Moken
Facts
- Language: Moken
- Alternate names: Mawken, Basing, Selung, Selong, Salong, Salon, Chau Ko'
- Language code: mwt
- Language family: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Moken-Moklen
- Number of speakers: 7000
- Vulnerability: Endangered [Read more...]
- Script: Latin script
More information:
Introduction
Moken language is a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken by Sea Gypsies living in the western coastal waters of Burma and Thailand. The people refer to themselves as Mawken or Moken. They are called Selung or Salon by the Burmese.
There are six dialects of Moken;
- Dung
- Jait
- Lebi
- Niawi
- Jadiak
- Moklen
The Moken Alphabet
There is an existing Burmese-based ortography. There have also been at least two earlier ortographies:
- Pwo Karen -based, and
- Roman-based
Sample Verbs
The sample verbs are written in phonetic script.
- bəje, to stand in a group
- gilen, to roll up
- məchu, to raise the hands
- məlan, to swallow
- məŋam, to eat
- məŋap, to catch
- məŋɛ̌aŋ, to walk
- məpeŋ, to rest
- məthu:n, to carry on the head
- ŋəpoy, to jump into
- phalo, to tease