Karen languages
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The Karen languages are tonal languages spoken by the Karen people and are classified as part of the Tibeto-Burman group of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The three main branches are Sgaw, Pwo, and Pa'o; they are not considered to be mutually intelligible[1]. Karenni (also known Kayah or Red Karen) and Kayan (also known as Padaung) are related to the Sgaw branch. They are almost unique among the Tibeto-Burman languages in having a Subject Verb Object word order; other than Karen and Bai, Tibeto-Burman languages feature a Subject Object Verb order [2]. This is likely due to influence from neighboring Mon and Tai languages[3]. The languages are also considered unusual for not having any Chinese influence.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Lewis, Paul; Elaine Lewis (1984). Peoples of the Golden Triangle. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd. ISBN 0-500-97472-1.
- ^ Description of the Sino-Tibetan Language Family
- ^ Matisoff, James A. (1991). "Sino-Tibetan Linguistics: Present State and Future Prospects". Annual Review of Anthropology 20: 469–504.
- ^ Thai Cultural Tourism
[edit] External links
- Kawthoolei, meaning ‘a land without evil’, is the Karen name of the land of Karen people. An independent and impartial media outlet aimed to provide contemporary information of all kinds — social, cultural, educational and political
- Karenpeople.org, a non-profit web portal on the Karen peoples run by Singapore-based Karen People Development Fund
- Karen.org, The website of the Karen National League of Bakersfield, California
- http://www.kwekalu.net, The first and only Karen language news outlet online based in Mergui/Tavoy District of Kawthoolei
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