LAO LANGUAGE
Understanding The Lao Language & Providing Professional Lao Interpreters, Translators and Transcriptionists
American Language Services (AML-Global) understands the importance of working in the Lao language. For over a Quarter of a Century, American Language Services has worked with the Lao language as well as hundreds of others from around the world. We offer comprehensive language services 24 hours, 7 days a week worldwide by providing Lao interpreting, translation and transcriptions services along with hundreds of other languages and dialects. Our linguists are native speakers and writers who are screened, credentialed, certified, field tested and experienced in a number of specific industry settings. The Lao language is unique and has very specific origins and characteristics.
The Economy and Infrastructure of Laos
Spoken in Laos, the Lao language is a tonal language of the Kradai language family. 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. Because of its central location and history of occupation the Lao economy relies heavily on dependent and investment trade. There is little to no infrastructure and Laos still depend on animals to do much of the trekking. Subsistence agriculture still accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. Laos has the lowest percentage of arable land and permanent cropland. Tourism is also a major growth industry, bringing in approximately $233 million in 2007. To accommodate this growing demand, the government has contracted a Korean company, Booyoung Limited to carry out the design and construction of a new international airport, which will begin in 2011.
Power, Struggle and Victory Through The Ages of Lao
The Lao language is descended from Tai languages spoken in what is now southern China and northern Vietnam (probably some of the various peoples referred to as Yue) in areas believed to be the homeland of the language family and where several related languages are spoken by scattered minority groups. Oral history of the Tai migrations is preserved in the legends of Khun Borom. Although torn between the power struggles of Siam and Vietnam, the Lao people were able to create a cohesive identity and integrate their dialects into a common language.
Lao Dialects
The Lao language has numerous dialects, but they are mutually intelligible. The Isan language can also be further sub-divided into various dialects, but they too remain mutually intelligible with the Lao dialects of Laos and are regarded as a cohesive identity. There are numerous small dialects spoken by tribes descended from forced Lao migrations to Central Thailand. In addition to the dialects of the Lao languages, numerous closely related languages (or dialects, depending on the classification) are spoken throughout the Lao-speaking realm in Laos and Thailand.
Who are You Going to Trust with Your Vital Lao Language Needs?
The Lao language is an important language worldwide. It is vital to understand the general nature and specific idiosyncrasies of Lao. Since 1985, AML-Global has provided outstanding Lao interpreters, translators and transcriptionsts worldwide.
