Intha

A language of Myanmar

Inntha, Insa, Naung Ma

90,000 (2000 D. Bradley).

Shan state: Taunggyi district, Shwe Nyaung township, Inle lake area. Important Intha-speaking villages: Heha Ywama (largest), In Chan, Nan Pan, Paw Kon, and Tha Lay.

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification

Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Ngwi-Burmese, Burmish, Southern

Dialects

Well-known nonstandard variety of Burmese [mya] with major pronunciation and vocabulary differences. Some dialect variation between Intha villages; however, intelligibility reportedly high. Some comprehension of Danu [dnv] and Taungyo [tco]. Lexical similarity: 95% with standard Burmese [mya], 93% with Danu [dnv], 89% with Taungyo [tco], 90% with Rakhine [rki].

Typology

SOV.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains except education and formal contexts. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Burmese [mya].

Language Development

Texts.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Intha

Writing

Unwritten [Qaax], informal and non-standardized use of Myanmar script.

Other Comments

Officially viewed as a Burmese dialect. Pa-O people call them Naung Ma, people who live on the lake. Buddhist.