Lao people: Difference between revisions
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TAI PEOPLE WERE SO GAY |
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{{Infobox Ethnic group |
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|group=Lao |
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|poptime= 7 million (est.) |
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|popplace= |
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{{flag|Laos}}:<br> 4.5 million<br /> |
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{{flag|USA}}:<br> 200,000<br /> |
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{{flag|Vietnam}}:<br> 169,000<br /> |
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{{flag|Cambodia}}:<br> 17,000<br /> |
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{{flag|France}}:<br> 50,000<br /> |
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{{flag|Myanmar}}:<br> 25,000<br /> |
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{{flag|Canada}}:<br> 17,000<br /> |
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{{flag|Australia}}:<br> 14,000<br /> |
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{{flag|Argentina}}:<br> 2,000<br /> |
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|langs=[[Lao language|Lao]], [[Isan language|Isan]], [[Thai language|Thai]] and [[English language|English]] |
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|rels=Predominantly [[Theravada Buddhist]] with strong [[animist]] tradition as one |
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|related=[[Thai (ethnic group)|Thai]]s and other [[Tai ethnic groups]]<br> |
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}}The '''Lao''' (Lao: ລາວ, Thai: 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 [[Laos]] (approximately 4 million). |
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==Names== |
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The Lao people, like many other Tai peoples also refer to themselves as ''Tai'' (Lao: ໄທ, Thai: ไท, IPA: tʰɑj) and more specifically ''Tai Lao'' (ໄທລາວ, ไทลาว). |
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==History== |
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The Lao people are descended from [[Tai peoples|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. The designation ''Lao'' probably originates from an ancient people, the [[Wenda Laos]] that were a branch of the Tai peoples and one of the groups that settled Southeast Asia. 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, Thai: ล้านช้าง, 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|Tai]] peoples pushed out earlier groups of [[Austronesian]] and [[Mon-Khmer]] peoples and established their own kingdoms. The pale of Tai settlement stretches from Assam, formerly ruled by [[Tai Ahoms]], as far south as Malaysia, as far north as Central China, to the mountains of Vietnam and [[Hainan]]. The various Lao kingdoms were closely associated with [[Lannathai]] and even [[Siam]], a legacy depicted in the shared culture, with much adoption from the local Mon-Khmer tribes that preceded Tai settlement, whose commonalities are still visible today. |
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The areas were subject to many pressures from surrounding kingdoms, such as [[Siam]], [[Vietnam]], and before that, the [[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]].'' |
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==Distribution== |
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There are around 3.6 million Lao in Laos, constituting approximately 68% of the [[population]] (the remainder are largely [[Hill tribe (Thailand)|hill tribe]] people). The ethnic Lao of Laos form the bulk of the ''[[Lao Loum]]'' ("Lowland Laotians") (Lao: ລາວລຸ່ມ, Thai: ลาวลุ่ม, IPA: laːw lum). The majority of Lao live in Thailand, where as Isan, they form more than a third of Thailand's population, estimated at 23 million. They are joined by large numbers of immigrants and migrant farm workers from Laos and smaller groups descended from forced Lao migrations to Central Thailand. 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]]. |
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The 2000 United States census figure of 168,707 Laotians and the 2005 figure of 200,000 exclude Hmong, but include [[Mien]], [[Tai Dam]], [[Khmu people|Khmu]] and other groups in addition to the Lao. |
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==Language== |
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{{main|Lao language}} |
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The ethnic Lao speak a [[Tai-Kadai]] language, closely related to other Tai languages spoken in Laos. It is the official language of Laos with a unique alphabet closely related to older forms of the Thai alphabet, all of which are ultimately derived from Brahmi scripts. Many other closely related Tai tribes speak closely related languages or dialects, such as the [[Phuan]], [[Phuthai]], and [[Nyaw]], mostly belonging to Lao-Phuthai subclade of [[Tai-Kadai]] languages. Formerly, French was a second language of the Lao élite, although very few francophones remain in Laos. Many ethnic Lao speak or understand Thai, due to heavy business trade and exposure to Thai media in Laos. |
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==Culture== |
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{{main|Lao culture}} |
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Laos is generally 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. |
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{{main|Buddhism in Laos}} |
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Lao people are generally [[Theravada Buddhist]], as is common in much of [[Southeast Asia]], with most villages containing a ''wat'' or temple (Lao: ວັດ, IPA: wat). Animism is also practised to various degrees. Spirits, generally known as ''phi'' (Lao: ຜີ, Thai: 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 Empire|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 Ram'' (Lao: ພຣະລັກພຣະຣາມ, Thai: พระลักษมณ์พระราม, IPA: pʰaʔlak pʰaʔRaːm) 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. |
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{{main|Lao cuisine}} |
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[[Lao cuisine]] is distinct from other Southeast Asian cuisines. It is noted for the use of mint and dill and numerous other bitter herbs, neglected in most other regional cuisines, as well as a heavy reliance on freshwater fish, due to the landlocked nature of the region. |
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{{main|morlam}} |
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The traditional folk music is ''lam lao'' (Lao: ລຳລາວ, Thai: ลำลาว, IPA: lam laːw), although it is also known as [[morlam]] (Lao: ໝໍລຳ, Thai: หมอลำ, 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> |
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==Subdivisions of the Lao people== |
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In [[Laos]], little distinction is made between the Lao and other closely related [[Tai peoples|Tai]] peoples with mutually intelligible languages who are grouped together as ''Lao Loum'' or 'Lowland Lao' (Lao: ລາວລຸ່ມ, Thai: ลาวลู่ม, 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>. |
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==See also== |
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* [[Laotian American]] |
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* [[Laotian Canadian]] |
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* [[Laotian French]] |
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==References== |
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*[http://hmongstudies.learnabouthmong.org/growandsetpa.html Lao settlement patterns in the U.S.] |
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*[http://www.ethnologue.com/country_index.asp?place=Asia Reports on languages spoken in Laos and Thailand, from Ethnologue.com] |
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*Thongchai Winichakul. ''Siam Mapped''. University of Hawaii Press, 1984. ISBN 0-8248-1974-8 |
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*Wyatt, David. ''Thailand: A Short History'' (2nd edition). Yale University Press, 2003. ISBN 0-300-08475-7 |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.laoembassy.com/ Lao Embassy] |
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* [http://www.laopdr.com/laogovtlinks.htm Lao Government Links] |
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* [http://www.seasite.niu.edu/lao/undp/understandingCulture.htm Understanding Lao Culture] |
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* [http://laoconnection.com/ Lao people/culture/issues] |
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* [http://www.fodors.com/world/asia/thailand/isan/ Isan Travel Guide] |
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{{Ethnic groups in Laos}} |
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{{Ethnic groups in Thailand}} |
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{{Ethnic groups in Vietnam}} |
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[[Category:Ethnic groups in Laos]] |
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[[Category:Ethnic groups in Thailand]] |
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[[Category:Ethnic groups in Vietnam]] |
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[[Category:Isan]] |
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[[Category:Tai peoples]] |
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[[Category:Buddhist communities]] |
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[[ang:Lao]] |
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[[cs:Lao]] |
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[[de:Lao]] |
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[[es:Pueblo laosiano]] |
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[[fr:Lao (peuple)]] |
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[[ko:라오족]] |
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[[it:Lao (etnia)]] |
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[[he:לאו (עם)]] |
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[[la:Laosiani]] |
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[[lt:Laosiečiai]] |
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[[hu:Laók]] |
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[[ms:Lao]] |
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[[nl:Laotianen]] |
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[[ja:ラーオ族]] |
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[[pl:Laotańczycy]] |
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[[ru:Лао]] |
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[[scn:Lao]] |
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[[sh:Laošani]] |
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[[fi:Laot]] |
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[[sv:Lao (etnisk grupp)]] |
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[[th:ลาว (กลุ่มชาติพันธุ์)]] |
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[[vi:Người Lào (Việt Nam)]] |
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[[zh:佬族]] |
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Revision as of 08:49, 4 January 2009
TAI PEOPLE WERE SO GAY