Lao Nyo language

Lao Nyo
Native to	Cambodia, Thailand
Native speakers	15,000 (2014)
Language family	Tai–Kadai Tai Southwestern (Thai) Lao–Phutai Lao Nyo
Language codes
ISO 639-3	None (mis)
Glottolog	None

Lao Nyo (autonym: laːw˧ɲɔːʔ˦) is a Southwestern Tai language spoken mostly in Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia, as well as in Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaew Province, Thailand. There are between 10,000 and 15,000 speakers of Lao Nyo in Cambodia. Lao Nyo is classified as a dialect of Lao rather than Nyo (Nyaw), based on linguistic data from Aun Loung Svay Chas village in Cambodia.

Name

The name Nyo likely came about as an exonym that was later adopted as an endonym; the Lao Nyo did not actually originate from the ethnic Nyo of Isan and Laos. This exonym may have been used due to the Lao Nyo's geographical origins or their language.

Classification

Nyo is a Southwestern Tai language spoken in Tha Uthen District, Nakhon Phanom Province and Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham Province of Thailand, as well as Khamkeut District, Bolikhamxay Province of Laos. However, Trongdee (2014) shows that Lao Nyo of Banteay Meanchey is not Nyo or Yo, although some Lao Nyo tones are more similar to Nyo tones than to Lao tones.

Locations

The following Lao Nyo villages have been documented in Cambodia.

• Ou Chrov District, Banteay Meanchey Province
  • Koub Thom
  • Dong Aranh
  • Aunloung Svay Chas
  • Aun Loung
  • Svay Thwey
  • Kou Touch
  • Koub Cherng
  • Koub Thboung
  • Khai Dorn
  • Sery Pheap
• Srei Sophone District, Banteay Meanchey Province
  • Phnum Bak village, Tuek Thla commune
  • Ambel village, Ou Ambel commune
• Bor Vil District, Battambang Province (5 villages)
  • Makreu
  • Salor Klaen
  • Phum Leau
  • Prey Kapos
  • Phum Koub

In Sa Kaew Province, Thailand, the Lao Nyo are found in the following subdistricts (tambon) of Aranyaprathet District.

• Klongnamsai คลองน้ำใส
• Muangphai เมืองไผ่
• Phansuk ผ่านศึก
• Thakham ท่าข้าม
• Aranyaprathet อรัญประเทศ