Laha language

Laha is a Kra language spoken by approximately 1,400 people out of a total population of 5,686 Laha. It is spoken in Lào Cai and Sơn La provinces, Vietnam. Laha dialects had been documented in 1986 by Russian linguists and in 1996 by American linguist Jerold A. Edmondson. Many Laha can also converse in the Khmu language, and Laha-speaking areas also have significant Black Thai, Kháng, Ksongmul, and Hmong populations.
Ostapirat considers the Laha dialects to form a subgroup of their own within the Kra branch.

Geographic distribution

Gregerson & Edmondson and Wardlaw report the following locations of two Laha dialects, namely the Wet Laha and Dry Laha dialects.
Wet Laha of Lào Cai and Lai Châu

Tà Mít Commune, Lai Châu Province|Tân Uyên], Lai Châu, Vietnam — known as the "Wet Laha". Edmondson's informant is from Bản Muot Village, Tà Mít Commune. There are 8 Laha villages numbering no more than 1,000 people in Than Uyên District, Lai Châu, Vietnam.
Pha Mu and Nặm Cần Communes, Tân Uyên District, [Lai Châu|Tân Uyên], Lai Châu

Dry Laha of Sơn La — around the Black [River (Vietnam)|Sông Đà] and Nậm Mu Rivers

Noong Lay and Nặm Ét Communes, Thuận Châu, Sơn La, Vietnam — known as the "Dry Laha"
Chiền Xòm, Liềp Tè, Noong Giông, and Nặm Ét in Sơn La
Nặm Giôn, Chiền Xàng, Chiền Dong, Pi Toong, and Mường Bú of Mường La District, Sơn La Province. Laha of Nà Tạy, Pi Toong commune is documented in Hsiu.
Thuận Châu, Mường La, Quỳnh Nhai districts of Sơn La Province
Bản Bung and Phù Yên near Sơn La Province on the north bank of the Black River

Phonology

Consonants

In both dialects, can be heard as when occurring before front vowels.

Final consonants

Both have the same final consonants, except is only in the Noong Lay dialect.

	Labial	Alveolar	Velar	Glottal
Stop
Nasal

	Labial	Alveolar	Velar	Glottal
Stop
Nasal
Approximant

Vowels

Vowel sounds can occur long as.

	Front	Back
Close

Both dialects have two vowels in final position. They also may be heard as glide sounds.