Shan

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A language of Myanmar

ISO 639-3
shn
Alternate Names
Burmese Shan, Great Thai, “Ngeo” (pej.), “Ngiao” (pej.), “Ngiaw” (pej.), “Ngio” (pej.), “Ngiow” (pej.), Sam, Sha, Shan Bama, Tai Long, Tai Luang, Tai Shan, Tai Yai, Thai Yai
Population

3,200,000 in Myanmar (Johnstone and Mandryk 2001). Very few monolinguals. 350,000 Tai Mao (1990 A. Diller). Population total all countries: 3,295,000.

Location

Shan state. Tai Mao is on Myanmar-Yunnan border, centered at Mu’ang Mao Long or Namkham. Also in China, Thailand.

Language Maps
Language Status

3 (Wider communication).

Classification
Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern
Dialects

Northern Shan State, Southern Shan State, Tai Mao (Mao Shan, Tai Khe). Regional dialect differences. Low intelligibility of Lü [khb].

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Burmese [mya] or Thai [tha].

Language Development
Bible: 1892–1995.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Shan
Writing
Myanmar (Burmese) script.
Other Comments

Tai Mao (Mao Shan, Tai Khe) is linguistically closer to Tai Nüa [tdd] but political and cultural factors lead them to identify with Shan. Buddhist.

Also spoken in:

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