Karenic Language Relationships: A Lexical and Phonological Analysis

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Authors: 
Issue Date: 
2003-08
Publisher: 
Department Of Linguistics, Payap University
Publisher Place: 
Chiang Mai
Extent: 
30 pages
Description: 
The Karenic languages are perceived by Tibeto-Burman linguists to form a unified block in comparison with other Tibeto-Burman languages (see for example Bradley 1997, Benedict 1972, LaPolla 2001, Matisoff 1991, Peiros 1998, Shafer 1973). However, very little work has been done in determining the internal relationships of the Karenic languages. And, moreover, this previous research has focused on the more populous Karenic languages: Sgaw, Pho and Pa’O, ignoring the numerous other Karen languages and dialects. The Karen languages are found mostly in eastern Burma from southern Shan States southwards to the southernmost tip of Burma, as well as, along the western side of Thailand. Some Sgaw Karen have also migrated to the Andaman Islands. Bradley (1997:46) suggests a total population of 3.9 million, but notes that this is “substantially under enumerated”. The largest Karenic groups include Sgaw with 1.6 million; Pwo with 1.4 million; Pa’O with 500,000 and Kayah with 250,000. There is somewhere between 6 and 10 million ethnic Karen, however, not all speak Karen languages. Many now speak only Burmese. The present study provides an alternative, yet complementary, approach to the standard historical-comparative analysis. The aims of the study include determining the lower-level clusters of Karenic language varieties and suggesting a possible internal relationship between these units; as well as providing a suitable research methodology that can be applied to a large number of wordlists of varying quality.
Publication Status: 
Published
Table of Contents: 
1. Introduction -- 2. Lexical Relatedness Analysis -- 3. Phonological Relatedness Analysis -- 4. Implications for Karenic Research -- 5. Conclusions
Country: 
Myanmar
Thailand
Content Language: 
Field: 
Work Type: 
Nature of Work: 
Entry Number: 
62115