The Tai languages are a group of related languages spoken primarily in Southeast Asia and southern China. They belong to the larger Kra-Dai language family and include languages such as Thai, Lao, and Shan. These languages are known for their tonal nature, meaning that the pitch used when pronouncing a word can change its meaning. Tai languages are characterized by their use of syllables and a subject-verb-object sentence structure. They often incorporate classifiers, which are words used to categorize nouns. The languages have rich cultural significance, reflecting the history and traditions of the Tai peoples who speak them.