Language Change Without Collision: A Glimpse at Linguistic Diversity in Northern Thailand and Southern Laos

Linguistic diversity can be the cause of serious clashes and collisions in nations with multiethnic groups. Is this always true? Linguistic variation and change due to linguistic diversity can be subtle and be accepted without collision or negative feelings when induced gradually and naturally by language contact.Linguistic diversity in the Nan Province of northern Thailand and in the Xekong Province of southern Laos is a good illustration of the latter phenomenon. In the case of Nan and Xekong, though small both in area and population size, these provinces have thirteen and fourteen ethnic groups, respectively, coexisting peacefully. These ethnic minorities have learned to tolerate, to care for and to listen to each other in order to maintain a sense of harmony in the area. Unity is the result of their linguistic tolerance and lack of selfishness. Due to language contact, linguistic variation and change cannot be avoided. Different languages play different roles in a multilingual community. Pluralism and multilingualism should be taken as important keywords for policy making at the national level. However, assimilation should also be encouraged; if people want to speak or conform to the majority instead of maintaining their own identity and speaking their own language, they have the right to choose whatever they think best suits them.