Eastern Pwo language

Eastern Pwoor Phlou, is a Karen language spoken by over a million people in Burma and by about 50,000 in Thailand, where it has been called Southern Pwo. It is not intelligible with other varieties of Pwo.

A script called Leke was developed between 1830 and 1860 and is used by members of the millenarian Leke sect of Buddhism. Otherwise a variety of Burmese alphabets are used, and refugees in Thailand have created a Thai alphabet which is in limited use.

Distribution

• Kayin State and Tanintharyi Region: long contiguous area near Thai border
• Bago Region: Bago and Toungoo townships

Dialects

• Pa’an (Inland Eastern Pwo Karen, Moulmein)
• Kawkareik (Eastern Border Pwo Karen)
• Tavoy (Southern Pwo Karen)

References

Languages of Myanmar
Official language	Burmese
Semiofficial language	English
Indigenous languages (by state or region)	Chin Kukish Northern Falam Siyin Tedim Thado Zo Central Bawm Hakha Chin Mizo Ngawn Tawr Maraic Lautu Mara Senthang Zotung Zyphe Southern Daai Kaang Khumi Müün Nga La Shö Songlai Sumtu Thaiphum Welaung Other Anu-Hkongso Long Phuri Kachin Sino-Tibetan Achang Drung Hpon Jingpho Lashi Lhao Vo Lisu Nusu Rawang Zaiwa Other Khamti Nung Palaung Tai Laing Kayah Kayaw Red Karen Kayin Bwe Karen Geba Karen Pwo Eastern Western S’gaw Karen Magway Rungtu Mon Mon Rakhine Arakanese Chakma Laitu Mro-Khimi Mru Rohingya Sak Sagaing Sal Htangan Khiamniungan Konyak Makyan Ponyo Sak Tangsa Other Akyaung Ari Anal Koki Naga Makuri Para Tangkhul Shan Austroasiatic Blang Danau Palaung Riang Tai Loi Wa Sino-Tibetan Akeu Akha Danu Geko Karen Intha Lahta Lahu Pa’o Padaung Pyen Taungyo Tai-Kadai Khün Tai Lü Shan Tai Nüa Other Hmong Njua Tanintharyi Moken S’gaw Tavoyan
Sign languages	Burmese sign language