Phai
Total population
51,000
Regions with significant populations
Laos, Thailand
Languages
Phai; Lao and/or Thai as second languages
Religion
Animism, Theravada Buddhism
Related ethnic groups
Mal

The Phai are an ethnic group in Thailand and Laos. They are one of two sub-groups of the Lua people (the other one being the Mal).[1]

Name Variation

The Phai are also commonly referred to as Prai, Phay, Thung Chan Pray, Kha Phay,[2] and Pray.[3] In Laos they are also referred to as Htin.[4]

Language

The Phai speak a language also called Phai, which belongs to the Khmuic branch of Austroasiatic languages[2] There are several dialects called Phai, that are sometimes hardly mutually intelligible.

Geographic Distribution

There are also dozens of Prai villages in Thailand.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Joachim Schliesinger (2003). Ethnic Groups of Laos, Volume 1: Introduction and Overview. White Lotus. p. 171.
  2. 1 2 3 Ethnologue report for Laos
  3. ↑ Frank Proschan. "A Survey of Khmuic and Palaungic Languages in Laos and Vietnam" (PDF). Pan-Asiatic Linguistics. 3: 895–919, at pp. 896, 898.
  4. ↑ Schliesinger, Joachim, Ethnic Groups of Laos, vol. 2, ISBN 974-480-036-4
  5. ↑ Jordan-Diller, K; Diller, FJ (2004). "The Prai of Northern Thailand: A sociolinguistic survey of a Mon-Khmer language". Journal of Mon-Khmer Studies.


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