Language and culture in Laos: An agenda for research

Abstract

There is at present a vigorous public debate in Laos on the issue of language, with the participation of scholars, researchers, educators, and politicians. This debate goes to the highest level, and has been on the agenda for decades. The issue? Whether the letter ‘r’ should or should not be included in the Lao alphabet. Meanwhile, dozens of distinct human languages spoken in Laos are in danger of extinction in the immediate or near future. We know little or nothing about the structure, history, or social setting of these languages or the people who speak them. There is no public debate about this issue in Laos, and little research activity to document the country’s dozens of minority languages, whether for scientific, practical, or social purposes. The problem is identical in research on culture. This paper offers a number of reasons why this must change. Notes _______________________________ 1 Notwithstanding exceptional contributions such as Costello and IRLCS (1993), Evans (1999), Jacq (2002), Sidwell and Jacq (2004), Suksavang and Preisig (1999), Svantesson et al (1994), Thipmuntali (1999), Kingsada and Shintani (1999), Wright (2003), Pholsena (2006), Rehbein (2007), among others. 2 Fortunately, there are recent signs of emerging opportunity for academic research in Laos, for example through the fastdeveloping National University of Laos, and the recently established National Academy of Social Sciences.

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