Saek Language - Locations - Laos

Laos

According to Gedney's texts and notebooks, Saek is spoken in the following locations in Laos.

  1. baan3 thaa5 khɛɛ4
  2. baan3 thɔɔk5
  3. baan3 phoo4 kham3
  4. baan3 phaa5 thuŋ1 - completely occupied by Saek
  5. baan3 phoon3 ŋaam1 - half Lao, half Saek village

Chamberlain (1998) cites more Saek-speaking villages in Laos:

  • Khamkeut District, Borikhamxay Province
    • Ban Na Kadok, Nam Veo Subdistrict (originally from Phu Quan village, near Đức Thọ, Hà Tĩnh, Vietnam). They have extensive gold mines along the Nam Houay stream bed. Settlers from Na Kadok had also founded Na Vang in Nakai District, located on the Nam Mone, when they were hiding from Thai soldiers during the Siamese occupation of Laos. The Bru people now live in Na Vang and maintain the terraces that the Saek had originally built.
    • Ban Som Sanouk, Lak Xao Subdistrict
    • Ban Nam Phao, Lak Xao Subdistrict
    • Ban Houay Toun, Lak Xao Subdistrict
    • Ban Na Tham Kwang (or Ban Nam Hoy), Khammmouane Subdistrict
  • Nakai District, Khammouane Province
    • Ban Toeng (subdistrict seat on the Nam Noy)
    • Ban Na Meo (located on the Nam Pheo, a tributary of the Nam Noy; village claimed to have been occupied for 286 years)
    • Ban Na Moey (located on the Nam Pheo)
    • Ban Beuk (located on the Nam Pheo)
  • Gnommarath District, Khammouane Province
    • Ban Pha Toung (residents originally from Ban Toeng)
    • Ban Khène (residents originally from Ban Toeng)
  • Thakhek District, Khammouane Province: various villages
  • Hinboun District, Khammouane Province: various villages

Morev notes that Saek is also spoken in the following districts of Khammouane Province, Laos.

  • Nhommarat District
  • Mahaxay District
  • Kham Khet District (in Borikhamxay)
  • Tha Khek District

The Saek speakers of Laos live adjacent to Bru and Mène speakers (Chamberlain 1998).

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