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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > Laos > Khmu

Khmu

A language of Laos

ISO 639-3: kjg

Population	390,000 in Laos (1985 F. Proschan). Population total all countries: 480,100.
Region	Scattered in north. Also in China, France, Myanmar, Thailand, United States, Viet Nam.
Language map	Laos, reference number 24
Alternate names	Kamhmu, Kammu, Kamu, Khamu, Khamuk, Khmu’, Khomu, Kmhmu, Lao Terng, Mou, Pouteng, Pu Thenh, Tenh, Theng
Dialects	Yuan, Khroong (Krong), Luang Prabang, Sayabury, Lyy, Rok, U, Hat.
Classification	Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Khmuic, Mal-Khmu’, Khmu’
Language development	Radio programs. Bible portions: 1918.
Writing system	Duota script, used in a small collection of villages well away from the rest of the language group, also used in China. Lao script. Latin script.
Comments	SVO. Traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

China

Language name	Khmu
Population	1,600 in China (1990).
Region	Southwest Yunnan Province, in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Jinghong County (9 villages), some in Mengla County.
Language map	Southwestern China
Alternate names	Chaman, Damai, Damailao, Damaile, Kamhmu, Kammu, Kamu, Kemu, Khamu, Khamuk, Khmu’, Khomu, Lao Terng, Mou, Pouteng, Theng
Comments	Classified nationality not yet determined.

Myanmar

Language name	Khmu
Population	100 in Myanmar (2008).
Region	Eastern Shan state, Mong Yawng Township.
Alternate names	Kamhmu, Kammu, Kamu, Khamuk, Khmu’, Khomu, Kmhmu, Lao Terng, Mou, Pouteng, Pu Thenh, Tenh, Theng
Dialects	Yuan, Lue, Khuen.

Thailand

Language name	Khmu
Population	31,400 in Thailand (2000).
Region	Chiangrai, Nan, Phayao, scattered throughout Thailand.
Language map	Northern Thailand, reference number 13
Alternate names	Kamhmu, Kammu, Kamu, Kha Khmu, Khamu, Khamuk, Khmu’, Kmhmu, Luu, Mou, Pouteng, Tmooy
Comments	Traditional religion, Christian.

Viet Nam

Language name	Khmu
Population	56,500 in Viet Nam (1999 census).
Region	Son La, Lai Chau, Nghe An, Yen Bai provinces.
Language maps	Northern Viet Nam, reference number 43 Northern Viet Nam, reference number 43 Northwestern Viet Nam, reference number 43
Alternate names	Cam Mu, Kha Cau, Khamu, Khomu, Kmhmu, Mun Xen, Xa Cau
Comments	Traditional religion, Christian.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

ALVES, Mark J., author. 2001. "Distributional properties of causative verbs in some Mon-Khmer languages."  

AMON Thavisak, author. 2001. "The effects of glottal finals on pitch in Southeast Asian languages."  

BAUER, Robert S., author. 2000. Review of: Nghe an Khmu-Vietnamese-Thai-English dictionary, by Suwilai Premsrirat and others.  

COOPER, Michael; COOPER, Susan, authors. 1999. A preliminary phonological analysis of Huay Jo Khmu.

DAMRONG, Tayanin; LINDELL, Kristina, authors. 1994. "The Khmu cycles of 60 days and 60 years."  

EDMONDSON, Jerold A., author. 2010. "The Kháng language of Vietnam in comparison to Ksingmul (Xinh-mun)."  

HE Lifeng; TAN, William, authors. 2004. Yunnan teshu yuyan yanjiu.

LUNDSTRÖM, Hakan, author. 2002. "Kåmmu vocal genres and performance."  

OSBORNE, Rosalind Anne, author. 2010. Who’s who in Kmhmu' : referring expressions and participant identification in selected Kmhmu' narrative texts.  

PRACHAKITCHAKONRACHAK Phraya; SOPHANA Srichampa; THOMAS, David D., authors. 1995. Some languages of Siam.

PREISIG, Elisabeth; SOMSENG Sayavong; SUKSAVANG Simana, editors. 1994. Pwm pè hrloʼ kmhmuʼ - Laav - Frang - Angkit (Kmhmuʼ - Lao - French - English dictionary); Vatcaʼnaanuʼkom Kkhaʼmuʼ - Laaw - Faʼlang - Angkit (Dictionnaire kmhmuʼ - lao - français - anglais).

PREISIG, Elisabeth; SUKSAVANG Simana, authors. 1997. Kankhongsip khong saophao Ku'mmu = Kmhmu' livelihood: farming the forest.

PROSCHAN, Frank, author. 1994. "Khmu play languages."  

SAURMAN, Todd, author. 2001. Review of: I will send my song... Təəm and other Kammu vocal genre in the singing of Kam Raw, by Hakan Lundström.  

SMALLEY, William A., author. 1973. "Bibliography of Khmuʔ."  

SUWILAI Premsrirat, author. 1992. "The Khmu color system and its elaborations."  

SUWILAI Premsrirat, author. 1999. "Phonological variation and change in the Khmu dialects of northern Thailand."  

SUWILAI Premsrirat, author. 2001. "Tonogenesis in Khmu dialects of SEA."  

SUWILAI Premsrirat, author. 2002. "Appropriateness in Khmu culture."  

SUWILAI Premsrirat, author. 2004. "Register complex and tonogenesis in Khmu dialects."  

SUWILAI Premsrirat, author; BAUER, Robert S.; THOMAS, David D., editors. 2002. The thesaurus and dictionary series of Khmu dialects in Southeast Asia.