Life style : Language

Mlabri speak their own language but it has no written form. Presently they are trying to collect their stories so they are not lost with the new generations. They are adapting the Thai characters to fit their language so they have written copies of their history. Below are samples of the written Mlabri language.         

Thai language.	Mlabri language.
Father	Muem
Mother	Mer
Grandfather	Ta
Grandmother	Ya
Daughter	Aew-aui
Son	Aew-yong
Children	Ai-Tak
Son-in-law	Aew-Kui
Brother-in-law	Ding-Kui
Sister-in-law	Kui
Daughter-in-law	Kui
Brother	Ding
Hello	A-lae-la
How are you?	Juk-krae-rae
Have meal	A-Er-lae
Eat already	A-Er
Where are you going?	Juk-Ga-lang
Where you been?	Juk-Ga-lang-lae
I love you	O-mak-man
I, me	O
Mother	You
Can	Dai
Can not	Ko-bor-dai
Yes	Oh
No	Gi-man
Couth the number (1-10)	Moy-Brae-Pae-Pon-Tung-Tal-Kul-Ti-Kha-Halmoy

However, Mlabri move to live in the lowland but them proud in their language that they are used. When the children are born, they will teach their own language is the first the language for their children.


 Source: The Mlabri community at Baan Boonyuen, Moo 13, Thambon Vieng, Rongkwang district, Prae province.
Informants: 1. Weera Srichawpa
2. Phin Srichawpa
3. Nlikarn Chawphanaprai
4. Duangporn Naamjaikiri
                   5. The youths: Mai, Nueng, Amara and Kaewta