User:AmazingJus/ThaiLao
What's the difference between Thai and Lao?
editWell, at least the standard forms!
1. The script
edit- Thai and Lao's writing system are very similar, yet they have a few differences to note:
- Lao lacks consonants that are used in Thai.
- Also, Thai lacks vowels that are used in Lao.
- Lao is spelled more phonemically than Thai.
2. The words
edit- Many words in both Thai and Lao look very similar, but they sometimes use different vocabulary.
Pronouns
Numerals
| Number | Thai | Thai IPA | Lao | Lao IPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | ศูนย์ (sǔun) (๐ (0)) | /suːn˩˩˦/ | ສູນ (sūn) (໐) | /suːn˩˧/ |
| 1 | หนึ่ง (nʉ̀ng) (๑ (1)) | /nɯŋ˨˩/ | ໜຶ່ງ (nưng) (໑) | /nɯŋ˧˧/ |
| 2 | สอง (sɔ̌ɔng) (๒ (2)) | /sɔːŋ˩˩˦/ | ສອງ (sǭng) (໒) | /sɔːŋ˩˧/ |
| 3 | สาม (sǎam) (๓ (3)) | /säːm˩˩˦/ | ສາມ (sām) (໓) | /saːm˩˧/ |
| 4 | สี่ (sìi) (๔ (4)) | /siː˨˩/ | ສີ່ (sī) (໔) | /siː˧˧/ |
| 5 | ห้า (hâa) (๕ (5)) | /häː˥˩/ | ຫ້າ (hā) (໕) | /haː˨˩/ |
| 6 | หก (hòk) (๖ (6)) | /hok̚˨˩/ | ຫົກ (hok) (໖) | /hok̚˦˥/ |
| 7 | เจ็ด (jèt) (๗ (7)) | /t͡ɕet̚˨˩/ | ເຈັດ (chet) (໗) | /t͡ɕet̚˦˥/ |
| 8 | แปด (bpɛ̀ɛt) (๘ (8)) | /pɛːt̚˨˩/ | ແປດ (pǣt) (໘) | /pɛːt̚˨˩/ |
| 9 | เก้า (gâao) (๙ (9)) | /käːw˥˩/ | ເກົ້າ (kao) (໙) | /kaw˥˧/ |
| 10 | สิบ (sìp) (๑๐ (10)) | /sip̚˨˩/ | ສິບ (sip) (໑໐) | /sip̚˦˥/ |
As you can see, the numbers are actually the same, except that the tones and some of the vowels are different, but that would be explained in the final section.
3. The phonology
editHere are some main differences between these two languages:
- Thai does not have /ɲ/ for Lao ຍ (nya).
- Lao does not have /t͡ɕʰ/ for Thai ฉ (chɔ̌ɔ), ช (chɔɔ) or ฌ (chɔɔ).
- Lao does not have /r/ for Thai ร (rɔɔ). Instead, Lao uses ຮ (ha), which is pronunced as /h/.
- Thai has 5 tones, while Lao has 6 tones.
- Lao lacks several initial consonant clusters that are present in Thai.
On that note, here are the tones of Thai and Lao:
Thai:
/kʰäː˥˩.pʰä˦˥.t͡ɕäːw˥˩/
Lao:
/kʰaː˨˩.pʰa˧˧.t͡ɕaw˥˧/