Kayan

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A language of Myanmar

ISO 639-3
pdu
Alternate Names
Kayang, Lahwi, “Long-Necked Karen” (pej.), “Padaung” (pej.), “Padaung Karen” (pej.)
Population

133,000 in Myanmar (2005 E. Phan). Very few monolinguals. Population total all countries: 133,180.

Location

South Shan State, Pekon township; Northwest Kayah State; Kayin State, Thandaung township; Mandalay Region, Pyinnmana township. Kayan Lahwi dialect: Kayah State, Lahwi and northwest Dimawso; Shan State, south Pekon. Kayan Kangan dialect: northwest Kayan State, Dimawso area. Also in Thailand.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Kayan Kangan (Yeinbaw, Yinbaw), Kayan Lahwi, Standard Pekon. Significant dialectal variation. Most seem to understand standard Pekon (prestige) dialect. Lexical similarity: more than 90% with Kayan dialects, 71%–76% with Lahta [kvt].

Language Use

Vigorous in most areas, but in some larger towns, children are no longer learning it. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Sgaw Karen [ksw] among Baptists; others also use Burmese [mya].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: Below 5%. Literacy classes in some communities. Poetry. Dictionary. Bible portions: 2009–2011.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kayan
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Christian, Buddhist, traditional religion.