Puneet Varma (Editor)

Sila language (Laos)

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Native to
  
Laos, Vietnam

ISO 639-3
  
slt

Ethnicity
  
Si La people

Glottolog
  
sila1247

Native speakers
  
2,500 (1995 & 2009 censuses)

Language family
  
Sino-Tibetan (Tibeto-Burman) Lolo–Burmese Loloish Hanoish Hanoid Sila

Sila is a Loloish language spoken by 2,000 people in Laos and Vietnam (Bradley 1997). Sila speakers are an officially recognized group in Vietnam, where they are known as the Si La.

Distribution

According to Edmondson (2002), the Sila number about 700 people in Vietnam and live in the following 3 villages.

  • Seo Hay, Can Hồ Commune, Lai Châu Province, Vietnam
  • Xì Theo Chai, Can Hồ Commune, Lai Châu Province, Vietnam
  • Nậm Sín, Mường Nhé Commune, Điện Biên Province, Vietnam

    • According to the elderly Sila, seven Sila families had emigrated from Mường U and Mường Lá of Phongsaly Province, Laos 175 years ago. They initially arrived at a location called Mường Tùng, and relocated several times before arriving at their present locations.

    References

    Sila language (Laos) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA