Alternate Names: Kaixien, Kucong, Kutsong, Lahuna, Laku, Lohei, Moso, Muhso, Mussar, Musso, Mussuh, Namen
Dialects: Na (Black Lahu, Lohei, Musser Dam, Northern Lahu), Nyi (Musse Daeng, Red Lahu, Southern Lahu), Shehleh. Standard dialect: Na. Black Lahu dialect and Lahu Shi , have difficult intelligibility. Lahu Shi and Kucong Lahupu (White Lahu dialect, in Zhenyuan County, China) are distinct.
Status Notes: Language of recognized nationality: Lahu.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 280,000 in China (Bradley 2007). Population total all countries: 530,350. L2 users: Some speakers of other languages use Lahu as L2 for commerce.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Blang [blr], Hani [hni], Lü [khb], Mandarin Chinese [cmn], Vo Wa [wbm]. Used as L2 by Bisu [bzi], Lahu Shi [lhi], Laomian [lwm], Sangkong [sgk], Shixing [sxg], Vo Wa [wbm].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 63%. Literacy rate in L2: Low in Chinese. Taught in primary schools. Newspapers. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1989.
Typology: SOV; Lü , and Hani , loanwords.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: China
Other Comments: Traditional religion, Buddhist, Christian.