Lao language - wikipedia Lao language Lao ພາສາລາວ phasa lao Pronunciation pháːsǎː láːw Native to Laos, northeastern Thailand Native speakers 20 -- 25 million ( 2004 ) ( 3 million in Laos, 2005 census ) Language family Tai -- Kadai Tai Southwestern Tai ( Thai ) Lao -- Phutai Lao Writing system Lao in Laos Thai in Thailand Thai and Lao Braille Official status Official language in Laos Recognised minority language in Thailand ( Isan ) Cambodia native to provinces of Steung Treng, Preah Vihear, Ratanakiri Language codes ISO 639 - 1 lo ISO 639 - 2 lao ISO 639 - 3 Either : lao -- Laotian Lao tts -- Isan ( Thailand Lao ) Glottolog laoo1244 Lao nort2741 Northeastern Thai Linguasphere 47 - AAA - c This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help : IPA. This article contains Lao text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Lao script. Lao, sometimes referred to as Laotian ( ລາວ ' Lao ' or ພາສາລາວ ' Lao language ' ) is a tonal language of the Tai -- Kadai language family. It is the official language of Laos, and also spoken in the northwest of Thailand, where it is usually referred to as the Isan language. The Lao language serves as an important lingua franca as the country of Laos consists of multiple ethnic groups, whose population speaks about 86 different languages. Spoken Lao is mutually intelligible with the Thai language ( the two languages are written with slightly different scripts but are linguistically similar ). Lao, like many languages in Laos, is written in the Lao script, an abugida. Although there is no official standard, the Vientiane dialect has become the de facto standard. Contents 1 History 2 Dialects 3 Vocabulary 4 Phonology 4.1 Consonants 4.1. 1 Initial consonants 4.1. 2 Final consonants 4.2 Vowels 4.3 Tones 4.3. 1 Unchecked syllables 4.3. 2 Checked syllables 4.4 Syllables 5 Morphology 6 Script 6.1 Punctuation 6.2 Indication of tones 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External links History The Lao language is descended from Tai languages spoken in what is now southern China and northern Vietnam in areas believed to be the homeland of the language family and where several related languages are still spoken by scattered minority groups. Due to Han Chinese expansion, Mongol invasion pressures, and a search for lands more suitable for wet - rice cultivation, the Tai peoples moved south towards India, down the Mekong River valley, and as far south as the Malay Peninsula. Oral history of the migrations is preserved in the legends of Khun Borom. Tai speakers in what is now Laos pushed out or absorbed earlier groups of Mon -- Khmer and Austronesian languages. Dialects Lao Dialects Dialect Lao Provinces Thai Provinces Vientiane Lao Vientiane, Vientiane Capital Prefecture, Bolikhamsai Nong Bua Lamphu, Chaiyaphum, and parts of Nong Khai, Yasothorn, Khon Kaen, and Udon Thani. Northern Lao Luang Prabang, Sainyabuli, Oudomxay. Loei and parts of Udon Thani and Khon Kaen. Northeastern Lao / Tai Phuan Xiangkhoang and Houaphanh. Parts of Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani. Central Lao Savannakhet and Khammouan. Mukdahan and parts of Sakon Nakhon and Nong Khai. Southern Lao Champasak, Salavan, Sekong, and Attapeu. Ubon Ratchathani, Amnat Charoen, and parts of Yasothorn, Buriram, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Nakhon Ratchasima Western Lao Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, and Roi Et. In addition to the dialects of Lao, numerous closely related languages ( or dialects, depending on the classification ) are spoken throughout the Lao - speaking realm in Laos and Thailand, such as the Nyaw, Phu Thai, Saek, Lao Wiang, Tai Dam, Tai Daeng, etc. These Tai peoples are classified by the Lao government as Lao Loum ( ລາວລຸ່ມ, lāo lum ) or lowland Lao. Lao and Thai are also very similar and share most of their basic vocabulary, but differences in many basic words limit inter-comprehension. Vocabulary The Lao language consists primarily of native Lao words. Because of Buddhism, however, Pali has contributed numerous terms, especially relating to religion and in conversation with members of the Sangha. Due to their geographic proximity, Lao has influenced the Khmer and Thai languages and vice versa. Formal writing has a larger amount of foreign loanwords, especially Pali and Sanskrit terms, much as Latin and Greek have influenced European languages. For politeness, pronouns ( and more formal pronouns ) are used, plus ending statements with ແດ່ ( dǣ ( dɛː ) ) or ເດີ້ ( dœ̄ ( dɤ̂ː ) ). Negative statements are made more polite by ending with ດອກ ( dǭk ( dɔ᷆ːk ) ). The following are formal register examples. ຂອບໃຈຫຼາຍໆເດີ້ ( khǭp chai lāi lāi dœ̄, ( khɔ᷆ːp t͡ɕàj lǎːj lǎːj dɤ̂ː ) ) Thank you very much. ຂ້ານ້ອຍເຮັດບໍ່ໄດ້ດອກ ( khānǭi het bǭ dai dǭk, ( kha᷆ːnɔ̂ːj hēt bɔ̄ː dâj dɔ᷆ːk ) ) I can not. ໄຂປະຕູໃຫ້ແດ່ ( khai pa tū hai dǣ, ( khǎj pa. tùː ha᷆j dɛ̄ː ) ) ' open the door, please. Phonology Consonants Many consonants in Lao make a phonemic contrast between labialized and plain versions. The complete inventory of Lao consonants is as shown in the table below : Initial consonants Consonant phonemes Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal plain lab. plain lab. plain lab. plain lab. Plosive voiced d voiceless p tɕ tɕw k kw ʔ ʔw aspirated ph th twh kh kwh Fricative f s sw h Nasal m n ɲ ŋ ŋw Approximant l lw j w Final consonants All plosive sounds are unreleased in final position. Hence, final / p /, / t /, and / k / sounds are pronounced as ( p̚ ), ( t̚ ), and ( k̚ ) respectively. Bilabial Labio - dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal Nasal m n ŋ Plosive p k ʔ Approximant w j The glottal stop appears at the end when no final follows a short vowel. Vowels All vowels make a phonemic length distinction. Diphthongs are all centering diphthongs with falling sonority. The monophthongs and diphthongs are as shown in the following table : Short vowel phonemes Front Central Back unr. rnd. Diphthongs iə̯ ɯə̯ uə̯ Monophthongs Close i ɯ u Close - mid ɤ o Open - mid ɛ ɔ Open Long vowel phonemes Front Central Back unr. rnd. Diphthongs iːə̯ ɯːə̯ uːə̯ Monophthongs Close iː ɯː uː Close - mid eː ɤː oː Open - mid ɛː ɔː Open aː Tones Lao has six lexical tones. Unchecked syllables There are six phonemic tones in unchecked syllables, that is, in syllables ending in a vowel or other sonorant sound ( ( m ), ( n ), ( ŋ ), ( w ), and ( j ) ). Name Diacritic on ⟨ e ⟩ Tone letter Example Gloss Rising ě ˨ ˦ or ˨ ˩ ˦ / khǎː / ຂາ leg High level é ˦ / kháː / ຄາ stuck High falling ê ˥ ˧ / khâː / ຄ້າ trade Mid level ē ˧ / khāː / ຂ່າ, ຄ່າ galangal, value resp. Low level è ˩ / kàː / ກາ crow Low falling e᷆ ˧ ˩ / kha᷆ː / ຂ້າ kill, servant Checked syllables The number of contrastive tones is reduced to four in checked syllables, that is, in syllables ending in an obstruent sound ( ( p ), ( t ), ( k ), or the glottal stop ( ʔ ) ). Tone Example Gloss high / hák / ຫັກ break mid / hāk / ຮັກ love low - falling / ha᷆ːk / ຫາກ if, inevitably falling / hâːk / ຮາກ vomit, root Syllables Lao syllables are of the form ( C ) V ( C ), i.e. they consist of a vowel in the syllable nucleus, optionally preceded by a single consonant in the syllable onset and optionally followed by single consonant in the syllable coda. The only consonant clusters allowed are syllable initial clusters / kw / or / khw /. Any consonant may appear in the onset, but the labialized consonants do not occur before rounded vowels. Only / ptk ʔ mn ŋ wj / may appear in the coda. If the vowel in the nucleus is short, it must be followed by a consonant in the coda ; / ʔ / in the coda can be preceded only by a short vowel. Open syllables ( i.e. those with no coda consonant ) and syllables ending in one of the sonorants / mn ŋ wj / take one of the six tones, syllables ending in / ptk / take one of four tones, and syllables ending in / ʔ / take one of only two tones. Morphology Main article : Lao grammar The majority of Lao words are monosyllabic, and are not inflected to reflect declension or verbal tense, making Lao an analytic language. Special particle words serve the purpose of prepositions and verb tenses in lieu of conjugations and declensions. Lao is a subject -- verb -- object ( SVO ) language, although the subject is often dropped. In contrast to Thai, Lao uses pronouns more frequently. Script Main article : Lao script The Lao religious script is written in the Tua Tham script, based on Mon scripts and still used in temples in Laos and Isan. The Lao script ( Tua Lao ), derived locally around the 14th century from the Khmer script of Angkor, is ultimately rooted in the Brahmic script of India. Although similar to one another, the Lao alphabet is more phonetic than the Thai alphabet due to various Lao royal decrees concerning orthographic reforms, resulting in the Lao script having fewer duplicate sounds thus making the Lao script more phonetic, efficient and easy to learn. Words are spelt according to phonetic principles as opposed to etymological principles. In addition to consonants having tone classes, tone marks facilitate marking tones where they are needed. Romanisation of Lao is inconsistent, but is based on French transcriptive methods. Numerals may be written out as words ( 1 vs. one ), but numerical symbols are more common. Although Arabic numerals are most common, Lao numerals, from the Brahmi script are also taught and employed. Punctuation Lao is traditionally not written with spaces between words, although signs of change are multiplying. Spaces are reserved for ends of clauses or sentences. Periods are not used, and questions can be determined by question words in a sentence. Traditional punctuation marks include ໌, an obsolete mark indicating silenced consonants ; ໆ, used to indicate repetition of the preceding word ; ຯ, the Lao ellipsis that is also used to indicate omission of words ; ฯ, a more or less obsolete symbol indicating shortened form of a phrase ( such as royal names ) ; and ฯ ລ ฯ, used to indicate et cetera. In more contemporary writing, punctuation marks are borrowed from French, such as exclamation point !, question mark ?, parentheses ( ), and `` '' for quotation marks, although `` '' is also common. Hyphens ( - ) and the ellipsis (... ) are also commonly found in modern writing. Indication of tones Experts disagree on the number and nature of tones in the various dialects of Lao. According to some, most dialects of Lao and Isan have six tones, those of Luang Prabang have five. Tones are determined as follows : Tones Long vowel, or vowel plus voiced consonant Long vowel plus unvoiced consonant Short vowel, or short vowel plus unvoiced consonant Mai ek ( ອ່ ) Mai tho ( ອ້ ) High consonants rising low falling high mid low falling Mid consonants low rising low falling high mid high falling Low consonants high high falling mid mid high falling A silent ຫ ( / h / ) placed before certain consonants will produce place the other proceeding consonant in the high class. This can occur before the letters ງ / ŋ /, ຍ / ɲ /, ຣ / r /, and ວ / w / and combined in special ligatures ( considered separate letters ) such as ຫຼ / l /, ຫນ / n /, and ຫມ / m /. In addition to ອ່ ( low tone ) and ອ້ ( falling tone ), there also exists the rare ອ໊ ( high ) ອ໋ ( rising ) tone marks. See also Literature of Laos References Jump up ^ ca. 20M Isan, 3M Laotian Jump up ^ Lao language at Ethnologue ( 18th ed., 2015 ) Jump up ^ Hammarström, Harald ; Forkel, Robert ; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. ( 2017 ). `` Lao ''. Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany : Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. Jump up ^ Hammarström, Harald ; Forkel, Robert ; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. ( 2017 ). `` Northeastern Thai ''. Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany : Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. Jump up ^ `` Lao About World Languages ''. aboutworldlanguages.com. Retrieved 2016 - 05 - 25. Jump up ^ Northern Lao is also spoken in large parts of Uttaradit Province and Phitsanulok, which are outside the Isan region. Jump up ^ Northeastern Lao is sometimes considered a separate language, as it is traditionally spoken by Phuan tribal members, a closely related but distinct Tai group. Also spoken in a few small and scattered Tai Phuan villages in Sukhothai, Uttaradit, and Phrae. Jump up ^ Southern Loa gives way to Northern Khmer in Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Buriram, and to Khorat Thai and, to some extant, Northern Khmer in Nakhon Ratchasima. Jump up ^ The Western Lao dialect is not spoken in Laos. เรือง เดช ปัน เขื่อน ขั ติ ย์. ( 2531 ) ^ Jump up to : Blaine Erickson, 2001. `` On the Origins of Labialized Consonants in Lao ''. Analysis based on L. N. Morev, A. A. Moskalyov and Y. Y. Plam, ( 1979 ). The Lao Language. Moscow : USSR Academy of Sciences, Institute of Oriental Studies. Accessed 2009 - 12 - 19. Jump up ^ Blaine Erickson, 2001. `` On the Origins of Labialized Consonants in Lao ''. Analysis based on T. Hoshino and R. Marcus ( 1981 ). Lao for Beginners : An Introduction to the Spoken and Written Language of Laos. Rutland / Tokyo : Tuttle. Accessed 2009 - 12 - 19. ^ Jump up to : UCLA International Institute, ( n.d. ). `` Lao ''. Accessed 2010 - 07 - 27. Jump up ^ Benedict, Paul K. `` Languages and literatures of Indochina. '' The Far Eastern Quarterly ( 1947 ) : 379 - 389. Further reading 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, ISBN 0 - 88738 - 968 - 6. Hoshino, Tatsuo and Marcus, Russel. ( 1989 ). Lao for Beginners : An Introduction to the Spoken and Written Language of Laos. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0 - 8048 - 1629 - 8. Enfield, N.J. ( 2007 ). A Grammar of Lao. Berlin and New York : Mouton de Gruyter. ISBN 3 - 11 - 018588 - 1. Cummings, Joe. ( 2002 ). Lao Phrasebook : A Language Survival Kit. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1 - 74059 - 168 - 2. Mollerup, Asger. Thai -- Isan -- Lao Phrasebook. White Lotus, Bangkok, 2001. ISBN 974 - 7534 - 88 - 6. Kerr, Allen. ( 1994 ). Lao -- English Dictionary. White Lotus. ISBN 974 - 8495 - 69 - 8. Simmala, Buasawan and Benjawan Poomsan Becker ( 2003 ), Lao for Beginners. Paiboon Publishing. ISBN 1 - 887521 - 28 - 3 External links Lao edition of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wikivoyage has a phrasebook for Lao. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lao language. Lao Language & Culture Site Google Translate http://www.stars21.com/translator/english_to_lao.html http://www.laosoftware.com/index.php http://unicode-table.com/en/sections/lao/ Omniglot : Lao script JUSK Lao, a javascript based Lao unicode keyboard Laoconnection.com AbcdLaos Lao Language in Spanish USA Foreign Service Institute Lao basic course http://asiansouls.com/laofonts/ Languages of Laos Official language Lao Indigenous languages Austroasiatic Bahnaric Alak Duan Halang Jeh Jru ' Juk Laven Lavi Nyaheun Oi Sapuan Sedang Su ' Katuic Bru Brao Cheng Katu Kuy Ta'Oi Khmuic Khmu Mlabri Phong Palaungic Bit Kiorr Lamet Vietic Arem Chut Cuoi Maleng Nguồn Thavung Vietnamese Hmong - Mien Hmong Iu Mien Sino - Tibetan Akeu Akha Bantang Cantan Cauho Cosao Hani Phunoi Piyo Sinsali Tai - Kadai Khün Northern Thai Phuan Saek Tai Daeng Tai Dam Tai Lü Yoy Main foreign languages French English Sign languages Laotian sign languages Languages of Cambodia Official language Khmer Indigenous languages Mon -- Khmer Brao Chong Kaco ' Kuy Mnong Pear Samre Sa'och Somray Stieng Suoy Tampuan Vietnamese Other Cham Jarai Lao Tai Phuan Thai Main foreign languages French English Languages of Thailand Official language Thai Indigenous languages Austroasiatic Bru Chong Chung Jahai Kensiu Khmer Northern Western Kintaq Kuy Mlabri Mon Nyah Kur Palaung Ten'edn Thavung Vietnamese Austronesian Cham Malay Bangkok Malay Pattani Malay Satun Malay Moken Urak Lawoi ' Hmong - Mien Hmong Iu Mien Sino - Tibetan Akha Eastern Pwo Lisu Nuosu Mpi Northern Pwo Phrae Pwo Red Karen ( Eastern Kayah ) S'gaw Karen Ugong Tai - Kadai Isan Khün Northern Thai Lao Phu Thai Phuan Shan Southern Thai Tai Lü Tai Nüa Thai Song Sign languages Thai Sign Language Ban Khor Sign Laos articles History Peopling Khun Borom Tai peoples Lan Xang Wat Phou Luang Phrabang Viang Chan Champasak Muang Phuan French Laos Japanese invasion Lao Issara Kingdom of Laos Indochina Wars Ho Chi Minh trail Pathet Lao Laotian Civil War Vietnamese invasion Neutrality History until 1945 History since 1945 Insurgency 2007 coup attempt Geography Deforestation Ecoregions Mekong Phou Bia Rivers Protected areas Towns Wildlife World Heritage Sites Politics Administrative divisions Constitution Elections Foreign relations General Secretary Human rights Insurgencies Law Law enforcement Military National Assembly Political parties President Prime Minister Economy Agriculture Central bank Kip ( currency ) Energy Fishing Stock exchange Telecommunications Tourism Trade unions Transport Society Crime Demographics Education Ethnic groups Health Language Religion Women Culture Anthem Cuisine Dramatic arts Emblem Festivals Flag Literature Music Public holidays Sports Outline Index Portal Tai -- Kadai languages Kra ( Proto - Kra ) Laha Gelao Lachi Paha Buyang En Qabiao Kam -- Sui Mulam Kam ( Dong ) Cao Miao Naxi Yao Sanqiao Then Maonan Chadong Sui Mak Ai - Cham Hlai ( Proto - Hlai ) Hlai Cun Jiamao Ong Be Ong Be Tai ( Zhuang ) ( Proto - Tai ) Northern Standard Zhuang Bouyei Hezhang Buyi Yei Zhuang Longsang Zhuang Saek Tai Yo ( Nyaw ) Yoy Tai Pao Central Nong Zhuang Dai Zhuang Min Zhuang Yang Zhuang Pyang Zhuang Myang Zhuang Nung Tày Ts'ün - Lao Southwestern ( Thai ) Northwestern Shan Tai Ya Tai Nüa Tai Long Tai Hongjin Khamti Tai Laing Tai Phake Tai Aiton Khamyang Ahom Turung Lao -- Phutai Lao Phu Thai Isan Nyaw Lao Nyo Kaloeng Chiang Saen Thai ( Siamese ) Northern Thai Tai Daeng Tai Dón Tai Hang Tong Tai Lü Tai Dam Khun Phuan Thai Song Tày Tac Southern Southern Thai ( other ) Sapa Pa Di Tai Muong Vat Tai Thanh Tai Khang Yong Kuan ( mixed ) Caolan Unclassified Lakkja Biao Jizhao Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lao_language&oldid=815772061 '' Categories : Lao language Languages of Laos Languages of Thailand Tai languages Isolating languages Subject -- verb -- object languages Hidden categories : Language articles citing Ethnologue 18 Articles containing Lao - 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Question: what is the main language spoken in laos
Answer: Lao