Ethnologue.com home

Ethnologue: Languages of the World
16th edition

Ethnologue: Languages of the World
US$ 100.00
Add to cart

Preview print edition

Most Recent
SIL Publications
Reduced Price SIL Publications


ABOUT SSL CERTIFICATES
Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > Myanmar > Wa, Parauk

Wa, Parauk

A language of Myanmar

ISO 639-3: prk

Population  922,000 in Myanmar (2008), increasing. 415,000 monolinguals. Population total all countries: 1,188,000.
Region  Northeast Shan state, upper Salween River area; East Shan state, Kengtung area. Also in China.
Alternate names   Baraog, Phalok, Praok, Wa
Dialects  Nawi, Mong Maw, En, Bible Wa, Ou Swa, Sao Pha, Pangwai, Jo Phyu (Man Tong), Man Teey, Yong Shuai, Yong Rauk, Twe Laung, Pang Yang (Meui Khaox), Khwin Maw, Ying Pang (Sigang), Man Ton, Ling Hsaw. Related to Lawa [lcp]. 300 varieties of all of Wa in China of which 3–5 surveyed (2006 Institute of Nationalities, Sun Hong Kai). The standard form for Wa official nationality in China is based upon Yong Shuai, one of many Paraok varieties. ‘Bible Wa’, a composite language, is also based on Yong Shuai, and forms the standard for Myanmar.
Classification  Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Palaungic, Eastern Palaungic, Waic, Wa
Language use  Vigorous. Females in rural areas tend to be monolingual except in local varieties of Parauk. Males tend to be more bilingual, but there are some farmers who do not travel. Home, village, market. All ages. Neutral language attitide.
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: 8%. Dictionary. Bible: 2006–2008.
Comments  Traditional culture. Buddhist (Hinayana), Christian.

Also spoken in:

China

Language name   Parauk
Population  266,000 in China (2000 census).
Region  Southwest Yunnan, Lincang Prefecture, Cangyuan Va Autonomous, Shuangjiang Lahu, Blang, Dai Autonomous, Gengma Dai, and Yongde counties; Simao Prefecture, Lancang Lahu Autonomous County; Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Menghai County, Mengman District.
Language map  Southwestern China
Alternate names  Baraog, Baroke, Buliu, Bulu, Burao, Phalok, Praok, Wa
Dialects  Aishuai, Banhong, Dazhai, Alwa.
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: 76%. Official orthography was designed in 1957 based on the Aishuai dialect.
Comments  Part of Wa (Va) nationality, which includes three languages: Awa [vwa], Parauk [prk], and Wa [wbm]. Parauk has the most speakers and Aishuai Parauk is the standard dialect for Va nationality. Agriculturalists: potatoes, cotton, hemp, tobacco, sugarcane, tea, rice, beans, buckwheat, maize; some hunters. Buddhist (Hinayana), Christian.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

HOPPLE, Paulette, author. 1988. "In their own language: finding communication centers among selected dialects of Wa."