Khir | |
---|---|
Laya | |
Native to | Laos |
Region | Phongsaly province |
Native speakers | 3,200 (2023) [1] |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | None (mis ) |
Glottolog | None |
Khir ( Lao: ເຄີ /kʰɯ/, Kheu; autonym: ka55 ɯ21 or la21 ja21) is a Loloish language of northern Laos. It is closely related to Cosao. [2]
Khir is spoken in Nyot U District, Phongsaly Province, including in Kang village. [3]
The autonym is ka55 ɯ21. A less commonly used autonym, la21 ja21, is an autonym elicited in Khir Tai language. [1]
The exonym is pronounced khɯ but is officially spelled Khir ( Lao: ເຄີ). [1]
As of 2023, the ethnic Khir population is 3,200. [1]
There are 6 dialects of Khir, all of which are mutually intelligible with each other. Each dialcet has 300 to 800 speakers. [1]
Below is a comparison of lexical differences among each of the six Khir dialects. [1]
Gloss | Kang | Somheuang | Khir | Hin | Ka | Paek |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
eye | mla33sɯ21 | mja33sɯ21 | mɛ33sɯ21 | ma33nɯ̰33 | mɛ33hɯ21 | mɛ33nɯ̰33 |
chicken | a33 | ha33 | ha33ɕḭ33 | a21ɕḭ33 | ja33ʨḭ33 | ja33ʨḭ33 |
language | sɯ21to21 | mi33 | ne21bu21 | to21ma33 | tɔ21 | tɔ21 |
bee | blə21 | pja21 | pɛ21ɔ21 | i21ɕi55 | pja21 | pja21 |
face | mla33phlo21 | mja33phlo21 | ma33phɔ21 | ma33phɔ21 | mɛ33phɔ21 | mɛ33phɔ21 |
full (not empty) | a21blɯ33 | a21blɯ33 | bɯ33 | pɯ33 | pɯ33 | pɯ33 |
sweat | tsha55qhi21 | ʨhɛ55khli21 | sɛ55khi21 | sɛ55khi21 | khɛ21su21 | khi21ʨha55 |