Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. At the heart of the Indochinese Peninsula, Laos is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and southwest. Its capital and largest city is Vientiane.
Phongsali or Phongsaly is the capital of Phongsaly Province, Laos. It is the northernmost provincial capital in Laos, opposite Attapeu in the south. The town has about 8,000 inhabitants. It lies at approximately 1,430 meters elevation on the slopes of Mount Phu Fa. Phongsali has summer temperatures around 25-30 °C, with frequent rain. In winter, from November to March, it is cool and mostly sunny, with daytime temperatures between 10-18 °C.
Akha is the language spoken by the Akha people of southern China, eastern Burma, northern Laos, and northern Thailand.
Bit is an Austroasiatic language spoken by around 2,000 people in Phongsaly Province, northern Laos and in Mengla County, Yunnan, China.
The Southern Loloish or Southern Ngwi languages, also known as the Hanoish or Hanish languages, constitute a branch of the Loloish languages that includes Akha and Hani.
Bisu is a Loloish language of Thailand, with a couple thousand speakers in China. Varieties are Bisu proper (Mbisu) and Laomian (Guba), considered by Pelkey to be distinct languages.
Chepya is a Southern Loloish language of northern Laos.
Sila is a Loloish language spoken by 2,000 people in Laos and Vietnam. Sila speakers are an officially recognized group in Vietnam, where they are known as the Si La.
Phongsaly province, also spelled Phôngsali, is a province of Laos in the extreme north of the country. The capital of the province is the city of Phôngsali. Phongsaly is between Yunnan (China), and Điện Biên province in Vietnam. Its culture has thus been historically heavily influenced by China.
The Yang people, also known as the Nhang or Nyang, are a Tai-speaking ethnic group of Phongsaly Province, northwestern Laos. Chazee (1998) reports that they number 5,843 people as of 2015. The Yang are heavily influenced by Tai Lue culture, although the Yang of Namo Nua village, Oudomxay province are more heavily influenced by Tai Dam people culture.
Khongsat, also called Suma, is a Loloish language of northern Laos.
Phongku is a Loloish language of Phongsaly Province, northern Laos. David Bradley (2007) lists as the autonym.
Laoseng is a Loloish language of northern Laos. David Bradley (2007) lists law21 sɛŋ21 as the autonym.
Phongset is a Loloish language of Phongsaly Province, northern Laos.
Laopan is a Loloish language of northern Laos. It is spoken in Bun Tay District, Phongsaly Province, Laos, including in Phaophumuang village.
Theen is an Austroasiatic language of Laos, belonging to the branch of Khmuic languages. It is only spoken by about 200 people living in two villages. They are also known as Kha Sam Liam among their Lao neighbours.
Tadahiko Shintani is a Japanese linguist and Professor Emeritus of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, specializing in the phonology of New Caledonian languages and Southeast Asian languages.
The Bisoid (Phunoi) languages belong to the Southern Loloish (Hanoish) branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Most Bisoid languages are spoken in Phongsaly Province, northern Laos, with smaller numbers of speakers living in China (Yunnan), Vietnam, Myanmar, and northern Thailand.
Wanyä is a Loloish language of northern Laos. It is spoken in Ipoeching village, Bun Tay District, Phongsaly Province.
The Siloid languages belong to the Southern Loloish (Hanoish) branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The Siloid branch was first proposed by Hsiu (2016).
