Karen, Bwe

A language of Myanmar

ISO 639: bwe
Alternate Names: Baghi, Bghai, Bghai Karen, Blimaw, Bwe, Dareh, Manaw
Population: 17,200 (1997 F. Bennett), decreasing. No monolinguals.
Location:: Bago region: Taungoo and Hpa-Ana townships; Kayah state: Hpruso township; Kayin state: Thandaung township, about 100 villages.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened).
Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karenic, Central
Dialects: Western Bwe Karen, Eastern Bwe Karen. Most comprehend Western Bwe Karen dialect; some comprehend Geba [kvq] and Kayaw [kvl]; no inherent intelligibility with Kayah [eky] or Geko [ghk]. Lexical similarity: 82%–100% with Geba Karen [kvq].
Typology: SVO.
Language Use: Some shift to S’gaw Karen [ksw] or Burmese [mya]. Most domains, except church. Some young people, all adults. Positive attitudes. Many also use S’gaw Karen [ksw], especially in church. Also use Burmese [mya].
Language Development: Some S’gaw Karen [ksw] literacy classes held. Dictionary. Texts. Bible portions: 1858–1859.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Karen, Bwe
Writing: Myanmar (Burmese) script [Mymr].
Other Comments: Western Bwe Karen more widely understood, more prestigious. Bwe is sometimes used as an overarching cover term for all high-dwelling Central Karennic groups, who are not S’gaw Karen or Pwo Karen. Bwe people are very similar to the Mobwa people in lifestyle and culture. Christian.

Location: Bago region: Taungoo and Hpa-Ana townships; Kayah state: Hpruso township; Kayin state: Thandaung township, about 100 villages.