Phai people

ethnic group
group=Phai


poptime=51,000
popplace=Laos, Thailand
langs=Phai, Lao, Thai
rels=Theravada Buddhism
related=

The Phai are an ethnic group in Thailand and Laos.

Name Variation

The Phai are also commonly referred to as Phay, Thung Chan Pray, Kha Phay, [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ] and Prai.fact|date=January 2008 In Laos they are also referred to as Htin. [Schliesinger, Joachim, "Ethnic Groups of Laos, vo. 2", ISBN 9744800364]

Language

The Phai speak a language also called "Phai", which is a Khmuic language. [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ] The Khmuic languages are Austro-Asiatic. [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ] There is some debate as to whether the Khmuic languages are of the Mon-Khmer branch, but the majority opinion is that they are not.

Geographic Distribution

*Population in Thailand: 36,000 in Nan Provincefact|date=January 2008
*Population in Laos: 15,000 in Phongsali and Xaignabouli Provinces [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=LA Ethnologue report for Laos] ]

References