Tai Loi language

Tai Loi, also known as Mong Lue, refers to various Palaungic languages spoken mainly in Burma, with a few hundred in Laos and some also in China. Hall (2017) reports that Tai Loi is a cover term meaning 'mountain Tai' in Shan, and refers to various Angkuic, Waic, and Western Palaungic languages rather than a single language or branch. The Shan exonym Tai Loi can refer to:

• Western Palaungic branch: De'ang
• Lametic branch: Lamet
• Angkuic branch: Muak Sa-aak, Mok
• Waic branch
  • Wa: Meung Yum, Savaiq, etc.
  • Plang: Phang, Kontoi, Pang Pung, etc.

Additionally, Ethnologue (21st edition),^[2] citing Schliesinger (2003), lists Doi as a Tai Loi variety in Ban Muang, Sing District, Luang Namtha Province, Laos as a nearly extinct language variety spoken by an ethnic group comprising 600 people and 80 households as of 2003. Schliesinger (2003) reports that elderly Doi speakers can understand the Samtao language.^[3] There is considerable variation among the dialects.^[4] The Muak Sa-aak variety of Tai Loi shares 42% lexical similarity with U of China; 40% with Pang Pung Plang; and 25% with standard Wa.^[4]

• Hall, Elizabeth. 2017. On the Linguistic Affiliation of 'Tai Loi'. JSEALS vol. 10.2:xix-xxii.