Fifteen languages are spoken by the fourteen ethnic groups living in Xekong Province in southern Laos. It is
interesting to note that the Lao Lum, who are the majority of the nation, are only an ethnic minority of Xekong
Province. The population of Lao Lum in Xekong is smaller than some of the other Mon-Khmer ethnic groups. Lao
is the official or national language of the whole nation. It is used as the medium of instruction in all schools and in
the institutions of higher education, in official meetings and also in the various types of mass media. Lao script and
its writing system are used for all literacy purposes. Even though Lao is the lingua franca of Xekong Province, most
of the districts, except Tha Daeng District, have their own lingua franca. For example, Alak, Kriang and Triang are
the lingua franca of the districts of Lamam, Kaluem and Dak Chueng, respectively.