Languages of Burma
Encyclopedia
There are approximately one hundred languages spoken in Burma. Burmese
, spoken by approximately 65% of the populace, is the official language
. However, a wide variety of languages are spoken, especially by ethnic minorities, representing four major language families: Sino-Tibetan
, Austro-Asiatic
, Tai–Kadai, and Indo-European
.
Other major languages spoken include Shan
(spoken by 3,200,000), Karen dialects (spoken by 2,600,000), Kachin
(spoken by 900,000), Chin
dialects (spoken by 780,000), Mon
(spoken by 750,000) and Rakhine (a linguistic dialect of Burmese spoken by 730,000). Today, Burmese is the primary language of instruction, and English
is the secondary language taught. Usage of minority languages is discouraged and is used at home. English
was the primary language of instruction in higher education from late 19th century to 1964, when Gen. Ne Win
mandated educational reforms to "Burmanize". English continues to be used by educated urbanites and the national government.
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
, spoken by approximately 65% of the populace, is the official language
Official language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. However, official status can also be used to give a...
. However, a wide variety of languages are spoken, especially by ethnic minorities, representing four major language families: Sino-Tibetan
Sino-Tibetan languages
The Sino-Tibetan languages are a language family comprising, at least, the Chinese and the Tibeto-Burman languages, including some 250 languages of East Asia, Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia. They are second only to the Indo-European languages in terms of the number of native speakers...
, Austro-Asiatic
Austro-Asiatic languages
The Austro-Asiatic languages, in recent classifications synonymous with Mon–Khmer, are a large language family of Southeast Asia, also scattered throughout India and Bangladesh. The name Austro-Asiatic comes from the Latin words for "south" and "Asia", hence "South Asia"...
, Tai–Kadai, and Indo-European
Indo-European languages
The Indo-European languages are a family of several hundred related languages and dialects, including most major current languages of Europe, the Iranian plateau, and South Asia and also historically predominant in Anatolia...
.
Other major languages spoken include Shan
Shan language
The Shan language is the native language of Shan people and spoken mostly in Shan State, Burma. It is also used in pockets of Kachin State in Burma, in northern Thailand, and in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Shan is a member of the Tai–Kadai language family, and...
(spoken by 3,200,000), Karen dialects (spoken by 2,600,000), Kachin
Jingpho language
The Jingpho language or Kachin language is a Tibeto-Burman language mainly spoken in Kachin State, Burma and Yunnan Province, China...
(spoken by 900,000), Chin
Chin people
The Chin , known as the Kuki in Assam, are one of the ethnic groups in Burma. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Burma and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries'...
dialects (spoken by 780,000), Mon
Mon language
The Mon language is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Mon, who live in Burma and Thailand. Mon, like the related language Cambodian—but unlike most languages in Mainland Southeast Asia—is not tonal. Mon is spoken by more than a million people today. In recent years, usage of Mon has...
(spoken by 750,000) and Rakhine (a linguistic dialect of Burmese spoken by 730,000). Today, Burmese is the primary language of instruction, and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is the secondary language taught. Usage of minority languages is discouraged and is used at home. English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
was the primary language of instruction in higher education from late 19th century to 1964, when Gen. Ne Win
Ne Win
Ne Win was Burmese a politician and military commander. He was Prime Minister of Burma from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1974 and also head of state from 1962 to 1981...
mandated educational reforms to "Burmanize". English continues to be used by educated urbanites and the national government.
See also
- Burmese languageBurmese languageThe Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
- Burmese EnglishBurmese EnglishBurmese English is an English language dialect used in Burma , spoken by an estimated 2.4 million people, about 5% of the population .-History:...
- Mon languageMon languageThe Mon language is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Mon, who live in Burma and Thailand. Mon, like the related language Cambodian—but unlike most languages in Mainland Southeast Asia—is not tonal. Mon is spoken by more than a million people today. In recent years, usage of Mon has...
- Shan languageShan languageThe Shan language is the native language of Shan people and spoken mostly in Shan State, Burma. It is also used in pockets of Kachin State in Burma, in northern Thailand, and in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Shan is a member of the Tai–Kadai language family, and...
- Karen language