Tai peoples 203689 225265603 2008-07-12T19:52:51Z Badagnani 308437 /* Subdivisions of the Tai Ethnic Group */ {{Infobox Ethnic group |group=Tai |image=[[Image:Ethic Dong Liping Guizhou China.jpg|280px]] |caption=Dong women and man in [[Guizhou]], [[China]]. The Dong are among the many Tai-speaking groups of China and Southeast Asia. |poptime= |popplace=[[China]], [[Thailand]], [[India]], [[Laos]], [[Vietnam]], [[Cambodia]], [[Malaysia]], [[Burma]] and [[Singapore]] |rels=[[Theravada Buddhism]], [[animism]] |langs=[[Tai-Kadai languages]] |related= }} ''"Thai peoples" redirects here. For the subgroup of the Tai, see [[Thai people]] The '''Tai''' or '''Tai-Kadai''' ethnicity refers collectively to the [[ethnic group]]s of southern [[China]] and [[Southeast Asia]], stretching from [[Hainan]] to eastern [[India]] and from southern [[Sichuan]] to [[Laos]], [[Thailand]], and parts of [[Vietnam]], which speak languages in the [[Tai-Kadai languages|Tai-Kadai]] family and share similar traditions and festivals, including [[Songkran]].<ref>There is some ambiguity as to the use of the term ''Tai peoples'', as ''Tai peoples'' can also refer to the speakers of the ''Tai languages'' branch of the Tai-Kadai family. In that sense, ''Tai peoples'' would be the main ethnic [[clade]] of the ''Tai-Kadai peoples''. However, many branches of the other clades of the broader ''Tai-Kadai peoples'' also consider themselves ''Tai'', rather than ''Tai-Kadai''. In fact, only some of the ''Kadai peoples'' refer to themselves as ''Tai Kadai''. To resolve the ambiguity in this and other related articles, the term ''nuclear Tai peoples'' is used when discussing the strictly Tai subset of the broader Tai-Kadai ethnicity.</ref> Despite never having a unified [[nation-state]] of their own, the peoples also have historically shared a vague idea of a "Siam" nation, corrupted to Shan or Assam in some places, and most self-identify as "Tai". ==Origin of the Tai== {{See also|Peopling of Thailand|Peopling of Laos}} Comparative linguistic research seems to indicate that the Tai people were a [[Tai-Kadai languages|proto Tai-Kadai]] speaking culture of southern China, and that they may have originally been of [[Austronesian]] descent.<ref name="Sagart">Sagart, L. 2004. The higher phylogeny of Austronesian and the position of Tai-Kadai. ''Oceanic Linguistics'' 43.411-440.</ref> Prior to inhabiting mainland China, the Tai are suspected to have migrated<!--When, approximately?--> from a homeland on the island of [[Taiwan]] where they spoke a dialect of Proto-Austronesian or one of its descendant languages.<ref name="Sagart">Sagart, L. 2004. The higher phylogeny of Austronesian and the position of Tai-Kadai. ''Oceanic Linguistics'' 43.411-440.</ref> After the arrival of Sino-Tibetan speaking ethnic groups from mainland China to the island of Taiwan,<!--When, approximately?--> the Tai would have then migrated into mainland China,<!--When, approximately?--> perhaps along the [[Pearl River (China)|Pearl River]], where their language greatly changed in character from the other Austronesian languages under influence of [[Sino-Tibetan peoples|Sino-Tibetan]] and [[Hmong-Mien]] language infusion. The coming of the [[Han Chinese]] to this region of southern China may have prompted the Tai to migrate in mass once again, this time southward over the mountains into Southeast Asia.<ref name="Stratification in the peopling of China: how far does the linguistic evidence match genetics and archaeology?">[http://rogerblench.info/Genetics/Geneva%20paper%202004.pdf Stratification in the peopling of China: how far does the linguistic evidence match genetics and archaeology?]</ref> While this theory of the origin of the Tai is currently the leading theory, there is insufficient archaeological evidence to prove or disprove the proposition at this time, and the linguistic evidence alone is not conclusive. However, in further support of the theory, it is believed that the [[Haplogroup O1 (Y-DNA)|O1 Y-DNA haplogroup]] is associated with both the [[Austronesian people]] and the Tai. The prevalence of Y-DNA Haplogroup O1 among Austronesian and Tai peoples also suggests a common ancestry with the [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]], [[Austro-Asiatic languages|Austro-Asiatic]] and [[Hmong-Mien languages|Hmong-Mien]] peoples some 35,000 years ago in China.<ref name="Y-DNA Haplogroup O and its Subclades - 2007">[http://www.isogg.org/tree/ISOGG_HapgrpO07.html Y-DNA Haplogroup O and its Subclades - 2007]</ref> Y-DNA [[Haplogroup O2a (Y-DNA)|Haplogroup O2a]] is also found at high frequency among most Tai peoples, which is a trait that they share with the neighboring [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]] peoples. Y-DNA Haplogroups O1 and O2a are [[subclade]]s of [[Haplogroup O (Y-DNA)|O Y-DNA haplogroup]], which itself is a [[subclade]] of [[Haplogroup K (Y-DNA)|Y-DNA Haplogroup K]], a genetic mutation that is believed to have originated 40,000 somewhere between Iran and Central China.<ref name="Y-DNA Human Migration">[http://www.kerchner.com/images/dna/ydna_migrationmap_(FTDNA2006).jpg Y-DNA Human Migration]</ref> In addition to the ethnicities previously mentioned, the progenitor of Haplogroup K was probably the ancestor of nearly all modern [[Melanesia|Melanesian people]], as well as the [[Mongols]] and the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]]. Haplogroup K, in turn, is a subclade of [[Haplogroup F (Y-DNA)|Y-DNA Haplogroup F]], which is believed to have originated in Northern Africa or Southwest Asia some 45,000 years ago. Haplogroup F is believed to be associated with the second major wave of migration out of the African continent.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} In addition to the ethnicities previously mentioned, the progenitor of Haplogroup F was probably the ancestor of all [[Indo-European languages|Indo-Europeans]]. ==Subdivisions of the Tai Ethnic Group== The exact structure of the [[clades]] of the Tai ethnicity are a topic of present debate among [[linguists]] and other social scientists. There is not a current consensus as to the [[stratification]]. However, there is a general consensus as to the existence of the following distinct groups: *the ''nuclear'' Tai peoples of China and much of Southeast Asia (including most notably the Thai, Lao, Isan, Shan and Zhuang)<!--What about the Dai and Dong of China?--> *the [[Li people]] of China (also known as the Hlai people) *the [[Kadai peoples]] of China and Vietnam (also known as the Geyan peoples) *the [[Kam-Sui peoples]] (which may or not include the [[Biao people]]) *the [[Saek|Saek people]] of Laos and Thailand *the [[Biao people]] of China ===Other Tai-Kadai speaking ethnic groups of non-Tai ethnic descent=== *There is an ethnic group called the [[Lakkia people|Lakkia]] in the [[Guangxi Province]] of [[China]] (Tai Lakka in neighboring portions of [[Vietnam]]) which is ethnically of [[Yao people|Yao]] descent whose members speak a Tai-Kadai language called ''Lakkia''.<ref name="Lakkia on Ethnologue">[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=lbc Lakkia on Ethnologue]</ref> These Yao were likely in an area dominated by Tai speakers and assimilated an early Tai-Kadai language (possibly the language of the ancestors of the [[Biao people]]). *The [[Lingao people]] in the [[Hainan Province]] of [[China]] speak a Tai-Kadai language called ''Lincheng'', although the ethnicity of the Lingao traces back to the [[Han Chinese|Han]] nationality.<ref name="Lingao on Ethnologue">[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=onb Lingao on Ethnologue]</ref> ==Geographic distribution== The Tai have historically resided in [[China]], [[India]] and continental [[Southeast Asia]] since the early Tai expansion period. Their primary geographic distribution in those countries is roughly in the shape of an arc extending from northeastern India through southern China and down to Southeast Asia. Recent Tai migrations have brought considerable numbers of Tai peoples to [[Sri Lanka]], [[Japan]], [[Taiwan]], [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Europe]], the [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Argentina]] and [[North America]] as well. Greatest ethnic diversity within the Tai occurs in China, which is believed to be their prehistoric homeland. ===Nuclear Tai peoples throughout China, India and Southeast Asia=== {{see|Tai ethnic groups in China|Tai ethnic groups in Southeast Asia|Tai ethnic groups in India}} Due to the great ethnic diversity among the nuclear Tai peoples in the countries of [[China]], [[India]] and [[Southeast Asia]], the geographical distribution of the individual Tai ethnic groups in these regions is discussed in three respective articles on the topic. Articles on each of the individual ethnic groups provide further detail as well. ===Li people=== The [[Li people|Li]] reside primarily, if not completely, within the [[Hainan Province]] of [[China]]. ===Kadai peoples=== The Kadai peoples are clustered in the [[Guangxi Province|Guangxi]], [[Guizhou Province|Guizhou]], [[Yunnan Province|Yunnan]], [[Hunan Province|Hunan]] and [[Hainan Province|Hainan]] Provinces of [[China]], as well as the [[Ha Giang Province|Ha Giang]], [[Cao Bang Province|Cao Bang]], [[Lao Cai Province|Lao Cai]] and [[Son La Province|Son La]] Provinces of [[Vietnam]]. {{see also|Kadai peoples}} ''for detailed geographic distribution'' ===Kam-Sui peoples=== The Kam-Sui peoples are clustered in [[China]] as well as neighboring portions of northern [[Laos]] and [[Vietnam]]. {{see also|Kam-Sui peoples}} ''for detailed geographic distribution'' ===Saek people=== The center of the [[Saek]] population is the [[Mekong River]] in central Laos. A smaller Saek community makes its home in the [[Isan]] region of northeast [[Thailand]], near the border with Laos. ===Biao people=== The [[Biao people]] are clustered in the [[Guangdong Province]] of [[China]].<ref name="Biao on Ethnologue">[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=byk Biao at Ethnologue]</ref> ===Lakkia people=== The [[Lakkia people|Lakkia]] are an ethnic group clustered in the [[Guangxi Province]] of [[China]] and neighboring portions of [[Vietnam]], whose members are of [[Yao people|Yao]] descent, but speak a Tai-Kadai language called ''Lakkia''.<ref name="Lakkia on Ethnologue">[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=lbc Lakkia on Ethnologue]</ref> These Yao were likely in an area dominated by Tai speakers and assimilated an early Tai-Kadai language (possibly the language of the ancestors of the [[Biao people]]). ===Lingao people=== The [[Lingao people]] are an ethnic group clustered in the [[Hainan Province]] of [[China]] who speak a Tai-Kadai language called ''Lincheng''.<ref name="Lingao on Ethnologue">[http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=onb Lingao on Ethnologue]</ref> They are categorized as [[Han Chinese]] under China's system of ethnic classification. ===Other Tai populations throughout Asia=== There is a large [[Shan]] community within [[Sri Lanka]] which settled in Sri Lanka from mainland [[India]]. In other parts of [[Asia]], substantial [[Thai people|Thai]] communities can be found in [[Japan]], [[Taiwan]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]]. ===Tai of North America=== The [[United States of America|United States]] is home to a significant population of [[Thai people|Thai]], [[Lao people|Lao]], [[White Thai|Tai Kao]], [[Isan people|Isan]], [[Lu people|Lu]], [[Phutai]], [[Black Tai|Tai Dam]], [[Northern Thai (ethnic group)|Northern Thai]], [[Southern Thai people|Southern Thai]], [[Tay people|Tay]] and [[Shan]] people. There are a significant number of [[Thai people|Thai]] and [[Lao people]] living in Canada as well. {{see also|Thai American|Laotian American}} ===Tai of Europe=== The most significant communities of Tai peoples in Europe are in the [[Lao people|Lao]] communities of the [[United Kingdom]], [[France]], [[Germany]] and [[Switzerland]], the [[Isan people|Isan]] communities of the United Kingdom and [[Iceland]], the [[Thai people|Thai]] communities of [[Finland]], Iceland and [[Norway]], the [[Black Tai|Tai Dam]] and [[Tay people|Tay]] communities of France, and the [[Southern Thai people|Southern Thai]] community of the United Kingdom. ===Thai of Oceania=== There is a sizable [[Thai people|Thai]] community in [[Australia]], as well as a [[Isan people|Northeastern Thai]] community in [[New Zealand]]. ===Lao of Argentina=== In recent times, large numbers of [[Lao people|Lao]] have migrated to [[Argentina]]. ==Common culture== ===Language=== {{main|Tai-Kadai languages}} The languages spoken by the Tai people are referred to as the [[Tai-Kadai languages|Tai-Kadai]] [[language family]]. The most widely spoken of the Tai-Kadai languages are the [[Tai languages]], including [[Thai language|Thai]], the national language of [[Thailand]], [[Lao language|Lao]] or Laotian, the national language of [[Laos]], [[Burma]]'s [[Shan language]], and [[Zhuang language|Zhuang]], a group of languages of southern [[China]]. These languages are [[tonal language|tonal]] languages, meaning variations in tone of a word can change that word's meaning. ===Festivals=== The Tai throughout Asia celebrate a number of common festivals, including a holiday known as ''[[Songkran]],'' which originally marked the [[vernal equinox]], but is now celebrated on the 14th of April every year. ==References== {{reflist}} {{Ethnic groups in Thailand}} [[Category:Tai peoples| ]] [[Category:Tai history]] [[Category:History of Thailand]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Asia]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Southeast Asia]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Thailand]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in China]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Laos]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Vietnam]] [[Category:Ethnic groups in Burma]] [[de:Tai-Völker]] [[hr:Tajski narodi]] [[it:Tai-Kadai]] [[ja:タイ族]] [[th:ชาวไต]] [[zh:泰人]]