The
Languages of Burma
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Languages:
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Burmese (offical)
minority ethnic groups have their own
languages
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Literacy:
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definition:
age
15 and over can read and write
total
population: 89.9%
male:
93.9%
female:
86.4%
(2006 est.)
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Education
expenditures:
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1.2%
of GDP (2001)
country
comparison to the world:
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School
life expectancy (primary to tertiary
education):
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total:
9
years
male:
8
years
female:
8
years (2007)
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Burmese,
the mother tongue of the Bamar and official language of Burma, is related to
Tibetan and to the Chinese languages. It is written in a script consisting of
circular and semi-circular letters, which were adapted from the Mon script,
which in turn was developed from a southern Indian script in the 8th century.
The earliest known inscriptions in the Burmese script date from the 11th
century. It is also used to write Pali, the sacred language of Theravada
Buddhism, as well as several ethnic minority languages, including Shan, several
Karen dialects, and Kayah (Karenni), with the addition of specialised characters
and diacritics for each language. The Burmese language incorporates widespread
usage of honorifics and is age-oriented. Burmese society has traditionally
stressed the importance of education. In villages, secular schooling often takes
place in monasteries. Secondary and tertiary education take place at government
schools.
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