Editing Lao language (section)

{{Short description|Kra–Dai language of Southeast Asia}}
{{Infobox language
| name             = Lao
| nativename       = '''{{lang|lo|ພາສາລາວ}}''', ''Phasa Lao''
| pronunciation    = {{IPA|lo|pʰáː.sǎː láːw|}}
| states           = [[Laos]]<br />[[Thailand]] ([[Isan]])<br />[[Cambodia]] ([[Stung Treng Province|Stung Treng]], [[Preah Vihear Province|Preah Vihear]] and [[Ratanakiri Province|Ratanakiri]])<br />[[Vietnam]] ([[Điện Biên province|Điện Biên]], [[Lai Châu province|Lai Châu]] and [[Sơn La province|Sơn La]])<br />[[China]] ([[Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture|Xishuangbanna]])
| speakers         = [[first language|L1]]: {{sigfig|3.685170|2}} million
| date             = 2015
| ref              = e27
| speakers2        = [[second language|L2]]: {{sigfig|803,000|2}} (no date)<ref>{{e27|lao}}</ref>
| speakers_label   = Speakers 
| ethnicity        = [[Lao people|Lao]]<br/>[[Isan people|Isan]]
| familycolor      = Kradai
| fam2             = [[Tai languages|Tai]]
| fam3             = [[Southwestern Tai languages|Southwestern]]
| fam4             = [[Southwestern Tai languages|Lao–Phutai]]
| script           = [[Lao script]] in Laos<br/>[[Thai script]] in Thailand<br/>[[Thai and Lao Braille]]
| nation           = {{flag|Laos}}
| agency           = Educational Science Research Institute, Ministry of Education and Sports <br> ''and'' <br> Institute of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, [[National University of Laos]]
| iso1             = lo
| iso2             = lao
| lc1              = lao
| ld1              = PDR Lao
| lc2              = tts
| ld2              = [[Isan language|Isan (Thailand Lao)]]
| lingua           = 47-AAA-c
| image            = Lao_Language_(in_Lao).svg
| notice           = IPA
| glotto           = laoo1244
| glottoname       = Lao
| glotto2          = nort2741
| minority         = {{flag|Thailand}}<br/>{{flag|Cambodia}}<br/>
{{flag|Vietnam}}
| glottoname2      = Northeastern Thai
| dia1             = Northern Lao (Louang Phrabang Lao)
| dia2             = Northeastern Lao (Phuan)
| dia3             = Central Lao
| dia4             = Southern Lao
| dia5             = Western Lao (Isan)
| map              = Idioma lao.png
}}

{{Contains special characters|Lao}}

[[File:WIKITONGUES- La speaking Lao.webm|thumb|A Lao speaker]]

'''Lao''' (Lao: {{lang|lo|ພາສາລາວ}}, {{IPA|lo|pʰáː.sǎː láːw|}}), sometimes referred to as '''Laotian''', is the official language of [[Laos]] and a significant language in the [[Isan]] region of northeastern [[Thailand]], where it is usually referred to as the [[Isan language]]. Spoken by over 3 million people in Laos and 3.7 million in all countries, it serves as a vital link in the cultural and social fabric of these areas. It is written in the [[Lao script]], an [[abugida]] that evolved from ancient [[Tai languages|Tai]] scripts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://aboutworldlanguages.com/lao |title=Lao |publisher=About World Languages |access-date=2016-05-25 |archive-date=2017-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227145536/http://aboutworldlanguages.com/Lao |url-status=live }}</ref>

Lao is a [[Tone (linguistics)|tonal language]], where the pitch or tone of a word can alter its meaning, and is [[Analytic language|analytic]], forming sentences through the combination of individual words without inflection. These features, common in [[Kra–Dai languages|Kra-Dai languages]], also bear similarities to [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] languages like [[Chinese language|Chinese]] or [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]] languages like [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]. Lao's [[mutual intelligibility]] with [[Thai language|Thai]] and [[Isan language|Isan]], fellow [[Southwestern Tai languages|Southwestern Tai]] languages, allows for effective intercommunication among their speakers, despite differences in script and regional variations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/messeas/node3.html |title=Ausbau and Abstand languages |publisher=Ccat.sas.upenn.edu |date=1995-01-20 |access-date=2012-07-08 |archive-date=2013-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119060222/http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/messeas/node3.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Laos, Lao is not only the official language but also a [[lingua franca]], bridging the linguistic diversity of a population that speaks many other languages. Its cultural significance is reflected in Laotian literature, media, and traditional arts. The [[Vientiane]] dialect has emerged as the de facto standard, though no official standard has been established. Internationally, Lao is spoken among [[Laotian diaspora|diaspora communities]], especially in countries like the United States, France, and Australia, reflecting its global diasporic presence.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hays|first=Jeffrey|title=LAO LANGUAGE: DIALECTS, GRAMMAR, NAMES, WRITING, PROVERBS AND INSULTS {{!}} Facts and Details|url=http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Laos/sub5_3b/entry-2945.html|access-date=2020-12-19|website=factsanddetails.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302041719/http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Laos/sub5_3b/entry-2945.html|url-status=live}}</ref>