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French language media is the largest non-Lao language media. [11] Lao National Television broadcasts a French-language segment daily. Le Rénovateur is the only French-language print newspaper, with government press publishing online newspapers in the language as well. French-language radio stations are also present.
There are over 90 distinct native languages spoken by the different ethnic populations of Laos. Lao, the official language of Laos, is a monosyllabic tone based language from the Tai-Kadai family as spoken in Vientiane. There are 19 million Lao speakers in Thailand and 3 million in Laos, a reflection of geopolitical history.
The term ethnic minorities is used by some to classify the non-Lao ethnic groups, while the term indigenous peoples is not used by Lao authorities. [1] These 160 ethnic groups speak a total of 82 distinct living languages.
French is used in government and commerce, and Laos is a member of the French-speaking organisation of La Francophonie. The organisation estimated in 2010 that there were 173,800 French speakers in Laos. [136] English, the language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations , has become increasingly studied in recent years. [137]
About 3% of the population of Laos can speak French as of 2014. [111] French is an administrative language in Laos. Laos has the second largest Francophone community in Southeast Asia after Vietnam and ahead of Cambodia. Over 35% of Lao students study French in schools, and the language can be commonly found on many government buildings.
The term ethnic minorities is used by some to classify the non-Lao ethnic groups, while the term indigenous peoples is not used by the Lao PDR. [11] These 160 ethnic groups speak a total of 82 distinct living languages. [12] Lao 53.2%, Khmu 11%, Hmong 9.2%, and other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26.6% (2015 census). [13]
Music varies widely across Laos, with the lam saravane style being most popular, while the city of Luang Prabang is known for a slow form called khaplam wai. An extremely popular form of Lao lam that developed in Thailand is called mor lam sing , and is faster and electrified.
The Lao language (ພາສາລາວ) is the official language of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and its official script is the Lao alphabet. [38] As the dominant language of most of the Lao Loum and therefore most of the Lao population, the language is enshrined as the dominant language of education, government, and official use. [38]