Karen, Pwo Western

Primary tabs

ISO 639-3

Alternate Names

Bassein Pwo Karen, Delta Pwo Karen, Mon Karen, Mutheit, Pathein Pwo Karen, Phlong, Phlong Sho, Pho, Shu, Talaing Karen

Population

210,000, decreasing.

Location

Ayeyarwady, delta area, Pathein, Twante, Maubin, Einmeh, others; Bago, including Kyonpyaw and Hinthada towns; Yangon, Twante.

Language Maps

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification

Dialects

Very little dialectal variation among Western Pwo Karen.

Typology

SVO.

Language Use

Vigorous in villages; lessening in towns. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Burmese [mya]. Used as L2 by S’gaw Karen [ksw].

Language Development

Summer and church literacy classes in many communities; used and taught in Bible schools. Dictionary. Bible: 1883–1885.

Language Resources

Writing

Myanmar (Burmese) script [Mymr].

Other Comments

Buddhist, Christian.