Acknowledgement
I would like to express my gratitude to the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) for funding the two research projects
conducted in Xekong Province, southern Laos (1997—2001) and in Nan Province, northern Thailand (2004—2007).
Much thanks goes to the provincial governments of Xekong and Nan, local officials and language assistants and
informants for their kind assistance in various ways. Last but not least, I would like to thank my research assistants,
Chommanad Intajamornrak, Kanitha Putthasatien, Supaporn Phalipat and Yupaporn Huadsiri, for accompanying me
on my fieldwork, arranging my field trips and typing the manuscript of this paper.
References