Loloish language of northern Laos
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
|
