Bru, Eastern

A language of Laos

Bru Tri

User Population

37,400 in Laos (2015 census), based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 132,000.

Location

Savannahkhet province: Sepone district; Khammouan province: Boulapha district.

Language Maps

5* (Developing).

Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Katuic, West Katuic, Bru

Dialects

Leun (Kaleu, Leung), Tri (Chali, So Tri, So Trii). Partially intelligible with Western Bru [brv] of Thailand. The Mangkong dialect in Vietnam and eastern Laos is a dialect of Eastern Bru, different linguistically from the Mangkong that are the same as So [sss] of Thailand. Mangkong is also an ethnic group.

Language Use

Also use Lao [lao]. Used as L2 by Arem [aem], Upper Ta’oih [tth].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Radio. Dictionary. Bible: 2014.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Bru, Eastern

Writing

Lao script [Laoo], used in Laos. Latin script [Latn], used in Vietnam. Thai script [Thai].

Other Comments

Traditional religion.