Thai, Southern

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A language of Thailand

ISO 639-3
sou
Alternate Names
Dambro, Pak Tai, Pak Thai, Paktay
Population

4,500,000 (2006 Mahidol University). 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 or more Muslim Tai (2001).

Location

Chumphon, Nakorn Srithammarat; 14 provinces total. Muslim Tai subdialect: Chumporn, Nakorn Srithammarat, Phattalung, Songkhla, Ranong, Phanga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, and Satun provinces.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing). De facto language of provincial identity in southeasternmost 15 provinces.

Classification
Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern
Dialects

Tak Bai (Tai Tak Bai), Thai Malay (Tai Islam). A group of dialects more distantly related to other Tai languages. Border dialects are quite distinct from others.

Language Use

81% use Southern Thai in the home, Muslim Tai (Thai Malay) speak only Southern Thai. Some also use Central Thai [tha].

Language Development
Read Central Thai. Bible portions: 2000.
Writing
Thai script.
Other Comments

Buddhist, Muslim, Christian.