5.5 Contact
What is the nature and extent of interactions between Tai Ya speakers in Thailand and in China? About one-third of the respondents have been to visit the Tai Ya in China, and all had met a Tai Ya person from China. The main reason for visiting China is to visit relatives. Those Tai Ya from China who visit Thailand usually do so to visit the relatives and friends who have visited them in China, or in some cases, they come to study.
The nature and extent of contact is supporting evidence for the conclusion that these two groups of Khmu are likely to be able to share vernacular literature, if it exists.