| Also Known As: Nyo,Yo,Nyoh,Jo
Description:
The Nyaw or Tai Nyaw (Thai/Isan: ไทญ่อ, IPA: tʰɑj ɲɔː) are an ethnic group of Thailand and Laos, scattered throughout the provinces of Isan such as Nong Khai, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, and parts of areas of Bolikhamxai and Khammouan provinces of Laos. They are also referred to as simply Nyaw or Yaw, depending on the Lao/Isan/Nyaw pronunciation, with (ɲ) or the Thai prounciation of (j).
The Tai Nyaw believe that they are descendants of people originally from the northernmost part of Laos and Tonkin or immigrants during Tai migrations from Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan Province. Whatever the case may be, their dialect most closely resembles the Lao dialects from the regions east of Luang Prabang.
The Nyaw dialect is very similar to Lao/Isan languages of their neighbours, with only slight differenecs in tones and accent and closest to the Phuthai dialects also spoken within the same regions. Most Nyaw are usually also fluent in Thai and Lao/Isan.
The Tai Nyaw practise Theravada Buddhism, but have also maintained their original animist religion. Important to the Nyaw people is the tutelary spirit of the village, known in the dialect as ผู้เจ้า (IPA: pʰuː tɕaw)...... full article at Wikipedia |
Location of Nyaw Language Speakers
<googlemap zoom="1" width=400 height=300 lat="31.879088" lon="103.418539" type="map">
13.920194, 101.016766, Thailand
49.837982, 105.820313, Asia</googlemap>
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