Karen, Pwo Western

PWO

threatened

Alternate Names: Bassein Pwo Karen, Delta Pwo Karen, Mon Karen, Mutheit, Pathein Pwo Karen, Phlong, Phlong Sho, Pho, Shu, Talaing Karen

Dialects: Very little dialectal variation among Western Pwo Karen.

Genealogy:

Sino-Tibetan
Tibeto-Burman
Karenic
Peripheral

Demographics: 210,000, decreasing.

Language Use: Vigorous in villages; lessening in towns. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Burmese [mya]. Used as L2 by S’gaw Karen [ksw].

Language Development: Summer and church literacy classes in many communities; used and taught in Bible schools. Dictionary. Bible: 1883–1885.

Typology: SVO.

Writing System: Myanmar (Burmese)

Nation of Origin: Myanmar

Other Comments: Buddhist, Christian.