Khir language
Loloish language of northern Laos
| Khir | |
|---|---|
| Laya | |
| Native to | Laos |
| Region | Phongsaly province |
Native speakers | 3,200 (2023)[1] |
Language family | Sino-Tibetan
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | None (mis) |
| Glottolog | None |
Khir (Lao: ເຄີ /kʰɯ/, Kheu; autonym: ka55 ɯ21 or la21 ja21) is a Loloish language of northern Laos. It is closely related to Cosao.[2]
Khir is spoken in Nyot U District, Phongsaly Province, including in Kang village.[3]
Names
The autonym is ka55 ɯ21. A less commonly used autonym, la21 ja21, is an autonym elicited in Khir Tai language.[1]
The exonym is pronounced khɯ but is officially spelled Khir (Lao: ເຄີ).[1]
Demographics
As of 2023, the ethnic Khir population is 3,200.[1]
Dialects
There are 6 dialects of Khir, all of which are mutually intelligible with each other. Each dialcet has 300 to 800 speakers.[1]
- Kang: described by Kato (2008) and is mainly spoken in Kangnamlae (formerly Kang) and Phiangsaeng Villages. 600 people.
- Khir: spoken in Khir Neua, Khir Tai, and Chompho Villages. 440 people.
- Ka: spoken in Ka and Chompho Villages. 560 people.
- Hin: mainly spoken in Hin and Palan Villages, with 5 or 6 households in Somheuang Village. 460 people.
- Paek: spoken in Paek Village. 300 people.
- Somheuang: spoken in Somheuang and Nakong Villages. 860 people.
Below is a comparison of lexical differences among each of the six Khir dialects.[1]
| Gloss | Kang | Somheuang | Khir | Hin | Ka | Paek |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eye | mla33sɯ21 | mja33sɯ21 | mɛ33sɯ21 | ma33nɯ̰33 | mɛ33hɯ21 | mɛ33nɯ̰33 |
| chicken | a33 | ha33 | ha33ɕḭ33 | a21ɕḭ33 | ja33ʨḭ33 | ja33ʨḭ33 |
| language | sɯ21to21 | mi33 | ne21bu21 | to21ma33 | tɔ21 | tɔ21 |
| bee | blə21 | pja21 | pɛ21ɔ21 | i21ɕi55 | pja21 | pja21 |
| face | mla33phlo21 | mja33phlo21 | ma33phɔ21 | ma33phɔ21 | mɛ33phɔ21 | mɛ33phɔ21 |
| full (not empty) | a21blɯ33 | a21blɯ33 | bɯ33 | pɯ33 | pɯ33 | pɯ33 |
| sweat | tsha55qhi21 | ʨhɛ55khli21 | sɛ55khi21 | sɛ55khi21 | khɛ21su21 | khi21ʨha55 |
References
- ^ a b c d e f Kato, Takashi (2023). Linguistic varieties of Khir in Laos. 56th International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics, 10-12 October 2023. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.
- ^ Hsiu, Andrew. 2016. The classification of Cosao: a Lolo-Burmese language of China and Laos. Presented at the 22nd Himalayan Languages Symposium, Guwahati, India.
- ^ Kato, Takashi. 2008. Linguistic Survey of Tibeto-Burman languages in Lao P.D.R. Tokyo: Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA).
- v
- t
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Sino-Tibetan branches
(Himachal, Uttarakhand, Nepal, Sikkim)
| Greater Magaric |
|---|
(Tibet, Bhutan, Arunachal)
| "Naga" | |
|---|---|
| Sal |
| Burmo-Qiangic |
|---|
(Arunachal)
| Greater Siangic |
|
|---|
Italics indicates single languages that are also considered to be separate branches.
