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Lao language

Lao (Lao: ພາສາລາວ, [pʰáː.sǎː.láːw]), sometimes referred to as Laotian, is the official language of Laos and a significant language in the Isan region of northeastern Thailand, where it is usually referred to as the Isan language. Spoken by over 3 million people in Laos and 3.2 million in all countries, it serves as a vital link in the cultural and social fabric of these areas. It is written in the Lao script, an abugida that evolved from ancient Tai scripts.[3]

Lao

L1: 3.7 million (2015)[1]
L2: 800,000 (no date)[2]

  • Northern Lao (Louang Phrabang Lao)
  • Northeastern Lao (Phuan)
  • Central Lao
  • Southern Lao
  • Western Lao (Isan)

 Laos

Educational Science Research Institute, Ministry of Education and Sports
and
Institute of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, National University of Laos

Either:
lao – PDR Lao
tts – Isan (Thailand Lao)

laoo1244  Lao
nort2741  Northeastern Thai

47-AAA-c

Lao is a tonal language, where the pitch or tone of a word can alter its meaning, and is analytic, forming sentences through the combination of individual words without inflection. These features, common in Kra-Dai languages, also bear similarities to Sino-Tibetan languages like Chinese or Austroasiatic languages like Vietnamese. Lao's mutual intelligibility with Thai and Isan, fellow Southwestern Tai languages, allows for effective intercommunication among their speakers, despite differences in script and regional variations.[4]


In Laos, Lao is not only the official language but also a lingua franca, bridging the linguistic diversity of a population that speaks many other languages. Its cultural significance is reflected in Laotian literature, media, and traditional arts. The Vientiane dialect has emerged as the de facto standard, though no official standard has been established. Internationally, Lao is spoken among diaspora communities, especially in countries like the United States, France, and Australia, reflecting its global diasporic presence.[5]

ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆເດີ້ (khǭp chai lāi lāi dœ̄, /kʰɔ᷆ːp tɕàj lǎːj lǎːj dɤ̂ː/) Thank you very much.

ຂ້ານ້ອຍເຮັດບໍ່ໄດ້ດອກ (khānǭi het bǭ dai dǭk, /kʰa᷆ː nɔ̂ːj hēt bɔ̄ː dâj dɔ᷆ːk/) I cannot.

ໄຂປະຕູໃຫ້ແດ່ (khai pa tū hai dǣ, /kʰǎj páʔ tùː ha᷆j dɛ̄ː/) Open the door, please.

Phonology[edit]

Consonants[edit]

Many consonants in Lao have a labialized and plain form, thus creating a phonemic contrast. The complete inventory of Lao consonants is as shown in the table below:[38][39]

Comparison of Lao and Isan

Comparison of Lao and Thai

Literature of Laos

Romanization of Lao

Lew, Sigrid. 2013.

"A linguistic analysis of the Lao writing system and its suitability for minority language orthographies".

ANSI Z39.35-1979, System for the Romanization of Lao, Khmer, and Pali,  0-88738-968-6.

ISBN

Hoshino, Tatsuo and Marcus, Russel. (1989). Lao for Beginners: An Introduction to the Spoken and Written Language of Laos. Tuttle Publishing.  0-8048-1629-8.

ISBN

Enfield, N. J. (2007). . Berlin and New York: Mouton de Gruyter. ISBN 3-11-018588-1.

A Grammar of Lao

Cummings, Joe. (2002). Lao Phrasebook: A Language Survival Kit. Lonely Planet.  1-74059-168-2.

ISBN

Mollerup, Asger. Thai–Isan–Lao Phrasebook. White Lotus, Bangkok, 2001.  974-7534-88-6.

ISBN

Kerr, Allen. (1994). Lao–English Dictionary. White Lotus.  974-8495-69-8.

ISBN

Simmala, Buasawan and Benjawan Poomsan Becker (2003), Lao for Beginners. Paiboon Publishing.  1-887521-28-3

ISBN

Lao Language and Culture website

Lao True Type Fonts