French is spoken by a significant minority in Laos. Laos has the second largest Francophone community in Southeast Asia, the others being found in Vietnam and Cambodia. French is used as a diplomatic and commercial language and is also studied by over a third of students in Laos.
How much of Laos speaks French?
The French is used as a dialect for business and diploma and a third of students (about 35%) in Laos learn this language. In fact, the spoken French in Laos is based on standard Parisian French but there are some minor differences in vocabulary in comparison to other French dialects of Asia.
How many languages are in Laos?
Did you know that Laos is a multilingual country with 86 recorded languages? But what is the official language of Laos? You might’ve already guessed it, the official language spoken in Laos is Lao. But even though Lao is the official Laos language, it’s spoken in many different dialects across various ethnic groups.
Is French an official language?
French is the official language** in Belgium, Benin, Burkina, Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central, African, Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte, d’Ivoire, Democratic, Republic, of, the, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial, Guinea, France, Guinea, Haiti, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Monaco, Niger, Republic, of, the, Congo, …
What do you call people from Laos?
The correct term for people that live in Laos is ‘Laotian‘. The term ‘indigenous peoples’ is not used by the Laotian government. Instead, they refer to non-Lao people as ‘ethnic minorities’.
What is the main religion of Laos?
Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religion of the ethnic or “lowland” Lao, who constitute 53.2 percent of the overall population.
Why is Laos a French speaking country?
The French language was introduced to Laos in the 19th century when French explorers arrived in Laos trying to make inroads into China after colonizing Vietnam. The French did not pay much attention to the kingdom of Lan Xang but established a consulate in present-day Luang Prabang.
How old is Laos language?
Lao script dates back to the 16th century BC. It descended from Old Khmer which, in turn, evolved from the Brahmi script.
Is Laos safe?
Crime and safety. Laos is a relatively safe country for travellers, although certain areas remain off-limits because of unexploded ordnance left over from decades of warfare. As a visitor, however, you’re an obvious target for thieves (who may include your fellow travellers), so do take necessary precautions.