| Population |
280,000 in China (Bradley 2007). Population total all countries: 445,700. |
| Region |
Southwest Yunnan Province, Simao Prefecture, Lancang Lahu, Menglian Dai, Lahu & Va autonomous counties; Lincang Prefecture, Gengma Dai, Va autonomous counties. Also in Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam. |
| Language map |
Southwestern China
|
| Alternate names |
Kaixien, Kucong, Kutsong, Lahuna, Laku, Lohei, Moso, Muhso, Mussar, Musso, Mussuh, Namen |
| Dialects |
Na (Black Lahu, Musser Dam, Northern Lahu, Lohei), Nyi (Red Lahu, Southern Lahu, Musse Daeng), Shehleh. Na considered standard dialect. Black Lahu and Lahu Shi (Yellow Lahu) have difficult intelligibility. (See separate entry for Lahu Shi.) Mossu is in Laos. Lahu Shi (Yellow Lahu) and Kucong Lahupu (White Lahu, e.g. in Zhenyuan County) are distinct. |
| Classification |
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Burmic, Ngwi, Central |
| Language use |
Vigorous. Some speakers of other languages use Lahu as L2 for commerce. All domains. All ages. Positive attitude. 20%–30% also use Chinese fluently, 50%–60% use simple Chinese, 10% can understand but not speak it. 1,000 also use Lü [khb], Hani [hni], Blang [bir], or Wa [wbm]. |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in L1: 63%. Taught in primary schools. Newspapers. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1989. |
| Writing system |
Latin script. |
| Comments |
Classified as Lahu nationality. SOV; Lü [khb] and Hani [hni] loanwords. Agriculturalists: rice, maize; hunters. Traditional religion, Buddhist, Christian. |
| Language name |
Lahu |
| Population |
8,700 in Laos (1995 census). |
| Region |
Bokeo Province, Peung, Tonpheung, Houayxay districts. |
| Language map |
Laos, reference number 29
|
| Alternate names |
Muhso, Museu, Musso, Mussuh |
| Dialects |
Na (Black Lahu, Musser Dam, Northern Lahu, Loheirn), Nyi (Red Lahu, Southern Lahu, Musseh Daeng, Luhishi, Luhushi), Shehleh. |
| Comments |
Traditional religion, Christian. |
| |
| Language name |
Lahu |
| Population |
125,000 in Myanmar (Johnstone 1993). |
| Region |
Shan state, Kentung District. |
| Alternate names |
Lahuna, Launa, Lohei, Muhso, Museu, Musso, Mussuh |
| Dialects |
Na (Black Lahu, Musser Dam, Northern Lahu, Loheirn), Nyi (Red Lahu, Southern Lahu, Musseh Daeng, Luhishi, Luhushi), Shehleh. |
| Comments |
Swidden agriculturalists. Christian. |
| |
| Language name |
Lahu |
| Population |
32,000 in Thailand (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). |
| Region |
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Maehongson, Lampang, Tak provinces. 119 known villages. |
| Language map |
Northern Thailand, reference number 16
|
| Alternate names |
Lohei, Muhso, Muhsur, Musser, Musso, Mussuh |
| Dialects |
Na (Black Lahu, Musser Dam, Northern Lahu, Loheirn), Nyi (Red Lahu, Southern Lahu, Musseh Daeng, Luhishi, Luhushi), Shehleh. |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in L1: 30%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%. |
| Comments |
Traditional religion, Christian. |
| |
| Language name |
Lahu |
| Population |
6,874 all Lahu (Yellow, Black, White) in Viet Nam (1999 census). |
| Region |
Northwest border with Laos. Black Lahu north of Muong Te City near the China border, at Ban Kiem Tra, Phu Nam Ma, Phu Nam Cau, Phu Nam Ha; White Lahu in Muong Te, east of Nha Ca, 1 village. |
| Language map |
Northwestern Viet Nam, reference number 51
|
| Alternate names |
Kaixien, Lahuna, Laku, Launa, Lohei, Mooso, Muhso, Mussar, Musso, Mussuh, Namen |
| Dialects |
Na (Black Lahu, Khucong, Musser Dam), Nyi (Red Lahu, Musseh Daeng), Shehleh, Lahu Phung (White Lahu). |
| Comments |
An official ethnic community. Distinct from Lahu Shi (Yellow Lahu [mra]). One source called them White Lahu. It is not clear if these are the same as Red Lahu, Black Lahu, or different. Traditional religion. |
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