TheThổethnic group (alsoKeo,Mon,Cuoi,Ho,Tay Poong) inhabits the mountainous regions of northernVietnam, mainlyNghệ An Province southwest ofHanoi. Many Thổ speak theTho language, which is closely related toVietnamese.The Thổ population numbered 91,430 in 2019.[1]
The Thổ are one of the 4 main groups of Vietic speakers in Vietnam, the others being theViệt,Mường, andChứt. The name Thổ, which means "autochthonous" was originally applied to theTày ethnic group, however this usage is obsolete.
The Thổ people are a heterogeneous mix of different Vietic peoples. Around the end of the 17th century, Vietnam experienced multiple social upheavals that caused multiple migrations of Viet andMuong peoples into territory of other Vietic speaking ethnic minorities such as the Cuối and intermixed with the local populations. After a period of evolution, were given the name Thổ. Their culture combines elements of Viet and Muong culture, with elements ofThái culture.[2] Their clothing is a mix of Vietnamese, Muong, and Tai traditions from the early modern period. Some women wear clothing similar to theÁo bà ba or theÁo tứ thân, but with aSarong and aKerchief. Men wear simple tunics and pants. Just like with the Muong, many clothing items are purchased from the Thái. They mainly grow rice andramie, and use hemp to make bags, hammocks and nets. In the northern communes of Nghệ An, the stilt houses are identical to that of the Muong. In the South, however, they are in the Thái style.
Thổ is a heterogeneous group; thus, local groups have distinct languages. However, all of Thổ languages belong to Vietic branch . Nguyễn Hữu Hoành (2009) classify Thổ languages into 5 groups base on their position in Vietic branch.[3]
Tày Poọng (Poong orPhong) andĐan Lai (Liha) - Lexicostatistical studies have found that Đan Lai and Poọng sharing 85% basic lexicon. Thus, Nguyễn (2009) identify them as dialects of a language. The speakers of this language reside mainly inCon Cuông andTương Dương districts. It may also have close relation withHung language (Toum) inLaos.
Cuối, Nguyễn (2009) pointed out that Cuối is a distinct language with Vietnamese, Muong and Poọng-Đan Lai. This language have two dialects Cuối Chăm in Tân Hợp commune (Tân Kỳ district) and Cuối Nếp (or Cuối Làng Lỡ) inThái Hòa town. Because of sharing 66% basic lexicon with Poọng, Nguyễn (2009) proposed to group Cuối with Tày Poọng-Đan Lai to form a subbranch in Vietic, parallel to Việt-Mường branch and Chứt branch.
The position of Thổ languages in Vietic branch
Mọn and Họ, The two dialects share 98% basic lexicon and have a closer relation with Mường languages than Cuối and Poọng. They share 77%, 79% and 71% core lexicon with Mường Bi language, Mường Ống language and Nghệ An dialect of Vietnamese, respectively. Especially, Mọn and Họ are lexical closest with a Mường language in Như Xuân district (84%). Therefore, Nguyễn (2009) group them into a single language in Việt-Mường branch which have a closer relation with Mường languages. Maspéro (1912) named this language asSouthern Mường language
Kẹo share 99% lexicon with Nghệ An dialect of Vietnamese. Thus, Nguyễn(2009) classified Kẹo as a dialect of Vietnamese or even a sub-dialect of Nghệ An dialect
Thổ Lâm La andThổ Như Xuân share respectively 94% and 95% basic lexicon with Nghệ An dialect. However, Nguyễn (2009) argued that two Thổ languages experienced a different phonological innovation with Vietnamese. Thus, he placed it into a grey area between being dialects of Vietnamese or being member languages of Viet-Muong branch (Nguồn has a similar status).
As of 2009, 80% (59,579 persons) of all ethnic Thổ live inNghệ An Province, while 13% (9,652 persons) are found inThanh Hóa Province Quán Vi Miên (2013:11).
Quán Vi Miên (2013:12-13) lists ethnic Thổ populations and branches (ethnic subdivisions) for the following districts ofNghệ An Province.
Quỳ Hợp District: 18,394 people; Họ, Kẹo, Mọn branches, in the following communes:
Quán Vi Miên. 2013.Văn hóa dân gian: dân tộc Thổ. Hà Nội: Nhà xuất bản văn hóa thông tin.
Thi Nhị & Trần Mạnh Cát (1975). "Vài nét về người Thổ ở Nghệ An". In, Ủy ban khoa học xã hội Việt Nam: Viện dân tộc học.Về vấn đề xác định thánh phần các dân tộc thiểu số ở miền bắc Việt Nam, 444-455. Hà Nội: Nhà xuất bản khoa học xã hội.
Đặng Nghiêm Vạn & Nguyễn Anh Ngọc (1975). "Vài nét về ba nhóm Đan Lai, Ly Hà va 'Tày Poọng'". In, Ủy ban khoa học xã hội Việt Nam: Viện dân tộc học.Về vấn đề xác định thánh phần các dân tộc thiểu số ở miền bắc Việt Nam, 456-471. Hà Nội: Nhà xuất bản khoa học xã hội.
Vietnam (Nghệ An Province)
Laos (Bolikhamsai Province andKhammouane Province).png)
