Burmese

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A language of Myanmar

ISO 639-3
mya
Alternate Names
Bama, Bama Saka, Bamachaka, Myamasa, Myamma Saka, Myanma, Myanmar, Myen
Autonym
မြန်မာ‎ (Mranmar), မြန်မာစကား‎ (Mranmar sakar)
User Population

42,000,000 in Myanmar, all users. L1 users: 32,000,000 in Myanmar (Bradley 2007a), increasing. 250,000 Beik, 20,000 Yaw. L2 users: 10,000,000. Total users in all countries: 42,953,240 (as L1: 32,953,240; as L2: 10,000,000).

Location

Widespread in central Myanmar.

Language Maps
Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (2008, Constitution, Chapter XV, Article 450).

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

Beik (Merguese, Mergui), Yaw, Mandalay Burmese, Yangon Burmese. Diglossic high and low varieties.

Typology

SOV; noun head final; tense and aspect; 31 consonants, 8 vowels, 4 diphthongs; tonal (3 tones).

Language Use

Many Mon, some Shan, some Karen are monolingual in Burmese. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn].

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools. Fully developed. Bible: 1835–2014.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Burmese
Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Myanmar (Burmese) script [Mymr], primary usage.

Other Comments

The official language name is Myanmar. Educated speech has many Pali borrowings. Buddhist.

Also spoken in:

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