Lawa, Eastern

LWL

vigorous

Alternate Names: Bo Luang Lawa, “Lua” (pej.)

Dialects: Bo Luang, Bo Sangae. Not intelligible with most Mae Hong Son Lawa dialects ,.

Genealogy:

Austro-Asiatic
Mon-Khmer
Northern Mon-Khmer
Palaungic
Eastern Palaungic
Waic
Lawa

Demographics: 7,000 (Nahhas 2007). Ethnic population: 8,000. L2 users: Some who marry into the community learn to speak it.

Language Use: Very high language vitality. All domains except government and education (which are in Central Thai). All ages. Positive attitudes. Interested in language maintenance. Proud of Lawa history and culture. 100% also use Northern Thai [nod]. Northern Thai [nod] is used for government and school. 100% also use Thai [tha]. Central Thai [tha] used with outsiders.

Language Development: Literacy in Central Thai is common.

Writing System: Thai

Nation of Origin: Thailand