| Karenic | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | South-eastern Myanmar, Western Thailand |
| Ethnicity | Karen people |
Native speakers | 4.5 million (2017)[1] |
| Linguistic classification | Sino-Tibetan
|
| Proto-language | Proto-Karenic |
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 / 5 | kar |
| Glottolog | kare1337 |
 | |
The Karen (/kəˈrɛn/)[2] or Karenic languages are tonal languages spoken by some 4.5 million Karen people.[1] They are of unclear affiliation within the Sino-Tibetan languages.[3] The Karen languages are written using the Karen script.[4] The three main branches are Sgaw (commonly known as Karen), Pwo and Pa'O. Karenni (also known as Kayah or Red Karen) and Kayan (also known as Padaung) are a branch of Karen languages. They are unusual among the Sino-Tibetan languages in having a subject–verb–object word order; other than Karen, Bai and the Chinese languages, Sino-Tibetan languages have a subject–object–verb order.[5] This is likely due to influence from neighboring Mon and Tai languages.[6]
- ^ a b Eberhard, David M.; Simons, Gary F.; Fennig, Charles D., eds. (2019). Ethnologue: Languages of the World (22nd ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International.
- ^ Laurie Bauer, 2007, The Linguistics Student's Handbook, Edinburgh
- ^ Graham Thurgood, Randy J. LaPolla (2003). The Sino-Tibetan Languages. Routledge. ISBN 0-7007-1129-5.
- ^ "Burmese/Myanmar script and pronunciation". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 2015-05-05.
- ^ "The Sino-Tibetan Language Family". Berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2015-05-05.
- ^ Matisoff, James A. (1991). "Sino-Tibetan Linguistics: Present State and Future Prospects". Annual Review of Anthropology. 20. Annual Reviews Inc.: 469–504. doi:10.1146/annurev.an.20.100191.002345.