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The official and majority language is Lao, a language of the Tai-Kadai language family. However, only slightly more than half of the population speaks Lao natively. The remainder, particularly in rural areas, speak ethnic minority languages.
Lao, sometimes referred to as Laotian , is a Kra–Dai language of the Lao people. It is spoken in Laos, where it is the official language for around 7 million people, as well as in northeast Thailand, where it is used by around 23 million people, usually referred to as Isan.
Apr 17, 2024 · Lao language, one of the Tai languages of Southeast Asia, and the official language of Laos. Lao occurs in various dialects, which differ among themselves at least as much as Lao as a group differs from the Tai dialects of northeastern Thailand. The latter are usually called Northeastern Thai, but.
Lao script or Akson Lao (Lao: ອັກສອນລາວ [ʔák.sɔ̌ːn láːw]) is the primary script used to write the Lao language and other minority languages in Laos. Its earlier form, the Tai Noi script, was also used to write the Isan language, but was replaced by the Thai script.
First written: c. 1350. Writing system: Lao script (ອັກສອນລາວ) [ʔáksɔ̌ːn láːw] Status: Official language in Laos. Recognised minority language in Thailand and Cambodia. Lao is closely related to Thai and speakers of Lao are able to understand spoken Thai without too many difficulties.
May 2, 2023 · The Lao language evolved as a distinct dialect of the Tai language family through the influence of local languages and cultures. The earliest written records of the Lao language date back to the 13th century, during the reign of King Fa Ngum, the founder of the Lan Xang Kingdom.
People of Laos Ethnic groups and languages. Laos is an ethnically and linguistically diverse country. The official language of Laos is Lao, although various foreign languages have often been used by the elite. French was once the language of the Lao upper classes and of the cities, but by the 1970s English had begun to displace it.
