Karen, Paku

A language of Myanmar

ISO 639: jkp
Alternate Names: Mogpha, Mogwa, Monebwa, Monnepwa, Mopaga, Mopha, Pagu, Paku, Paku Karen, Thalwepwe
Population: 6,710 (Leclerc 2017d).
Location:: Bago region: east near Kayin state border; Kayah state: south; Kayin state: hills southeast of Taungoo.
Language Status: 6a (Vigorous).
Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karenic, Southern
Dialects: Shwe Kyin, Mawchi, Kyauk Gyi, Bawgali. Dialects based on villages: Kyauk Gyi and Shwe Kyin are spoken in east Bago region, Taungoo district near Kayin state border; Mawchi is spoken in Kayah state; Bawgali is spoken in north Kayin state. Some Paku dialects are reportedly quite similar to S’gaw Karen [ksw], while others are more similar to Bwe [bwe] and Geba [kvq].
Typology: SVO.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use S’gaw Karen [ksw]. Also use Burmese [mya].
Language Development: The Paku Karen use S’gaw Karen [ksw] literature and consider it to be their own. S’gaw Karen literacy classes in some Christian communities through the churches.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Karen, Paku
Writing: Unwritten [Qaax].
Other Comments: Christian.

Location: Bago region: east near Kayin state border; Kayah state: south; Kayin state: hills southeast of Taungoo.