Tai Kaleun in Thailand


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Even though the Tai Kaleun view themselves as a distinct ethnicity, their language is considered only a dialect of Lao and not a separate variety. In Thailand, the Tai Kaleun have been listed merely as a dialect group of Thai Isan.
Tai Kaleun people live in central Laos. The majority are in the Khamkeut District of Borikhamxai Province. A small, geographically separated number of Tai Kaleun have moved to the Nakay District of Khammouan Province. In addition, Tai Kaleun are located in Thailand, although it is very difficult there to distinguish them from the Isan. Why or when the Tai Kaleun migrated to Thailand is uncertain. Most of them are in Thailand today.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Tai Kaleun practice a mixture of Theravada Buddhism and animism. Unlike most parts of Buddhist Southeast Asia, the Tai Kaleun have major differences between two sects of Buddhism. Maha Canla, a Buddhist monk from the Lao Thammayut sect, wrote. "In Laos the division was very wide. It was if neither sect recognized the other as made up of Lao people. They were completely distinct from each other and were always trying to get the better of each other. The entire Lao population was divided on the same basis, so that a young man who was an adherent of the Mahanikai could on no account marry a young woman who was an adherent of Thammayut, because their parents would not allow it. The trouble was the political left was aware of this weak point and they managed, by inciting the two sides and spreading evil rumors, to make the gap wider and wider."


What Are Their Beliefs?

Over the course of many centuries, while the two Buddhist sects in Laos struggled for supremacy, the Tai Kaleun have waited to hear the gospel for the first time. Today, they are still waiting.


What Are Their Needs?

The Tai Kaleun people need the chance to allow Jesus Christ to bless and transform their families and communities.


Prayer Points

Pray the Tai Kaleun would soon receive a powerful and culturally relevant presentation of the gospel, leading to an unstoppable movement to Christ.
Ask God to thrust forth laborers into this harvest field.
Pray Lao Christians would be motivated to take the gospel to the linguistically similar Tai Kaleun people.


Scripture Prayers for the Tai Kaleun in Thailand.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Tai Kaleun
People Name in Country Tai Kaleun
Alternate Names Kalerng; Kaleum; Kaleun; Kaleung; Khalong; Lao Kaleun; Laoeng; Tai Kaleung; Tai Kelung
Population this Country 9,000
Population all Countries 13,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16147
ROP3 Code 111245
Country Thailand
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country In Thailand, the Kaleung inhabit the provinces of Mukdahan (Don Tan and Chanuman districts), Nakhon Phanom (Muang District) and parts of Sakhon Nakhon Province. The majority of Kaleung in Laos are located in the Khamkeut District of Borikhamxai Province.   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Country Thailand
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country In Thailand, the Kaleung inhabit the provinces of Mukdahan (Don Tan and Chanuman districts), Nakhon Phanom (Muang District) and parts of Sakhon Nakhon Province. The majority of Kaleung in Laos are located in the Khamkeut District of Borikhamxai Province..   Source:  Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004
Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
100.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Thai, Northeastern (9,000 speakers)
Language Code tts   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Central Isan
Dialect Code 17417   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Thai, Northeastern (9,000 speakers)
Language Code tts   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Central Isan
Dialect Code 17417   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Thai, Northeastern

Primary Language:  Thai, Northeastern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1972–1996)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (2016)
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Isan Bible Online General / Other
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Thai, Northeastern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Peoples of Laos, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Joshua Project / Global Mapping International  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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