Alternate Names: Thin
Dialects: Ban Wen, Prai, Southern Prai. The main dialect of Prai has 2 subvarieties referred to as, R and Y, which are reportedly minimally different. Ban Wen dialect shares cognates with both Mal , and Prai, but is unintelligible to Mal speakers.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 20,000 in Thailand (2001). Possibly 3,000 Ban Wen dialect speakers. Population total all countries: 41,900.
Language Use: Most Prai also speak Northern Thai [nod] (Kammüang).
Language Development: Literacy materials include a set of primers and lessons. Dictionary.
Writing System: Thai
Nation of Origin: Thailand
Other Comments: Distinct from Mal ,. Lua is a self-reported language name for many Prai and Mal. The Southern dialect is called Longhouse (Jordan-Diller and Diller 2004). About 12 villages, mostly in Bo Klua District, with a few villages in Pua District. Ban Wen dialect speakers live in 10–15 villages, primarily in Bo Klua District, with some in Chalerm Prakiat District.