Lao people 197158 224849057 2008-07-10T18:13:31Z Nintala 5312039 /* Culture */ {{Infobox Ethnic group |group=Lao |image=[[Image:Khenesarong.jpg|200px]]<br>[[Khene]] player in [[Isan]] |poptime= 28 million (est.) |popplace=[[Thailand]]:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; 19 million (Isan Lao)<br /> 2 million (Laotian Lao)<br /> [[Laos]]:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; 4 million<br /> [[USA]]:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; 206,000<br /> [[Vietnam]]:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; 169,000<br /> [[Cambodia]]:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; 17,000<br /> [[France]]:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; 50,000<br /> [[Myanmar]]:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; 25,000<br /> [[Canada]]:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; 17,000<br /> [[Australia]]:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; 14,000<br /> [[Argentina]]:<br> &nbsp;&nbsp; 2,000<br /> |langs=[[Lao language|Lao]], [[Isan language|Isan]], [[Thai language|Thai]] and [[English language|English]] |rels=Predominantly [[Theravada Buddhist]] with strong [[animist]] tradition as one |related=[[Thai (ethnic group)|Thai]]s and other [[Tai ethnic groups]]<br> }}The '''Lao''' (Lao: ລາວ, Isan: ลาว, IPA: laːw) are an [[ethnic group|ethnic subgroup]] of [[Tai ethnic groups|Tai/Dai]] in [[Southeast Asia]]. The vast majority of Lao people live in either [[Laos]] (approximately 4 million) or [[Thailand]] (approximately 19 million, 18.7 million Isan Lao and 0.4 million immigrant Lao). The Lao of Thailand are concentrated in the [[Isan]] region, although there are many [[migrant worker]]s from Isan working in other parts of the country, especially in [[Bangkok]]. Many Lao speakers in Thailand prefer the term Isan to Lao, but there remain many close cultural bonds between the Thai and the Lao people. ==Names== The Lao people, like many other Tai peoples refer to themselves as ''Tai'' (Lao: ໄທ, Isan: ไท, IPA: tʰɑj) and more specifically ''Tai Lao'' (ໄທລາວ, ไทลาว). Ethnic groups descended from the Lao or closely related Lao sub-ethnic groups often use ''Tai'' or ''Lao'' interchangeably (e.g. ''Lao Wieng'' cf. ''Tai Wieng''). The naming situation is more complex in Isan, where although older people acknowledge that they are Lao, it is more often than not used as an insult against them by Central Thai people. In general, they are known as ''Isan'' or ''Tai Isan'' (Lao: ອີສານ, Isan: อีสาน, IPA: iːsaːn) which identifies them as part of Thailand as opposed to their relation to the Lao of Laos. The Lao of Laos will also usually refer to the Lao of Thailand as Isan.<ref>Hayashi, Yukio. (2002) ''Pracical Buddhism Among the Thai-Lao: Religion in the Making of a Region.'' Kyoto: Trans-Pacific Press.</ref> ==History== The Lao people are descended from migrations of [[Tai]] peoples from what is now southern China and northern [[Vietnam]] beginning approximately three thousand years ago, where many Tai peoples remain to this day. Population pressures, finding suitable habitat for wet-rice cultivation, and escape from the growing tensions of Chinese settlement and [[Mongol]] invasions pushed the Tai tribes further south along the Mekong river valleys. Evidence of these migrations are included in legends of [[Khun Borom]], a possibly mythical king whose descendants begot the various Tai peoples.<ref>Wyatt, David K., Thailand: A Short History, New Haven (Yale University Press), 2003</ref> Although [[Lan Xang]] (Lao: ລ້ານຊ້າງ, Isan: ล้านซ้าง, IPA: laːn saːŋ) is usually considered the first Lao kingdom, other kingdoms and principalities in what is now Laos and Isan flourished before this date.<ref>Eliot Joshua ''et all''. (2002). ''Laos Handbook''. London: Footprint Publishers.</ref> The [[Tai]] peoples pushed out earlier groups of [[Austronesian]] and [[Mon-Khmer]] peoples and established their own kingdoms. The areas were subject to many pressures from surrounding kingdoms, such as [[Siam]], [[Vietnam]], and the old [[Khmer Empire]]. After the split of [[Lan Xang]], the three successor kingdoms were severely weakened and over-ran by Siam, which lead to massive population transfers into what is now [[Isan]], which was also formerly part of various Lao kingdoms, and to Central Thailand, where many groups are descendants of Lao slaves and [[corvée]] labourers. The 19th century and early 20th century, when much of what was Lan Xang was ceded to Thailand and the rest became a French colony led to the modern-day divisions of the Lao people.<ref>Hattaway, Paul. (2004). Peoples of the Buddhist World: A Christian Prayer Guide. Pasadena: William Carey Library.</ref> ''For the history of the Lao people after the late 19th century, see [[History of Laos]], [[History of Isan]], and [[History of Thailand]].'' ==Distribution== There are around 3.6 million Lao in Laos, constituting approximately 68% of the [[population]] (the remainder are largely [[hill tribe]] people). The ethnic Lao of Laos form the bulk of the ''[[Lao Loum]]'' ("Lowland Laotians") (Lao: ລາວລຸ່ມ, Isan: ลาวลุ่ม, IPA: laːw lum). The Lao make up around a third of the population of Thailand: the main concentrations are in Isan (about 15 million people) and in Bangkok (where there are thought to be at least one million migrant Lao from Isan). There are other populations of ethnic Lao throughout [[Central Thailand]], but these have been increasingly incorporated into the general Thai population. Small Lao communities exist in [[Cambodia]], residing primarily in the former Lao territory of [[Stung Treng]] ([[Xieng Teng]] in Lao), and [[Vietnam]]. There are also substantial, unknown numbers of Lao overseas perhaps as many as 500,000 people. Most of the latter were [[refugee]]s from [[Laos]] who fled during the [[Vietnam War]] (Second Indochina War) from the [[Pathet Lao]]. Places of asylum for the Lao refugees are the [[United States]], [[France]], [[Japan]], [[Australia]], [[Germany]], [[Canada]], [[Singapore]], and the [[United Kingdom]]; many also live in [[Argentina]], [[India]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Pakistan]], [[Switzerland]] and [[Myanmar]]. It bears noting that the last official census conducted in [[Siam]] (later [[Thailand]]) in which "Lao" was a unique ethnic category showed almost half the population being "Lao" (though the category also included the [[Northern Thai]]s). As part of [[Thaification]], the "Lao" category was dropped and today it is unclear what percent of the population of Thailand is of Lao origin.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} It is not unusual to find Thai families with Cambodian, Lao, Burmese and even Vietnamese relatives, as all these areas were part of Siam in antiquity. The 2000 United States census figure of 168,707 Laotians and the 2005 figure of 200,000 exclude Hmong, but include [[Mien]], [[Thai Dam]], [[Khmu people|Khmu]] and other groups in addition to the Lao. Isan people are included with [[Thai|Thai Americans]]. The precise figure for the Lao ethnic group is therefore unknown. ==Language== The Lao speak ''phasa lao'' (Lao: ພາສາລາວ, Isan: IPA: pʰaːsa aːw), the [[Lao language|Lao]] in Laos, or ''Phasa Isan'' (Lao: ພາສາອີສານ, Isan: ภาษาอีสาน, IPA: pʰaːsa iːsaːn) the Lao/[[Isan language|Isan]] language of the [[Isan]] region of Thailand. Although both are mutually intelligible, and for the most part identical, they are considered distinct for political rather than purely linguistic reasons. The Lao language of Laos is based on the dialect of [[Vientiane]], although various Lao dialects continue to be spoken. In Isan, there is no standard and dialects mirror the divisions on the other side of the [[Mekong]]. Although distinctions between Isan and Lao can be made, the differences are no greater than for different dialects of Lao as spoken in Laos or with other languages/dialects spoken by closely related groups.<ref>Mugerauer, Robert. (2002). ''Discourses in Hybridity and Identity.'' Center for Environmental Design Research. Berkeley, CA: UC Berkeley Publishers.</ref> The languages (or dialects) have further diverged since the late 19th century political divisions, mainly because of mandatory Thai-language education in Isan, which has greatly influenced the vocabulary, importation of neologisms, and even aspects of pronunciation which are mostly absent in Laos. [[Neologisms]] created after this split are also different (e.g. "[[motorcycle]]" (Lao: ຣົຖຈັກ, Isan/Thai: รถมอเตอร์ไซค์, IPA (Isan): lot moːɗɤːsɑj, IPA (Thai): rot moːɗɤːsɑj, IPA (Lao): lot jak), is ''lot motasai'' in Isan and ''rot motasai'' in Thai, but ''lot jak'' in Lao). The Lao alphabet, still used in Buddhist temples in [[Isan]] is mostly extinct in Thailand; subsequently, Lao as a written language is also extinct in Thailand. When it is written, the [[Thai alphabet]] is used.<ref>Brown, David. (1997). ''The State and Ethnic Politics in Southeast Asia.'' New York: Routledge.</ref> The Lao and Isan languages are related to other languages which it is often debated whether they are languages or just dialects of Lao that are spoken by distinct sub-groups or different [[ethnic groups]], but whose languages are often mutually intelligible as well. ==Culture== Laos and Isan are both very rural areas, and most of the people support themselves by agriculture, with rice being the most important crop.<ref>Mackill, D.J. ''et al''. (1996) ''Rainfed Lowland Rice Improvement.'' International Rice Research Institute. IRRI Publications: Manila.</ref>. As inhabitants of river valleys and lowlands that have been long-settled, ethnic Lao do not practise swidden agriculture like upland peoples. Lao people are generally [[Theravada Buddhist]], as is common in much of [[Southeast Asia]], with most villages containing a ''wat'' or temple (Lao: ວະດ, Isan: วัด, IPA: wat). Animism is also practised to various degrees. Spirits, generally known as ''phi'' (Lao: ຜີ, Isan: ผี, IPA: pʰiː) are commonly revered, and include [[tutelary]] spirits, ancestors, as well as ghosts and demons. Although [[Brahmanism]] was also introduced and one the predominate religion of the [[Khmer]] that ruled much of what is now Laos and Thailand, its presence alongside Buddhism is not as pronounced as it is in [[Thailand]]. Despite this, the [[Hindu]] epic [[Ramayana]], known as ''Phra Lak Phra Lam'' (Lao: ພຮະລັກພຮະຮາມ, Isan: พระลักษมณพระราม, IPA: pʰaʔlak pʰaʔlaːm) is a well-known story and Hindu iconography depicting such deities as [[Brahma]], [[Shiva]], and others can be found at many temples, many of which were built on top of former Hindu temples. [[Lao cuisine]] is very similar to that of neighbouring countries, and many 'Thai' dishes are in fact introductions from Isan migrant workers who brought their Lao tastes with them to [[Bangkok]] where it was introduced to the rest of the country and then the world, with the rising growth in popularity of Thai restaurants. A notable difference from other cuisines is the prevalent use of [[sticky rice]] (Lao: ເຂົ້າໜຽວ, Isan: ข้าวเหนียว, IPA: kʰaːw nio), use of mint and dill, raw vegetables as an accompaniment to most meals, lack of sweetness in savoury dishes, and signature dishes such as papaya salad (Lao: ຕໍາໝາກຫຸ່ງ, Isan: ตำบักหุ่ง, IPA: ɗambakhuŋ) and [[larb]] (Lao: ລາບ, Isan: ลาบ, IPA: laːp).<ref>Joliat, Bernard and Vian, Sonia. (2003). ''Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia.'' New Jersey: Hunter Publishing.</ref> The traditional folk music is ''lam lao'' (Lao: ລາລາວ, Isan: ลำลาว, IPA: lam laːw), although it is also known as [[morlam]] (Lao: ໝ່ໍລາ, Isan: หม่อลำ, IPA: mɔːlam) which is the preferred term in [[Isan|Isan language]]. Artists from [[Thailand]] are also popular in Laos and vice versa, which has re-enforced Lao culture in Isan despite heavy [[Thaification]]. The music is noted for the use of the [[khene]] (Lao: ແຄນ, Isan: แคน, IPA: kʰɛːn) instrument.<ref>Taylor, J.L. (1993). ''Forest Monks and the Nation-State: An Anthropological and Historical Study in Northeastern Thailand.'' Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.</ref> The incorporation of the Lao people into Thailand has created a cultural rivalry, as things that are Lao, such as [[papaya salad]] and the fine silks of Isan are shared with Laos and historically Lao marks of culture are often considered Thai by foreigners whose first experiences of Lao culture are via Thai dissemination (and self-branding). This has caused problems for the modern state of Laos as its national culture is over-whelmingly shared with its neighbour, particularly as more and more cultural traits of Isan are accepted into the Thai mainstream. ==Subdivisions of the Lao people== The main division of Lao people is between the Lao people of Laos and the Isan of northeastern Thailand. In [[Laos]], distinction between the Lao and other closely related [[Tai]] peoples with mutually intelligible languages are grouped together as ''Lao Loum'' or 'Lowland Lao' (Lao: ລາວລຸ່ມ, Isan: ลาวลุ่ม, IPA: laːw lum). Most of these groups share many common cultural traits and speak dialects or languages that are very similar, with only minor differences in tones, vocabulary, and pronunciation of certain words, but usually not enough to impede conversation, but many of these groups, such as the [[Nyaw]] and [[Phuthai]] consider themselves distinct, and often have differences in clothing that differentiate them<ref name="The Thai and Other Tai-Speaking Peoples">[http://countrystudies.us/thailand/42.htm The Thai and Other Tai-Speaking Peoples]</ref>. Other groups in Thailand, such as the [[Lao Krang]], [[Lao Ga]], [[Lao Wieng]], and other groups are descended from Lao people removed from what is now [[Isan]] and [[Laos]] during forced population transfers. These groups were either enslaved or forced into corvée labour. Isolated from Isan and Laos, they have maintained their traditions and languages in isolation and consider themselves distinct as well.<ref>Hattaway, Paul. (2004). Peoples of the Buddhist World: A Christian Prayer Guide. Pasadena: William Carey Library.</ref> Most of the ethnic groups, or sub-ethnic groups (depending on definition and self-categorisation), are from the [[Lao-Phuthai people|Lao-Phu Thai]] sub-clade of nuclear Tai languages. ==See also== * [[Laotian American]] * [[Laotian Canadian]] * [[Laotian French]] ==References== *[http://hmongstudies.learnabouthmong.org/growandsetpa.html Lao settlement patterns in the U.S.] *[http://www.ethnologue.com/country_index.asp?place=Asia Reports on languages spoken in Laos and Thailand, from Ethnologue.com] *Thongchai Winichakul. ''Siam Mapped''. University of Hawaii Press, 1984. ISBN 0-8248-1974-8 *Wyatt, David. ''Thailand: A Short History'' (2nd edition). Yale University Press, 2003. ISBN 0-300-08475-7 {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://laovoices.com Laovoices.com] * [http://laoplanet.net Laoplanet.net] * [http://saolao.net Saolao.net] * [http://www.laomall.com/friends www.laomall.com/friends] {{Ethnic groups in Thailand}} {{Ethnic groups in Vietnam}} [[Category:Ethnic groups in Laos]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Thailand]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Vietnam]] [[Category:Isan]] [[Category:Tai peoples]] [[ang:Lao]] [[cs:Lao]] [[de:Lao]] [[es:Lao]] [[fr:Lao (peuple)]] [[ko:라오족]] [[it:Lao (etnia)]] [[he:לאו (עם)]] [[la:Laosiani]] [[lt:Laosiečiai]] [[hu:Laók]] [[ms:Lao]] [[nl:Laotianen]] [[ja:ラーオ族]] [[pl:Laotańczycy]] [[ru:Лао]] [[scn:Lao]] [[sh:Laošani]] [[fi:Laot]] [[sv:Lao (etnisk grupp)]] [[th:ลาว (กลุ่มชาติพันธุ์)]] [[vi:Người Lào (Việt Nam)]] [[zh:佬族]]