How many languages are spoken in Tai-Kadai?
How many languages are spoken in Tai-Kadai?
70% of the 76 Tai-Kadai languages are spoken by fewer than 100,000 speakers. Of these, many are on the verge of extinction or are seriously endangered. A few are already extinct. Only 22 of the 76 languages have over 100,000 speakers, and only 9 have over 1 million speakers.
What languages are in the Tai-Kadai language family?
The Kra–Dai languages (also known as Tai–Kadai and Daic) are a language family of tonal languages found in Mainland Southeast Asia, Southern China and Northeast India. They include Thai and Lao, the national languages of Thailand and Laos respectively.
Is Tai-Kadai Sino Tibetan?
The Tai–Kadai languages were formerly considered to be part of the Sino-Tibetan family (the reason may be that they are related to some languages varieties in Southern China), but outside China they are now classified as an independent family.
Is Tai and Thai language same?
As a linguistic and historical term, ‘Tai’ refers to a branch of the Tai-Kadai family, while ‘Thai’ refers specifically to the language of Thailand. Widespread as the Tai-Kadai family is, only two languages have official status as national languages: Thai in Thailand and Lao in Laos.
What is the main Japanese language?
| Languages of Japan | |
|---|---|
| Main | Japanese |
| Regional | Ryukyuan (Okinawan et al.), Ainu, Hachijō |
| Minority | Nivkh, Orok |
| Immigrant | Korean, Chinese |
Does Cambodia speak French?
The French language began its presence in Cambodia in the late 19th century after French explorers and merchants made their way from Vietnam into Cambodia. In 1863, Cambodia became a protectorate of France and was incorporated into French Indochina in 1887. After the war, French again became the sole official language.
Are Thai and Lao similar?
Lao and Thai languages are very similar to each other. In fact, the two languages are linguistically similar, though their writing script varies a bit. Thai is the native language of Thailand and is spoken in minority in Cambodia. Hence, the people in Laos are very familiar with the Thai language.
What language do they speak in Tai-Kadai?
The two national languages of the group, Thai and Lao, account for well over half the total of Tai-Kadai speakers. The spelling “Thai” is used for the national language of Thailand and for some regional varieties in that country.
What is the Tai-Kadai family?
However, its genetic affiliation remains open. As the name itself suggests, Tai-Kadai is made up of two major groups: Tai and Kadai. Tai, also known as Kam-Tai, comprises the best known members of the family: Thai and Lao, the national languages of Thailand and Laos, whose speakers alone account for over half of the Tai-Kadai population.
What is the Tai language called in Thailand?
Tai languages. The Tai or Zhuang–Tai languages ( Thai: ภาษาไท or ภาษาไต, transliteration: p̣hās̛̄āthay or p̣hās̛̄ātay) are a branch of the Kra–Dai language family. The Tai languages include the most widely spoken of the Tai–Kadai languages, including standard Thai or Siamese, the national language of Thailand; Lao or Laotian,…
What is the classification of the Central Tai language?
In Pittayaporn’s preliminary classification system of the Tai languages, Central Tai is considered to be paraphyletic and is split up into multiple branches, with the Zhuang varieties of Chongzuo in southwestern Guangxi (especially in the Zuo River valley at the border to Vietnam) having the most internal diversity.
