Editing Isan language (section)

==History==
===Shared history with the Lao language===
{{main|Lao language#History}}

===Separate development of the Isan language===
====Integration Period (1893—1932)====
After the French established their protectorate over the left bank Lao-speaking territories that became Laos during the conclusion of the [[Franco-Siamese crisis of 1893]], the right bank was absorbed into Siam which was then ruled by King [[Vajiravudh|Wachirawut]]. To prevent further territorial concessions, the Siamese implemented a series of reforms that introduced Western concepts of statehood, administrative reforms and various measures to integrate the region which was until this point ruled as semi-autonomous out-lying territories nominally under the authority of the Lao kings. With the creation of provinces grouped into districts known as ''[[monthon]]'' ({{lang|tts|มณฑล}}, {{lang|lo|ມົນທົນ}}, {{IPA|/món.tʰón/}}), the power of local Lao princes of the ''mueang'' in tax collection and administration was moved and replaced by crown-appointed governors from Bangkok which removed the official use of Lao written in Tai Noi in local administration. To achieve this, King Wachirawut had the help of his brother, Prince [[Damrong Rajanubhab|Damrongrachanuphap]] who recommended the system. The end of local autonomy and the presence of foreign troops led the Lao people to rebel under the influence of [[Millennialism|millennialist]] cult leaders or ''phu mi bun'' ({{lang|tts|ผู้มีบุญ}}, {{lang|lo|ຜູ້ມີບຸນ}}, {{IPA|/pʰȕː míː bùn/}}) during the [[Holy Man's Rebellion]] (1901—1902), the last united Lao resistance to Siamese rule, but the rebellion was brutally suppressed by Siamese troops and the reforms were fully implemented in the region shortly afterward.<ref name="Ivarson">Ivarsson, S. (2008). ''Creating Laos: Making of A Laos Space Between Indochina and Siam.'' (pp. 71–83.) Copenhagen, Denmark: NIAS Press.</ref><ref>Murdoch, J. B. (1974). [http://www.siamese-heritage.org/jsspdf/1971/JSS_062_1e_Murdoch_1901to1902HolyMansRebellion.pdf "The 1901-1902 'holy man's' rebellion"]. ''Journal of the Siam Society'', 59(1), 47-66.</ref><ref name="Vacha">Keyes, Charles (2013), Finding Their Voice: Northeastern Villagers and the Thai State, Silkworm Books.</ref>

Further reforms were implemented to assimilate and integrate the people of the "Lao ''Monthon''" into Siam. References to the 'Lao' and many cities and towns were renamed, such as the former districts Monthon Lao Gao and Monthon Lao Phuan which were renamed as 'Monthon Ubon' and 'Monthon Udon', respectively, shortly after their creation in 1912. Self-designation as Lao in the census was banned after 1907, with the Lao forced to declare themselves as Thai and speakers of a Thai dialect. The unofficial use of Lao to refer to them was discouraged, and the term 'Isan', originally just a name of the southern part of the 'Lao ''Monthon''', was extended to the entire region, its primary ethnic group and language. The name change and replacement of the Lao language by Thai at the administrative level and reforms to implement Thai had very little effect as the region's large Lao population and isolation prevented quick implementation. Monks still taught young boys to read the Tai Noi script written on palm-leaf manuscripts since there were no schools, passages from old literature were often read during festivals and traveling troupes of ''[[morlam|mo lam]]'' and [[shadow play|shadow puppet]] performers relied on written manuscripts for the lyrics to poetry and old stories set to song and accompanied by the ''[[khaen]]'' alone or alongside other local instruments. Mountains, lack of roads, large areas without access to water during the dry season and flooding in the wet season continued to shield the Isan people and their language from direct Thai-language influence.<ref name="Ivarson"/><ref name="Vacha"/>

====Thaification (1930s–1960s)====
{{Main|Thaification}}
Suppression of the Isan language came with the '[[Thai cultural mandates]]' and other reforms that aimed to elevate Central Thai culture and language, reverence to the monarchy and the symbols of state and complete integration into Thailand, known as '[[Thaification]]'. Most of these reforms were implemented by [[Plaek Phibunsongkhram]], who changed the English name of Siam to 'Thailand' and whose ultra-nationalistic policies would mark Thailand during his rule from 1938 to 1944 and 1948–1957. These policies implemented an official diglossia. Isan was removed from public and official discourse to make way for Thai and the written language was banned, relegating Isan to an unwritten language of the home. Public schools, which finally were built in the region, focussed heavily on indoctrinating Isan people to revere the Thai monarchy, loyalty to the state and its symbols and mastery of the Thai language, with Isan treated as an inferior dialect. Pride in the language was erased as students were punished or humiliated for using the language in the classroom or writing in Tai Noi, planting the seed for future [[language shift]] as the region became bilingual.<ref name="Vacha"/><ref name="Ivarson"/><ref name="Platt">Platt, M. B. (2013). ''Isan Writers, Thai Literature Writing and Regionalism in Modern Thailand.'' (pp. 145–149). Singapore: NUS Press.</ref>

The old written language and the rich literature written in it were banned and was not discussed in schools. Numerous temples had their libraries seized and destroyed, replacing the old Lao religious texts, local histories, literature and poetry collections with Thai-script, Thai-centric manuscripts. The public schools also dismissed the old monks from their role as educators unless they complied with the new curriculum. This severed the Isan people from knowledge of their written language, shared literary history and ability to communicate via writing with the left bank Lao. In tandem with its removal from education and official contexts, the Thai language made a greater appearance in people's lives with the extension of the railroad to Ubon and Khon Kaen and with it the telegraph, radio and a larger number of Thai civil servants, teachers and government officials in the region that did not learn the local language.<ref>Smits, M. (2015). ''Southeast Asian Energy Transitions: Between Modernity and Sustainability''. (pp. 58–75). Ashgate Publishers.</ref>

Words for new technologies and the political realities of belonging to the Thai state arrived from Thai, including words of English and Chinese (primarily Teochew) origin, as well as neologisms created from Sanskrit roots. Laos, still under French rule, turned to French, Vietnamese, repurposing of old Lao vocabulary as well as Sanskrit-derived coinages that were generally the same, although not always, as those that developed in Thai. For example, the word or aeroplane (UK)/airplane (US) in Isan was ''huea bin'' ({{langx|tts|ເຮືອບິນ}} {{IPA|/hɯ́a bìn/}}) 'flying boat', but was generally replaced by Thai-influenced ''khrueang bin'' ({{langx|tts|เครื่องบิน}} {{IPA|/kʰɯ̄aŋ bìn/}}) 'flying machine', whereas Lao retained ''hua bin'' ({{langx|lo|ເຮືອບິນ}} {{IPA|/hɯ́a bìn/}}) RTGS ''huea bin''. Similarly, a game of [[billiards]] {{IPA|/bɪljədz/}} in Isan is ({{langx|tts|บิลเลียด}} {{IPA|/bìn.lȋat/}} from English via Thai; whereas on the left bank, people play ''biya'' ({{langx|lo|ບີຢາ}} {{IPA|/bìː.jàː/}}) from French ''billard'' {{IPA|/bi jaʁ/}}. Despite this slow shift, the spoken language maintained its Lao features since most of the population was still engaged in agriculture, where Thai was not needed, thus many Isan people never mastered Thai fully even if they used it as a written language and understood it fine.<ref name="Vacha"/><ref name="Platt"/>

====1960s to Present====
The language shift to Thai and the increased influence of the Thai language really came to the fore in the 1960s due to several factors. Roads were finally built into the region, making Isan no longer unreachable for much of the year, and the arrival of television with its popular news broadcasts and soap operas penetrated into people's homes at this time. As lands new lands to clear for cultivation were no longer available, urbanization began to occur, as well as the massive seasonal migration of Isan people to Bangkok during the dry season, taking advantage of the economic boom occurring in Thailand with increased western investment due to its more stable, non-communist government and openness. Having improved their Thai during employment in Bangkok, the Isan people returned to their villages, introducing the Bangkok slang words back home and peppering their speech with more and more Thai words.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

Around the 1990s, although the perceived political oppression continues and Thaification policies remain, attitudes towards regional languages relaxed. Academics at Isan universities began exploring the local language, history, culture and other folklore, publishing works that helped bring serious attention to preserving the Lao features of the language and landscape, albeit under an Isan banner. Students can participate in clubs that promote local music, sung in the local Lao language, or local dances native to the area. Knowledge about the history of the region and its long neglect and abuse by Siamese authorities and resurrection of pride in local culture are coming to the fore, increasing expressions of 'Isan-ness' in the region. However, Thaification policies and the [[language shift]] to Thai continue unabated. Recognition of the Isan language as an important regional language of Thailand did not provide any funding for its preservation or maintenance other than a token of acknowledgment of its existence.<ref name="DraperJ2004"/><ref>Keyes, C. (1967). ''Isan: Regionalism in Northeastern Thailand''. New York: Cornell. Thailand Project.</ref>