Welcome to the Hmong Romanized Popular Alphabet (RPA) Founders website

The Hmong, one of Asia’s oldest civilizations, are now spread across the world, from Southeast Asia to the United States, after centuries of migration. In 1952, Dr. Linwood Barney, Father Yves Bertrais, and Dr. William Smalley created the Hmong RPA in Laos, providing the Hmong people with their first written language. Today, the RPA is widely used for communication, education, and cultural preservation, making a lasting impact on the social and political development of the Hmong community worldwide.

Txiv Plig Cov Lus

Father Yves Bertrais words

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Txhais Cov Lus Teev Ntuj

Vocabulary for worship

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Hais Saw Mab Liab

Rosary book

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Nkauj Cav Txog Tswv Ntuj

Hmong Hymnals

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Kawm Ntawv Hmoob RPA

Learn Hmong software

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Hmong RPA Founders

Watch the Hmong RPA Founders video

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What this website is for and who created it

This website is dedicated to the memory of Father Yves Bertrais and the founders of the Hmong Romanized Popular Alphabet (RPA) system, whose work has had a lasting impact on the Hmong community worldwide. It was created by Xia Vue Yang, who was born in Nong Het, Laos, and later moved to Xieng Khouang after the defeat of the French in 1954. Xia Vue began his education in Ban Phapong (1958-1960) and continued his studies in Vientiane (1962-1971) before going to France (1971-1977) to study engineering. After a diverse career, including working in the United Arab Emirates oil drilling platforms (1977-1981), he and his wife immigrated to the United States of America and worked as chemical engineer with Ametek then Pentain Water Filtration in Sheboygan. While working with this company (1981-2004), he received Six US Patents for the design and manufacturing of water filters and filtration systems marketing throughout the world. He founded the Hmong Mutual Assistance Association of Sheboygan, and the Hmong Sheboygan Radio from 1983 to 2019. He established this site to honor the legacy of those who contributed to the development and preservation of the Hmong Romanized Popular Alphabet (RPA).