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Kuy

A language of Thailand

ISO 639-3: kdt

Population	400,000 in Thailand (2006 Mahidol). Few monolinguals. Population total all countries: 488,900.
Region	East central, Buriram, Surin, Sisaket, Ubon, Roi Et provinces. Also in Cambodia, Laos.
Language map	Northern Thailand, reference number 15
Alternate names	Cuoi, Khamen-Boran, Kui, Kui Souei, Kuoy, Kuuy, Soai, Suai, Suay, Suei, Sui, Suoi
Dialects	Chang (Suai Chang), Nheu, Kuay. In Cambodia there are four Kuy dialects, based on the use of their word for ‘what’: Kuy Antra (northern Kompong Thom, southern Preah Vihear), Kuy Anthua (central Preah Vihear), Kuy May or Ma’ay (in Kratie), Kuy Mlor (one village in northern Preah Vihear); only older people still speak the last two dialects.
Classification	Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Katuic, West Katuic, Kuay-Nheu
Language use	Have affection for Kuy and want to keep it, but want to also speak Lao or Isan (a dialect of Northeastern Thai [tts]) and Central Thai [tha]. About 99% also use Lao [lao], Northeastern Thai [tts], 80% Central Thai [tha], 40% Northern Khmer [kxm] (mainly older adults). Kuy villages often intermingled with those of Lao [lao] and Northern Khmer [kxm].
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%. Dictionary. NT: 1978.
Writing system	Khmer script, used in Cambodia. Lao script, used in Laos. Thai script.
Comments	Agriculturalists: rice. Traditional religion, Buddhist, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Cambodia

Language name	Kuy
Population	37,700 in Cambodia (2007).
Region	Northeast Cambodia, Preah Vihear Province, most districts; east Siem Reap, north Kampong Thom, west Stung Traeng, and Kratie provinces.
Language map	Cambodia
Alternate names	Kuay
Dialects	Kuy Antra, Kuy Anthua, Kuy May (Kuy Ma’ay), Kuy Mlor.
Language use	Also use Central Khmer [khm].
Language development	Literacy rate in L2: 50%.
Comments	Central Khmer used in schools. Dialects are based on the use of their word for ‘what’: Kuy Antra (northern Kompong Thom, southern Preah Vihear), Kuy Anthua (central Preah Vihear), Kuy May or Ma’ay (in Kratie), Kuy Mlor (one village in northern Preah Vihear); only the older people still speak the last 2 dialects.

Laos

Language name	Kuy
Population	51,200 in Laos (2000). 80% monolingual.
Region	South, Savannakhet, Saravan, Sedone provinces; both sides of the Mekong.
Language map	Laos, reference number 28
Alternate names	Aouei, Cuoi, Dui, Khamen-Boran, Kui, Kuoy, Old Khmer, Soai, Suai, Suay, Suei, Sui, Suoi
Dialects	Antra, Na Nhyang.
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 37%.
Comments	Traditional religion.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

Jenner, Philip N. 1992. "Observations on Old Khmer ‘man’."  

Johnston, Richard. 1969. "Kuy basic word list."  

Long Seam. 1992. "Quelques traits grammaticaux caractéristiques de l’ancien khmer."  

Mann, Noel Walter and Linda Markowski. 2005. "A rapid appraisal survey of Kuy dialects spoken in Cambodia."  

Migliazza, Brian Louis. 1992. "Lexicostatistic analysis of some Katuic languages."

Pou, Saveros. 1992. "Des mots khmers désignant les ‘documents écrits’."  

Prachakij-karacak Phraya, David Thomas andSophana Srichampa. 1995. Some languages of Siam.

Preecha Sukgasame. 1993. "Correlates of the register complex in Kuay."  

Preecha Sukkasem. 2005. "Phonological variations and changes due to language contact: a case study of consonants in four Kuai-Kui (Suai) dialects."  

Somsonge Burusphat. 1993. "Kui narrative repetition."  

Thomas, David D. 1966. "Kuy basic word list."

Thomas, David D. 1983. Review of: a lexicon of Khmer morphology, by Philip N. Jenner and Saveros Pou.

van der Haak, Feikje and Brigitte Woykos. 1990. "History and life of the Kui people."

van der Haak, Feikje and Brigitte Woykos. 1990. "Kui dialect survey in Surin and Sisaket."  

van der Haak, Feikje. 1987. "Calling the spirits: an observation of its practice among the Kui in Thailand."

Woykos, Brigitte and Feikje van der Haak. 1990. "Prawat lae chiiwit khwaam pen yuu khong chaaw kuuy."  

Woykos, Brigitte. 1989. "Hochzeitsbräuche und -riten der Kui in Thailand."

Zingg, Philipp and Brigitte Woykos, editors. 1989. Religiöser mythos und hochzeitsriten: einführung in zusammenhänge.