Lao names (Lao: ຊື່ [sɯː]), like Thai ones, are given in Western order, where the family name goes after the first given name. On official documents, both first given name and surname are written, but it is customary to refer to people in formal situations by their first name, plus titles and honorifics, alone.[1]
In daily life, outside of formal, international, or academic spheres, Lao people generally refer to themselves and others by nicknames, or seu lin—literally "playnames" (Lao: ຊື່ຫຼິ້ນ [sɯːlin]).[2] Much like the nicknames of Thai people (with whom the Lao share a great deal of cultural similarity), the names are often unflattering, although some are based on onomatopoeia, nonsense syllables, or peculiar characteristics. This is largely based on old superstitions from times when health care was not available and there was high infant mortality, as many of these names were supposed to ward off evil spirits from claiming the child.
The French Colonial government mandated the introduction of surnames in Laos in 1943, beginning first with the royalty and the élite before becoming a common practice among the other classes. To this day, among isolated ethnic groups and remote rural villages, it is still possible to find individuals who do not possess a surname.[3]
Both first and surname are a mixture of Pali or Sanskrit and Lao words. The wording comes from variety of influences, such as nature, animals, and royal titles. Lao names are generally made up of two or three words, but when translated into English span nearly 10–15 letters, for which both Lao and Thai names are known.
^Siegall, A. L., & Connoly, W. G. (1999). The New York Times manual of style and usage. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press.
^Rehbein, B. (2007). Globalization, culture and society in Laos. New York: Routledge.
^LeBar, F., & Suddard, A. (1967). Laos: Its people, its society, its culture. New Haven, CT: Human Relations Area Files Press.
January 01, 1970
name, sɯː, like, thai, ones, given, western, order, where, family, name, goes, after, first, given, name, official, documents, both, first, given, name, surname, written, customary, refer, people, formal, situations, their, first, name, plus, titles, honorific. Lao names Lao ຊ sɯː like Thai ones are given in Western order where the family name goes after the first given name On official documents both first given name and surname are written but it is customary to refer to people in formal situations by their first name plus titles and honorifics alone 1 In daily life outside of formal international or academic spheres Lao people generally refer to themselves and others by nicknames or seu lin literally playnames Lao ຊ ຫ ນ sɯː lin 2 Much like the nicknames of Thai people with whom the Lao share a great deal of cultural similarity the names are often unflattering although some are based on onomatopoeia nonsense syllables or peculiar characteristics This is largely based on old superstitions from times when health care was not available and there was high infant mortality as many of these names were supposed to ward off evil spirits from claiming the child The French Colonial government mandated the introduction of surnames in Laos in 1943 beginning first with the royalty and the elite before becoming a common practice among the other classes To this day among isolated ethnic groups and remote rural villages it is still possible to find individuals who do not possess a surname 3 Both first and surname are a mixture of Pali or Sanskrit and Lao words The wording comes from variety of influences such as nature animals and royal titles Lao names are generally made up of two or three words but when translated into English span nearly 10 15 letters for which both Lao and Thai names are known Common name components editName Component Modern Spelling Archaic Spelling Origin and Meaning Boun ບ ນ bun N A Pali punna happiness prosperity goodness virtue Vong sa woŋ Phong sa pʰoŋ ວ ງ ພ ງ ວ ງສ ພ ງສ Sanskrit vamsha royal lineage or family hence this component is a staple in many Lao surnames Singh or Syha ສ ງ sǐŋ ສ ຫະ sǐː haʔ ສ ງຫ N A Sanskrit siṃha Leo or lion Chan Chanh Chantha can ຈ ນ ຈ ນທ ຈ ນທຣ Sanskrit chandra moon not to be confused with the tiane in Vientiane which means sandalwood Dao ດາວ N A Lao star Dara daː raː daː laː ດາລາ ດາຣາ Sanskrit tara Evening Star Pha pʰaʔ Phra pʰraʔ ພະ ພຣະ Lao usually imparts royal or religious significance to the following component Kham ຄຳ kʰam N A Lao golden or precious Mali ມະລ ma li ມາລ Lao Thai Jasmine Thai mali or blossom Ngeun Ngoen ເງ ນ ŋɤn N A Lao money or silver Racha Rasa raː saː laː saː ລາຊາ ລາດ ຣາຊາ ຣາຊ Sanskrit raja king Savane Savan Savanh saʔ wǎn ສະຫວ ນ ສວ ຣ ສວ ຣຄ Sanskrit swarga or heaven Seng Saeng ແສງ sǣng N A Lao light Phou Phu pʰuː ພ N A Lao mountain Sri Si sǐː ສ ສ ສຣ Sanskrit sri or splendid Keo Kaew Kew kɛ ːw ແກ ວ N A Lao glass precious gem Vora Worra vɔː raʔ ວ ລະ ວ ຣະ Sanskrit varaha excellent superb Chai Sai Xai Xay sai ໄຊ ໄຊຍ ຊ ຍ Sanskrit jaya victory Tong Thong ທອງ tʰɔːŋ N A Lao golden or copper See also editIndian honorifics Indosphere Greater IndiaReferences edit Siegall A L amp Connoly W G 1999 The New York Times manual of style and usage New York NY Three Rivers Press Rehbein B 2007 Globalization culture and society in Laos New York Routledge LeBar F amp Suddard A 1967 Laos Its people its society its culture New Haven CT Human Relations Area Files Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lao name amp oldid 1219910523, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
