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Phu Thai

Phu Thai
ภาษาผู้ไท
Native to Thailand, Laos and Vietnam
Native speakers
870,000 (2002–2006)
Tai–Kadai
Thai script
Language codes
ISO 639-3
Glottolog phut1244

Phu Thai (Phuu Thai; Thai, Phu Thai: Phasa Phuthai, or ภูไท) is a Thai language closely related to Tai Dam and Tai Dón, it is less closely related to the Isan and the Lao languages. It may be the same as Tay Khang.

Speakers of the Phu Thai language in Thailand numbered about 156,000 in 1993. They can be found mainly in the areas around Khamcha-i District, Nakhon Phanom, Ubon Ratchathani, Kalasin and Sakon Nakhon. Phu Thai speakers live as well in the Khammouane, Savannakhet, Saravan, and Champassak provinces of Laos, northern areas of Vietnam, and possibly also in China.

There is little dialect differentiation.

Tai Gapong or Tai Kapong found in the Nape district of Ban Nahuong, Bolikhamsai Province, Laos speak a slightly different dialect.

Despite its rich heritage, and regional use, in Thailand this language group is increasingly becoming integrated into the mainstream Isan language.


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