Alternate Names: Karenni, Karennyi, Kayah Li, Kayay, Red Karen
Dialects: Lower Eastern Kayah, Upper Eastern Kayah. Upper Eastern Kayah and Lower Eastern Kayah are mutually intelligible; Huai Sua Thaw village (Lower Eastern) is prestigious in both dialect groups. Difficulty understanding Western Kayah ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 8,000 in Myanmar (2007). Population total all countries: 26,000.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Burmese [mya] among Buddhists and Roman Catholics. 5,000 also use S’gaw Karen [ksw]. Also use Central Thai [tha] in education of Kayah in permanent villages. Western Kayah [kyu] used in education in refugee camps. Also use Shan [shn].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Dictionary.
Writing System: Kayah Li
Nation of Origin: Myanmar
Other Comments: Buddhist, Christian, traditional religion.