The people of Phú Quý Island District often communicate with each other using “Tiếng Hòn”, a unique dialect specific to the indigenous residents of Phú Quý.
Over the centuries, the accent has undergone many changes, and each of the island’s three communes now has a distinct way of speaking. Locals say this difference is due in part to the influence of the island’s naturally “hard” water. For example, some residents in Long Hải Tây (Bãi Dừa hamlet) speak quickly, softly, and often mispronounce words while still writing them correctly. For instance, they might pronounce “hết” as “hớt”, “mệt” as “mợt”, “rõ” as “dõ”, and vowels like “a” are often pronounced as “e”. Interestingly, the letter “v” is usually pronounced correctly.
The vowel “e” dominates in local pronunciation, and when combined with shifting intonation and melodic patterns, it can leave outsiders baffled and smiling in confusion. This transformation of “a” into “e” is similar to the speech patterns found in Bình Định, Quảng Ngãi, and Phú Yên provinces.
Elderly islanders still use ancient words, such as calling the sky “ông Blời” (instead of “ông Trời”) and the moon “ông Klăng” (instead of “ông Trăng”).
The way Hòn people speak resembles singing with the rhythm of ocean waves. Beyond geographical influences, this speech pattern is rooted in the island’s diverse cultural heritage, including the Chăm people, settlers from Lý Sơn Island (Quảng Ngãi), Chinese immigrants, and people from Bình Thuận. The vocal range used in conversation involves just two main tonal shifts—one rising sharply and one falling swiftly—making the dialect quite difficult for outsiders to comprehend. Before the 1980s, it was nearly impossible for mainlanders to understand islanders speaking among themselves without someone to interpret.
No one knows exactly when Tiếng Hòn originated. Locals simply say that by the time they learned to read and write, they had already mastered this distinctive dialect. Many Phú Quý natives have gone on to achieve academic success and establish careers all over the country. Yet, whenever they return home, they naturally slip back into this rustic and heartfelt way of speaking.
The people of Phú Quý deeply value Tiếng Hòn, passed down through generations as a treasured linguistic heritage. It is the duty of every islander to preserve and nurture this dialect, which sets Phú Quý apart within the greater tapestry of Vietnamese culture.
