"Isaan" is not considered a separate language, but rather a dialect of the Thai language, specifically referring to the Northeastern Thai dialect spoken in the Isaan region of Thailand; it is closely related to the Lao language and is often considered a sub-grouping of it by native speakers and linguists outside of official Thai classifications.
Key points about Isaan:
Technically a dialect:
Within Thailand, Isaan is officially classified as a "Northeastern Thai" dialect.
Similar to Lao:
Due to historical migration patterns, Isaan shares significant similarities with the Lao language.
No official writing system:
While written using the Thai alphabet, Isaan does not have a distinct writing system dedicated solely to it.
Spoken in the Isaan region:
This dialect is primarily spoken in the northeastern region of Thailand.