Karen, Pwo Western

A language of Myanmar

ISO 639: pwo
Alternate Names: Bassein Pwo Karen, Delta Pwo Karen, Mon Karen, Mon Kayin, Mutheit, Pathein Pwo Karen, Phlong, Phlong Sho, Pho, Shu, Talaing Karen
Population: 210,000, decreasing.
Location:: Ayeyarwady region: Einmeh, Maubin, Pathein, Twante, others; Bago region: Kyonpyaw and Hinthada, others; Yangon region: Twante.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened).
Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Karenic, Peripheral
Dialects: Very little dialectal variation among Western Pwo Karen.
Typology: SVO; prepositions; numeral classifiers; 25 consonants, 11 vowels and 2 diphthongs; tonal (4 tones); verb serialization.
Language Use: Vigorous in villages; lessening in towns. All domains. Some young people, all adults. 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: 1883–1926.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Karen, Pwo Western
Writing: Myanmar (Burmese) script [Mymr].
Other Comments: Western Pwo Karen [pwo] Christians use the Pwo Karen Bible. Buddhist, Christian.

Location: Ayeyarwady region: Einmeh, Maubin, Pathein, Twante, others; Bago region: Kyonpyaw and Hinthada, others; Yangon region: Twante.