Isan language facts for kids
Isan is the name for a group of closely related languages. These languages are spoken mainly in the Northeast of Thailand. You can also find speakers in some neighboring countries. Isan is often used for everyday talks and informal communication.
Contents
What is Isan?
Isan isn't just one single language. It's a collection of many different but similar ways of speaking. Think of them like different versions of the same song. There isn't one "official" Isan language.
Understanding Isan
People who speak one Isan language usually understand the others. This is because they are all very similar. It's like how someone from one part of a country can understand someone from another part, even if they have slightly different accents or words.
Where is Isan Spoken?
Isan is mostly spoken in the northeastern part of Thailand. This area is also called the Isan region. About 20 million people speak an Isan language as their first language. That's a lot of people!
Isan's Reach
About one-third of all people in Thailand understand Isan. Also, a large number of people who speak the Lao language can understand Isan too. This shows how important Isan is in the region.
How is Isan Written?
When Isan is written down, people mostly use the Thai script. This is the same alphabet used for the main Thai language. So, if you can read Thai, you might be able to read some Isan.
Other Ways to Write Isan
Sometimes, but not very often, the Lao script is used to write Isan. The Lao script is the alphabet used for the Lao language. Long ago, another script called Tai Noi was used. It's similar to the modern Lao alphabet.
Images for kids
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Portions of an ancient legal text written in the Tai Noi script on a palm-leaf manuscript. The script was banned in the 1930s but survived in Laos as the modern Lao alphabet.
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Geographic distribution of Lao dialects within Northeastern Thailand.
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The consonants of the old Tai Noi alphabet. Letter shapes have been preserved, with few changes, in the modern Lao alphabet.
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Screenshot of a karaoke VCD from molam singer, Chintara Phunlap. In the Lao script, the lyrics seen would appear as 'ໜີໄປບວດໃຫ້ມັນແລ້ວສາບໍ້'.
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An example of the Tai Tham alphabet formerly used in Laos and Isan for religious literature.
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A sutra in the Khom script. This Khmer script was used to write Buddhist, Brahmanic and ritual texts.
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