About the Lao Language

In which countries is the Lao language spoken?

The Lao language is predominantly spoken in Laos and also in parts of Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Vietnam, and China.

What is the history of the Lao language?

The Lao language is a language of the Tai-Kadai language family, which is spoken primarily in Laos and some parts of Thailand. It is closely related to other Tai-Kadai languages, including Thai and Shan.
The origins of the Lao language are obscure, but there is evidence that it was the language of the early kingdom of Lan Xang (sometimes written as Lan Chang) which was founded in the 14th century by Fa Ngum. After Lan Xang fell in the 18th century, Lao was adopted as the language of government and commerce, and it began to emerge as a distinct language.
In the 19th century, the French colonized much of Indochina, including Laos. During this period, Lao was heavily influenced by the French language, and many new terms and expressions were borrowed from French. This influence can still be seen in modern Lao.
Today, Lao is the primary language of about 17 million people, primarily in Laos and northeast Thailand. It is also recognized as an official language of the European Union, and is used in a number of educational institutions and media outlets in Thailand and Laos.

Who are the top 5 people who have contributed the most to the Lao language?

1. Lāǥ Vīrabō̜ngsa – Lao poet, linguist and author, who was pivotal in the standardization of written Lao.
2. Ahan Souvanna Phouma – Prime Minister of Laos from 1951-1975, who was instrumental in the development of the Lao language.
3. Khamsō̜ng Sīvongkō̜n – 20th-century Lao lexicographer and editor of the first Lao language dictionary.
4. James M. Harris – American linguist and professor at Cornell, who developed the first Lao language textbook.
5. Noi Khetkham – Lao poet, scholar and lexicographer, who published numerous books on the Lao language and literature.

How is the structure of the Lao language?

The structure of the Lao language is similar to other Tai-Kadai languages, as it is an agglutinative language with a subject-verb-object word order. It has a relatively simple sound system that mainly consists of monosyllabic words, and its orthography is based on the Pali script. Lao also has a complex system of classifiers and measure words, which are used to classify nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

How to learn the Lao language in the most correct way?

1. Start by learning the script. Lao is written in an alphabet called Lao that is based on the Khmer alphabet. Before you begin, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the letters and sounds of this script.
2. Listen and pick up words. Grab a Lao language audio course and start listening to the language being spoken out loud. Listen carefully to the sounds and try to pick up new words and phrases.
3. Speak with native Lao speakers. The best way to learn a language is to actually speak it. Find friends who are native Lao speakers, or join a language exchange program where you can practice with others.
4. Use language resources. There are many websites and apps dedicated to helping you learn Lao. Look for courses and materials that are specifically tailored to teaching Lao.
5. Make Lao part of your everyday life. You can make learning a language fun by incorporating it into your daily activities. Try watching movies, listening to music, and reading books in Lao for practice.