Kayah, Western

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A language of Myanmar

ISO 639-3
kyu
Alternate Names
Karenni, Karennyi, Karieng Daeng, Kayah Li, Red Karen, Yang Daeng
Population

150,000 (2007). 2,000 refugees in Thailand.

Location

Kayah State and Kayin State, east of Thanlwin river; south Shan State, Pekon township; northern dialect: Shan State, north of Loikaw, southern dialect: Hpruso and Dimawso townships, south of Loikaw.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

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

Chi Kwe, Dawnnyjekhu, Dawtama, Northern dialect of Western Kayah, Sounglog, Southern dialect of Western Kayah, Wan Cheh. Part of a dialect continuum of Central Karen varieties stretching from Thailand (Eastern Kayah [eky]) to western Kayah State.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Burmese [mya] among Baptists; others also use Burmese. 20,000 also use S’gaw Karen [ksw]. Used as L2 by Eastern Kayah [eky].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy classes in some communities. Dictionary. NT: 2010.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kayah, Western
Writing

Kayah Li script [Kali]. Latin script [Latn], preferred by Catholics. Myanmar (Burmese) script [Mymr].

Other Comments

Buddhist, Christian, traditional religion.