Tai Laing language

Tai Leng
  • Tai Leng
  • Tai Nine
  • Shan-Ni
တႆးလႅင်
Native toMyanmar
RegionKachin, Sagaing
Native speakers
100,000 (2010)
Kra–Dai
Burmese script (Tai Leng variant)
Language codes
ISO 639-3tjl
Glottologtail1248

Tai Leng (Shan: တႆးလႅင်, lit.'red Tai'; variously spelt Tai Laing, Tai Leng or Tai Nine), also known as Shan-Ni (Burmese: ရှမ်းနီ, lit.'red Shan'), is a Tai language of Burma, closely related to Khamti and Shan. It is written in its own variant of Burmese script, and though not taught in schools, is experiencing a cultural revival, albeit still small. There is no census of speakers, but they are estimated to number around 100,000.

Alternate names for Tai Leng are Shan-Bamar, Shan Kalay, Myaybyan Shan, Tai Nine, Tai Dine and Tai Chaung.