Language Research

2. Background: Background notes

Myanmar is the fifth most populated country in Southeast Asia with 135 different ethnic minorities. Each of them belongs to one of the three major racial groups: the Monkhmers, the Tibeton Bamars and the Thai-Shans. Some of the ethnic minorities are still fighting for a sovereign state (Kachin, Karen).

More than 100 indigenous languages are spoken in Myanmar, but the most common and the official language is Burmese. During the British colonial period (1820's-1948), when the country's official name was Burma, English became the official language; however, after independence, it lost its previous status.

Burma had experienced a long history of migration and conflicts among various ethnic groups, which were somewhat resolved during British rule and a diverse people were brought under at least nominal central administration. During World War II, while many Burman joined Japanese forces, many minority ethnic groups remained loyal to Britain. This reflected a genuine desire for independence from both groups. The Burmans were struggling to be free from the British and ethnic minorities wished to escape Burman domination.

The Union of Burma became independent in 1948, when General Aung San convinced ethnic groups to join a new union. The promises were never fulfilled and almost immediately after independence Burma was plunged into a series of brutal ethnic wars that have continued with varying intensity to this day.