“Mài” and “màng” (in Penang)

[Ah-bin]

Both of these can mean "don"t", as in:

Mài kóng
Màng kóng

Both meaning "don't speak"

What is the difference between them? Chi-le nŌ ê jī ū ha-ha-míh bô-siâng?

I thin it might be that "mài" can be also be used as the negative of "ài" to mean "don't want to" but "màng" just means "don't" in commands.

I kóng i mài khì = He said he didn't want to go
I ka wá kóng "mài khì" = He told me "don't go"

This is the feeling I get from what I have heard, but I'm not sure if it's right or not.

[SimL]

Hi Ah-bin,

You're correct, but perhaps you made a typo in your posting? I think you meant in the second sentence: I ka wá kóng "mang khi".

The tone you use for "màng" is incorrect though. It's simply an elison of "m7-thang1" (= "not should"). The tone-1 going to tone-7 in non-final position makes it sound like "màng".

Cheers,
SimL