Moklen is an Austronesian language spoken on the western coast of southern Thailand. It is related to but distinct from the Moken language of Myanmar and southern Thailand. Unlike Moken, it is not spoken in Myanmar.
Moklen | |
---|---|
Native to | Thailand |
Region | Phang Nga Province, Ranong Province, and northern Phuket Island |
Ethnicity | Moklen |
Native speakers | (2,000 cited 1984–2007)[1] |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | mkm |
Glottolog | mokl1243 |
ELP | Moklen |
Larish (2005) lists three main Moklen areas in Thailand. Moklen is spoken mostly, but not exclusively, in Phang Nga Province. It is also spoken in Ranong Province and Phuket Island.
Swastham (1982) describes the Moklen dialect of Lam Phi (ลำภี), Thai Mueang District, Phang Nga Province in southern Thailand. Other Moklen villages near Lam Phi listed by Swastham (1982) are, listed from north to south, Bang Sak, Khuk Khak, Bang Niang, Thung Maphraw, and Tha Chat Chai.
Bishop & Peterson (1987) survey various Moklen dialects.