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Article published In: Proper Names:
Edited by Chia-Jung Pan and Yang Huang
[Asian Languages and Linguistics 6:1] 2025
► pp. 161–182

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Place names in Tai

 | Sichuan University
ORCiD logo with link | University of Melbourne
Published online: 19 August 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/alal.25014.han
Abstract
Place names form a significant part of proper names in Tai, the largest member of the Kra-Dai family of languages that spread across national boundaries in mainland Southeast Asia which includes Thai, Lao, Shan, Tai Lue, Zhuang, Nung, Buyi, among others. This paper looks at the semantic and morphosyntactic features of place names in the Tai languages. They exhibit a number of typological features that are common in languages in this vast linguistic area. A set of geographic terms offer elaborate topographical information about the referents, such as ‘mountain/hill’, ‘stream/brook’, ‘river’, ‘spring’, ‘valley’, ‘plain’, ‘(rice) field’, ‘upland field’, among others. These are frequently found to combine with spatial terms to provide specific reference. A number of place names carrying social-cultural nuances are found in certain geographic locations, indicating the genesis of early social organizations of the Tai people, with implications for dialect subgrouping.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Components of Tai place names
    • 2.1Common geographic terms in Tai
      • A.Locative words denoting spatial orientation
      • B.Landscape terms
      • C.Waterscape terms
      • D.Terms of human artifacts, and social organisations
    • 2.2Syllable structure of Tai place names
  • 3.The semantics of Tai place names
    • 3.1Place names with landscape terms
    • 3.2Names with spatial orientation
    • 3.3Names with waterscape and related terms
    • 3.4Names reflecting biodiversity
    • 3.5Place names involving human artifacts
      • i.Artefacts and associated skills/techniques
      • ii.Place names recording social activities
      • iii.Place names as a record of historical events or figures
    • 3.6Administrative division names
    • 3.7Names designating contact with other ethnic groups
    • 3.8Place names demonstrating ethnic beliefs and legends
    • 3.9Names involving daily activities
    • 3.10Place names differentiated by attributes
    • 3.11Place names carrying metaphorical overtones
  • 4.Discussions and conclusions
  • Notes
  • Reference
References (20)
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