Kaloeng language

Kaloeng (Kalerng, Kaleung) is a Southwestern Tai language of Thailand and Laos.

Kaloeng
Native to	Thailand, Laos
Language family	Kra–Dai Tai Southwestern (Thai) Lao – Phuthai Kaloeng
Writing system	Thai alphabet
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–

Distribution

In Thailand, Kaloeng is spoken in Sakon Nakhon Province, Nakhon Phanom Province, and Mukdahan Province (Trongdee 2016). In Laos, it is spoken in Khammouan Province.

External classification

Mudjalin Luksanawong^[1] classifies the Kaloeng language as part of the Sakon Nakhon subbranch of the Southwestern Tai.

• Nakhon Phanom
  • Nakhon Phanom
• Sakon Nakhon
  • Yoy-Yooy-Kalööng
    • Yoy
    • Yooy
    • Kalööng

In the Sakon Nakhon languages, Proto-Tai *hw- and *w- (Pittayaporn 2009:134-135) became /ph/- (Trongdee 2016:55). Also, the Sakon Nakhon languages display the uncommon labiovelar initial clusters thw-, cw-, sw-, hw-, ŋw-, lw-, ʔw- (Trongdee 2016:56).

Internal classification

Thananan Trongdee^[2] classifies the Kaloeng dialects as follows according to the evolution of the Proto-Kaloeng diphthong *-aɯ.

• Group 1: *-aɯ > -aɯ (all spoken in Laos)
  • Hinboun District: Pha Wang; Nong Hoi
  • Yommalath District: Phon Bok
  • Nong Bok District: Nong Bok
  • Boualapha District: Kha Yu
  • Kounkham District: Kong Lo
• (branch)
  • Group 2: *-aɯ > -əi
    • Mueang Sakon Nakhon District: Muanglai ม่วงลาย
    • Kut Bak District: Ban Bua บ้านบัว
    • Kusuman District: Saen Phan แสนพัน
    • Khamcha-i District: Non Sang Si
  • Group 3: *-aɯ > -ai
    • Mueang Sakon Nakhon District: Na Yo นายอ; Dong Mafai ดงมะไฟ
    • Phanna Nikhom District: Choeng Chum เชิงชุม
    • Mueang Nakhon Phanom District: Kurukhu กุรุคุ; Khamtoei คำเตย
    • Phon Sawan District: Phon Bok โพนบก
    • Tha Uthen District: Na Sok นาโสก
    • Pla Pak District: Kutakai ปลาปาก
    • Na Kae District: Phra Song พระซอง
    • Yommalath District, Laos: Don Pueai
    • Nong Bok District, Laos: Dong Phak Pue