Karen, Paku

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A language of Myanmar

ISO 639-3
jkp
Alternate Names
Mogpha, Mogwa, Monebwa, Monnepwa, Mopaga, Mopha, Pagu, Paku, Thalwepwe
Population

5,300 (1983 census). Very few monolinguals.

Location

North Kayin State, hills southeast of Taungoo in east Bago Division bordering Kayin State; south Kayah State.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Bawgali, Kyauk Gyi, Mawchi, Shwe Kyin. Dialects based on villages: Kyauk Gyi and Shwe Kyin are spoken in east Bago Region, Taungoo District near Kayin State border; Mawchi is spoken in Kayah State; Bawgali is spoken in north Kayin State. Some Paku dialects are quite similar to S’gaw Karen [ksw], while others are more similar to Bwe [bwe] and Geba [kvq].

Typology

SVO

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use S’gaw Karen [ksw] and Burmese [mya].

Language Development
The Paku Karen use S’gaw Karen [ksw] literature and consider it to be their own. S’gaw Karen literacy classes in some Christian communities through the churches.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Karen, Paku
Writing
Unwritten.
Other Comments

Christian.