|
Standard
Thai, also known as Central Thai or Siamese,
is the official language of Thailand, spoken
by about 65 million people (1990) including
speakers of Bangkok Thai (although the latter
is sometimes considered as a separate dialect).
Khorat Thai is spoken by about 400,000 (1984)
in Nakhon Ratchasima; it occupies a linguistic
position somewhere between Central Thai
and Isan on a dialect continuum, and may
be considered a variant or dialect of either.
|
| In
addition to Standard Thai, Thailand is home
to other related Tai languages, including: |
| 1.
Isan (Northeastern Thai), the language
of the Isan region of Thailand, considered
by some to |
| be
a dialect of the Lao language, which it very
closely resembles (although it is written
in the Thai |
| alphabet).
It is spoken by about 15 million people (1983). |
| 2.
Nyaw language, spoken mostly in Nakhon
Phanom Province, Sakhon Nakhon Province, Udon
|
| Thani
Province of Northeast Thailand. |
| 3.
Galung language, spoken in Nakhon Phanom
Province of Northeast Thailand. |
| 4.
Lu´ (Tai Lue, Dai), spoken by about
78,000 (1993) in northern Thailand. |
| 5.
Northern Thai (Lanna, Kam Meuang, or Thai
Yuan), spoken by about 6 million (1983) in
the |
| formerly
independent kingdom of Lanna (Chiang Mai). |
| 6.
Phuan, spoken by an unknown number of
people in central Thailand and Isan. |
| 7.
Phu Thai, spoken by about 156,000 around
Nakhon Phanom Province (1993). |
| 8.
Shan (Thai Luang, Tai Long, Thai Yai),
spoken by about 56,000 in north-west Thailand
along |
| the
border with the Shan States of Burma (1993). |
| 9.
Song, spoken by about 20,000 to 30,000
in central and northern Thailand (1982). |
| 10.
Southern Thai (Pak Dtai), spoken about
5 million (1990). |
| 11.
Thai Dam, spoken by about 20,000 (1991)
in Isan and Saraburi Province. |
| |
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