Prai
A language of Thailand
| Population | 20,000 in Thailand. Possibly 3,000 Ban Wen dialect speakers. Population total all countries: 35,000. |
| Region | North, Nan Province, Thung Chang, Chalerm Prakiat, Chiang Klang, Bo Klua, Pua districts. Also in Laos. |
| Language map |
Northern Thailand, reference number 42 |
| Alternate names | Thin |
| Dialects | Prai, Southern, Ban Wen. The main dialect of Prai has 2 subvarieties referred to as ‘R’ and ‘Y’, which are reportedly minimally different. Ban Wen dialect shares cognates with both Mal [mlf] and Prai, but is unintelligible to Mal speakers. |
| Classification | Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Khmuic, Mal-Khmu’, Mal-Prai |
| Language use | Most Prai also speak Northern Thai [nod] (Kammüang). |
| Language development | Literacy materials include a set of primers and lessons. Dictionary. |
| Writing system | Thai script. |
| Comments | Distinct from Mal [mlf]. Lua is a self-reported language name for many Prai and Mal. The Southern dialect is called Longhouse (Jordan-Diller and Diller 2004). Approximately 12 villages, mostly in Bo Klua District, with a few villages in Pua District. Ban Wen dialect speakers live in 10–15 villages, primarily in Bo Klua District, with some in Chalerm Prakiat District. |
Also spoken in:
Laos
| Language name | Prai |
| Population | 15,000 in Laos (1995 census). |
| Region | Xaignabouli Province, Hongsa, Xaignabouli, Xiang Hon, and Phiang districts. |
| Language map |
Laos, reference number 51 |
| Alternate names | Lao Mai |
| Comments | Distinct from Mal [mlf]. Traditional religion. |
Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:
Academic Publications
Ethnologue: Web |
Ethnologue: Print |
Bibliography |
Publications Catalog |
Software |
Email Updates
Who we are |
Shopping cart |
Site search |
Site map |
Home
Bibliography data last updated: April-2012
Contact us
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | External links
Copyright © 2012 SIL International (formerly known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics)
