Saek language


Saek is a Tai language spoken in at least ten villages in Khammouane Province, Laos, and at least four villages in Nakhon Phanom Province in northeastern Thailand, just across the Mekong River. It is spoken by the Saek people.

Phonology

The Saek tones are :
  • 1 = mid level, slight rise at the end
  • 2 = low level
  • 3 = falling to low, with glottal constriction
  • 4 = high peaking
  • 5 = high falling
  • 6 = mid level, with slight fall and glottal constriction
Saek tonal splits are as follows.
*A*B*C*DS*DL
Aspirated2, 16346
Unaspirated16346
Glottalized16346
Voiced45665

Locations

Saek is spoken in the following locations.

Thailand

Two Saek villages are "Ban Asamat" and "Ban Phai Lom," located just off the main river road a few kilometers north of Nakhon Phanom city. Another is Ban Ba Wa Saek, located further upriver, but inland a few kilometers. However, except for the older generation, the Saek language is all but disappearing as there is a strong tendency for younger generations to use the local trade language Lao/Isan, and/or the official Central Thai language as they are assimilated into mainstream Thai society.
William Gedney lists the following Saek villages in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand.
  1. อาจสามารถ. 5 km north of the city of Nakhon Phanom. This is the variant recorded by William Gedney in his Saek language: glossary, texts, and translations. Variant pronunciations:,,,,,,.
  2. , one mile inland from. Variant name:.
  3. in Si Songkhram District. Variant pronunciations:,,.
  4. in district. Variant pronunciation:.
According to Gedney, abandoned Saek villages in Thailand include:
  1. , between and the city of Nakhon Phanom.
  2. , on the road to Sakon Nakhon.

Laos

According to Gedney's texts and notebooks, Saek is spoken in the following locations in Laos.
  4. - completely occupied by Saek
  5. - half Lao, half Saek village
Chamberlain cites the following Saek-speaking villages in Laos. District codes are also given in parentheses.
Morev notes that Saek is also spoken in the following districts of Khammouane Province, Laos.
The Saek speakers of Laos live adjacent to Bru and Mène speakers.
Additional data on Saek of Laos has since been collected by Jean Pacquement.

Vietnam

According to Gedney, Vietnam is said to have the two following Saek villages. However, Chamberlain notes that all villages listed by Gedney to be in Vietnam are actually in Laos.
According to Gedney, abandoned Saek villages in Vietnam include the following. Their equivalents in Chamberlain are given in parentheses.
  5. The

China

There are perhaps some Saek speakers in China, where they are classified as Zhuang people.