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COGNATE DIALECTS.
"IT is worthy of
observation, that Siamese is
properly speaking only one dialect of the ancient and widely
extended language called T’hai; the other dialects are the
Laos, Khamti (almost identical with the
ancient Ahom), and Shyan. Little has been done in these three dialects towards the
translation of Scrip-
ture. The Laos people are
described by Dr. Bradley as being in a peculiar sense ripe for the
Gospel harvest.
Several applied to him for books written with their own characters; they said
they could read Siamese
books stammeringly, but their own with ease. A Laos man pleaded with
Dr. Bradley not to forget
him and his people, but to furnish them speedily with a version of the holy
books in their own dialect.
Although the Laos has been described by most travellers as a totally distinct
dialect from the Siamese,
yet such is the similarity between the two dialects that Captain Low states
from his own experience,
that it is easy for a person who understands the Siamese tongue, to travel
safely (in so far as language
is concerned) throughout North Laos. The Laos dialect has, however, an
alphabet exclusively
appropriated to it, which is more allied to the Peguese or
Mon than to the Siamese alphabet."--
The Bible of Every Land. (1860, Second Edition) Samuel Bagster
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