The Karenni State parliament approved the publishing of a Karenni (Kayah) language dictionary using the Karenni Kyel-Phoe-Gyi alphabet in September U Moe Z Aung Lin from the Kayah Literature and Culture Group announced on 8th December.
He said: “Our Kayah language is very rich in meaning which is why today’s youths do not use it anymore. Since they are not using it anymore our literature is in danger of disappearing which is why we are publishing this dictionary.”
The dictionary will be English to Kayah and Kayah to English. It will contain over 10,000 words and be published at the beginning of 2015.
Now, schools are including Kayah literature in after hours lessons, the government owned Myanmar Broadcasting Service broadcasts programmes in the Kayah language and the Development Program University runs a Kayah literature course.
Htar Ru Aung who works on the Kayah programme for the Myanmar Broadcasting Service said: “Kayah literature written with the Kyel-Phoe-Gyi alphabet is good and is understood by Kayah people who have resettled around the world. There are many people who are fluent in the language. This is a good thing for the Kayah people.”
U Moe Z Aung Lin said that the dictionary will help children from primary schools and upwards to learn about Kayah literature.
Previously Kayah literature was mainly written using the Burmese alphabet or the Latin alphabet. Use of the Kyel-Phoe-Gyi alphabet was approved at the eighth regular State Parliament meeting.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
