Nyahkur

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A language of Thailand

ISO 639-3
cbn
Alternate Names
Chao Dong, Chaodon, Lawa, Niakuol, Niakuoll, Nyah Kur, Nyakur, “Chaobon” (pej.), “Chaobun” (pej.), “Chaubun” (pej.)
Autonym
ญัฮกุ้ร‎ (Nyah Kur), เนียะกวล‎ (Niakuol)
User Population

1,500 (2006 C. Shimmin), decreasing. No monolinguals. It appears the last monolingual speakers likely died out no later than the 1950s (2017 C. Shimmin). Ethnic population: 3,000 (Thongkum 1984).

Location

Bueng Kan, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok, and Sakon Nakhon provinces.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

Classification
Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Southern Monic
Dialects

Chaiyaphum users say they understand Phetchabun only with difficulty, if at all. At least 91% lexical similarity among all dialects (Diffloth 1984).

Typology

SVO.

Language Use

Few children can speak Nyah Kur. Nearly extinct in Phetchabun and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces (2007 SIL). Home. Adults only. Mixed attitudes. Some have strong identity links to their language, others prefer to identify themselves as Thai [tha] (2002 P. Suwilai, 2007 SIL). Shifting to Thai [tha]. Some also use Northeastern Thai [tts] (Statezni et al 2007). Also use Lao [lao].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%. Most men and the younger generation are literate in Thai [tha]. Literacy in Thai [tha] transfers easily to Nyah Kur. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 1996.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Nyahkur
Writing

Thai script [Thai].

Other Comments

Buddhist, Christian, traditional religion.