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Prai people

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(Redirected from Phay)
Phai
Total population
51,000
Regions with significant populations
Laos, Thailand
Languages
Phai; Lao and/or Thai as second languages
Religion
Animism, Theravada Buddhism
Related ethnic groups
Mal

The Phai are an ethnic group in Thailand and Laos. They are one of two sub-groups of the Lua people (the other one being the Mal).[1]

Name Variation

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The Phai are also commonly referred to as Prai, Phay, Thung Chan Pray, Kha Phay,[2] and Pray.[3] In Laos they are also referred to as Htin.[4]

Language

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The Phai speak a language also called Phai, which belongs to the Khmuic branch of Austroasiatic languages[2] There are several dialects called Phai, that are sometimes hardly mutually intelligible.

Geographic Distribution

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There are also dozens of Prai villages in Thailand.[5][better source needed]

References

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  1. ^ Joachim Schliesinger (2003). Ethnic Groups of Laos, Volume 1: Introduction and Overview. White Lotus. p. 171.
  2. ^ a b c Ethnologue report for Laos
  3. ^ Frank Proschan. "A Survey of Khmuic and Palaungic Languages in Laos and Vietnam" (PDF). Pan-Asiatic Linguistics. 3: 895–919, at pp. 896, 898.
  4. ^ Schliesinger, Joachim, Ethnic Groups of Laos, vol. 2, ISBN 974-480-036-4
  5. ^ Jordan-Diller, K; Diller, FJ (2004). "The Prai of Northern Thailand: A sociolinguistic survey of a Mon-Khmer language". Mon-Khmer Studies.