Khir (Lao: ເຄີ /kʰɯ/, Kheu; autonym: ka55 ɯ21 or la21 ja21) is a Loloish language of northern Laos. It is closely related to Cosao.
Khir is spoken in Nyot U District, Phongsaly Province, including in Kang village.
Names
The autonym is ka55 ɯ21. A less commonly used autonym, la21 ja21, is an autonym elicited in Khir Tai language.
The exonym is pronounced khɯ but is officially spelled Khir (Lao: ເຄີ).
Demographics
As of 2023, the ethnic Khir population is 3,200.
Dialects
There are 6 dialects of Khir, all of which are mutually intelligible with each other. Each dialcet has 300 to 800 speakers.
- Kang: described by Kato (2008) and is mainly spoken in Kangnamlae (formerly Kang) and Phiangsaeng Villages. 600 people.
- Khir: spoken in Khir Neua, Khir Tai, and Chompho Villages. 440 people.
- Ka: spoken in Ka and Chompho Villages. 560 people.
- Hin: mainly spoken in Hin and Palan Villages, with 5 or 6 households in Somheuang Village. 460 people.
- Paek: spoken in Paek Village. 300 people.
- Somheuang: spoken in Somheuang and Nakong Villages. 860 people.
Below is a comparison of lexical differences among each of the six Khir dialects.
References
