Saek (Sek; Thai: ภาษาแสก) is a Tai language spoken in at least ten villages in Khammouane Province, Laos, and at least four villages in Nakhon Phanom Province in northeastern Thailand, just across the Mekong River. It is spoken by the Saek people.

Phonology

The Saek tones are (Hudak & Gedney 2010): Saek tonal splits are as follows (See Proto-Tai language for clarification.).

Locations

Saek is spoken in the following locations (Hudak & Gedney 2010:251-252).

Thailand

Two Saek villages are "Ban Asamat" and "Ban Phai Lom," located just off the main river road a few kilometers north of Nakhon Phanom city. Another is Ban Ba Wa Saek, located further upriver, but inland a few kilometers. However, except for the older generation, the Saek language is all but disappearing as there is a strong tendency for younger generations to use the local trade language Lao/Isan, and/or the official Central Thai language as they are assimilated into mainstream Thai society. William Gedney lists the following Saek villages in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand. According to Gedney, abandoned Saek villages in Thailand include:

Laos

According to Gedney's texts and notebooks, Saek is spoken in the following locations in Laos. Chamberlain (1998) cites the following Saek-speaking villages in Laos. District codes are also given in parentheses (see districts of Laos). Morev notes that Saek is also spoken in the following districts of Khammouane Province, Laos. The Saek speakers of Laos live adjacent to Bru and Mène speakers (Chamberlain 1998). Additional data on Saek of Laos has since been collected by Jean Pacquement (2016, 2017, 2018).

Vietnam

According to Gedney, Vietnam is said to have the two following Saek villages. However, Chamberlain (1998) notes that all villages listed by Gedney to be in Vietnam are actually in Laos. According to Gedney, abandoned Saek villages in Vietnam (Laos according to Chamberlain) include the following. Their equivalents in Chamberlain (1998) are given in parentheses.

Sources