Laha language

Laha (Chinese: 拉哈, Vietnamese: La Ha) is a Kra language spoken by approximately 1,400 people out of a total population of 5,686 Laha. It is spoken in Lào Cai and Sơn La provinces, Vietnam. Laha dialects had been documented in 1986 by Russian linguists and in 1996 by American linguist Jerold A. Edmondson. Many Laha can also converse in the Khmu language, and Laha-speaking areas also have significant Black Thai (Tai Dam), Kháng, Ksongmul (Ksingmul, Xinh-mun), and Hmong populations.

Ostapirat (2000) considers the Laha dialects to form a subgroup of their own (Southern Kra) within the Kra branch.^[1]

Geographic distribution

Wet Laha of Lào Cai and Lai Châu

• Tà Mít Commune, Tân Uyên, Lai Châu, Vietnam (just north of the Black River) — known as the "Wet Laha"
• Pha Mu Commune, Than Uyên and Nậm Cần Commune, Tân Uyên, Lào Cai

Dry Laha of Sơn La — around the Sông Đà and Nậm Mu Rivers

• Noong Lay and Nặt Ét Communes, Sơn La, Vietnam (just south of the Black River — known as the "Dry Laha"
• Chiền Xòm, Liềp Tè, Noong Giông, and Nặm Ét in Sơn La
• Nặm Giôn, Chiền Xàng, Chiền Dong, Pi Toong, and Mường Bú of Mường La District, Sơn La Province
• Thuận Châu, Mường La, Quỳnh Nhai districts of Sơn La Province
• Bản Bung and Phù Yên near Sơn La Province on the north bank of the Black River

See also

• Laha people

References

• Diller, Anthony, Jerold A. Edmondson, and Yongxian Luo ed. The Tai–Kadai Languages. Routledge Language Family Series. Psychology Press, 2008.
• Wardlaw, Terrance Randall. A phonological comparison between two varieties of Laha: Syllable constituents and tone in Ta Mit and Noong Lay Laha. M.A. Thesis, The University of Texas at Arlington, 2000.

External links

• ABVD: Laha (Ta Mit) word list