Kayah, Eastern

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A language of Myanmar

ISO 639-3
eky
Alternate Names
Karenni, Karennyi, Kayah Li, Kayay, Red Karen
Population

8,000 in Myanmar (2007). Very few monolinguals. Not including 15,000 refugees in Thailand (2007 Thailand Burma Border Consortium). Population total all countries: 26,000.

Location

Kayah State, Shadaw township, east of Thanlwin river. Also in Thailand.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karenic, Central
Dialects

Lower Eastern Kayah, Upper Eastern Kayah. Upper Eastern Kayah and Lower Eastern Kayah are mutually intelligible; Huai Sua Thaw village (Lower Eastern) is prestigious in both dialect groups. Difficulty understanding Western Kayah [kyu].

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Shan [shn] and Central Thai [tha]. Central Thai used in education in permanent Kayah villages; Western Kayah [kyu] used in education in refugee camps. Also use Burmese [mya] among Buddhists and Roman Catholics; also use S’gaw Karen [ksw] among Baptists.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Dictionary.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kayah, Eastern
Writing
Kayah Li script.
Other Comments

Buddhist, traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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