Tai Laing language

Tai language of Burma

Tai Laing

* Tai Leng
* Tai Lai
* Shanni
* Shan-ni

တႆးလႅင်
Native to| Myanmar
Region| Kachin, Sagaing

Native speakers

| 100,000 (2010)[1]

Language family

Kra–Dai

* Tai
* Southwestern (Thai)
* Northwestern
* Tai Laing

Writing system

| Burmese script (Tai Laing variant)
Language codes
ISO 639-3| `tjl`
Glottolog| `tail1248`

Tai Laing (Shan: တႆးလႅင်, lit. 'red Tai'; variously spelt Tai Lai or Tai Nai), also known as Shan-ni (Burmese: ရှမ်းနီ, lit. 'red Shan'), is a Tai language of Burma, closely related to Khamti and Shan. It is written in its own variant of Burmese script, and though not taught in schools, is experiencing a cultural revival, albeit still small. There is no census of speakers, but they are estimated to number around 100,000.

Alternate names for Tai Laing are Shan Bamar, Shan Kalee, Tai Laeng, Tai Lang, and Tai Naing.[1]

## Distribution and dialects

[edit]

Tai Laing is spoken in Homalin Township, Sagaing Region, along the Chindwin, Irrawaddy, and Uru rivers. It is also spoken in Kachin State from Bhamo to Myitkyina townships.[1]

There are two subgroups of Tai Laing, namely Tai Nai and Tai Lai. The Tai Nai live along the railway line between Myitkyina and Mandalay. The Tai Lai live along the river south of Myitkyina.[1]

## History

[edit]

The Tai Laing settled in the Indawgyi Lake valley, in modern-day Kachin State, Myanmar, establishing city-states including Mongyang, Mogaung, Wuntho,Kale,Khamti,Tsaung Tsu and Momeik.[2] Tai Laing has had long-term close contact with several Tibeto-Burman languages, including Burmese speakers to the south, Lolo-Burmese, Nungish, and Jingpho-Luish languages to the east and north and Naga languages to the west.[3] These languages have influenced the phonology and grammar of Tai Laing, including the frequency of disyllabic words and presence of different grammatical markers, and variation in word order.[3]

Following the 1962 Burmese coup d'état, restrictive language policies were promulgated by the military regime.[2] The Kachin Independence Organization also repressed Tai Laing speakers, who lived in contested territory.[2] In the 1990s, a military ceasefire enabled the Tai Laing to recover manuscripts, publish literacy books, and teach the language in summer schools.[2] During the 2011–2015 Myanmar political reforms, Khin Pyone Yee was appointed Kachin State's Minister of Shan Affairs.[2] She spearheaded a program to institutionalize Tai Laing education materials and curricula.[2]

While Tai Laing is experiencing a linguistic revival driven by youth, many Tai Laing are now bilingual or monolingual in Burmese, due to assimilation and intermarriage with Burmese speakers.[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Tai Laing at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
2. ^ a b c d e f g Lovett, Lorcan (2018-07-30). "Once-taboo language lives again in rural Myanmar". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
3. ^ a b Marseille, Carmen Eva (2019). "Shan-Ni grammar and processes of linguistic change". Leiden University Libraries. hdl:1887/74583.

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Languages of Myanmar

Official languages|

* Burmese
* English

Semiofficial language|

* English

Indigenous languages
(by state or region)|

| Chin|

| Kuki-Chin|

| Northern|

* Falam
* Siyin
* Tedim
* Thadou
* Zo

|

Central|

* Bawm
* Hakha Chin
* Mizo
* Ngawn
* Tawr

Maraic|

* Lautu
* Mara
* Senthang
* Zotung
* Zyphe

Southern|

* Daai
* Kaang
* Khumi
* Kʼchò
* Nga La
* Shö
* Songlai
* Sumtu
* Thaiphum
* Welaung

Other|

* Anu-Hkongso

Kachin|

| Sino-Tibetan|

* Achang
* Drung
* Hpon
* Jingpo
* Lashi
* Lhao Vo
* Lisu
* Nusu
* Rawang
* Zaiwa

|

Other|

* Khamti
* Nùng
* Palaung
* Tai Laing

Kayah|

* Kayaw
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Kayin|

* Bwe Karen
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* Pwo
* Eastern
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* S’gaw Karen

Magway|

* Rungtu (Taungtha)

Mon|

* Mon

Rakhine|

* Rakhine
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* Sak

Sagaing|

| Sal|

* Khiamniungan
* Konyak
* Leinong
* Makyam
* Ponyo
* Sak
* Tangsa

|

Other|

* Akyaung Ari
* Anal
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* Makury
* Long Phuri
* Para
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Shan|

| Austroasiatic|

* Blang
* Danau
* Palaung
* Riang
* Tai Loi
* Wa

|

Sino-Tibetan|

* Akeu
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* Danu
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* Intha
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* Pyen
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* Southwestern Mandarin

Kra–Dai|

* Khün
* Tai Lue
* Shan
* Tai Nuea

Hmong–Mien|

* Hmong Njua

Tanintharyi|

* Malay
* Moken
* Moklen
* S’gaw
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Non-Indigenous|

| Immigrant language|

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|

Working language|

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Sign languages|

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Kra–Dai languages

Kra|

* Laha
* Lachi
* Paha
* Buyang
* En
* Qabiao

| Gelao|

* Vandu
* A'ou
* Mulao
* Hagei
* Telue
* Qau

|

Kam–Sui|

* Mulam
* Kam (Dong)
* Cao Miao
* Nuoxi (Naxi Yao)
* Then
* Maonan
* Chadong
* Sui
* Mak
* Ai-Cham

Biao|

* Biao

Lakkia|

* Lakkia

Hlai|

* Bouhin
* Ha Em
* Lauhut
* Tongzha
* Zandui
* Baoting
* Cun
* Nadou
* Changjiang
* Moyfaw
* Baisha
* Yuanmen

Jiamao|

* Jiamao

Be–Jizhao|

* Be
* Jizhao

Tai
(Zhuang, etc.)|

| Northern|

* Standard Zhuang
* Bouyei
* Hezhang Buyi
* Yei Zhuang
* Longsang Zhuang
* E
* Saek
* Tai Yo (Nyaw)
* Yoy
* Tai Pao

|

Central|

* Nong Zhuang
* Dai Zhuang
* Min Zhuang
* Yang Zhuang
* Pyang Zhuang
* Myang Zhuang
* Nùng
* Tày
* Tsʻün-Lao

Southwestern
(Thai)|

| Northwestern|

* Shan
* Tai Ya
* Tai Nuea
* Tai Long
* Tai Hongjin
* Khamti
* Tai Laing
* Phake
* Aiton
* Khamyang
* Ahom
* Turung

|

Lao–Phutai|

* Lao
* Phu Thai
* Isan
* Tai Yo (Nyaw)
* Lao Nyo
* Kaloeng

Chiang Saen|

* Thai (Siamese)
* Northern Thai
* Tai Daeng
* Tai Meuay
* Tai Dón
* Tai Hang Tong
* Tai Lue
* Yong
* Tai Dam
* Khün
* Phuan
* Thai Song
* Tày Tac

Southern|

* Southern Thai

(other)|

* Sapa
* Pa Di
* Tai Muong Vat
* Tai Thanh
* Tai Khang
* Kuan

(mixed)|

* Cao Lan

(mixed origins)|

* Hezhang Buyi
* E
* Cao Lan
* Jiamao

proposed groupings|

* Kam–Tai

Proto-languages|

* Proto-Kra–Dai
* Proto-Kra
* Proto-Tai
* Proto-Kam–Sui
* Proto-Hlai

Italics indicate extinct languages

This Kra–Dai languages–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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