Saek language


Saek is a Tai language spoken in at least ten villages in Khammouane Province, Laos, and at least four villages in Nakhon Phanom Province in northeastern Thailand, just across the Mekong River. It is spoken by the Saek people.

Phonology

The Saek tones are :
Saek tonal splits are as follows.
*A*B*C*DS*DL
Aspirated2, 16346
Unaspirated16346
Glottalized16346
Voiced45665

Locations

Saek is spoken in the following locations.

Thailand

Two Saek villages are "Ban Asamat" and "Ban Phai Lom," located just off the main river road a few kilometers north of Nakhon Phanom city. Another is Ban Ba Wa Saek, located further upriver, but inland a few kilometers. However, except for the older generation, the Saek language is all but disappearing as there is a strong tendency for younger generations to use the local trade language Lao/Isan, and/or the official Central Thai language as they are assimilated into mainstream Thai society.
William Gedney lists the following Saek villages in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand.
  1. baan3 ʔaat6 saa1 maat5 อาจสามารถ. 5 km north of the city of Nakhon Phanom. This is the variant recorded by William Gedney in his Saek language: glossary, texts, and translations. Variant pronunciations: ʔeek6 ʔaa1 saa1, ʔa4 sa6 maat5, ʔa6 saa1, ʔaa1 saa1, ʔaa1 sa6 maat5, ʔaa1 saa1 maat5, ʔaat6 sa6 maat5.
  2. baan3 phay6 lɔɔm3, one mile inland from baan3 ʔaat6 saa1 maat5. Variant name: baan3 saw1 law3.
  3. baan3 dɔŋ1 sa6 mɔɔ4 in Si Songkhram District. Variant pronunciations: dɔɔn1 suʔ6 mɔɔ4, doŋ1 su6 mɔɔ4, doŋ1 sa6 mɔɔ4.
  4. baan3 baa6 vaa3 in kiŋ6 naa4 vaa3 district. Variant pronunciation: baa1 vaa3.
According to Gedney, abandoned Saek villages in Thailand include:
  1. baan3 thaa5 vaay4, between baan3 ʔaat6 saa1 maat5 and the city of Nakhon Phanom.
  2. baan3 naa4 laʔ6 vaay4, on the road to Sakon Nakhon.

    Laos

According to Gedney's texts and notebooks, Saek is spoken in the following locations in Laos.
  1. baan3 thaa5 khɛɛ4
  2. baan3 thɔɔk5
  3. baan3 phoo4 kham3
  4. baan3 phaa5 thuŋ1 - completely occupied by Saek
  5. baan3 phoon3 ŋaam1 - half Lao, half Saek village
Chamberlain cites the following Saek-speaking villages in Laos. District codes are also given in parentheses.
Morev notes that Saek is also spoken in the following districts of Khammouane Province, Laos.
The Saek speakers of Laos live adjacent to Bru and Mène speakers.
Additional data on Saek of Laos has since been collected by Jean Pacquement.

Vietnam

According to Gedney, Vietnam is said to have the two following Saek villages. However, Chamberlain notes that all villages listed by Gedney to be in Vietnam are actually in Laos.
  1. baan3 trɤɤŋ3
  2. baan3 tɛɛn1
According to Gedney, abandoned Saek villages in Vietnam include the following. Their equivalents in Chamberlain are given in parentheses.
  1. baan3 bɯk4 naa4 tɤɤ3
  2. baan3 sin4 naa4 mɤɤy4
  3. baan3 trɤɤŋ1
  4. baan3 thruu3
  5. The phiaŋ4 sɤɤŋ1