Myeik
Mergui, Merguese
RegionSoutheast
Native speakers
(250,000 cited 1997)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3–
Glottologmerg1238

The Myeik dialect, also known as Beik in Burmese, Mergui and Merguese in English, and Marit (มะริด) in Thai, is a divergent dialect of Burmese, spoken in Myeik, the second largest town in Tanintharyi Region, the southernmost region of Myanmar.[2] Myeik shares many commonalities with the Tavoyan dialect, although there are substantial differences especially with regard to phonology.[2]

Phonology

Consonants

Myeik possesses 27 consonant phonemes:[3]

Bilabial Dental Alveolar Postalveolar
and palatal 		Velar and
labiovelar 		Glottal Placeless
Plosive and affricate pʰ p b tʰ t d t̪ tɕʰ tɕ dʑ kʰ k ɡ ʔ  
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ   ɴ
Fricative   sʰ s z   h ɦ  
Approximant   j w  
Lateral   l  

Unlike Standard Burmese, the Myeik dialect does not have any preaspirated consonants.[4] Phonemes unique to the Myeik dialect include /ɦ/ and /t̪/.[4]

Archipelago
Mergui Archipelago

Mergui Archipelago[5]

Vowels

The Myeik dialect has three types of vowels: plain, nasalized and glottalized, with each type having seven vowels.[6]

Monophthongs Diphthongs
Front Back Front offglide Back offglide
Close i u
Close-mid e o ei ou
Open-mid ɛ ɔ
Open a ai au

Notes

  1. ^ Burmese at Ethnologue (16th ed., 2009) Closed access icon
  2. ^ a b Kato & Khin Pale 2012, p. 118.
  3. ^ Kato & Khin Pale 2012, p. 119.
  4. ^ a b Kato & Khin Pale 2012, p. 120.
  5. ^ Mergui, Archipelago (November 9, 2021). "Mergui Archipelago". Mergui Archipelago. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  6. ^ Kato & Khin Pale 2012, p. 121.

References

Category