Unicode Demystified

Lao

The Lao script is used to write the Lao (or Laotian) language of Laos. It's very closely related to the Thai script, with both having evolved from the script invented by King Ramkhamhaeng in 1283. The letterforms are very similar, although Lao includes a lot fewer letters. The Lao script has 27 consonants, no independent vowels, and 18 dependent vowels (Figure 9.14).

Figure 9.14. Lao consonants and dependent vowels

Lao uses a tonal system similar to that employed for Thai. It relies mostly on different combinations of letters to indicate tone, but supplements them with four tone marks:

Lao, like Thai, includes multiple consonants with the same ...