Moken
[aka Selung, Mawken, Basing]Classification: Austronesian
·endangered
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Endangered
40 percent certain, based on the evidence available
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1,000-9,999
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6,000 (Moken and Moklen together)
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About 4,000 in Burma and about 2,000 in Thailand, some no longer following their traditional migratory fishing lifestyle and some of these not speaking the language.
- SPEAKER NUMBER TRENDS
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- OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY
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Burmese; Thai
- LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS
Known as Saloun in Burmese and sometimes as Chao Thalee ‘sea people’ in Thai; Moken is an autonym used by most dialect groups in Burma. Six dialect groups, from north to south Dung, Jait, Lebi and Niawi in Burma, Jadiak straddling the border, and Moklen in Thailand. There is one Jadiak village south of the Moklen at the southern tip of Phuket Island; but in this village there is extensive contact with Urak Lawoi and Thai and young people no longer speak traditional Moken.
- More on Orthography
Various literacy materials have been prepared, based on Karen, Burmese, Roman and Thai scripts.
- PLACES
- Burma; Thailand
- LOCATION DESCRIPTION
Burma: islands of the southeastern coast from Tavoy to the Thai border; and Thailand: islands off the southwest coast from the Burmese border to Phuket; also a few settlements on the coast.