Lao language

Lao
ພາສາລາວ, Phasa Lao
Pronunciation[pʰáː.sǎː láːw]
Native toLaos
Thailand (Isan)
Cambodia (Stung Treng, Preah Vihear and Ratanakiri)
Vietnam (Điện Biên, Lai Châu and Sơn La)
China (Xishuangbanna)
EthnicityLao
Isan
Native speakers
L1: 3.7 million (2015)[1]
L2: 800,000 (no date)[2]
Dialects
  • Northern Lao (Louang Phrabang Lao)
  • Northeastern Lao (Phuan)
  • Central Lao
  • Southern Lao
  • Western Lao (Isan)
Lao script in Laos
Thai script in Thailand
Thai and Lao Braille
Official status
Official language in
 Laos
Recognised minority
language in
Regulated byEducational Science Research Institute, Ministry of Education and Sports
and
Institute of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, National University of Laos
Language codes
ISO 639-1lo
ISO 639-2lao
ISO 639-3Either:
lao – PDR Lao
tts – Isan (Thailand Lao)
Glottologlaoo1244  Lao
nort2741  Northeastern Thai
Linguasphere47-AAA-c
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A Lao speaker

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 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]

  1. ^ PDR Lao at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Closed access icon
    Isan (Thailand Lao) at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Closed access icon
  2. ^ Lao language at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Closed access icon
  3. ^ "Lao". About World Languages. Archived from the original on 2017-12-27. Retrieved 2016-05-25.
  4. ^ "Ausbau and Abstand languages". Ccat.sas.upenn.edu. 1995-01-20. Archived from the original on 2013-01-19. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  5. ^ Hays, Jeffrey. "LAO LANGUAGE: DIALECTS, GRAMMAR, NAMES, WRITING, PROVERBS AND INSULTS | Facts and Details". factsanddetails.com. Archived from the original on 2021-03-02. Retrieved 2020-12-19.