Laha language


Laha is a Kra language spoken by approximately 1,400 people out of a total population of 5,686 Laha. It is spoken in Lào Cai and Sơn La provinces, Vietnam. Laha dialects had been documented in 1986 by Russian linguists and in 1996 by American linguist Jerold A. Edmondson. Many Laha can also converse in the Khmu language, and Laha-speaking areas also have significant Black Thai, Kháng, Ksongmul, and Hmong populations.
Ostapirat considers the Laha dialects to form a subgroup of their own within the Kra branch.

Geographic distribution

Gregerson & Edmondson and Wardlaw report the following locations of two Laha dialects, namely the Wet Laha and Dry Laha dialects.
Wet Laha of Lào Cai and Lai Châu
Dry Laha of Sơn La — around the Sông Đà and Nậm Mu Rivers

Consonants

Both have the same final consonants, except is only in the Noong Lay dialect.
LabialAlveolarVelarGlottal
Stop
Nasal

LabialAlveolarVelarGlottal
Stop
Nasal
Approximant

Vowels

FrontBack
Close

Both dialects have two vowels in final position.They also may be heard as glide sounds.