Editing Isan language (section)

===Exonyms===
Isan is known in Thai by the following two names, officially and academically: ''Phasa Thai Tawan Ok Chiang Nuea'' ({{lang|th|ภาษาไทยตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ}}, {{IPA|th|pʰāː.sǎː tʰāj ta.wān ʔɔ̀ːk tɕʰǐaŋ nɯ̌a|}}, 'Northeastern Thai language'), and ''Phasa Thai Thin Isan'' ({{lang|th|ภาษาไทยถิ่นอีสาน}}, {{IPA|th|pʰāː.sǎː tʰāj tʰìn ʔīː.săːn|}}, 'Thai language of the Isan region'). These names emphasise the official position of Isan speech as a dialect of the Thai language. In more relaxed contexts, Thai people generally refer to the language as ''Phasa Thai Isan'' ({{Langx|th|ภาษาไทยอีสาน|lit=Isan Thai language|label=none}}) or simply ''Phasa Isan'' ({{lang|th|ภาษาอีสาน}}, {{IPA|th|pʰāː.săː ʔīː.săːn|}}, 'Isan language').<ref name="Glotto"/><ref name="ethny"/>

The term ''Isan'' derives from an older form ({{lang|th|อีศาน}}), which in turn is a derivative of Sanskrit ''Īśāna'' ({{lang|sa|ईशान}}), which signifies the 'northeast' or 'northeastern direction' as well as the name of an aspect of Lord [[Shiva]] as guardian of that direction. It was also the name of the Khmer capital of [[Chenla]] whose rule extended over the southern part of the region. After the integration of the ''Monthon Lao'' into Siam in 1893, the Siamese also abolished the use of the terms of ''Lao'' in place names as well as self-references in the census to encourage assimilation of the Lao people within its new borders. However, due to the distinct culture and language and the need to disassociate the people and region from [[Laos]], the term ''Isan'' came into being for the region of Isan as well as its ethnic Lao people and their Lao speech, although it originally only referred to districts which now comprise the southern portion of Northeastern Thailand.<ref>Phatharathananunth, S. (2006). ''Civil Society and Democratization: Social Movements in Northeast Thailand.'' (p. 25). Copenhagen, Denmark: Nordic Institute of Asian Studies.</ref>

Use of ''Lao'' by native Thai speakers was originally for all Tai peoples that were not Siamese, and was once for [[Northern Thai people]] as well, but the term gradually came to be thought of only referring to the ethnic Lao people of Isan and contemporary Laos. When used by Thai people, it is often offensive, given the history of prejudice against Isan people for their distinct culture and language, as well as perceived links with the communist Lao in Laos. Nevertheless, within Northeastern Thailand, ''Lao'' is the general term used by the various ethnic minorities that speak it as a first, second or third language. Thai speakers may also use ''Phasa Ban Nok'' ({{lang|th|ภาษาบ้านนอก}}, {{IPA|th|pʰāː.săː bân nɔ̑ːk|}}), which can translate as 'rural', 'upcountry' or 'provincial language'. Although it is often used by Thai speakers to refer to the Isan language, since the region is synonymous in Thai minds to rural agriculture, it is also used for any rural, unsophisticated accent, even of Central Thai.<ref>บ้านนอก. (2019). [https://www.thai2english.com/ Thai to English Dictionary].</ref>

In Laos, the Lao people also refer to the language as ''Phasa Lao'' ({{lang|lo|ພາສາລາວ}}, {{IPA|lo|pʰáː.săː láːw|}}), but when necessary to distinguish it from the dialects spoken in Laos, the terms ''Phasa Tai Lao'' ({{lang|lo|ພາສາໄທລາວ}}, {{IPA|lo|pʰáː.săː tʰáj láːw|}}, 'Lao language of Thailand') and ''Phasa Lao Isan'' ({{lang|lo|ພາສາລາວອີສານ}}, {{IPA|lo|pʰáː.săː láːw ʔìː.săːn|}}, 'Isan Lao language') can also be used. In most other languages of the world, 'Isan' or translations of 'Northeastern Thai language' are used.<ref name="SILI"/><ref name="Glotto"/>