Manusya, Journal of Humanities
Publication Date
2011-01-01
Abstract
In this paper, names that other groups of people, as outsiders, have given to the Palaung and names that they use to call themselves are discussed based on the written records available and field surveys in the areas. The Palaung in China now are officially referred to as De'ang (Ta-ang). From surveys in Dehong Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan, China, the De'ang nationality consists of 5 sub-groups of people the Liang (Ta-ang), the Pu-le(Ka-ang), the Rumai (Ru-mai), the Raokot (La-ang) and the Raojin (Na-ang). The classification of these 5 sub-groups is based on their autonyms and on names they use when they refer to other groups of Palaung. Based on the SEA word list, there are 3 dialects of the Palaung language in China: Raojin, Rumai-Raokot and Pu-le-Liang. In Myanmar, according to various written works by Western scholars, they are called Palaung or Pale and have at least three sub-groups: Darang (Scott and Hardiman 1900), Ta-ang (Milne 1924, 1931; Shorto 1960) and Rumai (Davies 1909; Milne 1924, 1931; Diffloth 1991). From surveys in Kengtung, Shan State, Myanmar, all the Palaung in Kengtung identify themselves as Dara-ang. In Thailand, Dara-ang is the name this ethnic group uses to refer to itself and Thai people call them Palaung (Kasisopa 2003; Deepadung and Patpong 2010). Although, based on their names, the Dara-ang and Raojin are different sub-groups, linguistically, they speak the same dialect.
First Page
88
Last Page
104
Recommended Citation
Deepadung, Sujaritlak
(2011)
"Names and Sub-Groups of the Palaung: A Preliminary Field Survey in Yunnan and Kengtung,"
Manusya, Journal of Humanities: Vol. 14:
No.
2, Article 5.
Available at:
https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/manusya/vol14/iss2/5