into the Hmong language, education translators must keep in mind that this language does not have plural forms and verbs are not conjugated. Instead, Hmong uses an array of “classifiers”, for example, ‘ib lub tsev’ is rendered in English as, ‘one (classifier) house’. Another challenge that professional translators face when translating into Hmong is its lack of abstract terms. For example, “rich” is expressed as “much gold and silver”.

A suggestion we make to school districts is to consider their Hmong populations when writing outreach materials for translations. Generally, it is best to explain education processes and procedures very clearly and think through the proper sequence of explanation, either written or verbal. Always use clear and straightforward terms, such as “teacher” instead of “education professional”. Finally, be aware of information overload, sticking to the basic message streamlines communication and minimizes the potential for mistranslation.

Keep Learning!
Maggie

K12Translate

Translation agencies across the U.S. have received an increasing number of requests for Hmong translation and interpretation services. Over 200,000 Hmong immigrants have come to this country since 1976, with the largest populations settling in Minnesota, Wisconsin and California.

Prior to 1975, the Hmong language did not have a written form, leading many Hmong to be classified as “preliterate”. A 1986 study of 20 refugee families in the U.S. showed that 70% could not read or write Hmong. Although the study is over 20 years old, translating from English to Hmong still presents numerous challenges for school district across the country.

The Hmong language is made up of many dialects spoken by Hmong people across China, Northern Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. The two most common dialects are White Hmong (Hmong Der) and Green/Blue Hmong (Mong Leng). White Hmong is spoken by the majority of Hmong immigrants in the United States. Of course, one must specify which dialect of Hmong will be used when requesting translation services, so that the translation is understood and accepted by the local population.

Knowing the most commonly accepted version of Hmong spoken by your ELL audience, moves you in the right direction to provide accurate education translations for your district’s Hmong population.

Keep Learning!
Maggie
K12Translate