Editing Isan language (section)

====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"/>