A linguistic identification of Kalom
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Abstract
Kalom is a Tai ethnic group residing in Luang Namtha Province, Lao PDR. Kalom people speak the Kalom language, a language of the Tai language family, but it is still debatable as to whether it is the same as the Tai Lue or Tai Yuan spoken in northern Thailand. This ethnic group is classified into the Tai Yuan group by the Lao Government which might be the reason why most Kalom villagers call themselves Tai Yuan. However, the language of Kalom sounds like both Tai Lue and Tai Yuan. This study, therefore, aims to clarify the Kalom identity by exploring the Kalom tonal system for linguistic evidence.
A tonal study of the Kalom used at Ban Vieng Nuea, Ban Vieng Tay, and Ban Khon reveals that it has two types of tonal systems. The first type shares the dominant feature of the Tai Lue tonal system, namely, a binary split across the four tonal categories based on voicing. The second type is a tonal split and merger in tone A category which is different from the typical Tai Lue tonal system aforementioned and the Tai Yuan tonal system. A lexical analysis was also included in this study to support the tonal investigation. The study of lexical usage reveals a high frequency of Tai Lue words mixed with some Tai Yuan words.
As Luang Namtha is a multi-lingual community, it is possible that the linguistic features of both Tai Lue and Tai Yuan that are found in Kalom are caused by language contact between Tai Lue and Tai Yuan speakers who migrated from different locations. This linguistic evidence is supported by historical account. Learned villagers expound that Kalom people migrated from two directions, Sipsongpanna in Yunnan Province, PR China, which is a Tai Lue compound, and Chiang Saen in northern Thailand, which is populated by Tai Yuan people.
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