Thai, Southern

Primary tabs

A language of Thailand

ISO 639-3

sou

Alternate Names

Dambro, Pak Tai, Pak Thai, Paktay

Autonym

ภาษาไทยถิ่นใต้‎ (P̣hās̄ʹā thịy t̄hìn tı̂)

User Population

4,500,000 in Thailand (2006 Mahidol University). Total users in all countries: 4,508,200.

Location

Surat Thani, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Phatthalung, Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Pattani, Yala, and Satun provinces; Muslim Thai dialect.

Language Maps

Southern Thailand

Language Status

5 (Developing). De facto language of provincial identity in southeasternmost 15 provinces.

Classification

Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern

Dialects

Tak Bai (Tai Tak Bai), Thai Malay (Tai Islam). A group of dialects more distantly related to other Tai languages. Border dialects are quite distinct from others.

Language Use

81% use Southern Thai in the home, Muslim Tai (Thai Malay) speak only Southern Thai. Used by all. Also use Thai [tha]. Used as L2 by Kensiu [kns], Kintaq [knq], Ten’edn [tnz], Urak Lawoi’ [urk].

Language Development

Read Thai [tha]. Dictionary. Bible portions: 2000.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Thai, Southern

Writing

Thai script [Thai].

Other Comments

Buddhist, Muslim.