rki ISO 639

ရခိုင်‎ (Rakhine) Autonyms

Rakhine

  • Geography

    MM Chin state: Paletwa township; Rakhine state: widespread; Bago region, Shwegyin and Waw townships.
  • Language Cloud

A language of Myanmar

rki
Arakanese, Rakhain, Rakhaing, Rakkhaine, “Mogh” (pej.), “Moghi” (pej.)
ရခိုင်‎ (Rakhine)
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).
Chin state: Paletwa township; Rakhine state: widespread; Bago region, Shwegyin and Waw townships.
Bangladesh: Index map, Southeastern Bangladesh, Southern Myanmar, Western Central Myanmar
3 (Wider communication). Descendants of Muslim immigrants, Rakhine people and language became dominant in Arakan in the 17th century. Used in poetry, among educated men, administrators, trade, farming, and religion.
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Ngwi-Burmese, Burmish, Southern
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].
SOV.
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].
‘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.
Myanmar (Burmese) script [Mymr], informal and non-standardized use.
Buddhist.
OLAC resources in and about Rakhine
Rakhine
200,000 in Bangladesh (2011 SIL).
Barisal division: Patuakhali district; Chittagong division: Cox’s Bazar, Maheshkhali island and south.
Rakhine, Sitwe.
5 (Dispersed)
Used by all. Positive attitudes. Many also use Bengali [ben], especially men. Also use Burmese [mya]. Also use Chittagonian [ctg].
Literacy rate in L1: 80%. Literacy rate in L2: 60% in Rohingya [rhg], 30% in Marma [rmz].
Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim.
View other languages of Bangladesh