Kaloeng language

Kaloeng (Kalerng, Kaleung) is a Southwestern Tai language of Thailand and Laos.

Distribution

In Thailand, Kaloeng is spoken in Sakon Nakhon Province, Nakhon Phanom Province, and Mukdahan Province (Trongdee 2016). In Laos, it is spoken in Khammouan Province.

External classification

Mudjalin Luksanawong (2016:56) classifies the Kaloeng language as part of the Sakon Nakhon subbranch of the Southwestern Tai.

• Nakhon Phanom
  • Nakhon Phanom
• Sakon Nakhon
  • Yoy-Yooy-Kalööng
    • Yoy
    • Yooy
    • Kalööng

In the Sakon Nakhon languages, Proto-Tai *hw- and *w- (Pittayaporn 2009:134-135) became /ph/- (Trongdee 2016:55). Also, the Sakon Nakhon languages display the uncommon labiovelar initial clusters thw-, cw-, sw-, hw-, ŋw-, lw-, ʔw- (Trongdee 2016:56).

Internal classification

Thananan Trongdee (2016:68) classifies the Kaloeng dialects as follows according to the evolution of the Proto-Kaloeng diphthong *-aɯ.

• Group 1: *-aɯ > -aɯ (all spoken in Laos)
  • Hinboun District: Pha Wang; Nong Hoi
  • Yommalath District: Phon Bok
  • Nong Bok District: Nong Bok
  • Boualapha District: Kha Yu
  • Kounkham District: Kong Lo
• (branch)
  • Group 2: *-aɯ > -əi
    • Mueang Sakon Nakhon District: Muanglai ม่วงลาย
    • Kut Bak District: Ban Bua บ้านบัว
    • Kusuman District: Saen Phan แสนพัน
    • Khamcha-i District: Non Sang Si
  • Group 3: *-aɯ > -ai
    • Mueang Sakon Nakhon District: Na Yo นายอ; Dong Mafai ดงมะไฟ
    • Phanna Nikhom District: Choeng Chum เชิงชุม
    • Mueang Nakhon Phanom District: Kurukhu กุรุคุ; Khamtoei คำเตย
    • Phon Sawan District: Phon Bok โพนบก
    • Tha Uthen District: Na Sok นาโสก
    • Pla Pak District: Kutakai ปลาปาก
    • Na Kae District: Phra Song พระซอง
    • Yommalath District, Laos: Don Pueai
    • Nong Bok District, Laos: Dong Phak Pue

References

• Luksanawong, Mudjalin. 2016. The sub-group of Kalööng in Thailand and Laos: another evidence of contact induced change. In Tai Culture Journal, Volume 24. Interdisciplinary Tai Studies Series. ISSN 1431-1240
• Trongdee, Thananan. 2016. A clarification of the Sakon Nakhon subbranch in Laan Saang languages. In Tai Culture Journal, Volume 24. Interdisciplinary Tai Studies Series. ISSN 1431-1240

Languages of Thailand
Official language	Thai
Indigenous languages	Austroasiatic Bru Chong Chung Jahai Kensiu Khmer Northern Western Kintaq Kuy Mlabri Mon Nyah Kur Palaung Ten'edn Thavung Vietnamese Austronesian Cham Malay Bangkok Malay Pattani Malay Satun Malay Moken Urak Lawoi’ Hmong-Mien Hmong Iu Mien Mpi Sino-Tibetan Akha Lisu Nuosu Ugong Tai-Kadai Isan Khün Northern Thai Lao Phu Thai Phuan Shan Southern Thai Tai Lü Tai Nüa Thai Song
Sign languages	Thai Sign Language Ban Khor Sign