Alternate Names: Baghi, Bghai Karen, Blimaw, Bwe, Dareh, Manaw
Dialects: Eastern Bwe Karen, Western Bwe Karen. Most comprehend Western Bwe Karen dialect; some comprehend Geba , and Kayaw ,; no inherent intelligibility with Kayah , or Geko ,. Lexical similarity: 82%–100% with Geba Karen ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 17,200 (1997 F. Bennett), decreasing. 0 monolinguals.
Language Use: Some shift to S’gaw Karen [ksw] or Burmese [mya]. Most domains, except church. All ages. Positive attitudes. 10,000 also use S’gaw Karen [ksw]. S’gaw Karen used in church. Also use Burmese [mya].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Some S’gaw Karen [ksw] literacy classes held. Bible portions: 1857–1862.
Typology: SVO.
Writing System: Myanmar (Burmese)
Nation of Origin: Myanmar
Other Comments: Western Bwe Karen more widely understood, more prestigious. Bwe is sometimes used as an overarching cover term for all high-dwelling Central Karennic groups, who are not S’gaw Karen or Pwo Karen. Bwe people are very similar to the Mobwa people in lifestyle and culture. Christian (Roman Catholic), Christian (Protestant).