Page Type: languageRakhine | Ethnologue

RKI ISO 639-3

Rakhine

ရခိုင်‎ (Rakhine) Autonym

A language of Myanmar

ISO 639
rki
Alternate Names
Arakanese, Rakhain, Rakhaing, Rakkhaine, “Mogh” (pej.), “Moghi” (pej.)
Autonym
ရခိုင်‎ (Rakhine)
Population
1,820,000 in Myanmar, all users. L1 users: 800,000 in Myanmar (2013 SIL). L2 users: 1,020,000 (2013 SIL). Total users in all countries: 2,020,000 (as L1: 1,000,000; as L2: 1,020,000).
Location:
Chin state: Paletwa township; Rakhine state: widespread; Bago region, Shwegyin and Waw townships.
Language Status
3 (Wider communication). Throughout Rakhine state and in Paletwa township, Chin state. Especially in market, business, oral language at school, and in some media. Rakhine is the largest ethnic group and dominant language in the area and Rakhine people control most business, transport, and trade.
Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Ngwi-Burmese, Burmish, Southern
Dialects
Sittwe (Akyab), Mrauk-U, Chaungtha, Yangbye (Rambree, Yanbe, Yanbye, Yangye), Kyaukphyu, Man Aung (Chebuda Island). Intelligibility in Rakhine state of prestigious Sittwe dialect seems fairly high. Slight variations in north Rakhine speech in Sittwe, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minpya, Ponnagyun, Buthidaung, and Maungdaw townships. The variety spoken in south Rakhine state townships of Kyauk Phyu, Yangbye, Thandwe, and Toungup is noticeably different from the northern variety. The southern variety, particularly in Thandwe township, is more similar to standard Burmese [mya]. Lexical similarity: among Rakhine and Marma varieties in both Myanmar and Bangladesh is over 85%. Lexical similarity: 91% with standard Burmese [mya].
Typology
SOV.
Language Use
Vigorous, but some shift toward Burmese [mya], especially in south Rakhine state. All except formal domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Burmese [mya]. Also use Rohingya [rhg], in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships. Used as L2 by Anu-Khongso Chin [anl], Bawm Chin [bgr], Chak [ckh], Chakma [ccp], Eastern Khumi Chin [cek], Khumi Chin [cnk], Laitu Chin [clj], Mro-Khimi [cmr], Mru [mro], Rohingya [rhg], Sumtu Chin [csv].
Language Development
‘The literary (written) languages of Rakhine and standard Burmese are largely identical’ (Leider 2008:453). Rakhine pronunciation is closer to the literary language than modern spoken Burmese. Some Rakhine spell words according to Rakhine usage, but most use standard Burmese [mya] for writing. Literature. Newspapers. Videos.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Rakhine
Writing
Myanmar (Burmese) script [Mymr], informal and non-standardized use.
Other Comments
Buddhist.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Rakhine
User Population
200,000 in Bangladesh (2011 SIL).
Location
Barisal division: Patuakhali district; Chittagong division: Cox’s Bazar, Maheshkhali island and south.
Dialects
Rakhine, Sitwe.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim.
View other languages of Bangladesh

Map

Location: Chin state: Paletwa township; Rakhine state: widespread; Bago region, Shwegyin and Waw townships.