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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > Myanmar > Karen, S’gaw

Karen, S’gaw

A language of Myanmar

ISO 639-3: ksw

Population	1,280,000 in Myanmar (1983). Population total all countries: 1,480,000.
Region	Ayeyawaddy (Irrawaddy) delta area, Taninthayi (Tenasserim) Division, the Pegu range between the Irrawaddy and Sittang rivers, the eastern hills Kayin (Karen) state. Also in Thailand.
Alternate names	Burmese Karen, Kanyaw, Kyetho, Paganyaw, Pchcknya, Pwakanyaw, S’gau, S’gaw, S’gaw Kayin, White Karen, Yang Khao
Dialects	Panapu, Palakhi (Palachi). Similar to Paku [kpp].
Classification	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karen, Sgaw-Bghai, Sgaw
Language development	Bible: 1853–1995.
Writing system	Latin script, no longer in use. Myanmar (Burmese) script, Sgaw extensions.
Comments	SVO.

Also spoken in:

Thailand

Language name	Karen, S’gaw
Population	200,000 in Thailand (2006 Mahidol).
Region	Tak, Maehongson, Chiangmai, and Chiangrai provinces, near Myanmar border.
Language map	Northern Thailand, reference number 47
Alternate names	Burmese Karen, Kanyaw, Karen, Paganyaw, Pwakanyaw, S’gau, S’gaw, S’gaw Kayin, White, Yang Khao
Dialects	Panapu, Palakhi (Palachi).
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: 10%–30%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%.
Comments	Traditional religion, Christian.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

KAREN Baptist Convention, compiler. 2009. English-Sgaw Karen Dictionary.

MANSON, Ken, author. 2009. "Prolegomena to reconstructing Proto-Karen."  

RATANAKUL, Suriya, author. 1981. "Transitivity and causation in Sgaw Karen."

SOLNIT, David B., author. 1992. Review of: a Thai-Sgaw Karen dictionary, by Suriya Ratanakul, compiler.  

SOLOT Sirisai, author. 1994. "Karen folk perception of malaria."  

SURIYA Ratanakul, author. 1998. "Numeral classifiers in Sgaw Karen."  

SURIYA Ratanakul, author. 2001. "Adverbs in Sgaw Karen."  

Vernacular Publications

Li KʼNyaw Sgaw Khaw hti ta phalo de kweh lo. 1995.

Ta ma lo kweh pwa KʼNyaw klo. 1996.

Ta ma lo pha pwa KʼNyaw klo. 1996.