View source for Tai Laing language

{{Short description|Tai language of Burma}}
{{Infobox language
|name = Tai Laing
|altname ={{hlist|Tai Leng|Tai Lai|Shanni|Shan-ni}}
|nativename={{lang|shn|တႆးလႅင်}}
|states = [[Myanmar]]
|region = [[Kachin State|Kachin]], [[Sagaing Region|Sagaing]]
|speakers = 100,000 
|date=2010
|ref=e18
|familycolor = Kradai
|fam2=[[Tai languages|Tai]]
|fam3=[[Southwestern Tai languages|Southwestern]] (Thai)
|fam4=Northwestern
|script = [[Burmese script]] (Tai Laing variant)
|iso3=tjl
|glotto=tail1248
|glottorefname=Tai Laing
}}

'''Tai Laing''' ({{lang-shn|တႆးလႅင်}}, {{Lit|red [[Tai peoples|Tai]]}}; variously spelt '''Tai Lai''' or '''Tai Nai'''), also known as '''Shan-ni''' ({{Lang-my|ရှမ်းနီ}}, {{Lit|red [[Shan people|Shan]]}}), is a [[Tai language]] of Burma, closely related to [[Khamti language|Khamti]] and [[Shan language|Shan]]. It is written in its own variant of [[Burmese script]], and though not taught in schools, is experiencing a cultural revival, albeit still small. There is no census of speakers, but they are estimated to number around 100,000.

Alternate names for Tai Laing are Shan Bamar, Shan Kalee, Tai Laeng, Tai Lang, and Tai Naing.<ref name="e18" />

==Distribution and dialects==
Tai Laing is spoken in [[Homalin Township]], [[Sagaing Region]], along the Chindwin, Irrawaddy, and Uru rivers. It is also spoken in [[Kachin State]] from [[Bhamo]] to [[Myitkyina]] townships.<ref name="e18"/>

There are two subgroups of Tai Laing, namely '''Tai Nai''' and '''Tai Lai'''. The Tai Nai live along the railway line between [[Myitkyina]] and [[Mandalay]]. The Tai Lai live along the river south of [[Myitkyina]].<ref name="e18"/>

== History ==
The Tai Laing settled in the [[Indawgyi Lake]] valley, in modern-day [[Kachin State]], Myanmar, establishing city-states including [[Mongyang State|Mongyang]], [[Mogaung State|Mogaung]], [[Wuntho]],[[Kalay|Kale]],[[Hkamti District|Khamti]],[[Tsaung Tsu]] and [[Momeik]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Lovett|first=Lorcan|date=2018-07-30|title=Once-taboo language lives again in rural Myanmar|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Life/Once-taboo-language-lives-again-in-rural-Myanmar|access-date=2021-11-01|website=Nikkei Asia|language=en-GB}}</ref> Tai Laing has had long-term close contact with several [[Tibeto-Burman languages]], including [[Burmese language|Burmese]] speakers to the south, [[Lolo-Burmese languages|Lolo-Burmese]], [[Nungish languages|Nungish]], and [[Jingpho–Luish languages|Jingpho-Luish languages]] to the east and north and [[Naga languages]] to the west.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Marseille|first=Carmen Eva|date=2019|title=Shan-Ni grammar and processes of linguistic change|url=https://hdl.handle.net/1887/74583|website=Leiden University Libraries|hdl=1887/74583 }}</ref> These languages have influenced the phonology and grammar of Tai Laing, including the frequency of disyllabic words and presence of different grammatical markers, and variation in word order.<ref name=":1" /> 

Following the [[1962 Burmese coup d'état]], restrictive language policies were promulgated by the military regime.<ref name=":0" /> The [[Kachin Independence Organisation|Kachin Independence Organization]] also repressed Tai Laing speakers, who lived in contested territory.<ref name=":0" /> In the 1990s, a military ceasefire enabled the Tai Laing to recover manuscripts, publish literacy books, and teach the language in summer schools.<ref name=":0" /> During the [[2011–2015 Myanmar political reforms]], Khin Pyone Yee was appointed Kachin State's Minister of Shan Affairs.<ref name=":0" /> She spearheaded a program to institutionalize Tai Laing education materials and curricula.<ref name=":0" />

While Tai Laing is experiencing a linguistic revival driven by youth, many Tai Laing are now bilingual or monolingual in Burmese, due to assimilation and intermarriage with Burmese speakers.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

[[Category:Languages of Myanmar]]
[[Category:Southwestern Tai languages]]


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