| Also Known As: Isan,Issan,Isaan,Thai Isaan
Description:
Isan (Thai: ภาษาอีสาน, RTGS: phasa isan, IPA: pʰaːsaː iːsaːn) is the principal language of the Isan (northeastern) region of Thailand. A tonal language of the Tai language family, it is the main language of trade and communication in the Isan region, except for in cities and in media where it gives way to Thai.
The language is noted for its similarities to the Lao language spoken in the neighbouring country of Laos. This is because Isan was historically once a part of Laos (or more properly the Kingdom of Lan Xang), and also because large forced population transfers from Laos to Isan were undertaken at various points in history. In fact, the two languages are mutually intelligible and almost identical, with differences contributed mainly by neologisms created after the two areas were no longer a single political entity and modern Thai began to contribute to the Isan vocabulary. Although Lao and Thai are themselves closely related and somewhat mutually intelligible, and Isan is often considered a regional dialect of Thai, Isan is actually more akin to the Lao language and there are fewer problems in comprehension between speakers of Isan and Lao than between speakers of Thai and..... full article at Wikipedia |
Location of Thai, Northeastern 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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Rosetta Document Collection
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