The Dynamics of Language Shift among Lawa-Speaking Families in Northern Thailand

This paper examines Lawa language shift, vitality, and endangerment on the family level in Northern Thailand using a six-question set adapted from the five key questions of the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS). Data was taken from 1,061 participants from six Lawa villages in Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son Provinces. Though never used as a vernacular, Lawa maintains a role as a home language/community language. The results show different degrees of vitality across villages, from fluency to near extinction. This study anticipates that Western Lawa speakers will shift to Northern Thai and Central Thai gradually in every village, while Eastern Lawa speakers will shift more quickly. Thus, linguistic vitality will continue to worsen due to less intergenerational language transmission