Page Type: languageKayah, Western | Ethnologue

KYU ISO 639-3

Kayah, Western

ကယားလီ‎ (Kayahli), ꤊꤢ꤬ꤛꤢ꤭ꤜꤟꤤ꤬‎ (Kayahli) Autonym

A language of Myanmar

ISO 639
kyu
Alternate Names
Karenni, Karennyi, Karieng Daeng, Kayah, Kayah Li, Kayahli, Red Karen, Yang Daeng
Autonym
ကယားလီ‎ (Kayahli), ꤊꤢ꤬ꤛꤢ꤭ꤜꤟꤤ꤬‎ (Kayahli)
Population
150,000 (2007). 2,000 refugees in Thailand.
Location:
Kayah state and Kayin state: east of Thanlwin river; Shan state: Pekon township south. Shan state: north of Loikaw (northern dialect); Dimawso and Hpruso townships south of Loikaw (southern dialect).
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karenic, Central
Dialects
Northern dialect of Western Kayah, Southern dialect of Western Kayah, Dawtama, Dawnnyjekhu, Sounglog, Chi Kwe, 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. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Some also use S’gaw Karen [ksw]. Also use Burmese [mya], especially among Baptists, but among others as well. Used as L2 by Eastern Kayah [eky].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 10%. Literacy classes in some communities. Dictionary. NT: 2010–2014. Agency: Kayah Literature and Culture Committee.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kayah, Western
Writing
Kayah Li script [Kali], primary usage. Latin script [Latn], preferred by Catholics. Myanmar (Burmese) script [Mymr], limited usage.
Other Comments
Buddhist, Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Kayah state and Kayin state: east of Thanlwin river; Shan state: Pekon township south. Shan state: north of Loikaw (northern dialect); Dimawso and Hpruso townships south of Loikaw (southern dialect).