Understanding phonetic and systemic motivation is a crucial element in the study of sound
change. However, our understanding is largely limited to segmental changes. Working …

By offering the first detailed portrait of how a particular local system for Pali pronunciation
functions, this article aims to renew our appreciation of the complex interaction between …

From the perspective of areal linguistics, this paper examines the similarities in tonal
behavior between Sinitic and Kam-Tai, the two most populous language groups in Lingnan …

When applied to Tai varieties beyond Southwestern Tai, Gedney's tone box framework and
its revised versions have several shortcomings, the most notable of which is the lack of …

Previous research has proposed a direct path from consonantal effects on F0 to the
development of a rising tone value. However, findings from tone change studies in Asian …

The chapter summarises the sociolinguistic situation in five mainland Southeast Asian
nations: Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. In each nation, one national …

Orthographic complexity in Thai is traced diachronically to account for non-linear
relationships in the current writing system. As a result of orthographic conservatism over a …

Abstract Devoicing of Voiced Obstruents (DVO) was part of a transformative series of sound
changes that characterised all the Tai languages: the original voiced stops became either …

This study on Phuan first introduces the areas of Laos investigated in Xiengkhouang,
Xaysômboun, and Bolikhamxay provinces. A historical account of Xiengkhouang, regarded …

The Tai-Kadai languages, and in particular members of the Southwestern Tai (SWT) branch
Thai, Lao, Shan, and their local varieties, have a tremendous social importance in MSEA …