Lao
Also known as Laotian, Laotian language, Lao language
Kra–Dai language of Southeast Asia
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Lao is a language spoken primarily in Laos and northeastern Thailand that belongs to the Kra-Dai language family of Southeast Asia. It matters as the official language of Laos and a significant regional language that reflects the cultural and historical identity of Lao-speaking communities.
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A Lao speaker
Lao (ພາສາລາວ, phasa Lao; [pʰáː.sǎː láːw]), sometimes referred to as Laotian, is the official language of Laos and a significant language in the Isan region of northeastern Thailand, where it is usually referred to as the Isan language. This stemmed from the political split of the Lao-speaking world at the Mekong River at the conclusion of the Franco-Siamese crisis of 1893. Spoken by over 3 million people in Laos and 3.7 million in all countries, it serves as a vital link in the cultural and social fabric of these areas. It is written in the Lao script, an abugida that evolved from ancient Tai scripts.