wikipedia>Stephan Leeds: /* top */ false implications that two synonyms aren’t and that it is not known which is accurate (missing comma × 2)

2025-11-30T03:16:56Z

top: false implications that two synonyms aren’t and that it is not known which is accurate (missing comma × 2)

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{{Short description|Southwestern Tai language}}
{{Redirect|Lue language|Bantu Lue of Cameroon|Oroko language}}
{{Redirect|Lu language|Cai–Long language of Guizhou|Luren language}}
{{for|the romanization scheme of Hokkien used in Taiwan|Tai-lo}}
{{Infobox language
| name = Tai Lue
| nativename = {{script|Talu|ᦅᧄᦺᦑᦟᦹᧉ}}, {{script|Lana|ᨣᩤᩴᨴᩱ᩠ᨿᩃᩨᩢ}} ''kam tai lue''
| pronunciation = {{IPA|khb|kâm.tâj.lɯ̀|}}
| script = [[Tai Tham alphabet]], [[Thai alphabet]], [[New Tai Lue alphabet]]
| states = [[China]], [[Laos]], [[Thailand]], [[Myanmar]], [[Vietnam]]
| region = [[Yunnan]], [[China]]
| ethnicity = [[Tai Lue people|Tai Lue]]
| speakers = 550,000
| date = 2000–2013
| ref = e18
| familycolor = Kradai
| fam2 = [[Tai languages|Tai]]
| fam3 = [[Southwestern Tai languages|Southwestern]] (Thai)
| fam4 = Chiang Saen
| iso3 = khb
| minority = {{flag|China}} {{flag|Laos}} {{flag|Thailand}} {{flag|Myanmar}} {{flag|Vietnam}}
| glotto = luuu1242
| glottorefname = Lu
| notice = Indic
| notice2 = IPA
| map = Tai Lue.jpg
}}
{{Contains special characters
| special = uncommon [[Unicode]] characters
| fix = Help:Multilingual support
| image = Replacement character.svg
| link = Specials (Unicode block)#Replacement character
| alt = <?>
| compact = yes
}}

'''Tai Lue''' ([[New Tai Lue alphabet|New Tai Lü]]: {{script|Talu|ᦅᧄᦺᦑᦟᦹᧉ}}, [[Tai Tham script|Tai Tham]]: {{script|Lana|ᨣᩤᩴᨴᩱ᩠ᨿᩃᩨᩢ}}, ''kam tai lue'', {{IPA|khb|kâm.tâj.lɯ̀|}}){{Efn|{{zh|c=傣仂语|p=Dǎilèyǔ}}; {{langx|my|လူးရှမ်း|luu Shan}}; {{langx|lo|ພາສາໄຕລື້}}; {{langx|th|ภาษาไทลื้อ|translit=phasa thai lue}}, {{IPA|th|pʰāː.sǎː.tʰāj.lɯ́ː|pron}}; {{langx|vi|tiếng Lự}} or {{lang|vi|tiếng Lữ}}; also spelled '''Tai Lɯ''', '''Tai Lü''', '''Thai Lue''', '''Tai Le'''}}, or '''Xishuangbanna Dai''', is a [[Tai languages|Tai language]] of the [[Tai Lue people|Lu people]], spoken by about 700,000 people in [[Southeast Asia]]. This includes 280,000 people in China ([[Yunnan]]), 200,000 in Burma, 134,000 in Laos, 83,000 in [[Thailand]] and 4,960 in [[Vietnam]].<ref name="ethnologue">{{Cite web |title=Lü |url=http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=khb |website=Ethnologue |language=en}}</ref> The language is similar to other [[Tai languages]] and is closely related to Kham Mueang or Tai Yuan, which is also known as [[Northern Thai language]]. In Yunnan, it is spoken in all of [[Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture]], as well as [[Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous County]] in [[Pu'er City]].

In Vietnam, Tai Lue speakers are officially recognised as the [[Tai Lue people|Lự]] ethnic minority, although in China they are classified as part of the [[Dai people]], along with speakers of the other [[Tai languages]] apart from [[Zhuang languages|Zhuang]].

== Phonology ==
Tai Lue has 21 syllable-initial consonants, nine syllable-finals and six tones (three different tones in checked syllables, six in open syllables).

=== Consonants ===

==== Initials ====

{|class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |
! rowspan="2" | [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! colspan="2" | [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
!plain
![[Labialization|labial]]
|-
! colspan="2" | [[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
| style="background-color: #ccf" | {{IPAblink|m}} ᦖ,ᦙ
| style="background-color: #cfc" | {{IPAblink|n}} ᦐ,ᦓ
|
| style="background-color: #fcc" | {{IPAblink|ŋ}} ᦄ ,ᦇ
|
|
|-
! rowspan="3" |[[Plosive]]
![[tenuis consonant|tenuis]]
| style="background-color: #ccf" |{{IPAblink|p}} ᦔ,ᦗ
| style="background-color: #cfc" |{{IPAblink|t}} ᦎ,ᦑ
|
| style="background-color: #fcc" |{{IPAblink|k}} ᦂ,ᦅ
| style="background-color: #fcc" |{{IPAblink|kʷ}} ᦦ,ᦨ
| style="background-color: #ccc" |{{IPAblink|ʔ}} ᦀ ,ᦁ
|-
! [[aspirated consonant|aspirated]]
| style="background-color: #ccf" | {{IPAblink|pʰ}} ᦕ,ᦘ
| style="background-color: #cfc" | {{IPAblink|tʰ}} ᦏ,ᦒ
|
|
|
|
|-
! [[voiced consonant|voiced]]
| style="background-color: #ccf" |{{IPAblink|b}} ᦢ,ᦥ
| style="background-color: #cfc" |{{IPAblink|d}} ᦡ,ᦤ
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan=2| [[Affricate]]
|
| style="background-color: #fcf" | {{IPAblink|t͡s}} ᦈ,ᦋ
|
|
|
|
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Fricative]]
! [[voiceless consonant|voiceless]]
| style="background-color: #ccf" | {{IPAblink|f}} ᦚ,ᦝ
| style="background-color: #ffc" | {{IPAblink|s}} ᦉ,ᦌ
|
| style="background-color: #fcc" | {{IPAblink|x}} ᦃ,ᦆ
| style="background-color: #fcc" | {{IPAblink|xʷ}} ᦧ,ᦩ
| style="background-color: #ccc" | {{IPAblink|h}} ᦠ,ᦣ
|-
! [[voiced consonant|voiced]]
| rowspan="2" style="background-color: #ccf" | {{IPAblink|v}} ~ {{IPAblink|w}} ᦛ,ᦞ
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Approximant]]
| style="background-color: #cff" |{{IPAblink|l}} ᦜ,ᦟ
| style="background-color: #cff" |{{IPAblink|j}} ᦊ,ᦍ
|
|
|
|}

The initials {{IPA|t͡s}}- and {{IPA|s}}- are [[Palatalization (sound change)|palatalized]] before [[front vowel]]s (which in the language are {{IPAlink|i||/}}, {{IPAlink|e||/}}, and {{IPAlink|ɛ||/}}) and become {{IPA|t͡ɕ-}} and {{IPA|ɕ-}}, respectively. For example, {{IPA|/t͡síŋ/}} "hard" and {{IPA|/si᷄p/}} "ten" are pronounced as {{IPA|[t͡ɕiŋ˥]}} and {{IPA|[ɕip˧˥]}} respectively. (Some textbooks denote {{IPA|t͡s}} as {{IPA|c}}).

==== Finals ====
{|class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
! colspan=1|
! [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
! colspan=1| [[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
| style="background-color: #ccf" | {{IPAblink|m}} ᧄ
| style="background-color: #cfc" | {{IPAblink|n}} ᧃ
|
| style="background-color: #fcc" | {{IPAblink|ŋ}} ᧂ
|
|-
! colspan=1| [[Plosive]]
| style="background-color: #ccf" | {{IPAblink|p̚}} ᧇ
| style="background-color: #cfc" | {{IPAblink|t̚}} ᧆ
|
| style="background-color: #fcc" | {{IPAblink|k̚}} ᧅ
| style="background-color: #ccc" | {{IPAblink|ʔ}} ᦰ
|-
! colspan=1| [[Approximant]]
| style="background-color: #cff" | {{IPAblink|w}} ᧁ
|
|
|
|
|}

=== Vowels ===
Each vowel quality occurs in long-short pairs: these are distinct phonemes forming distinct words in Tai Lue.
[[File:Thai vowel chart (monophthongs).svg|thumb|upright=1.15|Vowel chart showing monophthongs used by many [[Tai languages]], including Tai Lue]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2" |  
!colspan=2|[[Front vowel|Front]]
!colspan=2|[[Central vowel|Central-Back]]
!colspan=2|[[Back vowel|Back]]
|- class=small
! short || long ||short || long ||short || long
|-
![[Close vowel|Close]]
|[{{IPA link|i|iʔ}}] ◌ᦲᦰ
|[{{IPA link|i|i(ː)}}] ◌ᦲ
|[{{IPA link|ɯ|ɯʔ}}] ◌ᦹᦰ
|[{{IPA link|ɯ|ɯ(ː)}}] ◌ᦹ
|[{{IPA link|u|u(ʔ)}}] ◌ᦳ
|[{{IPA link|u|uː}}] ◌ᦴ
|-
![[Mid vowel|Mid]]
|[{{IPA link|e|eʔ}}] ᦵ◌ᦰ
|[{{IPA link|e|e(ː)}}] ᦵ◌
|[{{IPA link|ɤ|ɤʔ}}] ᦵ◌ᦲᦰ
|[{{IPA link|ɤ|ɤ(ː)}}] ᦵ◌ᦲ
|[{{IPA link|o|oʔ}}] ᦷ◌ᦰ
|[{{IPA link|o|o(ː)}}] ᦷ◌
|-
![[Open vowel|Open]]
|[{{IPA link|ɛ|ɛʔ}}] ᦶ◌ᦰ
|[{{IPA link|ɛ|ɛ(ː)}}] ᦶ◌
|[{{IPA link|a|aʔ}}] ◌ᦰ
|[{{IPA link|a|aː}}] ◌ᦱ
|[{{IPA link|ɔ|ɔʔ}}] ◌ᦸᦰ
|[{{IPA link|ɔ|ɔ(ː)}}] ◌ᦸ
|}

Generally, vowels in [[open syllables]] (without codas) occur as long whereas ones in [[closed syllables]] are short (except {{IPA|/aː/}} and {{IPA|/uː/}}).

====Diphthongs====
Additionally, Tai Lue uses several diphthongs:
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!New Tai Lue
!IPA
|-
|ᦺ◌
|{{IPA|[aj]}}
|-
|◌ᦻ
|{{IPA|[aːj]}}
|-
|◌ᦼ
|{{IPA|[uj]}}
|-
|◌ᦽ
|{{IPA|[oj]}}
|-
|◌ᦾ
|{{IPA|[ɔj]}}
|-
|◌ᦿ
|{{IPA|[ɯj]}}
|-
|ᦵ◌ᧀ
|{{IPA|[ɤj]}}
|-
|}

=== Tones ===

==== Contrastive tones in unchecked syllables ====
The table below presents six phonemic tones in unchecked syllables, i.e. closed syllables ending in [[Sonorant|sonorant sounds]] such as {{IPA|[m], [n], [ŋ], [w]}}, and {{IPA|[j]}} and open syllables.
There are six tones for unchecked syllables, although only three are allowed in checked syllables (those ending with -p, -t or -k).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Description !! Contour !! Transcription !! Number !! Example !! Old Tai Lue !! [[New Tai Lue script]] !! Meaning
|-
| high || 55 || {{IPA|á}} || 1 || {{IPA|/káː/}} || {{lang|khb|{{script|Talu|ᨠ}}}}ᩣ|| ᦂ || crow
|-
| low rising || 13 || {{IPA|a᷅}} || 3 || {{IPA|/ka᷅ː/}} || {{lang|khb|{{script|Talu|ᨠᩢᩣ}}}}|| ᦂᧉ || rice shoots
|-
| high rising || 35 || {{IPA|a᷄}} || 5 || {{IPA|/ka᷄ː/}} || {{lang|khb|{{script|Talu|ᨠ᩵ᩣ}}}} || ᦂᧈ || to go
|-
| falling || 51 || {{IPA|â}} || 2 || {{IPA|/kâː/}} || {{lang|khb|{{script|Talu|ᨣᩤ}}}} || ᦅ || to be stuck
|-
| low || 11 || {{IPA|à}} || 4 || {{IPA|/kàː/}} || {{lang|khb|{{script|Talu|ᨣᩢᩤ}}}}|| ᦅᧉ || to do business
|-
| mid || 33 || a (not marked) || 6 || {{IPA|/kaː/}} || {{lang|khb|{{script|Talu|ᨣ᩵ᩤ}}}} || ᦅᧈ || price
|}

==== Contrastive tones in checked syllables ====
The table below presents two phonemic tones in checked syllables, i.e. closed syllables ending in a [[glottal stop]] {{IPA|[ʔ]}} and [[Obstruent|obstruent sounds]] which are {{IPA|[p], [t]}}, and {{IPA|[k]}}.

{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
!Tone !! Contour !! Number !! Example !! New Tai Lue !! Phonemic !! Meaning
|-
| high || 55 || 7 || {{script|Talu|ᩉᩖᩢᨠ}} || ᦜᧅ ||{{IPA|/lák/}}||''post''
|-
| high-risinɡ || 35 || 9 || {{script|Talu|ᩉᩖᩣ᩠ᨠ}} || ᦜᦱᧅᧈ ||{{IPA|/la᷄ːk/}}||''differ from others''
|-
| mid || 33 || 8 || {{script|Talu|ᩃᩢ᩠ᨠ}} || ᦟᧅ ||{{IPA|/lāk/}}||''steal''
|}

== Grammar ==

=== Pronouns ===
<ref name="Tai Lü Dictionary">[https://www.webonary.org/dailu/ Tai Lü Dictionary] – Webonary</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan=2|
!Singular Familiar
!Singular
!Deferential
!Plural Familiar
!Plural
!Deferential
|-
!rowspan=2| 1st person
! exclusive
|rowspan=2| {{script|Talu|ᦕᦴᧉᦃᦱᧉ}} ᨹᩪᩢᨡᩢᩣ {{transliteration|khb|pʰuu3xaa3}}
|rowspan=2| {{script|Talu|ᦃᦱᧉ}} ᨡᩢᩣ {{transliteration|khb|xaa3}}
|rowspan=2| {{script|Talu|ᦃᦱᧉᦓᦾᧉ}} ᨡᩢᩣᨶᩢᩭ {{transliteration|khb|xaa3nɔj6}}
|rowspan=2| –
| {{script|Talu|ᦎᦴ}} ᨲᩪ {{transliteration|khb|tuu1}}
| {{script|Talu|ᦎᦴᦃᦾᧉ}} ᨲᩪᨡᩢᩭ {{transliteration|khb|tuu1xɔj3}}
|-
! inclusive
| {{script|Talu|ᦣᧁ}} ᩁᩮᩢᩣ {{transliteration|khb|haw4}}
| –
|-
!colspan=2| 2nd person
| {{script|Talu|ᦈᧁᧉᦙᧃ}} ᨧᩮᩢᩢᩣᨾᩢ᩠ᨶ {{transliteration|khb|caw3man4}}
| {{script|Talu|ᦆᦲᧂ}} ᨤᩥ᩠ᨦ {{transliteration|khb|xiŋ4}}
| {{script|Talu|ᦎᦳᧃᦈᧁᧉ}} ᨲᩫ᩠ᨶᨧᩮᩢᩢᩣ {{transliteration|khb|tun1caw3}}
| {{script|Talu|ᦉᦴ}} ᩈᩪ {{transliteration|khb|suu1}}
| {{script|Talu|ᦉᦴᦑᦱᧃᧈ}} ᩈᩪᨴ᩵ᩤ᩠ᨶ {{transliteration|khb|suu1taan5}}
| –
|-
!colspan=2| 3rd person
| {{script|Talu|ᦎᦳᧃᦑᦱᧃᧈ}} ᨲᩫ᩠ᨶᨴ᩵ᩤ᩠ᨶ {{transliteration|khb|tun1taan5}}
| {{script|Talu|ᦙᧃ}} ᨾᩢ᩠ᨶ {{transliteration|khb|man4}}
| –
| {{script|Talu|ᦎᦳᧃᦑᦱᧃᧈ}} ᨲᩫ᩠ᨶᨴ᩵ᩤ᩠ᨶ {{transliteration|khb|tun1taan5}}
| {{script|Talu|ᦃᧁ}} ᨡᩮᩢᩣ {{transliteration|khb|xaw1}}
| {{script|Talu|ᦃᧁᦈᧁᧉ}} ᨡᩮᩢᩣᨧᩮᩢ᩶ᩣ {{transliteration|khb|xaw1caw3}}
|}

=== Syntax ===
Word order is usually [[subject–verb–object]] (SVO); modifiers (e.g. adjectives) follow nouns.

=== Interrogatives ===
<ref name="Tai Lü Dictionary"/>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Word !! Meaning
|-
| ᦉᧂ (saŋ1) || What
|-
| ᦌᦹ (sɯɯ4) || Why
|-
| ᦂᦲᧈ (kii1) || How many
|-
| ᦺᦕ (pʰaj1) || Who
|-
| ᦺᦐ (naj1) || Where
|}

==Vocabulary==
As in Thai and Lao, Tai Lue has borrowed many [[Sanskrit]] and [[Pali]] words and [[affixes]]. Among the Tai languages in general, Tai Lue has limited intelligibility with [[Shan language|Shan]] and [[Tai Nüa language|Tai Nua]] and shares much vocabulary with, the other [[Southwestern Tai languages]]. Tai Lue has 95% [[lexical similarity]] with [[Northern Thai language|Northern Thai]] (Lanna), 86% with Central Thai, 93% with Shan, and 95% with [[Khün language|Khun]].<ref name=e18/>

Below, some Thai Lue words are given with standard Central Thai equivalents for comparison. Thai words are shown on the left and Tai Lue words, written in [[Tai Tham script]], are shown on the right.

===Different words===
Many words differ from Thai greatly:
*ยี่สิบ → ᨪᩣ᩠ᩅ ({{IPA|/jîː sìp/ → /sâːw/}}, twenty; cf. Lao: /sáːw/, Northern Thai: /sāw/)
*พูด → ᩋᩪᩢ ({{IPA|/pʰûːt/ → /ʔu᷅ː/}}, to speak; cf. Northern Thai: /ʔu᷇ː/)
*พี่ชาย → ᩋᩢᩣ᩠ᨿ ({{IPA|/pʰîː t͡ɕʰaːj/ → /ʔa᷅ːj/}}, older brother; cf. Lao: /ʔâːj/, Northern Thai: /ʔa᷇ːj/)

===Similar words===
Some words differ in tone only:
*หนึ่ง → ᨶ᩠ᨦᩧ᩵ ({{IPA|/nɯŋ/}}, one)
*หก → ᩉᩫ᩠ᨠ ({{IPA|/hók/}}, six)
*เจ็ด → ᨧᩮ᩠ᨯ ({{IPA|/t͡ɕét/}}, seven)
*สิบ → ᩈᩥ᩠ᨷ ({{IPA|/síp/}}, ten)
*กิน → ᨠᩥ᩠ᨶ ({{IPA|/kín/}}, to eat)

Some words differ in a single sound and associated tone. In many words, the initial ร ({{IPA|/r/}}) in Thai is ฮ ({{IPA|/h/}}) in Tai Lue, as is also the case in Lao and Tai Yuan:
*ร้อน → ᩁᩢᩬᩁ ({{IPA|/rɔ́n/ → /hɔ̀n/}}, hot; cf. Lao: /hɔ̂n/, Northern Thai: /hɔ́ːn/)
*รัก → ᩁᩢ᩠ᨠ ({{IPA|/rák/ → /hak/}}, to love; cf. Lao: /hāk/, Northern Thai: /ha᷇k/)
*รู้ → ᩁᩪᩢ ({{IPA|/rúː/ → /hùː/}}, to know; cf. Lao: /hûː/, Northern Thai: /húː/)

[[Aspirated consonant]]s in the low-class consonant group(อักษรต่ำ {{IPA|/ʔàk sɔ̌n tàm/}}) become unaspirated:
*เชียงราย → ᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩁᩣ᩠ᨿ ({{IPA|/t͡ɕʰiaŋ raːj/ → /t͡ɕêŋ hâːj/}}, [[Chiang Rai|Chiang Rai city]] and [[Chiang Rai Province|province]])
*คิด → ᨣᩧ᩠ᨯ ({{IPA|/kʰít/ → /kɯt/}}, to think; cf. Northern Thai: /kɯ́t/)
*พ่อ → ᨻᩳ᩵ ({{IPA|/pʰɔ̂/ → /pɔ/}}, father; cf. Northern Thai: /pɔ̂ː/)
*ทาง → ᨴᩤ᩠ᨦ ({{IPA|/tʰaːŋ/ → /tâːŋ/}}, way; cf. Northern Thai: /tāːŋ/)

(Note that the vowels also differ greatly between Tai Lue and Thai in many words, even though they are etymologically related and share the same root.)

Though many aspirated consonants often become unaspirated, when an unaspirated consonant is followed by ร ({{IPA|/r/}}) the unaspirated consonant becomes aspirated:
*ประเทศ → ᨷᩕᨴᩮ᩠ᩆ ({{IPA|/praʔtʰêːt/ → /pʰaʔtêːt/}}, country; cf. Northern Thai /pʰa.têːt/)

Other differences:
*ให้ → ᩉᩨᩢ ({{IPA|/hâj/ → /hɯ᷅/}}, to give, let)

=== Numbers ===

{| class="wikitable"
| 0
| ᧐
| ᦉᦳᧃ
|
| {{IPA|sun}}1
|-
| 1
| ᧚
| ᦓᦹᧂᧈ
| {{Script|Lana|ᨶᩧ᩠᩵ᨦ}}
| {{IPA|nɯŋ}}6
|-
| 2
| ᧒
| ᦉᦸᧂ
| ᩈᩬᨦ
| {{IPA|sɔŋ}}1
|-
| 3
| ᧓
| ᦉᦱᧄ
| ᩈᩣ᩠ᨾ
| {{IPA|sam}}1
|-
| 4
| ᧔
| ᦉᦲᧈ
| ᩈᩦ᩵
| {{IPA|siː}}5
|-
| 5
| ᧕
| ᦠᦱᧉ
| ᩉᩢᩣ
| {{IPA|haː}}3
|-
| 6
| ᧖
| ᦷᦠᧅ
| ᩉᩫ᩠ᨠ
| {{IPA|hok}}7
|-
| 7
| ᧗
| ᦵᦈᧆ
| ᨧᩮ᩠ᨯ
| {{IPA|t͡ɕet}}7
|-
| 8
| ᧘
| ᦶᦔᧆᧈ
| ᨸᩯ᩠ᨯ
| {{IPA|pɛt}}9
|-
| 9
| ᧙
| ᦂᧁᧉ
| ᨠᩮᩢᩢᩣ
| {{IPA|kaw}}3
|-
| 10
| ᧚᧐
| ᦉᦲᧇ
| ᩈᩥ᩠ᨷ
| {{IPA|sip}}7
|-
| 20
| ᧒᧐
| ᦌᦱᧁ
| ᨪᩣ᩠ᩅ
| {{IPA|saːw}}2
|-
| 100
| ᧚᧐᧐
| ᦣᦾᧉ
| ᩁᩢᩭ
| {{IPA|hɔi}}4
|-
| 1,000
| ᧚᧐᧐᧐
| ᦗᧃ
| ᨻᩢ᩠ᨶ
| {{IPA|pan}}2
|-
| 10,000
| ᧚᧐᧐᧐᧐
| ᦖᦹᧃᧈ
| ᩉ᩠ᨾᩨ᩵ᩁ
| {{IPA|mɯn}}5
|-
| 100,000
| ᧚᧐᧐᧐᧐᧐
| ᦶᦉᧃ
| ᩈᩯ᩠ᨶ
| {{IPA|sɛn}}1
|-
| 1,000,000
| ᧚᧐᧐᧐᧐᧐᧐
| ᦟᦱᧃᧉ
| ᩃᩢᩣ᩠ᨶ
| {{IPA|lan}}4
|}

== Writing systems ==
Tai Lue is written in three different scripts. One is the [[Fak Kham script]], a variety of the Thai script of [[Sukhothai Kingdom|Sukhothai]]. The second is the [[Tai Tham script|Tham script]], which was reformed in the 1950s, but is still in use and has recently regained government support. The new script is a simplified version of the old script.

=== Fak Kham ===
An ancient script, also used in [[Kengtung]], [[Northern Thailand]] and Northern Laos centuries ago.

=== Tham ===
The [[Tai Tham script|Tham script]] is called [[:zh:老傣文|老傣文]] ''lao dai wen'' (Old Dai script) in Chinese. Readable by the most people in Burma, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

=== New Tai Lue ===
[[File:China Post logo with (New) Tai Lü script in Mohan, Yunnan.jpg|thumb|China Post logo with the New Tai Lue script in Mohan, Yunnan]]
[[File:傣文教科书 3191.jpg|thumb|Books printed in New Tai Lue alphabet]]
[[New Tai Lue script|New Tai Lue]] is a modernization of the Lanna alphabet (also known as the [[Tai Tham script]]), which is similar to the [[Thai alphabet]], and consists of 42 initial consonant signs (21 high-tone class, 21 low-tone class), seven final consonant signs, 16 vowel signs, two tone letters and one vowel shortening letter (or syllable-final glottal stop). Vowels signs can be placed before or after the syllable initial consonant.

Similar to the Thai alphabet, the pronunciation of the tone of a syllable depends on the class the initial consonant belongs to, syllable structure and [[vowel length]], and the tone mark.

==Related varieties==
The Bajia people ([[:zh:八甲人|八甲人]]), who number 1,106 individuals in Mengkang Village ({{lang|zh|勐康村}}), Meng'a Town ({{lang|zh-hans|勐阿镇}}), [[Menghai County]], Yunnan, speak a language closely related to Tai Lue.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} There are 225 Bajia people living in Jingbo Township 景播乡, [[Menghai County]] (You 2013:270).<ref name="You2013">{{Cite book |last=You |first=Weiqiong 尤伟琼 |title=Yúnnán mínzú shìbié yánjiū |date=2013 |publisher=Minzu chubanshe |isbn=978-7-105-12703-0 |location=Beijing |language=zh |script-title=zh:云南民族识别研究 |trans-title=Classifying Ethnic Groups of Yunnan}}</ref> The Bajia are also known as the Chinese Dai [[:zh:傣那|汉傣]].

== See also ==
* [[Tai Nüa language]]

* [[Tai Dam language]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Xishuangbanna Daizu Zizhizhou |title=Dǎi Hàn cídiǎn |date=2002 |publisher=Yunnan minzu chubanshe |location=Kunming shi |language=zh |script-title=zh:傣汉词典 |trans-title=Dai–Chinese Dictionary}} – This is a dictionary of Tai Lue in unreformed spelling.
* {{Cite book |last=Yu |first=Cuirong 喻翠荣 |title=Dǎilè Hàn cídiǎn |last2=Luo |first2=Meizhen 罗美珍 |date=2004 |publisher=Minzu chubanshe |isbn=7-105-05834-X |location=Beijing shi |language=zh |script-title=zh:傣仂汉词典 |trans-title=Tai Lue–Chinese Dictionary}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hanna |first=William J. |title=Dai Lue-English Dictionary |date=2012 |publisher=Silkworm Books |isbn=978-616-215-031-9 |location=Chiang Mai |language=en}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Incubator|code=khb}}
* [http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tai/TaiLue/index.htm SeaSite: Tai Lue, under construction]
* [http://www.omniglot.com/writing/tailue.htm Omniglot - Tai Lue script]
* [http://www.webonary.org/dailu Tai Lue dictionary online]
* [https://theses.hal.science/tel-03828164# Li, Juan. 2022. Grammaire descriptive du tai lü (A Descriptive Grammar of Tai Lue). Paris: Sorbonne Université (PhD Dissertation).]

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{{Languages of Burma}}
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{{Tai-Kadai languages}}}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tai Lu Language}}
[[Category:Tai Lue language| ]]
[[Category:Languages of Yunnan]]
[[Category:Languages of Myanmar]]
[[Category:Languages of Laos]]
[[Category:Languages of Thailand]]
[[Category:Languages of Vietnam]]

Tai Lue language - Revision history

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