Lü
A language of China
| Population | 280,000 in China (2000 census). 50% monolingual. Population total all countries: 701,960. |
| Region | South Yunnan, Jinghong (Chiang Hung, Chien Rung), Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, west of Lixianjiang (Black) River. Also in Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam. |
| Language map |
Southwestern China |
| Alternate names | Dai, Dai Le, Lu, Lue, Ly, Pai’i’, Pai-I, Shui-Pai-I, Sipsongpanna Dai, Tai Lu, Xishuangbanna Dai |
| Dialects | Mu’ang Yong and dialects in the Lanna area may converge phonologically with Northern Thai [nod] (Diller and Juntanamalaga 1990). Low intelligibility with Shan [shn] (Dehong). Different from Tai Nüa [tdd], each having their own traditions. Most closely related to Khun [kkh]. Lexical similarity: 88% with Northern Thai, 74% with Central Thai [tha]. |
| Classification | Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Be-Tai, Tai-Sek, Tai, Southwestern, Northwest |
| Language use | Official regional language. Vigorous. Some speakers of other languages use Lü as L2 for trade. All domains. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Chinese [cmn] or Jingpho [kac]. Some schools only teach in Chinese. |
| Language development | Literacy rate in L2: 84%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Magazines. Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1933. |
| Writing system | Lanna (Tai Tham) script. Lao script. Latin script. New Tai Lue script. Tai Le script. Thai script. |
| Comments | Classified as Dai nationality. SVO; modifiers follow noun heads. Agriculturalists: wet rice; merchants; small businessmen. Traditional religion, Buddhist. |
Also spoken in:
Laos
| Language name | Lü |
| Population | 134,000 in Laos (2000). |
| Region | West Phongsali, Luang Namtha, Bokeo, Udomxay, Xanyabouli, Luang Prabang provinces. |
| Language map |
Laos, reference number 35 |
| Alternate names | Lu, Lue, Pai-I, Shui-Pai-I |
| Comments | Traditional religion, Buddhist. |
Myanmar
| Language name | Lü |
| Population | 200,000 in Myanmar (1981). |
| Region | Kengtung District of Shan state. |
| Alternate names | Lue, Pai-I, Shu-Ai-I, Tai Lu |
| Comments | Traditional religion, Buddhist. |
Thailand
| Language name | Lü |
| Population | 83,000 in Thailand (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). |
| Region | Widespread in the north; Chiangrai, Payao, Lamphun, Nan, Chiang Kham. |
| Language map |
Northern Thailand, reference number 19 |
| Alternate names | Lu, Lue, Pai-I, Pai-Yi, Shui-Pai-I, Tai Lu, Tai Lue, Thai Lu |
| Language use | All domains. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Central [tha] or Northern Thai [nod]. |
| Language development | Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. |
| Comments | Agriculturalists: wet rice; fishermen. Traditional religion, Buddhist. |
Viet Nam
| Language name | Lü |
| Population | 4,960 in Viet Nam (1999 census). |
| Region | North, Lai Chau Province, Binh Lu area. |
| Language map |
Northwestern Viet Nam, reference number 52 |
| Alternate names | Duon, Lue, Nhuon, Pai-I, Shui-Pai-I, Tai Lu |
| Comments | An official nationality. Traditional religion, Buddhist. |
Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:
Academic Publications
HANNA, William J., author. 1988. "Negated adverbials in Tai Lue of Northern Thailand."
HANNA, William J., author. 1999. Relative clauses in Tai Lue.
HOPPLE, Paulette, author. 2001. Historical linguistics in Southeast Asian language programs.
SOMSONGE Burusphat, author. 2007. "A comparison of general classifiers in Tai-Kadai languages."
![]()
Vernacular Publications
Dai Lü first year kindergarten primer track first semester. 2007.
Dai Lü first year kindergarten first semester math. 2007.
Dai Lü first year kindergarten first semester story track teacher's manual. 2007.
Dai Lü first year kindergarten first semester story track, books 1-2. 2007.
Dai Lü first year kindergarten primer track first semester teacher's exercises. 2007.
Dai Lü Pre-writing exercise book. 2007.
First Grade First Semester Fluency Exercises. 2010.
First Grade First Semester Language Textbook. 2010.
First Grade Second Semester Fluency Exercises. 2010.
First Grade Second Semester Language Textbook. 2010.
First Grade Second Semester Listening Stories. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten First Semester Listening Stories. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten First Semester Math. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten First Semester Primer Track Teachers' Board Exercises. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten First Semester Primer Track Workbook. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten First Semester Songs. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten First Semester Story Track Book One. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten First Semester Story Track Book Two. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten Pre-Writing Workbook. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten Second Semester Listening Stories. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten Second Semester Math. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten Second Semester Primer Track Teachers' Board Exercises. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten Second Semester Primer Track Workbook. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten Second Semester Songs. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten Second Semester Story Track Book Four. 2010.
First Year Kindergarten Second Semester Story Track Book Three. 2010.
Second Grade First Semester Fluency Exercises. 2010.
Second Grade First Semester Language Textbook. 2010.
Second Grade Second Semester Fluency Exercises. 2010.
Second Grade Second Semester Language Textbook. 2010.
Second Grade Second Semester Listening Stories. 2010.
Second Year Kindergarten First Semester Listening Stories. 2010.
Second Year Kindergarten First Semester Math. 2010.
Second Year Kindergarten First Semester Primer Track Workbook. 2010.
Second Year Kindergarten First Semester Story Track Book One. 2010.
Second Year Kindergarten First Semester Story Track Book Two. 2010.
Second Year Kindergarten Second Semester Fluency Exercises. 2010.
Second Year Kindergarten Second Semester Listening Stories. 2010.
Second Year Kindergarten Second Semester Math. 2010.
Second Year Kindergarten Second Semester Math. 2010.
Second Year Kindergarten Second Semester Primer Track Workbook. 2010.
Second Year Kindergarten Second Semester Story Track Book Four. 2010.
Second Year Kindergarten Second Semester Story Track Book Three. 2010.

