Khir language


Khir is a Loloish language of northern Laos. It is closely related to Cosao.
Khir is spoken in Nyot U District, Phongsaly Province, including in Kang village.

Names

The autonym is ka55 ɯ21. A less commonly used autonym, la21 ja21, is an autonym elicited in Khir Tai language.
The exonym is pronounced khɯ but is officially spelled Khir.

Demographics

As of 2023, the ethnic Khir population is 3,200.

Dialects

There are 6 dialects of Khir, all of which are mutually intelligible with each other. Each dialcet has 300 to 800 speakers.
  • Kang: described by Kato and is mainly spoken in Kangnamlae and Phiangsaeng Villages. 600 people.
  • Khir: spoken in Khir Neua, Khir Tai, and Chompho Villages. 440 people.
  • Ka: spoken in Ka and Chompho Villages. 560 people.
  • Hin: mainly spoken in Hin and Palan Villages, with 5 or 6 households in Somheuang Village. 460 people.
  • Paek: spoken in Paek Village. 300 people.
  • Somheuang: spoken in Somheuang and Nakong Villages. 860 people.
Below is a comparison of lexical differences among each of the six Khir dialects.
GlossKangSomheuangKhirHinKaPaek
eyemla33sɯ21mja33sɯ21mɛ33sɯ21ma33nɯ̰33mɛ33hɯ21mɛ33nɯ̰33
chickena33ha33ha33ɕḭ33a21ɕḭ33ja33ʨḭ33ja33ʨḭ33
languagesɯ21to21mi33ne21bu21to21ma33tɔ21tɔ21
beeblə21pja21pɛ21ɔ21i21ɕi55pja21pja21
facemla33phlo21mja33phlo21ma33phɔ21ma33phɔ21mɛ33phɔ21mɛ33phɔ21
full a21blɯ33a21blɯ33bɯ33pɯ33pɯ33pɯ33
sweattsha55qhi21ʨhɛ55khli21sɛ55khi21sɛ55khi21khɛ21su21khi21ʨha55