Lao Ga
Encyclopedia
The Lao Ga are a Tai
sub-ethnic group of Lao people
.
(อำเภอบ้านไร่), Uthai Thani
province (จังหวัดอุทัยธานี). The Lao Ga speak a dialect of the Lao language
, and number around 1,900.
. Gao literally means scratchy, another attribute of the way Lao Ga speakers come across. Naturally, these terms are offensive.
people and more specifically, other ethnic Lao groups of Central Thailand, the Lao Ga are descendants of slaves and forced corvée
labourers brought after the Siamese conquest of the successor kingdoms of Lanxang, mostly from the region of Vientiane
. This makes them historically related to the Lao Wieng
. Although many Lao groups assimilated into the greater Thai population (unlike in Isan
where their large numbers and close contact with other Lao peoples in Laos
prevented complete Thaification
), the Lao Ga were able to maintain their Lao language and traditions.
Tai
Tai may refer to:*Tai peoples*Tai languages*Tai , a Chinese surname*Mount Tai, in Shandong, China*Lake Tai, on the border of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, China...
sub-ethnic group of Lao people
Lao people
The Lao are an ethnic subgroup of Tai/Dai in Southeast Asia.-Names:The etymology of the word Lao is uncertain, although it may be related to tribes known as the Ai Lao who appear in Han Dynasty records in China and Vietnam as a people of what is now Yunan Province...
.
Location
The Lao Ga are only found in Ban Tabluang (บ้านทัพหลวง), Amphoe Ban RaiAmphoe Ban Rai
Ban Rai is a district in the Uthai Thani Province in western Thailand.-Geography:The district covers more than half of the whole province Uthai Thani, and is also the third-largest district of Thailand areawise...
(อำเภอบ้านไร่), Uthai Thani
Uthai Thani
Uthai Thani is a town in Thailand, capital of the Uthai Thani province, in the Lower North of the country. It covers the whole tambon Uthai Mai of Mueang Uthai Thani district. The town is situated on the right bank of the Sakae Krang River, a few kilometers upstream from where it flows into the...
province (จังหวัดอุทัยธานี). The Lao Ga speak a dialect of the Lao language
Lao language
Lao or Laotian is a tonal language of the Tai–Kadai language family. It is the official language of Laos, and also spoken in the northeast of Thailand, where it is usually referred to as the Isan language. Being the primary language of the Lao people, Lao is also an important second language for...
, and number around 1,900.
Alternate names
They are also known as Lao Gao (Thai: ลาวเกา) or just plain Ga referencing the creaky, crow-like way of speaking peculiar to their dialect of LaoLao language
Lao or Laotian is a tonal language of the Tai–Kadai language family. It is the official language of Laos, and also spoken in the northeast of Thailand, where it is usually referred to as the Isan language. Being the primary language of the Lao people, Lao is also an important second language for...
. Gao literally means scratchy, another attribute of the way Lao Ga speakers come across. Naturally, these terms are offensive.
History
Like many IsanIsan
Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
people and more specifically, other ethnic Lao groups of Central Thailand, the Lao Ga are descendants of slaves and forced corvée
Corvée
Corvée is unfree labour, often unpaid, that is required of people of lower social standing and imposed on them by the state or a superior . The corvée was the earliest and most widespread form of taxation, which can be traced back to the beginning of civilization...
labourers brought after the Siamese conquest of the successor kingdoms of Lanxang, mostly from the region of Vientiane
Vientiane
-Geography:Vientiane is situated on a bend of the Mekong river, which forms the border with Thailand at this point.-Climate:Vientiane features a tropical wet and dry climate with a distinct monsoon season and a dry season. Vientiane’s dry season spans from November through March. April marks the...
. This makes them historically related to the Lao Wieng
Lao Wieng
The Lao Wieng , are a Tai sub-ethnic group of the Isan region. Of the approximately 50,000 proclaimed Lao Wieng live in villages through the region, especially the provinces of Prachinburi, Udon Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Chai Nat, Lopburi, Saraburi, Phetchaburi and Roi Et with a significant number in...
. Although many Lao groups assimilated into the greater Thai population (unlike in Isan
Isan
Isan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
where their large numbers and close contact with other Lao peoples in Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
prevented complete Thaification
Thaification
Thaification is the process by which people of different cultural and ethnic origins living in Thailand become assimilated to the dominant Thai culture, or more precisely, to the culture of the Central Thais...
), the Lao Ga were able to maintain their Lao language and traditions.