Reading and Writing Burmese Script

University of Foreign Languages, Yangon Department of Myanmar

An Introductory Course in Myanmar Writing & Reading

Aung Win Naing (Lecturer)

Foreword

The University of Foreign Languages, Yangon, is the only institution in Myanmar, which offers cow-ses to overseas students to enable them to have a better understanding of Myanmar and Myanmar language. With the increasing number of foreign studmts coming to this country to study Myanmar language and culture, the need for effective, appropriate and challenging teaching materials has become imperative. In response to this urgent need and with the active support and continual encouragement of U Myo Nyunt, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, and the excellent guidance of Dr. U Soe Win, Rector, University of Foreign Languages, Yangon, the Department of Myanmar Language, UFL, Yangon 'has been successful in bringing out An Introductory Co~rse in Myanmar Writing and Reading written by U Aung Win Naing, Lecturer, Department of Myanmar. It is realised that Myanmar writing is difficult for foreign students to master. Therefore, effective approaches, methods and techniques have been applied to help the foreign leamers master Myanmar writing within a short period of time. As An Introductory Course in Myanmar Writing and Reading was prepared to meet the tugent need of foreign students, there may be some deficiencies seen from the academic point of view. However, it is our sincere hope that the instructors will remedy the perceived weaknesses in the classroom.

We welcome any CnUclSlIl, advice, conunents, and suggestions !i.-om students and academics, which would contribute to the improvement of the present text.

Finally, we would like to express our sincere tlumks to all those who have helped us in one way or another in the preparation of this book. We are also grateful to many friends who encouraged us to write this book and hence u-ansfonn a dream into reality.

16 October 2000 Professor Tin Shwe

Contents

Foreword

1. The Myanmar alphabet

2. The consonant letters and their sound values

3. The consonant letters and their names

4. Vowel symbols and their sound values

5. Vowel symbols and their names

6. Vowell i /

7.

8.

9.

10.

II.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

Special vowel symbols

Vowel / ei/


Vowel I el

Vowel/.vl and Neutral Vowell:::!

Vowel 101


Vowel/oul

Vowel lui


Diacritics for clusters of consonants

How to write Myanmar clusters of Consonants with 7. simple vowels

Another vowel symbols for I i I . I ei / and I e I

Nasalized vowel I in /

Nasalized vowel/an /

Nasalized vowel/un /

Nasalized vowel / ein /

Nasalized vowel / oun /

Nasalized vowel / ain I

Nasalized vowel I aun /

Vowels followed by glottal stop

How to write Myanmar Consonants with glottal stop / i '/

Page

1 - 3

4-5

5

6-7

8 -10

12

13 -17

17 -18

19 -23

24 - 30

31 - 35

3S - 36

37 - 40

41 - 45

45 -46

47 - 51

51 - 68

69 -72

73 -76

77 -79

80 - 83

83 - 8S

86- 89

90- 92

93 -96

97

98 - lao

Contents

29. How to write Myanmar Consonants with glottal stop / e' / 100 - 102

30. How to write Myanmar Consonants with glottal stop / a' / 102 - 105

31. How to write Myanmar Consonants with glottal stop / u' / 105 - 107

32. How to write Myanmar Consonants with glottal stop / e~ / 107 - 109

33. How to write Myanmar Consonants with glottal stop / ou' I 109 - 111

34. How to write Myanmar Consonants with glottal stop I ai' I 111-113

35. How to write Myanmar Consonants with glottal stop / au' / 114-115

36. Miniature symbol of devowelized nga.tha' [8] 116.- 117

37. Subscripted letters pa'hsin. 118 - 121

38. Small and big form 122

39. Myanmar numerals 123 -124

40. Irregularities 125

1

Myanmar Writing

1. The Myanmar alphabet

The Myanmar alphabet is called mj{!1IUI e'klrgja and its source was the Brahmi script which flourished in India from about 500 B.C. to over 300 A.D.

The Myanmar earliest Myanmar writing is Rajakumar stone inscription inscribed in about 475 B.E. [A.D. 1113] in Bagan.

2. The consonant letters and their sound values

There are 33 consonant letters in Myanmar alphabet today. In the English writing system we are accustomed to representing a word with a sequence of symbols written from left to right. In Myanmar writing system, however, the symbols for the initial consonant of a syllable acts as a nucelus around which the other symbols are written as diacritics. Thus, in learning the writing system, the consonants must be studied first.

The following 25 grouped consonant letters are arranged horizontally by point of articulation, vertically by voiceless, aspirated and voiced, with the nasals in the last column.

INITIAL CONSONANTS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

Voiceless Aspirated Yoked Voiced Nasal Velar 00 k Q kh 0 g to g C ng

Alveolar Q) s ~ hs e z GlJ z ~* nj

Alveolar ~ t .~. ht q d t> d ao n

Alveolar en t 00 ht 3 d 9 d , n

BihlbUd 0 p U hp ~ b 00 b Q m

* ~ is a palatal nasal consonant and 2... is its small form. It is only

used for Pali loan words.

2

There are 8 consonant symbols which are non-group besides the 25 in the table mentioned above.

Miscellimeou s

U)

'1 [j]

[r]

(\) I ~ 0

:l) [th ]

[dh]

00

~

00 j '1 j/r CO I 0 w :::0 th I dh

0'.) h ~ I 4ij z

- voiced palatal

- voiced palatal

- The pronunciation [ r ] like English r in row, rich, rut is not Myanmar. It is used only for loan-words.

- voiced alveolar

- voiced bilabial

- voiceless dental

- voiced dental

- voiceless glottal

- Although it is pronounced vowel sound like English a in cart, hart, J2M!, it is traditionally accepted con-sonant letter.

3

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS

(Y) Q n tlJ c G) OX) (t GiJ ~

~ ~ ') t) cu:> --I .. (1) ex:> 3 Q ~~

0 (9 t? 00 Q

ex> '1 C\) 0 X>

(J') ~ 3d

4

3. The consonant letters and their names

COnsOlUUlt Letters Names Note

(J) ka. gji: great lea,

0 kha. gwei: curved hka,

0 ga.nge small ga,

0:> gao gji: great ga,

c oga.

e sa.loun: roood sa,

GO hsa.lein twisted hsa,

• za. gwe: divided za,

1ft za. mjio Z'We: bridle za,

2. nja. lei: small nja,

~ oja. gji: great nja,

" tao t!!,Un: gjei' bier-hook ta,

.. Si hta. wun be: duckhta,

~ da. jin gaul crooked-breasted da,

0 da. jei hmou' water-dipper da,

CI') oa. gji: great na,

0'.) tao wun: bu abdominous ta,

00 hta. hsin du: elephant-fetter hta,

3 da. dwei: confused da,

• da. au' chai' bottom-indented da, , na.nge small na,

0 pa. zau' steep or deep pa,

@ bps. ou' htou' cappedhpa,

0 ba. I!!,chai' top-indented ba,

::Y.) ba.goun: hump-backed ba,

s rna.

5

ConsolUUlt Letters Names No"

U) ja. pe' Ie' supineja.

'1 ja. gau' crookedja.

co la.

0 wa.

:» tha. 0') ha.

S la. gji: great la.

~ a.

4. Vowel symbols and their sound values

Low-falling Tone Level Tone High-falling Tone 0 [ i. ] e [ i ] e [ i: ] - - -:

Q- [ ei.] Q- [ ei] Q-I [ ei:] • ... / ~ [e. ] (' [ e] ... [ e: ] - -00 -00 -• •

- / -'.) [a. ] -'.) [a] -'.): [a: ] •

- / -1 [a. ] -1 [a] -1: [a: ] •

[ 0.] (' [0] [0: ] Q-'.) Q-'j Q-'.) •

Q-1 [ 0.] ~-T [ 0 ] Q-1 [ 0: ] •

0 [ou.] 0 [ou] 0 lou:] - - _e L· L Le

-..-[ u.] - [u]

i: [u: ]

II.

Note - Without consonant letters, a hyphen indicates the position of an initial consonant.

6

s. Vowel symbols and their names

Vowel Symbols SoIllUl VIIhu!s Names

0 [i] loun: GJi: tin -• [ i ] loun: gji: tin hsan kha' --. tone mark wi' sa. pau' / shei. gao pau'

for high-/alling tone • [ i: ] loun: gji: tin hsan kha' -.

wi' sa. pau'

Q- [ei] th!!wei htou:

- tone mark au'ka. mji' • for low-/alling tone

8- [ ei. ] ~wei htou: au' ka. mji' •

.8-1 [ei: ] ~wei htou: wi' sa. pau' ... [el nau' pji' -(' tone mark !!tha' / shei. htou: -

for level tone

-oS [e] ja. tha' I ja .. pe' Ie' shei. htou:

-oS [e. ] ja pe' Ie' shei. htou: au' ka. mji' •

-0 [a] jei: chao

.... 1 [a] mau'cha.

-0 [a. ] jei: chao au' ka. mji' •

-1 [a. ] mau' chao au' ka. mji' •

-oa [a: ] jei: chao wi' sa. pau'

-1. [a: ] mau' chao wi' sa. pau'

8-0 [0] ~wei htou: jei: chao

8-1 [0] ~wei htou: mau' chao

8-0 [0. ] ~wei htou: jei: chao • au'ka. mji'

8-1 [0. ] ~wei htou: mau' chao • au'ta. mji'

7

Vowel Sormd Values Names symbols

G....& [0] ~wei htou: jei: chao shei. htou:

G-T [ 0 ] ~wei htou: mau' chao shei. htou:

L [ U. ] ~chaun: ngin

.. [u] hn~chaun: ngin

il [u: ] hn~chaun: ngin wi' sa. pau' 0 [ou] loun: gji: tin ~chaun: ngin L

0 [ou. ] loun: gji: tin ~chaun: ngin L- au' ka. mji'

0 [ou: ] loun: gji: tin ~chaun: ngin -I L shei. htou:

8

Lesson 1

Vowel Ii /

o and ! are written directly over single-width eon..onants, but

over the right side of double--width consonants. In each case the

consonant is written first, the vowel second. -: (for high-faDing tone)

is written at the end of the syllable.

o CD CD:

o

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH VOWEL / j /

The order of the strokes is as illustrated below. Let's read and write.

1 2 3

0 0 [ki. ] 00 0) ro

e ~ I ki J

m (Y.)

~ e e e [ki: J ('f) 00: 00:

9

1 2 3 0

S 0 [khi. ]

S S Q Q [khi]

S S S Q Q Q [khi: ]

S S s: s: 0 0 [gi. ]

(') (') (')

Q Q [gi] (') (') (')

Q Q (')

Q [ gi: ] (') 0: 0:

0 u:>

0 [gi. ] u:> U)

Q u:>

Q [gi ] u:> U)

Q Q u:>

Q [gi: ] 00 u:> 00:

0 c 0 [ ngi. ] C C Q

C Q [ngi ]

C C Q Q

C Q [ngi: ] c c: c:

0 0)

0 [ si. ] 0) 0)

Q 0)

Q [ si ] 0) 0)

Q 0)

Q Q [ si: ] 0) 0) 0):

0 00

0 [hsi. ] 00 &'0

Q 00

Q [hsi] 00 &'0

Q 00

Q Q [hsi: ] 00 00: 00:

10

Exercise 1 - Read and COJ!Y the following words in MYamnar.

ee e e 000 0) 0)1

lkiwil I si I I si: I II New Zealand l' to line up, l' to ride, to flow,

wingless bird to place in a row to put on; to wear (shoes)

e ee ~ Q) Q)QI

Ihsil Ihsi mi: I Injil II oil II open oil lamp II younger brother

(ora boyor man)

0 e e 00 00 00:

I bti. I Ibtil Ihti: I v totouch II lottery " umbrella

e .; ;: 3

Idil I ni I lni: I a4J r colloq 1 this v to be red v to be near; to be close

ee ee e 00 0')0) 0'):

Ipipil Ihisil I hi: I . II whistle II BC{Before Christ) " comb

ooe e 0 e (00):0)1 Q QI

I bpi. hi. si: zi: I I mi. I Imi: I adv effectively; v to catch; to get caught; II fire, light, electricity

thoroughly to becaugbt

0 e e :l.') :l.') :l:>1

Ithi. I Ithi I Ithi: I l' to know; l' to string; to skewer l' to fruit

to be acquainted with

11

0 Q Q :g ~ ~:

I i. I Iii I i: I v to be soft' to be tender v (off~) to be rich II windifrom the anus)

Exercise 2 - Write the following syllables in Myanmar.

I; I ~: ~:

sL si si: hsi. hsi hsi: zi. zi zi: njL nji nji:

tL ti ti: hti. hti hti: dL di di: nL ni ni:

pi. pi pi: hpi. hpi hpi: bL bi bi: mL mi mi:

jL ji ji: rL ri ri: Ii. II Ii: wi. wi wi: thL thi thi: hi. hi hi: L i i:

12

SPECIAL VOWEL SYMBOLS

Low- lJIlin «me Level tone tone

o -::D (t) Ii}

[ i. J

Exercise 3 - Read and cony the fQIIQWing words i!l Myanmar.

F] n third in the set of twelve vowels traditionally c;r; taught in the learning of Myanmar language. ---, [ i. J ppm 1 word indicating possessive case. 2 postpo-Sr--<8l~ tional marker placed at the end of an affinnative

sentence (followed by interrogative particle in the case of an interrogative sentence}.

~ fiJ n fourth in the set of twelve vowels traditionally

taught in the learning of Myanmar language . . _J!!,Oll this. adj this_

13

Lesson 3

Vowel I eil

The vowel ei is written before the initial consonant symbol, even

though it is pronounced after the consonant. It is written in one stroke: c;-.

And then - (for low-falling tone) is generally written below and just to

the right of a syllable. Sometimes, however, particularly when the lower

right-hand comer of a syllable is crowded with other symbols, -t (for bigh

falling tone) is written at the end of the syllable.

o

o

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH VOWEL I ei I


1 2 3

G GOO GrY) GOO [ kei·1

0 .. --CO GOO GOO

[kei ]

CO GO') GOO: GOO: [kei: 1

14

1 2 3

G GS GS GS [khei. ] • •

G GS GS [khei]

G ~S ~S: ~S: [khei: ]

G GO ~O GO [ gei. ] • •

~ GO GO [gei]

~ GO ~O: ~O: [ gei: ]

G GOO ~oo GOO [ gei. ] • •

G GOO GOO [gei]

G GOO ~oo: GOO: [gei: ]

G ~C ~C ~C [ngei. ]

• .,

~ GC GC [ngei]

~ ~C ~C: ~C: [ngei: ]

G GQ) GQ) GQ) [ sei. ] • •

G ~Q) GQ) [sei]

G ~Q) ~Q): GQ): [ sei: ]

G GOO GOO GOO [ hsei. ] • •

G GOO GOO [ hsei]

G GOO GOO: GOO: [hsei: ]

15

Exercise 1 - Read and copy the follo~ring words in Myanmar.

Q Ge: GG>oo GG>:

/ ngei: ! / sei di I Isei:(si:)/ v to gaze; " pagoda v to sticky; clanuny

to look at sth vacantly enshrining sacred objects

GQ)I GQ): GGij: / hsei: I i hsei: ! / zei: I

v to wash; " medicine. tobacco, n market; bazaar, to clean (with fluid) poison, paint; dye price (of at1icles)

GOO GOO GOO: •

/ tei. i I tei I i tei: / v to place (two things) v to beat or pound n song

end to end or edge to edge repeatedly, to pound or so as to just touch knead thoroughly

GOO GOO G~: • I htei. I I htei / I htei: !

v to be sarcastic v to recover one's loss v to be rich; to be wealthy

G;. G; GO I nei. / i nei I / peii n day " the sun, v to stay " foot (measure oflength)

GO: G<lG<l G~:

I pei: I I hpei hpei I / bei: I v to give; to pay " pa pa; father; daddy " side, danger; hann

16

~a ~a~Q): ~a~3: • • / mei. / / mei. zei: / / mei dei: /

v to forget, to faint; . n anaesthetic n MayDay to lose consciousness

~a~a ~a: ~a:~Q) •

/ mei mei / / mei: / / mei: zei. / If mammy; mother v to ask; to question If chin

n lowerjaw

~'l ~'l~Q): ~'l~~:

/ iei I I jei zei: I I jei ei: I If water If water-colour n cold water

~'l: ~OO ~OO~~:

I jei: / I lei / I lei ei: / v to write n air; breeze; wind n cool or cold air

~oo: ~O ~O:

I lei: I lwei! lwei: / v to be heavy v to distribute; to share, v to be far; to be distant; n four, bow to boil over to be out of touch

G:X> Go.::>~O'): ~:x>:

Ithei/ / thei bei: I I thei: I v to die n danger of death v to be small

~ Q~3 ~~: ~~:~OO:

/ ei dil I ei: I lei: zei: I n AD (abbreviation of v to becoo~ v to be caIm;

Anno Domini) to be peaceful to be peaceful

17

Exercise 2 - Write the following syllables in Myanm.!lf.

kei. kei kei: khei. kh('i khei: gei. gei gei: ngei. ngei ng('i:

sei. sei sei: hsei. hsei hsei: zei. zei zei: niei. niei nlei:

tei. tei tei: btei. htei htei: dei. dei dei: nei. nei nei:

pei. pei pei. bpei. bpei bpei: bei. bel bei mei. mei mei:

jei. jei jei: rei. rei rei: lei. lei lei: wei. wei wei: tbei. tbei tbei: hei. hei hei: ei. ei ei:


low-falling lone level tone high-falling tone

$ - G~ [ei]

IS

Exercise 3 - Read and copy the following words in Mya;nmar.

~~'----r-I-ei-] - n seventh in the set of twcl~e vowels traditionallj __ ~_ _( el' 11-1'-)- taught il!.the learning of My au mar langauge. __

"" n 1 musk deer. 2 black serow or goat-antelope. I ~a)') L , __________ ---l...__________ _

19

Lesson 4

Vowel leI

... is written directly over single-width consonants but over the right side of

doubJe·width consonants. For the vowel e in level tone, the initial consonant

is followed by consonant 0) plus the symbol .:., i.e.: as in 0003. .::. and

-o? are different spelling, different meaning. But the same pronunciation.

" CD<D o o

" men OJ

" " o o

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH VOWEL I e I

The order of the strokes is as illustrated below Let's read and write -1 2 3

.... .... .... [ke. ] m m 00 00 .. ..

" " " [ke. ] m moo moo moo .. 0

(' " [ke] m moo m(J.)

"- .... [ke: ] 00 0) m

20

1 2 3

~~± ' , " [ khe. ] ~ ~ ~ ~ • •

r---------- ~ ~ ~ [ khe. ] ~ ~O) J ~O) ~O)

r-------- --------t-----. -- • --------

~ I ~03 ~ [khe] ~O)

i----------- -

" " [ khe: ] ~ S ~

----- -----

-n~+:::: " " 0 0 () •

~ -e --

() (0) (0) •

~

I '------r

0 (0) I 003 I [ge] I

't I --n-~e:] o 0

--- -------- -

" [ nge. ] C • .----~ [ nge. ]

Co) •

~ -- ----<:'-------

C Co) Co) [nge J

--C----~I ----- -------------- --

" [nge: ] C C

Exercise 1 - ReJ!9 and copy the following words in Myanmar.

" " ~ " O?'l. mO) ro -----------___ -.L~~~j ____ / ke / / ke: / -- ------ ----

1-' to despraise; censure 1-' to save; to rescue v to overdo; to do beyond accepted limit

" " " ~ ~ ~

/ khe: / / khe: / / ge: / --

n lead (metal) 1-' to bite n stone

21

" ~ ~ c Co:> mo:> • I nge. I I nge I Ihsel

l' to tilt, to sympathise l' to be small, to be young " ten

" " " " m en en en I hse: I I te: I I te: de: I

v to swear at; to revile n hut adv nearly; OIl the brink of

~ ~ ~ COO:> 30:> ,0:> I hte I I de I I ne I

n plough If flying pan v to knead; to mix

" ~ " 0 00:> 0 • I pe. I I pe I / pe: I

v (of a chunk) to be v to reject; to tum- down n beans broken off; to be chipped

" ~ " (t (to:> (t •

I hpe. I Ihpe I I hpe: I v to break off a portion of v to push aside; to set n playing cards

sth aside; to discard

~ (' " 000:> 000:> 00

lbe I I be I Ibe: I n left pron where ad) which n duck

" ~ " a a 0:> a • I me. I Imel I me: I

v to grimace; n title-bolder in a beauty- v to be black; to be dark to make a wry face contest (as in Miss Universe) If vote; ballot; lot

22

~ , , '1.0:> '1. q~a

I je Gi) I Ije:1 I je: mei I v to laugh n _llQlice n ~licewoman

~ , ~ roo:> ro 00:>

I Ie: I I Ie: I lwei n paddy field v to exchange, to change, v to buy; to purchase

to fall down; to t~e

" ~ , . 0 0.:>0:> 0.:>

I we: I I the I I the: I n left side v to carry; to transport n sand

, ~ ,8 <.1.) ~o:> ~3

I he: I lei Ie: dil v to sing (heartily) v to be full, bloated, pron [colloq] that

to be bi& large

23


ke. ke ke: khe. khe khe: gee ge ge: nge. nge nge:

see se se: hse. hse hse: ze. ze ze: nje. nje nje:

teo te te: hte. hte hte: de. de de: ne. ne ne:

pee pe pe: hpe. hpe hpe: be. be be: me. me me:

je. je je: reo re re: Ie. Ie Ie: we. we we: the. the the: he. he he: e. e e:

24

Lesson 5

Vowel I a I & Neutral Vowell! I

The vowel a is written after the initial consonant letter. It is written

in one stroke: -'.). It has alternate fonn used with certain consonants to avoid ambiguity. For example,

+ -0

o + -0

gives ('Y.)

gives 00

which looks like m [ k 1

which looks like Cf) [ t ]

To avoid such confusion, the alternant-1 is used: 01,01. This alter

nant is regularly used with &, o. C, 3. 0 and 0 .

- and -? are different spelling, different meaning, But the same

pronunciation. For example, 0 (pa.] and oJ [pa.].

Frequently - is pronounced as a neutral vowel [ i! ]. For example,

(Y.) [ka.] 'to dance' and O)CD"): [gaul: J 'to play "

01

25

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH VOWEL I a I & I! I


1 2 3

m m [ka. ]

m (")'X) (")'X) [ka]

m (")'X) (")'X): (")'X): [ka: ]

S S [kha. ]

S sl sl [kha]

S sl sl: sl: [kha: ]

0 0 [ga. ]

0 01 01 [ga]

0 01 01: 01: [ga: ]

to to [ga. ]

to UY.) UY.) [ga]

to UY.) UY.): UY.): [ga: ]

e e [nga. ]

e el el [nga]

e el el: el: [nga: ]

0> 0> [sa. ]

0> 0>0 0>0 [ sa]

0> 0>0 0>0: 0>0: [ sa: ]

26

Exercise 1 - Read and copy the following words in Mvanmar.

00 \fY.) (Y.Y.):

/ ka. / / ka / / ka: / v to dance v to block (opening) n car; motor-car

0000: O:>_~_: 0:> GOO:

/ g;u.a: I / kh'!ia: I / khalei: I v to play n beaker; jug with beak n child; infant

and handle; kettle

til)

sao saosao S'l.: I khana. I / khana. khana. I I kh'!ii: /

n a moment; a short wbile adv often; frequently n journey; travel; trip

s1 s1: s1:;~ /khal / kha: I I kha: na'/

v to shake off n waist v to be bitter v to sprain one's back

01 CXY.) til) til) OO'Y.) Oo:Y.)

/ ga hta I 19ital / gi ja / n Pall verse, mantra It guitar n gear

c1 c1 c1: •

I nga.1 I nga! / nga: / ~rolt ffiL pron I " five, tish

G) 00 00:

/ sa. / / sa / / sa: / v to begin; to start, n writing; letter, v to eat

to tease; to taunt sparrow

0)0~'l:

/ sajei: / l' to write

Q'Y'.): / hsa: / nsalt

8c\)~~3

/ zala. bei da. / n hydrology

('

<0 IOU)

/ zei: we / v to go to shopping n customer; bu er

~ / nja. / n night

27

/~ei/

" Saturda

O)O:~&O:

/ sa: zei: / " medicine to be taken

ortllly

Q &0

/ hsi / n oil

Q 80<e;~3

/ zi wa. bei da. / " biology

n evening meal

2:' / nja/

n right -hand side v to lie; to bluff

0)011

/~ba: / " ad ; rice in a husk

0)010)'1' /me:/ " food

/hsa/ v to beh

Q 8,:

/ zani: / " wife

QO ~ 800')3 ,

/ zi wi tao da na. / n act of sparing or saving

of life

n afternoon

2:': / nja: /

v to meet with, to become man and wife

28

I hta.na.1 / htei: I Ita wei: I v to be rich; to be wealth

o:Y.)o::Y.) o:Y.)'P o:Y.):

/ taja / /taja I Ita: I

" tyre " constellation v to forbid; to stop; to bar

0 00 CXY.): 00

/ hta. / / hta: / / hti. I v to get up; to rise; v to put; to place; to keep v to touch

to stand

31 31,. 31QOQ •

/ da / / eta ne. / ,I da bei me. I pro" [coloq] this co,,} [colloq] and so co,,} [colloq] but;

however; nevertheless

QQOO Qt:): ,01: • / dalei. / / da: / /na~:1

II custom; tradition II knife; sword II dragon

e I---"------+----~-"------+----'--:-----I

lnal / na . if I na: I v to suffer -. to be hurt It clock; watch " ear

o C'\.':X)Q) o:Y.) o C'\.':X)o:Y.) o C'\.':X)o.Y.)

I p!la sata/ I p§la tal /~ajal It plaster, adhesive tape " pancake-like Indian II pliers

food

29

01 01~ 01'l~ --

/ pa / / Qa til /pa rami f v to be with; to be n political party; n acquired virtue, aptitude

together with; to hold social gathering

01: (JC\Y.): (Y.): / pa: / / h~la: / / hpa: /

n cheek v to be thin n bowl; cup n frog

::Y.:>1J:00 OJIJ:00O> (1Y.): 0')IJ~Q~3

/ ba dha / / ba dha ~ga: f / ba dha bei da. / n language, religion n language n linguistics

(Ii)

::Y.:> <...>.:Y.:> aQjC\Y.) a<...>.:Y.:>:

/ bi ja I I mahsa la / I maja: I n beer n cuny powder n wife

Q a:'lCXY.>: q:>0')IJ OOO>lJ

f mi: j~hta: / / fa ba / !la. ZJl /

n railway; train II rubber n monthly salary or pay

00 C\Y.) C\Y.):

Ila. f Ila / I la: / n moon, month v to come n mule

0 01 01: Iwa. / Iwal lwa: /

v to be fat v to be yellow n bamboo

~ ~ ~:

I a. / fa/ fa: / v to be dumb v to gape, to open v to be vacant, to be free

30

Exercise 2 - Write the follO'wing syllables in Myanmar.

~ __ -+I~:_;a ____ ~I~:~;~_: __ ~I_~ __ a' __ ~I~~ __ a ____ r1~ __ a_: __ ~1 sa. sa sa: hsa. hsa hsa: za. za za: nja. nja nja:

tao ta ta: hta. hta hta: --da. da da: na. na na:

pa. pa pa: hpa. hpa hpa: ba. ba ba: rna. rna rna:

ja. ja ja: ra. ra ra: lao la la: wa. wa wa: tha. tha tha: ha. ha ha: a. a a:

31

Lesson 6

Vowel 101

The vowel 0 is written a combination of <;1- plus -'.). The order is

first Q-, then the initial consonant, then ......,. For level tone, it is written: !

with......, or -1.

c GOY:) GOY:)

o

Gill o

o

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH VOWEL / 0 /.

The order of the strokes is as illustrated below, Let's read and write. 1 2 3 4

G GOO Goy') Goy') Goy') [ ko·1

• .,

G GOO Goy') C'

Goy') " [ko] GOY)

G GOO Ga:Y.J GO'Y.) [ko: ]

32

1 2 3 4

~ QS QS1 ~s1 ~s1 [tho. ] • •

~ ~S GS1 QQT ~9T [lcho]

~ ~S Q91 QS1 [kho: ]

Q QO Q01 Q01 Q01 [go. ]

• • G QO G01 QOT QOT

[go]

Q QO Q01 Q01 [go: ]

Q Gro Guy') Guy') Guy') [ go.] • • ~ ~ [go]

G Gro Guy') GU'Y.) GUY:)

Q GOO Guy') QUY.) [go: ]

G GC GC1 GC1 GC1 [ngo. ]

• • G QC GC1 GCT , GCT

[ngo]

G GC GC1 GC1 [ngo: ]

Q GCO GCIY.) GCIY.) GCIY.) [so. ] • • ~ ~ [so ]

G GCO GCIY.) GGY.) QGY.)

Q QCO QGY.) GeD') [so: ]

Q QQ) Q&'CY.) G&'CY.) QQCY.) [MO. ] • • ~ ~ [hso]

~ ~;o Q&'CY.> QQ:Y.) QQCY.)

G QQ) QQCY.) QQCY.) [hso: ]

33

Exercise 1 - Read and copy the following words in Myanmar.

~ ~$ ~Q (C;CY.Y.) (C;(Y.Y.)o (C;(Y.Y.)(t

/ ko / / ko pi! /ko hpi! n glue; gum; paste n copy n coffee

(C;sT (C;oT (C;oT~ /khol I go I I go hpi!

v to name; to be called, n spade; shovel n cabbage to call

(C;ro (C;ro(C;GY.) (C;OC:>O •

/ so: I / so: zo: I I hso. / v to be early tulv early v to play

~ ~ ~ (C;C1'Y.) (C;C1'Y.) (C;C1'Y.) (C;C1'Y.)

Ito I Itodol I to: I v to be ~ood at tulv quite; rather n forest; jungle; wood

(c;3T (c;oo: (c;3T C\X) (c;31:x> I do lei: I I do lal I do: dba. I

n aunt n dolar n anger

(C;o1 (C;oT (C;o1 •

I po. I / po I I po: I v to be light; not heavy v to float, to emerge v to be plentiful

~ (C;(Y-) (C;(Y-) (C;(Y-)

• Ihpo. ! Ihpol Ihpo: I

v to lighten v to expose; to reveal, v to ,be swollen; to be n cork; sth bouy8Qt. to dig up, to clean up blollted, to be plentiful

34

(' ('

G~ G~Goy')O'Y.): G~ •

Imo.1 1 moto ka: 1 Imo: 1 v to tilt up n motorcar v to feel tired

G'Pol GC\Y.)C'Y.) GC\Y.):Y.)

f---- / jo: ga 1 110: ka. / 110: ba. / n disease; ailment n the world n ~eed; avarice

GolO'Y.)'l G:X>0 G:X>000 • I wo: ha fa. 1 1 tho. 1 1 tho: ka. 1

--n term; vocabulalY_ n lock, key_ n anxiety; grief

(' Q Q (' G<.JY.)C'Y.) G0'Y.)3 G3d0

I

1 ho kif 1 ho: di 1 lo! n hockey ad} this v to shout; to call

G~3l (' ('

G3d00'P G3d0~_Q'l~ 10 da 1 /0 p!!fa 1 /0 earei ta / n order n opera n operator


ko. ko ko: kho. kho kho: go. go go: ngo. ngo ngo:

so. so so: hso. hso hso: -

zoo zo zo: -- - -- -----nio. nJo njo:

to. to to: hto. hto hto: ---do. do do: --no. no no:

35

It I~. jo. jo jo: rOo m ro: 10. 10 10: woo wo wo: tho. tho tho: hOe bo ho: o. 0 0:


L Level tone co C-

G:)')0 = G3d0 [0]

@> is a combinination of:» and G. For level tone. it is written c:"";

plUS§>.

36


G~ [ 0 ] int word expressing surprise, joy or sudden emotion.

§:> [ 0: ] n ninth in the set of twelve vowels tradi-tionally taught III the learning of Myanmar language.

§:> O'Y.):>':> [0: ga dha. ] n submission for grant exculpation prefacing a prayer.

§:>@'.) [ 0: za] II 1 nutrient. 2 (of soil) enricher. 3 power; authority; influence. 4 order; com-mand. 5 sweet sop.

§:>@'.)GO: [ 0: za pei: ] v to exercise 'one's power; to throw one's weight about (figl.

§:>8'J [0: za a na] n power; authority; influence.

~ar.Y.)

§:>O'Y.) [ 0: ba] n 1 aura. 2 augury, 3 applause; acclaim,

§:> 0'.)1) GO : [0: ba pei:] v 1 to cheer; to applaud. 2 to speak words of praise.

§:>'l~ [ 0: fa. tha. ] II lone's own offspring. 2 [colloq] eldest son or daughter.

§:>013 [0: wa cia, ] II counsel; advice; admonishment.

§:>013 [0: wa da. n monk who gives counsel or advice.

0 s~ri. ja. ]

<»qoo

§:>:>':>Q [0: thQda. ] n drug; medicine.

37

Lesson 7

Vt()wel/oul

The vowel ou is written a combination of ~ plus;:. The order is

ftrst the initial consonant, then ~, then "\.

o o o

o o o

o o o

BOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH VOWEL / ou I


1 2 3 4 -::--

d3 o? 0 0 [kou. ] ro CY.(o --~-en c8 d? d3

-....--!

[kouJ

m d3 d? 0 o - [kou: 1 or: ~~ __ c-___

38

1 1 3 4

6) 0 , ;. ,. [khou. ] 6)

0 6) 6) ; , [khou]

6) 0 0 ,I 0 [khou: ] 6) ft ,I

0 0 q q. q. [gou. ] 0

0 0 q q [gou] 0

0 0 q q: q: [gou: ] 0

U') 0 u? u? 0 [gou. ] U') ute 0

U') U') u? u? [gou]

0 U')

0 0 0 [gou: ] U') ut U?: utI c 0

~ ~. [ngou. ] C 0 0

C c « [ngou]

C 0 0

~: [ngou: ] c « 0 0

Q) Q) , ,. [sou. ]

Q) 0 ~. [sou] Q)

Q) 0

~ ~: [sou: ] Q)

ro 0

~ 0 (hsou. ] Q) ~.

00 0

~ (hsou] 00

00 0

~ ~: [hsou: ] 00

39


o : Ikou: I "nine

o

o •

Ihsou. I v to block

o •

Itou. I v to touch sth Ii tl

o •

/ nou. / n breast milk:

o

I u. I v to send oir

" grandfather

o :

o •

I sou. I ., to suckle

o

o

Itoul v to be short

• / nou. zi /

n condensed milk

o : /mou: /

" sky, rain

v to

o

I soul ., to be wet

o :

Ihsou: I v to be bad

o I

I tou: I . to increase

o : / nou: I

v to wakeu

o

" jam; candied fruit v to leak; to dri

40

0 0 0 ~: "{ ~:

/ jou: / I lou / / thou: / v to be simple; to be v to want; to need; n sheep honest, to be used to to wish for; to desire

0

.~ 0 otO'X> Sf:

/ hou ha / loul lou: ! n that; that thing v to be old; to be aged n pot


kou. kou kou: khou. khou khou: gou .. gou gou: ngou. ngou ngou:

sou. sou sou: hsou. hsou hsou: zou. zou zou: njou. njou njou:

tou. tou tou: htou. htou htou: dou. dou dou: nou. nou noo:

pou. pou pou: hpou. hpou hpou: bou. bou bou: mou. mou mou:

Jou. jou jou: rou. rou rou: lou. lou lou: wou. wou wou: thou. thou thou: hou. hou hou: ou. ou ou:

41

Lesson 8

Vowel luI

The vowel u is written under the consonant. It is written: L for

low-falling tone and i for level tone. For high-falling tone, it is written i

plus -:. But L or -I is lengthened and written to the right of the

consonants ~, _,~, ~ and &. For consonant~, both short Wld long forms

are used, as in 6 and ~L·

~l 23ll-23Il=

42

.. HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH VOWEL luI


1 2 3 4

('Y.) or or [ku. ]

('Y.) or Oi ~ [ku ]

00 or Oil Oil: Oil: [ku: ]

9 , , [khou. ]

9 , i i [khou]

9 , i i: i: [khou: ]

0 <{ <{ [gu. ]

0 <{ Q 2 [gu ]

0 <{ Q QI <2: [gu: ]

C 'C 'C [ngu. ]

C 'C ~ ~ [ngu]

C 'C ~ ~: ~: [ngu: ]

G> ~ ~ [su. ]

G> ~ i i [su]

G> Oi i i: w: [su: ]

CllJ CllJl CllJl [zu. ]

CllJ GlJl GlJIL GlJIL [zu ]

GlJ GlJl GlJIL GlJIL: GlJIL: [zu: ]

43


Of Oil Oil: ! ku.1 I ku! I ku: I

v to give medical v to help; to aid; to assist v to cross over; to cross treatment; to cure (a street)~ to swim. to copy

~ i i: I khu.! Ikhul I khu:!

v to prop up n caterpillar, jelly-fish v to IJIunk,pick, cull

~ ~cn~C\Y.) ~, I gu.1 Igu. talo: I I guo na. I

n now; the present n these days; nowadays n just now; a moment ago

2 ~ ~~~ ! gu! Ingu! !ngu tu du! --

n cave, tomb v to be sullen adv sullenly

O? W W: ! su.! I su I ! su:!

v to collect, to save v to bulge; to swell v to be pricked

OX? ~ ~: ! hsu.! I hsu I ! hsu: ! n prize, v to boil, to be noisy, to n thorn; spike

thing wished, desired scold

or ~ ~: ltu.1 ltu I I tu: I

v to imitate, to vie with v to alike; to be the same v to dig, to be burnt

44

I htu. I Ihtul v to hammer~ to beat v to be thick; to be dense

i' , I du: I Inu. I II knee v to be soft, to be young

I u. I v to be short v to be hot; to be warm

Ibudal n railway station

: Imu: I

v to feel d' and sick

Ilu. I v to take b force' to rob n

: I htu: I

v to be extraor .

t= Inu: I

v to become soft

II

I bu. I II knob; ; node

: Ibu: I

II kind of gourd, tin; jar; container; box with cover

Ilu:! v to smear, to writhe

45


SUo su su: hsu. hsu hsu: zu. zu zu: nju. l!iu nju:

tu. tu tu: htu. htu htu: duo du du: nu. nu nu:

pu. pu pu: ~u. hpu hpu: bu. bu bu: mu. mu mu:

ju. ju ju: ru. ru ru: lu. lu lu: wo. wu wu: thu. thu thu: hu. hu hu: u. u u:


46

2 is a single letter and pronounced in 10w~fa1ling tone. e is for

level tone and ~l is for high-falling tone.

2 2 Exercise 3 - Read and copy tlw fQllowing wQrd§ in MYanmar.

[u. ] ,

n fifth in the set of twelve vowels traditionally 2 taus!!t in the learning of Mxanmar language.

2 [u. ] n 1 egg, roe. 2 tuber or bulb. v to lay (egg).

20? (u. duo ] n 1 season. 2 weather. 3 climate.

--"-20G3

I u. badei] II enacted law; customary law.

2°~ [u. bnma] n likeness; simile; example; parable.

2{3J [ou' 0: 1 n 1 koel :2 siren.

e [ u1 n sixth in the set of twelve vowels traditionally tauidlt in the learning of Myanmar lang~e.

2: [u; ] II title prefixed to the name of a man or a monk. ...

2:~: [u: zi: J n 1 leader. :2 head.

2 = 'PC){ [u: ja lu] n whoever comes frrst.

~:G'1 [u: jei] It 1 scalp. 2 number (of men, animals, things, etc.)

~:GC\'): [u: lei: ] It mother's younger brother; uncle.

47

Lesson 9

Diacritics for clusters of consonants

In Myanmar writing system, ill [j], 'l[ j ], 0 l w 1 and (]) I h ] combine with other consonants to form syllable-itlitial clusters.

Symbol Sound Origiollal C01l50llalll Name

-J [j ] corresponding to 00 [ja. pin. ]

E [j ] com~sponding to '1 [ ja. ji' ]

- [w) corresponding to 0 [wa. hawe: ] 0

- [ h ) corresponding to 0) [ ha. htou: ] J

Both 1I and G represent consonant sound [j ] after other letters, as qj [pj] or § [pj], ~ [ mj ] or ~ [mj]. They are also used with the symbols for 00 [k], Q [kh], 0 [ g ] to write the initials 01J [kj] or

§ [kj], 'lI [ch] or § [ch] and 'lI [gj] or (9 [gj].

1~~1 1+ u I: <iJ I I ~~1 I: [~ I: @ [ pj] [ pj] . + [J]

l~he1 : + [j 1 1+ -J I~ [~i 11 ~he1 I: [~ I~ [~ri 11

17b 1 1+ -J I: t1J 17b] I:[~ I~ ;~1~1 [ bj ] . + [J]

17m] 1+ u I~ ~

17m] I: [~ I~ [~id : + [j] [mj J

48

Ic I+G --1-' fi ,j 14> ~+d'" ,I .... ~. 'I ~.L=too I j J r ~. tfIj, nit- U J <= l}ljl I .

> • , , ,

_co -ut:· I ~ lid: [~J- ,,:' .... ,,":;' ~ However, d:fJ or § f kj ]. 'U 01:' § r ch j, llnd C(J or G' tliiJ were' ':, J

'dustets or-consonants aiid pronobnc~d as they were spelt in those days, . Phoncctically. in present day Myallllar language they are single cOlisonants,

I~J I: ;j~ I: I~ I IT) + I- - 6 w l k I + ! . 1 ;::: l kJ J ' .lJ

[:l~lj I Is'

'0 represents non-initial 0 l w 1; it is written directly below a single

" width consonant like Q, but below the right half of a double-width con-

sonant like 00 - ~, 06 '

[IT; [ : [~I I: (7£J frkh; t [~J I: It] r~gl I: I~J I: [~\J l~n8J I~J~J: ln~; I

49

17~ J 1 : [~l I: [~w I II .-. f'--n ]--+-1 :---"'[ ~~. ]--1-1 :-_ -[--=~-] --fl I~e 1 . I: [~) I: [ ~) II r---~h:-] +--1 : [~~ I -+-1 :--""[ !'---fw;1

17b ) I: [~) I: [ ~w 111---~-b -] --+1-:-[ -=-~-] --+-1 :-[ :a--,W~] ---fl ·1 em ) I: [~) I: [ !w) 1---1 ~-'-j ]----+1-:-[ --=-~-] --+-1 :-[ og---'jw,",-]--II

I '1 I + - I = a II C\) I ++ ['OW] 1:- ["6tW ] I [j ] + [~] = [jw ] I-[----=l]--+-_ ---"'_ ~_-+. ~_----=-_--j_

I ~ ) I: [~) I: [ ~) I t-I ~-a ]-+-1 :-[--=-~-] ---I1-:-[-?1-=-----11

Phonectically,3') is not a consonant. It is a vowel and pronounced as a

vowel. For example, :ra + 05 - :ra05 [u / 1 and :ra + ; - :ra; [un].

SO

T represents h in the initial clusters whi~h. are not written with a unitary symbol (as &, 00 ). . . ~ ...

1~"2] I: [I] I: [~~]I I~] I: [I] I- ~ . = [hnJ 1

[is] I: [I] I: , 17bs] I: [I] I: 'f [hs ] [hs]

I;} ] I: [I] I: ~ I~ I: [I] I: CXf [sh] [ sh J

I~ I: [I] I: "f [ hI)

However, ~ [sh] is cluster of consonants and pronounced as it was spelt in those days. Phonectically, in present day Myanmar language they are single consonant.

Complex combinations:

I: 1:[;11:[~] I:[~ II: 1:[I1I:[!]I:[ki[fJ 1 17kh]I:IJ I:I~] 1:[C~W11.1:] I:[R 1:[~]I:[Ch~] I 17&1 1:[;11:[~J 1:[:] II~J 1:[l]I:[~II:[hn~]1

51

17m) I:[J I:[I) I:[bm~ II~) 1:(5 I:[I) I:p=~ I 1m I:[I) I:(~) I:[sh~ II~ I:(l) I:[~) l:pdWf I I:) I: [;~ I: [ I) I: (~ I

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CLUSTERS OF CONSONANT'S WITH 7 SIMPLE VOWELS


Single Qusteror + Vowel I i I + Tone I, II, III Writing Sound Consonant CODSOIWIt

1 2 3 4 5 6

m CY.lJ o:1l [kji.]

Q m 0'11 cr.u [kji]

cr.u c41 Q m CY.lJ:

[kji:]

52

Single Cluster of + Vowel I i I + Tone I, II, III Writing Sound Consonant Consonant

1 2 3 4 5 6

m § ~ ~ [kji.]

m § ~ ~ [kji)

m § ~: ~: ~: [kji:]

0 m 06 06

0 [kwi.]

06 Q m 06 06

Q [kwi]

06 Q Q m 06 06 06=

Q [k:wi:] 06: 0 m 01J oaJ oaJ

0 [kjwi.]

oaJ Q

m 01J oaJ oaJ Q [kjwi]

oat Q Q

m 01J oaJ oaJ oat: Q [kjwi:] oaJ: m § ~ ~ ~

[kjwi.]

m § ~ ~ ~ [kjwi]

m § ~ ~ ~: ~: [kjwi:]

~ 0

'1. ~ ~ [sbi.]

Q

'1. ~ ". Q [sbi]

~ q ~

0

~ ~: ~: [sm:]

.a 0

'1 ~ .a i [shwi.]

'1 ~ .a i i [shwi)

• G

'1. ~ .a .a .as Aa [shwi:}

53

Stogie Cluster of + Vowel I i I + Tone I, II, III Wrltln~ Sound Consonant Consonant

1 2 3 4 5 6 0 m 06 06

0 [kwi.]

06 (i)

m 06 06 (i) (i) " m 06 06 06:

(i) [kwi]

--~ - [kwi:j-(Ii)

06= 0 m o:u oaJ aaJ (i)

m o:u oaJ oaJ (i) (i)

m o:u oaJ oaJ oaJ=

0 [kjwi.]

r-_oaJ (Ii) [kjwi1

~ (i) fkjwi:l oat:

m § (i ~ m § (i ~

B--[kjwL)

~kJ~ ~ m § (i ~ ~= ~: [kjwi:]

. ---0

'1 ~ ~ 0 [shi. ]

~ ----

I-- '1 it ~ Q (i)

q --~-- JL_- ~: r----t---1--"----

~ .a 0 q .a

Q

q ~ .a .a I I

11 ! [shiJ

i - ~: I [~hi] ~['hWil r . .a

(i) [shwi]

.a Q Q q ~ .a .a .a: Q (sips!· J ,a=

54

Single Cluster of + Vowel lei I Wrido& Sound Consonant Consonant + Tone I. II, III

1 2 3 4 5 6

~ ~oo ~<Y.ij ~<Y.ij. Q<Y.ij. kjei.

(; (;00 ~<Y.ij ~<Y.ij kjei

~ ~oo ~<Y.ij ~<Y.ijl ~<Y.ijl kjei:

(; ~ ~§ Q§. €. kjei.

Q (;00 ~§ .Q§ kjei

Q QOO Q§ Q~I Q~I kjei:

~ ~oo ~06 ~06. Q06. kwei.

Q QOO Q06 Q06 kwei

~ QOO ~06 ~061 Q061 kwei:

~ QOO Q<Y.ij QoaI QoaI. Qoat. kjwei.

~ ~oo ~<Y.ij QoaI ~oaJ kjwei

Q QOO Q<Y.ij ~oaJ QcraJl ~oaI' kjwei:

~ ~oo Qoo ..:,::j ~(i ~(i. ~. kjwei.

--"\

~~ ~ ~O') ~ <"'3 ~~ kjwei

~ ~oo ~§ ~(i ~~I ~~I kjwei:

~ ~q ~a ~S,. QS,. jwei.

~ ~'l ~a ~a jwei

~ (,j;'l ~a Qal ~al jwei:

~ (,j;'l Q~ Q~ Q~ shei.

Q Q'l ~~ Q~ shei

~ ~'l ~~ ~~r (;~I shei:

~ (,j;'l (;~ 9,s 9,s. Q,s shwei.

g Q'l ~~ g,s ~.8 shwei

~ ~q (;~ (;.,8 ~.,81 (;,s} shwei:

55

Single Ouster 01 + Vowel I e I + ToneI,n,m CODSOIWIt Consonant

wrttIDg ScMmd

1 2 3 41 5 6 , cr.U. 00 CY.lJ CY.lJ

kje.

t-OO CY.lJ ~<J:) kje

CY.lJ ,

00 CY.lJ kje:

00 ~ 6 ~ 03 JO

kje. ~

§~ 00 03 kje

00 00 j 6 kje:

00 ag ~ ~o kwe. ('

00 ag ago.:> (' kwe ago.:> 00 ag ~

, kwe:

C'1J , ,

00 C'6J C'6J oaJ. kjwe.

00 CY.lJ C'6J oaI~ kjwe

oaI ,

00 CY.lJ C'6J kjwe:

00 00 ~ ~ ~o J kjwe.

00 § i li~ kjwe

00 § ~ ~ kjwe:

a R ,

q a. jwe.

q R R~ jwe

q a , a jwe:

q ~ ~ ~. she. ('

'l. fl flo.:> she

'l. fl ~ she:

-q ~ .i ,

.a .a. shwe.

'l. ~ .a .a~ shwe

~ .8 ,

'l. .8 shwe:

56

" . .. SInJIe ~8r· '. +Vo'ftl,a, + Tone I, II, ID

c

CODIOIWIt C Writtng Souad

1 2 J. 4· 5 6

00' i , ';<tlJ " ' ' i ': ~ ~ ~ } , ';':!. "

" . .,;.,''- , "

m a.tJ' a:u:> .,

CY.) '. '.<Y.lI' •. <"qp , , ., <Y.lPe' \

• . e ."\ ..

,.. rp " ffi ' .. " .

~ ,<,." 'y

I~ , ~ i . ro "~1' l',,;,

" , , ./ ..

ro -.,.

§:> §:>: ~ 00 06 06 kwa.

00 06 ~ ~ kwa

00 06 ~ 0'6->: ~: kwa:

:011 " ,

00 061 kjwa.

00 011 061 oar kjwa

00 011 061 ~ CY6P: kjwa:

00 00 :i ~ kjwa.

00 00 e& ~ kjwa

00 00 (i ~ ~: kjwa:

} '1 " i \ ."'" " "

jwa.

'1 ' . '~ R=> ., fP jwa

'1 9 ~ fPC jwa:

q .'

~ ~.' :1._, .. ' ~ha.

q '~ ;

1P sha

§\ <

'1 " ~. ;PI 8ha:

. " ..

~i.· .,'

57

Slap '- CbtIter of + V"eI 1{)1 W ....... ,. Soad ConsOlUllli consonant + TOIlfII m

1 2 3 4 5 6 Q ~('Y.) Qo:u?

,.kja. ..

tjo Q Q(T.) . . > • . Q Qoo kjo:

Q Qoo kjo.

Q QOO kjo ,

Qoo kjo: Q

Q Qq sho.

Q sho

Q Q sho:

Single Cluster or + Vowel lout + Tone I, II, III Consonant Consonant

Writing Sound

1 2 3 4 5 6

CY.lJ 0

o:UL o:UL (Y.) CY.lJ kjou.

(Y.) CY.lJ o:U o:UL kjou

0

o:UL 0

(Y.) CY.lJ CY.lJ O'1lL: kjou:

I"" ~ ~l ~L (Y.) 03 J kjou.

(Y.) 103 roo ~ §3l kjou

(Y.) 6 ~ ~l ~L: kjou:

'1 ~ ~ ~ ~. shou.

'1 ~ ~ ~ shou

'1 ~ ~ ~ ~: shou: 0 0 0

:x> ~ ~ ~ ~l ~L. 0 shou.

~l. 0 0

:x> ~ ~ ~ ~l 0 shou ~l

0

~l ~l: :x> ~ ~ ~ 0 shou: ~:

58

Single Cluster of + Vowel lUI + Tone I. II, III Writing Sound Consonant Consonant

1 2 3 4 5 6

("f) 01J O1JL O1Jl kju.

0:> 01J O1Jl O1Jll O1JIL kju

0:> 01J O1Jl O1Jll O1Jll: O1Jll: ' kju: --

0:> 6 6l (§l kju. --

00 § 6l §Il (§IL kju

0:> ~ @l @Il §Ilz @Il: !gU:

q fl ~ ~ shu.

q fl ~ ~l ~l shu

-- q fl ~ ~l ~l: ~L: shu:

~ :>qJ ~ ~l ~L shu.

~ :>.:ij ~ ~l ~Il ~IL shu

~ :>.:ij ~ ~L ~Il ~Il: ~Il: shu:

Exercise - Read and copy the following words in Myanmar.

0 0 ~ Q Q o:n o:n 000') 01)4Y.): <">11: I kji. gji. te'l I kji za: I / kji: /

mit! crawling with; rolling v to tease; to jest II crow; house crow in (wealth)

0 G<1'1JG~: G01J=g:> G<">1J:!:~

/ kjei ei: I I kjei: jwa I / kjei: zu: shi. i v to be placated: n vIllage v to be indebted to sb, to settle amicably to be beneficial

59

~ ....

o:uoo o:u o:u I kje I I kje: I I kja. I

v to be wide; to be broad, v to be having spaces v to fall; to drop, to fail, to to be loud between component units decline, to cost

~

011011" <YiP: G<YiP 'kj: gj, I / a. a. na. na. , I kja: I Ikjo I

adv properly n tiger v to ge over, to exceed,

0 0 G<YiP O1Il O1Il: I kjo: I I kjou I I kjou: /

n back; behind; rear l' to boil, to melt v to break, to be creased

~o:Y.) ~: G6 / kari. ja I I kji: I I kjei I

n [gram] verb v to be big, to be older v to be crumbled

G6: 6 03 6 I kjei: I I kje I Ilge: I

n copper or brass or n star v to scatter; to cast bronze, money, price

§> §>: §>: --

I kja I / kja: / I gja: / n water-lily; lotus v to hear n in-between; interval;

v to take a long time interim

~l ~l: ~l:OY.): / kjou / _~Isi_~)U: I / kjou: za: I

l! to meet sb on arrival, to n rope; string; cord v to try; to endeavour; welcome sb or sth to make great effort

60

('

G~. G~: ~O,') I kwei. I I kwei: I Ikwel

v to turn; to veer v to bend~ to curl v to hide~ to conceal

,""

Ikwe: I Ikwa. I Ikwal v to be broken v to be bandy-legged v to become detached,

to differ, to arate

" (io: GaaJ: aaJ I kjwei: / Ikjwe: I Ikjwa: I v to feed n water buffalo v to boast; to brag

~ ~ ~: I chao I I chal I cha: I

v to put down; to drop v to be poor, inferior n merry-go-round (in Quality)

Q Q

~ ~:o:tJlL: ~Il I chi I I chi: kju: I I chul

v to lift, to ~8J"I'Y v to praise; to honour n jingle bell

" •

I chi I I I che. I v to sneeze v to lend, to borrow v to ex erate

('

G6lP c;SJ? c;6lP I cho: I I cho. I I cho I -

v to be slippery, to be v to coax; to persuade. v to slip, to miss smooth, to be handsome to soothe; topac!tY Ohepoint, target)

61

0 0 0 • •

I chou: I v to break, to turn

• • I che ri I I chao I I cha: na: I

n termite~ white ant v to be differ

I chei I rna. I v to crush into bits

I che I /khwa. I Ikhwa/ v to aint, to decorate v to sit astride

<C;~ <C;~: <c;~:<c;§ / khwei I Ikhwei: I / khwei: chi I

v to coil; to curl up n dog n stool

~ ...

<C;810Y-> ~<C;O

Ikhwe: I Ikhwe: wei I I chwei tal v to break, tosepaJ"ate v to distribute v to be economical

... <C;8J: <C;8JU:~ fiJ

/ chwei: I I chwei: rna. / I chwe: I n sweat; perspiration n daughter-in-law n phlegIll. mucus

... 0

<">1J

62

• ei. /

v to be tired of

v to borrow, to lend

" " 9. ~ ~ / hnge. / Iswal I swe: I

v to pour (out) v to be impudent v to attach finnly

0

G~~l: G~: G~:G§:

/ hswei mjou: I I hswei: I I hswei: nwei: / II relatives; kin v (of wood) to decay v to discuss; to confer

" ~~l: ('

~ ~OOCJY.)

Ihswe: / / hswe: gjou: / / hswe ta / v to hang, to pull, to draw II necklace; chain II sweater; pull-over

o

I zwe: I n tenacit; erseverance v to be considerate

~ 0 ('

21 2::2 l:C 00 0'6-'= ~'.): / hnji / I hnjou: nge / I twa: thwa: I

v to smell rank (of blood) v to be dejected; to be sad v to crawl; to creep

f----Goa GO G06. Goa = I twei wei I I twei. / I twei: I

v to be in a daze or stupor v to see, to meet v to think; to imagine

63

\

aa ~

0'600CJY.) ~: I twe: I I twe ta I I htwa: I

!--n coach or wagon v to be strongly attached v to be large; to be stout;

(railway) to to burly; to be chubby

0 ~llmC\)oo ~~: ~~

I nju kali ja. I ; nwa: / i nwei / !--

n nucleus n bull; cow; ox n summer; hot season

" ~

~. ~OO ;a / nwe.; Inwel Ihnama. I

v to behave in a dainty, n creeper; vine n man's younger sister enchanting matlller

;~~ ;~~~ ;~~G):

f--. / hnamjo: I I hna chei / / hnasei: /

v to be sorry to lose sth, v to sneeze v to catch cold to be stingy, miserly

~;: , 0

;l: / hnei: / / hne: / I hnou: /

v to be slow n oboe (Myanmar type) v to awaken someone

!~ ~!: qp / hnwa / Ihnwei: / I pja I v topeel v to warm sth v to be in a flurry

~ qp: Gc.u? ~qp

- I pja: I / pjo. I / pjo I nbee v to be soft; to be weak v to melt; to dissolve,

to happy, glad, merry

64

co ..... @ @~ G~~QY.): --

/ pjo bwe: za: / / pja. / / pja. bwe: / n picnic v to show; to display n exhibition; show; fair

/ 'a: / v to be flat v to finish

@l G@: G~ / pju. / / pjei: / / pjo: I

v to do; to act, to make v to run, to move fast v to speak; to tell

Bl ~ ~: / pjou / / pwa. / / pwa: /

v to collapse; to fall down v to spread; to swell, v to grow or increase to be allover the place in number; to duplicate

G~ G~. G~: I pwei / / pwei. / I pwei: /

11 to be besieged with, 11 to lift, carry or hold up n mole, ringwonn to play around in one's arms

..... .....

~ ~QY.): <tP / pwe: / I pwe: za: I / hpja /

n public function; festival, n broker n mat fair

(' qp: Gqj? G<tP I hpja: / / hpjo. / / hpjo /

v to have fever v to be pale; to be faded; v to dissolve (in liquid), to to be light (colour} make

/ h 'a I v to spread out in all direction, to radiate

§Il .I hpju I

v to be white; to be fair, to be pure

~ I hpje: I

v to widen (as of mouth), to tear (paper, clothes, etc)

~ I hQwa.!

v to raffle, to mess up

(c;~1

I hQwei: I v to be white

~'iP1 I bja mja: I

v to be full of anxiety

f-------

(C;gOr( / bweiju /

v to take offence

65

v to comb or brush (hair)

§ILI I hpji: I

v to sprinkle

G~ I hpjo: I

v to blanch with boiling water (vegatable, fiuit)

~ / hpwa I

v to puff (in smoking)

" ~ I hpwe: /

n bran, paddy husk

(C;~ / bjo: /

n kind ofiong drum

" 06. Ibwe. /

n title or award

v to bluff; to pretend

(C;§ I hpjei I

v to untie; to undo, to answer, to reply

@l / hpjou I .

v to demolish, to destroy; to scatter

~I~I I hpwa: hpwa: / n granny; grandma

0 Q

~ll~m(C;'lG) --

/ biu rou karei si / n bureaucracy

QQQ goo

I bwi pi pi I n VPP

(value payable~erJ)ost)

" 0'6'J16h, I bwa: !@ne: /

adv (appear) suddenly

66

0 ~: (O~ ~l I mja: I I mjo: I I mjoul

v to be many; to be much v to float; to drift v to swallow; togobble

n emerald

n mist; haze; fog n earth; land; ground; soil

(O§o ~ (O~ I mjei be: I I mje: I I mjo: I

n groundnut; peanut v to be firm; to be resolute v to be in a coma

~l. ~ (O~.'P I hpwei: I Imwa. I Ihmwei. jal n town; city v to be spongy; to be flaky n mattress

(O~:§ll(O'l: "-(O~: ~

I mwei: I I mwei: mju jei: I Imwe: I v to give birth; to be born n animal husbandry v to be poor

~o

r:> ~~ (O~:

Ihmal I hmi khoul I hmei: I v to send word; to leave v to depend on someone, v (of eyelids) to close

word, to order sth to take refuge in partially, to catnap

....

• Ibme. / II mole

v to expect; to look forward to to ho for

W / sha/

v to search; to look for

I shu I v to breathe; to inhale

~

~OOo:Y.)

I shejal n share

/ '0. /

v to subside; to lessen

67

o

I hmou I Imweil II mushroom, s n snake, s

~ : • Ibmwei. / Ibmwei: I

v to twirl; to spin; to flail v to be fragrant, to SMell sweet

I sha. I v to choose; to select

0 W: ~ I sha: / I shi. /

v to be rare; to be scarce v to be, to have

• I shei. I n front v to be ancient

.... G.a .a I shwei I I shwe: I

ngold v to be wet

I lwe: I

t\f I hla.1

v to be pretty

I shal n ton e

~l I shoul

II ravine; gully

t09. Ihwei I

v to butt; to gore

0 G~: • It

I thwei: tou: I v to suffer

fromh ension

68

a?= I hli: I

v to slice; to cut

I shoo zei: I

It •

n sale; reduced rice

~ I hlwa.1

II saw

~: Ithwa: I

II tooth v to go

(,'

~()..') / thwe I

v to be connect; to join, to be slender

to"]> I hlei / n boat

I shol v tow h

e " 9U~'

I hwi: g.ane: I adv with a whiz

tO~: I thwei: I

II blood

e (,' roc

I sm lin I n shilling

69

Aoother vowel symbols for I i I, I ei I and I e /

There are another vowel symbols for / j I, / ei / and Ie/. They are

-~, -~ and -~:. The initial consonant is followed by consonant ~

[oj] plus the symbol .: [called Altha'), i.c. as in ::o~. Level tone is basic,

low-falling tone is ""TItten with -; [called au'ka.mji'J. i.e. as in ;:uei, and

high-falHng tone is written with -: [called shei. gao paul), i.e. as in ::o~:, According to the situations, it is pronounced as / i / or / ei / or / e I.

70

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH VOWEL I i I or I ei lor I e I


1 2 3 4 ~ ~ ~ [ dhi. ]

:0 :o~ :l.')~ :o~ :l.')

~ ~ [dhi 1 :l.') :l.') :0 ~ ~ [ dhi: ] :0 :l.') :o~: :0 • • ~ ~ [ si. 1 0) 0) 0)

~ ~ [ si] 0) Q)~ O)~ Q)~

~ ~ [ si: ] 0) 0) 0) • •

2 3 4 [pjei. ]

[hpjei. ]

[hpjei: J

1 2 3 4 ~ ~ ~ [te. ] en en en ~ ~ [te/ti]

0) O)~ O)~ O?~ ~ ~ [te: J

00 en 0) • • ~ [hte. ]

00 00 oo2:l ~ [hte]

00 00 ex>

/

71


/ k'i bu(/ nbullet

§~ / kji. I

v to look at

~

~~ I chi. I

v to be feeble; to be infirm; to be paralysed

~

SO~ Ihse I

n dam; weir

~ ~ (Y.) Q(Y.)

lte. ma'i v to be straight

~ 00

I hte. / 11 to ut in; to insert

n stem; method

v to respect; to revere

§~ I kji I

v to be clear; to be clean

~

~~ I chi I

n thread; yarn; cotton v to bind; to tie; to fasten

~

SO~:~: I hsi: bu: I

v to acquire (knowledge, riches, merit, etc)

(Y.)

v to be steadfast; to be stable; to endure

~ 01 00

Ihte wal 11 to be and

v to be full

v to be cordial, to be eeable

§ ~ ~ m~:(Y.)o

I kji: da'i n land forces; army

~

Q)~ I sil

n bigdrum (musical instrument)

~ ~

SO~:C\')~:

I hswe: Ie: I n small bells

(Y.)

I te: khou / v to put up at; to lodge

~ , • • I ne: I

v to be small, to be little

I h ·ei. I v to fufil to add

pron who

§~ I mji I

v to sound; to produce sound

~

~:G>O:

I ji: za: I It sweetheart

~

"1~ / hIe. I

v to go or move round sth; to tum; to spin

~

:>.)~ I dill I ad) this

~

~~: I i: I

n sound of groaning

72

~ • • I me: I

v to be black; to be dark

§~: I mji: I

n ass; donkey v to try; to taste

~ ~ C\)~OC:

/ Ie bin: / It throat; neck

~

"1~. G>O: I hIe. za: /

v to deceive; to play one false

~ :>.)~:

/ the: (till:) / v (of rain) to be violent;

to be strong

~ ~

~~S,: / e. gan: I

n drawing-room; parlour

n consonant

v (of cloth, paper, etc) to be near disint ation

~~ ao:> I jijwe I

v to hope for; to aim at; to intend

~

C\)~:

lIe: / part also, too

~

"1~: I hIe: /

n (bullock) cart

~

(»~:

/ hi: I v (of earthquake) to

rumble; to roar

~ ~

~~:>.)~ / e. dhe / n guest

73

Lesson 10

Nasalized vowel/in /

The initial consonant is followed by consonant C [ng] plus the

symbol ~ [called !tha'], i.e. as in m~ .Level tone is basic, low-falling tone

is written with -; [called au' ka. mji~]. i.e. as in m~ and high-falling tone

is written with -t {called sbei. gao pau'], i.e. as in m~:. For few

consonants, they can be followed by consonant ~ / 2 [njl plus the symbol ~. . c: 0: -, I.e. at) III CY.ij2 ' d>2 .

c c (' CDC CDC CDC:

0

c c c 0112 D1Jrt CYiJ2:

c c c 0ij2 Oij~ ~2:

~c ~c:

74

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH NASALIZED VOWEL I in I


1 2 3 4 ~ ~ ~ [kin. ] ro roc roc roc roc

• • ~ ~ [kin] ro roc roc roc ~ ~ t' [kin: ] ro roc roc roC: roC: ~ ~ ~ [khin. ] 9 9C 9C 9C 9C • • t' t' [kbin] 9 9C 9C 9C ~ ~ t' [khin: ] 9 9C 9C SCI SCI ~ ~ ~ [ngin. ] C CC CC CC CC • • ~ t' [ngin 1 C cc CC CC t' ~ t' [ngin: 1

C cc cc CC: CC:

1 2 3 4 ~ [kjin. ]

<">11~ t' [kjin]

<">112 t' [kjin: ]

<">112: ~ [chin. ]

t' [chin] 6112

~ t' [chin: ] ~2: ~2:

75

Exercise - Read and COPY the following \vords in Mvanmar

C' ~ C' , mc mc~'P mc:oo I kin I / kin mara I I kin: de: !

v to roast, broil, barbecue 11 camera 11 guard house

o:u~ C' C' o:u c;: :X>~: '1. o:uC:U

I kjin I ! kjin. dha: ja. I / kiin: pa. / l' to reel pain l' to be accustomed to l' to hole; to celebrate

C' 62 C' @ C' O:U2: 06C: uc I kjin: / / kjin I / kwin: bjin I

v to be narrow v to avoid; to shun n field; open tield

(i~: C' C' 6lCt(p: <lJC:

/ kjwin: / / khamja: I / gjin: / v to remain proll vou 11 ginger

C'

sue §8 §8: / chin / I chin / / chin: /

--v to be sour: to be acid 11 mosquito 11 basket

C' C' 0 C'

~9~ nCar mc / khwin. ju / I gin dou / / gjin I v to take leave 11 short and stubby person It top (toy)

(of absence)

(58: <:'6 C' ('

t1)C moo t1)~ / njin: / I sin kje I I sin. /

v to refuse to obey v to be free from: to be 11 glaze clear; to be pure

76

~ ~ OD8(C;sT <De :OY.): ODC •

/ sin: za: ! ! hsin / / hsin. kho / v to think; to consider n elephant v to summon

~ ~ .... ~ ODC: roC:'), ~C:l:Y.)

/ hsin: i / hsin: je: / / njin tha / v to go down, to descend v to be poor v to be smooth

(' .... ~ ~

~e:ro O'.)C 0'.) C o:Y.:>: •

/ hnjin: ze: / / tin / / tin. ga: / v to torture v to put or place sth n tank (armoured

on sth combat vehicle)

~ ~ ~ ('

06COiJOO 06C: roCS(-': / twin kje / / twin: / / htin sha: /

v to be important; to n pit; well; hole v to be visible distintly, prosper; to be influential (in the ground) to be wen-known

(' ~ ('

~C:ot 'C 'C: / htwin: htu. / / nin / / nin: /

v to carve; to sculpture pron you v to step on

(' ~ ~ roC: O1JC "6<: ! lin: / / hlin (ljin) / / lwin. /

v to be bright, to be clear v to be swift; to be fast v to be blown away

~9 (' ('

OC :A)C

/ hlwin. / / win I I thin I v to spread; to dissemi- v to enter; to come in; to v to teach; to train,

nate; to propagate go in, to join; to enlist to learn

77

Lesson 11

Nasalized vowel/an I

The initial consonant is followed by consonant a:> [n] or., [n]

or G.) [m] plus the symbol.! [called atba'], i.e. as in 3c::rl, :l:)', oo~. Level tone is basic, low-falling tone is written with -; [called au' ka. mj;'],

i.e. as in ::n;. and high-falling tone is written with -2 [called sbei. gao

'J . . ~

pau ,I.e. as m C\)~:.

~ [called thei: dhei: tin1 is also used for level tone, i.e. as in O?, and ~ [called tbei: dbei: tin aut ka. mji'J for low-falling tone, i.e. as in 00.

3ClD ~.

o o

78

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH NASALIZED VOWEL I an I


1 2 3 4 ~ ~ [dan] 3 300 300 300 ~ ~ ~ [dan. ] 3 3, 3, 3,. 3,. ~ ~ [dan] 3 3, 3, 3, ~ ~ ~ [dan: ] 3 3, 3, 3,: 3,: ~ ~ ~ [Ian: ]

00 OO~ OO~ OO~: ooa:

1 2 3 4 • • • [kan. ]

00 00 00 00 • • • • [kan ]

00 00 00

§ I 03 ~. ~. [kjan. ]

§ I ~ ~ [kjan ]


~ ~ ~

00,. 00, 00,: I kan. I Ikanl I kan: I

v to block; to form into II lake; pond; tank v to be blind compartment

~ • o:iJ (Y.)~: 00

I kan: I Ikanl I kjan I II bank (of river); shore II one's deed, luck v to smear; to plaster

79

<:' <:' 6 CYiJ' CYiJ,:WJ I kjan I I kjan: rna I I kjan /

---1-' to remain v to be healthy n sugar-cane

6~: <:' <:' <:'

3C106p 3,. o.:>~, I kian: / I danja / I dan. dalun I

v to be r-ough; to be harsh 11 wound 11 horseradish tree

<:' <:' <:' 3, 3,: ,~:

I dan! / dan: I / nan: I 11 copper, aluminium 11 swing v to smell, to kiss

• <:' <:' <:' 0000: 00,:00,: CO~:

-

/ Ian ba: / flan: zan: I flan: I t-----

11 tall man ----

v to be fresh n road; street; pathway

• <:' <:' 0.:> 0.:> ,: :>..) ~:

1----- c----- --/ than I I than: I I than: I c--- --

II iron, iron nail n million v to yawn

<:' • s?@> 00, ~

Ihanl I ani I an. 0: I n gesture; pose; posture 11 molar, tray; drawer v to be amazed; to be

wonder struck

<:' <:' <:' ~, ~'<IY.) ~~:

I an / I an za I I an: I v to vomit; to retch n dice v to refund, to give back

chan~e

80

Lesson 12

Nasalized vowel I un I

At ftrst, the initial consonant is followed by non-initial 0 [w J [called wa. bswe:], it is written directly below a single-width consonant like

g, but below the right half of a doubJe~width consonant like 0) - 8, ~. And then, it is followed by consonant., [n] or ~ [m J plus the

symbol 2. rcalled atha'], i.e. as in "6;' "6~' Level tone is basic, low~

thlling tone is written with -; [caned au' 1m. mji'], i.e. as in 06;. and

high~falling tone is written with -! {called sbei. gao pau'], i.e. as in o&~:.

i [called wn. hswe: thei: dhei: tin] is also used for level tone, i.e.

as in !, and i . [called WH. hswe: tbei: dbei: tin au' 1m. mji'] for low~

falling tone, i.e. as in~ •.

-----

81

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH NASALIZED VOWEL I un I

o

The order of the strokes is as illustrated below. Let's read and write. ) 2 3 4

(' <' CY6 ~. -~~.

C' ('

06~ <:'

<Y6 06~:

I 2 3 4 (' <:' ~: ~:

<:' <:' ~: ~:

Co' ('

~: ~:

[kuD. J

[kun)

[kun: ]

[kun: ]

[hsun: ]

[lun:] (lwan:)

82

1 2 3 .:3 • • [sun]

~ ~ ~ .. ~-. -~ . [hsun. ]

~ ~


061 /Iron/

It net; casting net

It island

/ chWl/ 1----v to sharpen to Ii pomt

~

~,. --

/ SWl. / v to throwaway

~

O'6Q: / Iron: (kwan:) /

It betel vine, betel leaf

/ ChWl: / It iron hook or goad to drive an de hant

~

-----~, / sun/ n kite

061' /kjun/ It slave

v to somersault

/ n cotton wool

w;: / sun: /

v to be stained

~

1-------~~------_+------~-®-~--------.1_------=-'L .. ------, / / hsun. a. / / lun. /

I-----"------"---+---~------n food (offered to the v to be mute; to be dumb v to wriggle; to writhe

Buddha or monks

v to

83

Nasaliztd vowel I em I

At first, the initial consonant is followed by vowel symbol ! [i.) [called loun: gji: tin], it is written directly over single-width consonants, but

over the right side of double-width consonants, as in " ~. And then, it is

followed by consonant, [n] ore (m 1 plus the symbol! [called .tha'),

i.e. as in ~;, ~,. Level tone is basic, low-falling tone is written with -;

(called au' ka. mjl']. i.e. as in 03;' and high-falling tone is written with-:

[called abel. ga. pau'], i.e. ~ in <8~f.

DC de 0(' O~b O~ O~: 0(' 0(\ 0<'

C\)~ C\)~ C\)~: "

Q~ OC O~

84

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH NASALIZED VOWEL I ein I


1 2 3 0 0

° ° 0, 0 0

° ° 0, 0 0

° ° 0, ----_.

03 0 ro~

---- ------0---0 00 00

--- as as --

2 3

0(' 00,=

4 5 0(' 0(' 0., O,@

--"--0(' 0, 0(' 0(' 0, 0,= 0(' o (' --ro~ OO~ ..

0(' CO~

----- ---o-~--0(' OO~ OO~:

4 5

0(' [pein.] 0., .. 1---0 (' 0, [pein]

1--- 0 (' [pein:] 0,= 0(' . --OO~

[lem.] .,

1--- 0(' ----[lein]

ro~ 1---

0 ('-- -----

[lein. ] OO~:

[kjein.]

"------"':.---"-::------+'-------' [kjcin]

f--·--::!"---'---+-----------

[kjein: ]

[kjein.]

[kjein]

[kjein:]

0(' 0('

, ___________ 01J=-,,-'~: -----I ---+-----1--__ I_k_c ____ in_:_I____ _ _____ ~-'kJ~· e_in_,_!_ ---1--- ! kjein: /

v to smart: n number l' to curse with haml or evil to others to be set on ed e

85

~~ ~~: O~

611' ; kjein; ; kjein:; ; chein;

n cane; rattan v to proclaim (one's v to weigh, to aim, prowless), to scold to aim for to aspire to

~;: ~~: (S~ ; chein:; ; chern:; ; njein.;

v to make an appointment v to threaten to thunder v to feel springy

; njein; v to be still; to be static

; sein; ; sein.; ; sein; 93 diamond em 11 to s - , to feel the chill

~~: 0(-~~ QOa ..

f--

; sem:; ; hsem. ; ; tein; [-----------

v to be green' unripe v to be rich in taste 93 cloud

I htein: ;

0(' 0(' ,~ ,~ ,a

; nein.; ; hnein; ; hnem.; v to be lower v to degrade, to suppress v to lower

86

Lesson 14

Nasalized vowel I OUR I

At first, the initial consonant is followed by vowel symbol l [u. 1 (called t!ebaun: Olin), it is written directly under single-width consonants,

but under the right side of double-width consonants, as in,. <,,? And then, it

is followed by consonant, [ n 1 or e [m] plus the symbol! [called ,IItha'l. i.e. as in <"?4, ,;. Level tone is basic, low·falling tone is written with -;

[called au' kat mji'], i.e. as in 4t; .. and higb~falling tone is written with -,

[called shei. ea. pau'], i.e. as in~;I.

1- {called thei: dhei: tin - taehaun: ngin) is also used for level

tone, i.e. as in 01. ~. [called the!: dhei: tin - ta~baUD: ogia - au' ka.

mji'l for low-falling tone, i.e. as in "*. and l' [called thei: dbei: tin -t!ehaun: ngin - sbei. ge. pau'1 for high-falling tone.

o 0 0

C' (' <:'

'i~o: ''i~ ~~: ==

0 0 «)

~o £tI £tI,~

87

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH NASALIZED VOWEL / OUD /


1 2 3 4 5 (' (' (' [koun.] m or or, nt, or,. or,.

_CYt, (' [koun] m or or, or, (' (' (' [koun:] ro nt nt, or, or,: or,:

• • • "i. [loun.] C\) C\) at C\{.

• • "i [loun] C\) C\) at

• • • • [loun:] C\) C\) at at: at: 1 2 3 4 5

§ ~ ~l ~L ~l. [ kjou.]

§ ~ ~L ~l [kjou]

§ ~ ~l ~l: ~l: [kjou:]

(' (' (' [hmoun. if y y, y, y,. ~,. ]

if 'i (' i--- ('

[hmoun] y, y, y, (' (' (' [hmoun:

if y y, r--- Y' y,= y,= J

• • <I; [shoun.] 51 ~ ~ ~. ~.

• • [shoun] 51 ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~: ~: [shoun:]

88

Exercise - Read and copy the following words in MyaD1l1ar.

or; ~

~l or;: / koun / Ikoun: I I kjoun I

n goods; conunodity v to bend, to be bent v to meet or happen by v to be finished, run out n land, high ground chance, to be 0ppol1une

(' • • • y; y ~:O)O'Y.):

/khoun/ / khoun/ / goun: dada: I v to jump up lover n chair;bench n over-bridge

~l • ~ ~

<"lilY;. ~;: / choun / / gjoun hmoun. / I SOlin: i

v to cover; to wrap n wheat flour II witch

• ~ ~

~: cr; err; .I hsoun: / / zoun I I toun I

v to come to an end,· n zone v to tremble; to shake; to lose, to die to quake; to quiver

• • • or: at ;: / toun: I / htoun / / noun: /

n log; block of wood v to be dull, to be v to be tired; to be wom-numbled, to be torpid out; to be fatigued

~ ~ • ;;: <i;: <i / hnoun: I ! poun: I ! poun I

n rate l' to hlJe 11 form. picture, story

@l': '(9l= ~

~; /rloun: / ' .• i' • /

;~ i PJoun. i / hpoun I v to be depleted v ~, to smile 1l dust

89

~ Q ~

~: §l': en 0.:> C\') <f , : I te Ii hpoun: I I hpoun: I I hpoun: I

n telephone v to cover, to conceal sth v to waste; to squander

~l ~: ~ :rt,:

I hpjoun I I boun: I / hpoun: I v to be scared n bomb n power; glory

~ ~ ~

't'. 't;C\Y.>2 't;: / moun. / / moun la 'u. I I moun: i n snack n radish v to hate; to dislike

~ • •

'1' U? 'J.= I hmoun I I joun i I joun: I

v to be dim, to be gloomy v to believe; to trust II office, court

• ~: a.i: \1.

/ shoun. I I shoun: I I loun: I v to wrinkle, to shrink v to fail (examination) v to be round; globular

• • • ~= 3f. 3f

I thoun: I loun. / I oun I n three v (of sky) to become v to crowd together;

v to use; to spend overcast to assemble

• ~ ~ . ~

2l GO' C:3f= 3f;: /ounl I gaun: oun: I / oun: /

n invocation at the n pillow n coconut palm beginning of a mantra

90

Lesson 15

Nasalized vowel I ain I

At first, the initial consonant is foHowed by vowel symbol ~ [i. 1 [called Ioun: gii: tin] and l [u. 1 [called t,!cbaun: »gin}, it is written

directly under sing]e~width consonants, but under the tight side of double

width consonants, as in ;, o?' And then, it is followed by consonant C

[ ng ] plus the symbol ~ [called .@tba'], i.e. as in ~d. o?~. Level tone is

basic? low-falling tone is written with -;; [called au' 1m. mji'], i.e. as in ~~

and high-falling tone is written with -# [called sbei. gao pan'], i.e. as in

oC' Ot' 0(' ::C!tc : :,.: ~~::: ,:. ::r:rt:~~ ::::: . OC' OC' .. 0<:'

91

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH NASALIZED VOWEL / aiD /


1 2 4

~ ~ [kain.] ro C • 0 [kain] ro ro 0 [kain:] ro ro

0 [khain.] S S

Q) 2 [khain]

0 [khain:] S Q)

[kjain.]

[kjain]

[kjain:]

hmain.

hmain

hmain:


01~ 0(' 0('

~c ~c: I kainl I khain / / khain: I

v to hold in the hand v to be steadfast v to order or ask

0(' 0('

a?~ «C ~C I ngainl / hsain I I tain I v to mope n shop; stall; store v to complain, to inform

92

ot' ot' ot' orC: CX?C CX?C: --

! tain: / / htain / I htain: i ----. l' to measure; to gauge v to sit II Thai

ot' Q ot' o t' • § l Cuy')'l ;C ;ec &:>: -

/ dainja ji ! / nain / / nain ~n gia: / - . "- -----

n diary v to win; to conquer n foreign country

ot' (§l6 ot' <?C <fC

--/ Qain! ipjain! -- ~---

/ hQain I ---

v to ovvn; to possess v to compete II file

ot' Oc:' ~t8 'fC 'fC:

I main / I main: / I mjain / II mile II mile v to be rich in variety

0<:- ot' ot' t'

~C ur C €UC : UC : Ihmainl / jain! / jain: Qin: !

11 to mope; to be do\Vl1cast v to incline; to lean v to rally round; to come to the aid of; to help

a?8G>6 0<:- CJ<:-C\( C : 0')0: ate:

/ lain sin I / lain: ga: / / hlain: / -

II licence " route bus II wave

0<:' 0<:- 0<:-erC: ~e: arC / wain: / / thain: I / ain /

11 to be circular II martial arts II pond; puddle; pool

93

Nasalized vowel I aun I

At first, the vowel symbol ~~ [ei 1 [called tb!.wei htou:] is written

before the initial consonant and -? [a] [calJed jei: cha.1, it is written

directly after the initial consonant letter, as in 90'Y.). -1 [a] [mau' tha.]

is used with 9, (), C, 3, 0 and 0, as in Q&l. And then, it is followed by

consonant C [ng] plus the symbol I:' [called @tba'], i. e. as in G<Y.Y.>~,

Q&1 ~. Level tone is basic, low-falling tone is vvritten with -; [called au' 1m.

mji'], i.c. as in <';o:Y.>~, Q&l ~ and high-falling tone is written with -: [called

shei. gao pau']. i.e. as in ~0'Y.)~1, ~&1';:.

G{)YJC GOYJC GOYJC: o

o

GO]p~ ~~~ ~~~:

§[93?§ §[§§§ §fi!P~:

94

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WIm NASALIZED VOWEI~ I aun I

The order of the strokes is as illustrated below. Let's read and ·write.

1 2 3 4 5 6 (- <:' (- kaun. G GO') GO'Y.) GO'Y.)C GO'Y.)C GO'Y.)C GO'Y.)C

• • <.' <.' kaun G GOO GO'Y.) GO'Y.)C GO'Y.)C GO'Y.)C

-' <:' (' (' kaun: G GOO GO'Y.) GO'Y.)C GO'Y.)C GO'Y.)C: GO'Y.)C:

G GQ GQ1 GQlc G~1~ GQ1~ G~1~ khaun. • •

G G~ G~1 Gf.))lc GO)18 GO)18 khaun

G GO) G(;)l G(;)l C G(;)18 Gf.))18: G(;) 18: khaun:

1 2 3 <$ 5 6 7

~<Y.{j ~<"Se, ~oqrc c:' c:' e kjaun.

~ ~m ~fYiPC ~0iP<t e~<t e e kjaun

--~ ~m @<Y.{j ~cqr:> ~(T"iPc eoqrc eO':/Pc

ecr:u ec-qp e<Y.trc e e<Y.tr~s e kjaun: e em e~c ~~

e e c-- e --~--@ @~ e~ @~ Q~C @~C @~c ~<t

CMUll.

-- --,

Q~~-,1 --

@liij ~GtPc e e ChaUll <.l @~ <.lGtP <.lGtPc ~C ---I-----' c:' '- e

chaun: <.l <.lli> ~ @~ ~rc @~c eSij?C3

e ~m <.l§ @~ , ~ ro::.Y., c 1--, ~§:>~ e§~ e(CY.YJ~ kjmlll.

<.l @oo @rro @§ @~c I~~ @~~ kjaun j

. --... ecm G§C I ~§~ ~&~;- _~~s kJ8un: <.l em @"3,

@§ t-." ~~ e e e chaun. e @Ii> e~ I ~~c I ~ooc ~~<t @str<t e ~Ii> ~ @w ~ooc ~~ ~~

chaun'-

I"'"' ~~c ;r;~ " e ----':"-e chaun: @ @Ii> ~Ii> eoo @~C3 I e~c2

1 2 .) <3 5 6 e kjauu, @ @ C •

@ kjaun

~ @ chaun:

95

Exercise - Read and copy the following words in Mvanmar.

C' C' G~8 G(y'y')C: GCWC : / kaun: / I kjaun: .I ! kjaun /

v to be good; nice II school, monastery II cat

~C'o GO)18: C'

GS C't= G6lPC

/ khaun mou: / / gaun:! / chaun / II roof II head v to be loose

C' G§~9

C' G6tPC : GOY.:>C ,

• / chaun: J ! hnjaun.! I saun. /

II creek; stream; brook II spike on the ground v to wait for

C' C' C' C' GQY.)C: GQ(Y.)C: G~~COC

I saun: I / hsaun: /. / njaun bin / II harp n cold season, "~nter n banyan tree

C' (' ('

G~C: GOY..>C GOY..>C:

,: naun: / ! taun! ! taun: I v (of muscles) to be stiff n mountain; hill, v to ask for (sth)

south (direction) II basket

C' (' C' G<xy')C G<xy')C Gcxy')C:

• ! htaun! I daun.! I htaun: I

v to stand, to set up II corner, angle v to pound

G31t: C' (' ('

G'~COO G'~9O:;(Y) / daun: / / naun da. I I hnaun. she' / II peafowl n repentance; remorse v to disturb; bother;

interrupt; annoy

96

Go18 ~ {' {' GO C't, .. Go18: / paun / /paun moun. I / paun: / --If thigh Il bread v to add; mix,

to be friends; associate

G§:>8 G§:>8: (:' 0(:'

_. . __ ... _----- G(YJC~~ __ . ! pjaun / ._----1--.-

! £iaun: / I hp~~ teil~/ __ v to shine, to joke; jest to millet, maize If tountain pen -

------.-.----+-.------,------. ....'...--.-.. -1---------.--/ baun: bi / 1----_._-_ .. _._-"---_ ... _-+-----_ .... _---_._-_ .. --+-_ .... _-------.

n trousers: ants

v to swell

/ shaun / / laun I v to sell to avoid to be burnt

/ laun: / ! thaun I I aun / v to our; to water If sandbank; beach v to ass (examination)

97

Lesson 17

Vowels followed by glottal stop

There are four vowel followed by glottal stop [ i', e', a', u' ] and four diphthongs fgl10wed bv a glottal stop [ ei', ou', ai', au' ] in Myanmar language. The symbol [ , ] in the transcription is regularly written in Myanmar with four final consonants: d3 , ~ , r:A, and ~. These are marked,

like -03 [ e ] , with the !!,tha' to show that" they do not begin new , syllables.

Single vowel Vowel Names followed by glottal stop symbols

i' <:' sa. thai -Q) c--- --1---

C' G-OO th!!,wei htou: tao tha'

. <:'

-')q} jei: eha sa. tha' ----

e' C' ka. tha' -00 - --

(' a' -0') tao tha' ._-

<:' -0 pa. tha'

. --C'

-')0') jet: eha tao tha'

u' <:' wa. hswe: tao thai 00')

~ wa. hswe: pa. thai 0°

L;iPhthOngS vowel Vowel Names 110'1'1'00 by glottal stop symbols

ei' 0 c:- loun: gji: tin tao tha' -0')

O~ lOUD: gji: tin pa. tha' -0

ou' <:' tao chaun: ngin tao tha' I 'TO? <:' tao ehauD: ngin pa. tha' 'TO l

aiv 0 (- lOUD: gjt: tin tao chaun: ngin 'TOO

b. tb.~v ,',j (' th!,wei bioo: jet: cha b. fha' G-'JOO

98

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH GLOTTAL STOP Iii /


1 2 3 4

00 000 ~

000 ~ [ki' ] 000

~ c [kill' ] ~ Q0 ~0 ~0

L~ 0110 c c [kji' ]

0110 0 !-----

C C '1) '1)0 '1)0 '1)<»

[ chi' ]

I c c [ zi' ] @':> ®Q) @':>Q) @':>Q)

Exercise - Read a:vd copy the following words in Myanmar.

(,'

§~ {'

Sijd> ClJ d> o:Y.:>: / chi' / / chi' / / gji' ka: /

v to love; have affection v to sCfCl£.e; shred nle~

99

~ ~ ~§~ 0)0):)'Y..>: (10) (tOO) aO)

/ si' tha: ! / ri' / / ri' mji' / n soldier n zip n origin; root; source

(' (' ('

2tQ) OOQ) OOQ) I hnji' I I ti' / I hti' I

v to squeeze none v to emit a loud noise

(' (' ('

,Q) ;Q) 00)

I ni' I I hni' / /pji' / .-v to sink, to drown n two v to immerse;dip v to throw; toss away

('

@~'l ('

gjQ) <tJQ) I pji' / I pji' hmu. I I hpji' /

v (of fluid) to be thick n crime; offence v to squeeze

§~ ('

§~ qjQ) I hpji' / I bji' / / mji' I

v to be, to become n beer n river

(' (' ('

~Q) OOQ) qQ) llunji'l Iji' / / .li' /

n bamboo shoot v to be tipsy; to be dmnk v to wind, to screw

(' (' (' ... ~Q) OOQ) ,,:?Q)S,

I shi' / IIi'1 I hli' khane: I n eight v to slip out; slip away adv flitlingly; fleetingly

(' (' (' (' :A)Q) OOQ)G~ ~Q)

I thi' I I hi' 0 I I i' I v to be new n log;timber v to shout loudly v to squeeze or throttle

100

. ~ ~ 0 ~ ~Q)g,. ~Q)ot ~Q)~

Ii' nei. I / akou I / ama. I n(Muslims) Id-day n elder brother n elder sister

c c c

HOW TO WRITE MYANM.A.R CONSONANTS WITH GLOTTAl, STOP / e' /


1 2 3 4 C' C' [ke' ]

00 0000 0000 0000 C' C' [khe' ]

& SOO 6)00 6)00 -- -

C' (' [ kje' ] 011 01100 01100 01100

C' (' [ che'] SU 0ij00 SUm SUm

Exercise - Read and copy the follo\\ring words in Myanmar.

C' 60'3 C' C'

01100 0600000

I kje' I I kje' I / kwe' la' I v to be properly cooked n fowl; chicken n blank; vacant area

(' (' (iO'3 ('

oaJOOoaJOO~ SOO I kjwe' kjwe' hsu I / kjwe' I I khe' / v to make tumultous n rat; mouse v to be difficult, tough,

noises, to be bubbling hot stiff, hare (of problems)

101

<::' ~0-3

<::' <::' €ijm <] 00 GOO o:Y.)2 I che' I Ikhwe'l I gje' lei jin I

v to cook n cup; bowl n jet plane

I hnge' I I se' I n bird n banana n machine ; mill

<::' <::' <::' <::' &0 00 &0 00 8m ~mG~

I hse' hse' I I ze' I I nje' njo: I adv without fail n nape of the neck v (of skin) to be smooth

and delicate

~0-3 <::' <::'

0000 0000

/ hnje' I I te' / / hte' I v to be small; diminutive l' to climb up; ascend v to be sharp; be keen

<::' "- ,0-3 <::' 3mS, ;00 I de' khane: I I ne' I I hne' /

adv . quickly; immediately v to be black, to be deep v to beat, to hammer

<::' <::' §0-3'l03§l om qJm / pe' I I pie' / I JJie' jepju. I

v to splash; to throw v to be destroyed; to be v to make fun of ruined, break down (someone)

<::' <::' {' tal tal (900 <tim ~moo:'l:o:Y.):

Ihpe' / / hpje' I / be' ti: ri: ja: I v to bug; embrace v to destroy; ruin n bacteria

102

§crl ~ ~

goo :Doo Ibje' .I Ibwe'l Ibe'l

II width; breadth II mud; mire; bog II direction, side

: ~: C' 0000 000

@OOO ~O

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH GLOTTAL STOP I a' I


1 2 3 " ~ ~ [ka' ] 00 000') 000') 000')

t' t' [ka' ] 00 roo roo roo

~ t' [kha' ] S SO:> sen soo

~ t' [kha' ] S SO SO SO t' t' [kja' ]

01) 01)00 01) en 0110') t' t' [kja' ]

01J 01)0 0'1J0 01)0 "-

103

~ ~ [khja' ] 00 61100 00

~ ~ [khja' ] 6ij 0 ~O

~ ~ [za' ] • C!f'.) C!f'.)(Y.) (ff.)00 (ff.)(Y.)

Exercise - Read and com: the following words in Myanmar.

ooa3G{~: ~ ~ 000 0iJ0

I ka' kji: I lka'i I kja' I n scissors v to come close, to stick n Kyat: Myanmar unit of

money

@3~§8 {' {'

SOO SO I kji: gja' I I kha' I I kha' I

v to supervise v to beat or strike, to kick, v to spoon out or ladle to flutter, to hedge (fence) (of curry, soup, etc)

{' ~ ~ GUO COO 00

I eha' I I nga' I ! sa' I v to be flat, to subside v to starve; to be hungry v (of taste) to be hot

~ {' {' ... <If:> 00 @0000':)0: ~OOEHt

1--

I za' I I za' ka: I I hsa' khane: I n drama; play n picture; movie (film) atlv suddenly and quickly

Q)8~ {' ~

2:!0 0000

I hsa' pja I I hnja' I I ta' I n soap v to cut with scissors v to know: to be clever

{' {'

G0a3fBl: 000 000

I ta' I I hta' I I eta' kjou: I v to fix; attach, to impose atlv again; once more n electric wire

104

(' . (' ('

QOoo<l ,00 ,0 / da' poun/ / na' / / na' /

v to be small; diminutive n opulent; lord; nat spirits v to be fully cooked

,8 (' ('§ (' 000 00') o:Y.):~m

/ hna' / / pa' / I pa' kja: e' / n mucous discharge from v to wind around; wrap n crack; fissure

the nose; snot around; circle

(' @a3 ('

~qjO (90')

. I pu. pja' / / pja' I / hpa' / v to be short; squat 11 to snap; break; be cut otT v to read

(' (' (' (' §a3 <tJ00 00 00 qj 0 <tJ O_"il : / hpja' la' / / hpja' hp.E' Iu: I ~ja'1 ___

v to be brisk; active 11 to writhe with pain v to cut, to go across

(' (' (' (' (' ('

~OGOOC: =r:> 00 ID OY.:>: ~000000'10

/ bja' saun: / I ba' saka: ! / rna' ta' ja' / ____ n kind oflute n bus v, to be in an upright

position

§~ (' (' ('

00 0 GO'Y.)C '10

! mja' / / ja' taun / / ja' / v to be noble, n fan v to stop, to stand upright to gain profit (hand-held instrument)

(' (' e ('

~O 00000000 "to ,-

/ sha' / / la' hsa' / / hla' / v to be flat; thin v to be fresh 'Ii' to open; expose,

n shirt to leave out; omit

105

(' (' ~ ('

~()G)G) :00') 3;)() ----I---

/ hlja' si' / / tha' / / at / Ii electricity v to kill n pin; needle

1

'~_~_'O ______

--.---~--

_011 6ij

HOW TO WruTE MYANMAR CONSONA.~TS WITH GLOTTAL STOP I u' I

of the strokes is as illustrated below. Let's read and write.

2 :3 4 --[ku' ]

[ku' ]

--[khu' ]

(' [ldm' ] ~ ___ ~O

-(' [kju' ]

0aJ __ ?al00 0)

(' (' [kbju' ] 31 3100 8)00 ~O?

106

6 ItyJ tyJu tyJ8 tyJ8 [ kju' ]

(' (' [ju' ] '1 a aoo aoo aoo

('

I (' [ju' ]

''1 a au au ao .Ex('rcis(' - Read and copy the following words in Myanmar.

(' "- <' I tyJ8 06°00 oaJOO i / ku' ke: / ! kju' / I ! kju' /

V 10 manage, supelvise v (0f hall, feather) to drop I l' to be crisp; brittle out, to be free, unfettered i

(' (' 0 ('

~O aJOO ~~OO / kIm' ! / chu' / / sou zu' /

f--v (of male birds) to fight l' to take off, remove ~. to be wet, to soak; wet

I (shoes, clothes, hat, etc)

(' (' (' ('

~OOiJOO ~OO~: ~OO / su' kje / / hsu' khu: / / zu' /

II vest v to pick or pluck fruit ad .. forcibly; obstinately

(' (' (' 0

~OO ea OO 06C?cx(Z ,/ nju' / ! hnju''/ / tu' htou: /

l' to droop, to tall for (sb) " h) bend (a stick, jI to patter; chatter; prate a branch, etc)

('

(H~ ('

~OO goo --

/ pu' / -- i-.----/~ / hpu' /

v to rub; smear, to brush l' to be clustered n monitor lizard

107

g8 ('0 (' ('

06000,0 c;~~oo / hpu' / /bu' hwna' / / cho: mu' /

v to wash, to pound n boots' shoes v to be smooth

/ hmu' I / 'u' / ----~~~~----~--_4

v to be fluent V to recite

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH GLOTTAL STOP I el'l


1 2 3 4 0 0 0 {' 0 {' [ kei' ]

00 00 moo rooo 0000 0 0 O{' O{' [ kei' ] ro ro roo roo roo

0 0 0 {' 0 (' [khei' ] S S sO') sO') SOO

0 0 0(' 0(' l khei'] S S so so so

108

0 0 0 ~ 0 ~ [kjei' ] O'1JOO O'1JOO 00

0 O~ O~ [kjei' ] 0'1J0 0'1J0 <">110 0 0 ~ 0 ~ [chei' ]

SUOO 00 00

[chei' ]

[kjei' ]


I kei' moun. I " cake

o ~ 00

I chei' I

o ~ Q)OO

I sei' I II mind; thought

0 ~ 0000

/ tei' / v to be silent; to beguiet

O~ 000

" crown of

O~ o I chei' I

II sealin wax; lac

o ~ " Q)O~OO:

I sei' badi: .I " ro~; prayer beads

O~

ooOG~

I tei' khwei / II tape_{audio, video, etc)

O~ o

o ~ 000

~ ~ 0 ~ GO) C:~OO

/ gaun: njei' / v to nod (one's head)

0 ~ ~

000000,. I htei' Ian. I

v to be frightened

v to

O~ o I hnei' I

109

, 0 C- O C' 0 C' 00') (90') ~Cf)

I pel' / / hpei' / / bei' / f---

v 10 close: shut v to invite, to spjll 11 the last II COltOll clolh; cloth

I 0 C' OC' COO 00 3d 0 o C'@

~o)G~ E i mei' hswct ! / Je(pja ! ! ei' I .--11 friend 11 bU1ert1v v to siet:E

HOW TO '''RIn~ MYANMAR COi\'SONANTS WITH GLOTTAL STOP lour I


1 2 3 4 C' c- I kou'] 00 Of 0':(0') CY:(OO O?OO

C' C- [kou i J m or 0':(0 orO orO

I

110

,-----<:' <:'

S ~ ~OJ ~OJ ~OJ [khou' ]

<:' <:' [khou' ] S ~ ~O ~O ~O

<:' <:' [kjou' ] 01J O1Jl CY1JlO O1JlO O1JlO

<:' <:' [chou' ] 6lJ 6lJl _~l~_ ~lO 6lJlO § §l §lOJ §lcrl §l~ [kjou' ]

<:' <:' [shou' ] ~ ". ".0 ".0 ".0

0:[8 <:' [Wou' ] or 0:[ 0:[0 0:[0


<:' <:'0 <:'

otOJ ot°~: O1JlO / kou' / .I gout pou:.I .I kjou' /

v to scratch; claw II trapezius (muscl~ J,roll [colloq] I

§lcrl ~a3 <:'

CUlOJ / kjou' I Ikhou' I / gjou' .I II casket v to hack; to chop; to cut II rake; razor blade holder

crcrl <:' <:'

ceO ~O') I ngou' I I ngou' I / sou' /

II stump (of tree); stake v to dive (into deep water) v to tear

<:' <:' ~8 ~O ~O?

/ sou' I I hsou' / I hsou' I v to suck; to soak up v to withdraw; retreat v to grip; grasp; hold

<:' (' <:' CY.(OO CY.(O <XtOO I dou' I .I tout I / htou' / II stick v to tie; bind; fasten v to take out

III

<' <' <' <'

CJt° ,00 ,oosa: I htou' I I hnou'l Ihnakhan: I

v to pack; bundle; wrap v to pull out, to subtract n ljp; lips, brim; rim

9.cA <' <' 9.0 "to I pou' i I pou' I I Iou' I

v to tap (someone with v to decay; rot, v to do; work, to make, hand); pat, to strike; hit to be wasted to work at, to behave; act

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH GLOTTAL STOP / ai' /


1 2 3 4 5 0 d? 0 o (' o (' kai' m m arm arm orm 2 0 0

~rrS ~rrS khai' Q t:t t:t oo 0 0 0 o ("-- 0 (' kjai'

<Y.ij oqj O1Jl O1Um OiIlm OiIlm

112

0 0 0 ~lcrl

0 c chai' SU SU Oijl ~Ilro SUlOO

§ ~ ~l --:;;;

~lcrS ~L05 ~lm kjai'

§ § @l §lOO ~lcrl ~l05 chai'

-0 0 0 o c o c hmai'

'1 'f <t <tOO ~oo ~m 0 0 0 o c o c shai'

"L ~ ~ ~oo ~oo ~m 0 0 0 o c: I o c hlai'

Of Of "t 9 00 "roo "too

}:xercise - Read and copy the follo\ving words in Myanmar.

=,..

I 0 <:: 0 e 0 c 8la3 ot ro 0iJ l ro Oill 00 ~

f------' I kjai' kjai' hsu / / kjal' I I kai' /

1---' . ~,

}' to bIte, to cut, to ache I' (llfbolling water) to v ,to like, tG be pleased bubble with

0 C,'O C,'~ C,' 0 C,'

~ro~ t<D elm <roo _., ... _---_.

I khai' mi, / ! hlli' chai' / / ngai' / 11 to hUTt oneself v to like l' to drowsy; feel sleepy

0 C,' 0 C,' 0 <:' <£00 Q:(oo 0(00

.-/ sai' / / hsai' / / tai' /

l' to plant, to set up 11 to alrive 11 to crash; collide

0 C,' C,' 0 C,' 0 <:' "1 rooo, ;00 «00

/ htai' tan I / hnai' / / pai' / v to be worth; to have 11 to put one's hand into v to hold in the arms dose

a cCJ1ain value pocket, bag, etc to one's bosom

1[3

_____ ~l ~[~h a3 0 <.' 0 C' .....

~oo ~OO~ ---

/ pjai' pjai' / / bai' / I mai' me: I --l' continuously and It stomach; belly v to be very foolish

profusedly or heavily

0 <.' 0 <.' 0 <.'

f---- 'UOO ~OO C\{OO

/ jai' I I shai' / Ilai' I v to hit; strike; beat l' to breathe in, to sob v to follow; chase

0 ~ 0 ~ .... ..... 0 (' 0 ('

Of 00 Of 00 Of Of orm 3.fm -~------.'" --

/ hlai' hlai' hie: hIe: I ! hai' I / ai' ! ------ ---

adI' heartily: wannly v to be low necked l' to be warm; be stuffy

114

HOW TO WRITE MYANMAR CONSONANTS WITH GLOTTAL STOP / au' /

The order of the strokes is as illustrated below. Let's read and write .

1 :2 .} 4 5 6 <.' <.' kau' Q Qoo Qo:Y.) QO'.Y.) QO'.Y.)OO QO'.Y.)OO

00

Q QS Qs1 Qsloo Qs1riJ ~s1riJ khau'

~01J ~0iP~ <.' <.' kjau' Q ~oo Q01r Q01roo Q~oo

Q~ <.' <:' chau' Q QS

t-Q~oo ~~ro Q~oo

Q ~oo Q(o§ Q O'.Y.) r-~~oo Q(~riJ Q~riJ kjau'

~§ Q~OO >f <.' ~G?riJ chau' ~ ~S ~~ro

~':> ~':>OO <.' 1--- <:'

lmau' Q ~ i--~~ ~,:>ro ~i':>oo 1--" ---- <.' e- e pjau' G ~o ~ Gqf> Gqf>oo Qqf>oo Gqf>oo 1-- e-- e hmau G ~a G~ ~~ ~y::;oo G~OO G~OO

G~'l ~~ <.' t' shau' G ~ _. __ ~ro GWOO ~~oo

QC9 G~ Q~oo e- <:' Wau' G ~oo G~oo G~oo

Exercue = Read and copy the following words in Myanmar.

~ ~ ~§o03 ~OY.)m ~\JlIJm

I kau' I I kjau' I I kjau' I w to be bent, to pick up n rock, ffint, jewel v to fear; dread

I khau' I I gjau' I I chau' I v to knock, to fold n ravine; n six v to be d

~ (>~o(> ~c103 ~ ~O m:).::H~m ~<JY.)m

I gau' thi: jai' I I ngau' I I sau' I --v to play golf v to shout or rail at v to be stoop_

115

co CO CO .... GQY.)(Y.). G<tO(Y.) GOY'J(y')OO

• _. ... _-_ .. _. __ .-.-/ hsau'/ / zau' / j tau' teo / ---._-- f-- .. --------

v to build; construct n deQth n ~ecko; tucktoo

co

I G31cfJ CO GCXY.:>(y') G,-::>(y')

j htau' / / dau' / / nau' / v to prop up; support n prop; buttress l' (of liquid) to muddy,

cloudy, not clear

G;'.:><rl 1 GO 1 <rl CO Gqpoo - --_. - --_ .. _---" - -------"-"---_._--------1----------.

/ hnau' / L£au' ! _____ . __ ! pja~ ____ -----_ .. _ .. ----"--- --- ~------- .. v to cause water OJ liqUId tc I v to be breached; be l' to disappear tum turbid (by dViturbmg) I broken, h;l'!c 11 puncture

116

Lesson 18

Miniature symbol of devowelized nga. tha' [~]

The special name kin: zi: is a miniature symbol of devowlized super~ scripted nga. tha' (~] on the following letter, as ine ®E!3" and :XH;)~,:).

Superscripted N mHiUl)~rscripted Somnd Meaning Form Form Value

(Correct Spelling) (Incorrect Soeilliigl

__ §_G~ §~G~ chin dhei. lion --

nAl n~:nl gin: ga the Ganges f-- 1-------------..

G)~:(<B ----G) zin: gjan corridor; passage

f---- ---tl (' t~nin: g~nwej Sunday

o:HfnG~ ;c:nG~ ------~---

(' t~nin: la -- ------------

OO;c\y:) ;C:c\y:) Monday

~-----i------ --(' min g~la source of

--

~nOY.) ~cnC\Y:)

--~-

prosperity, bless~.!L $ (' lin ga OOOYJ roCOYJ verse

-----,-~ .. ----.-.-- -------------f-- -

labyrinth; ma:i~ od.,ol o~oool win g~ba --- -

~ (' thin ga doubt; suspicion :).)OYJ :)')COYJ --- -

~ (' thin kei tao :)')GOOOO :)')CGOOOO sign; symbol; mark f-- -- f-------------

6 (' (' ('

:),)00;1 COO;: thin gan: robewom by

1----------1-----------Buddhist monk

:>.)@, (' §~ thin: gjan / new year water :).)C: 00; dh<!gjan festival --

:A)~1 '1 ~~Ql'l thin khaja. Impermanence

~ (' thin cha mathematics :x>~ :x>C~

Il7

Superscripted Non-supl'rscripted Sound Meaning Form Form Value

(Correct Spelling) (Incorrect Suellin2) tiO (' (' 0 (' thin: gjain:

~SfJlC: ~C:6lJlC: cemetery;

r-- graveyard ---

6 ('

:)..)noo :)..)cnoo thin g~ha. friend

:01,100,0 :o~o1oo;o ~~ thin ~na ~ Buddhist synod 1-._-----------

6 f----------------

(' . -------------

:OG0')0 :)..) C : GO')'.) thm: bo: ship; vessel

8~ -- +--:-:--------

(' Q in: gji __ ~D1J ~C:O':ij .~ __ shirt, j acket, coa~. _

~ (' ._--"-

~OGO') 3;)C:OGO') in: g~dei I monar, cement

~ .. ~ · tt~ 0 o~ ~--:-----;-~ .. ------.-----

_~;~~ ~:l~o+_mtt~:~e~ j .;:~::: ____ -_._----------_. __ .. _---

118

Lesson 19

Subscripted letters pa' hsin.

In Pati writing, there are subscripted letters and it is called pa' hsin.. In many words with a closed syllable preceding another syllable, the initial consonant of the second is written below the final consonant of the first. The kin: zi: is superscripted letter and {!.tha' l':) is not omitted, as in

~ACXY.>o1. In pa' hsin., gjha' [.:) is omitted in the upper consonant and

it marks as a final consonant ofthe first syllable, as in <?~[ <?~+~]. This system is also used for the Pali loan words in Myanmar writing.

Subscripted I NOD-subscripted Sound Meaning Form Form Value

(Correct SpelHng) (Incorrect Spelling)

0':( ro:>.) ~Q 0':( ro :>.) ~ f) () ku. lao tha. The United Nations me'ga. Organization

0 0':(05~ kou'kou rain tree O':(<JSl

0 0(.' kei'sa. business; (04) (04)4) ., r--- work to be done --

00'65 6pG4>: ood3oo 6pG<D: ka' tilla zei: tar; coal tar -

00~01 (' G ~ 0000000 g!!di ba velvet f--- CT.) , , (' the: dessert :>.)00£0'1. :>.) 00" 000'1.

gan da ra. -- ------------<:'

OO~ 00~::y')0 gr!ba earth; world :Y.)

<:' (.' <.' k~m'!htan: religious meditation 00~9°': OO~~~0':

(.' 9-- ---------.---e koun p,!ni company O':(~ao O':(aooo ( commercial)

(.' khan da the body st0 s,,~ r--- .. _-

0 o (.' za rei' tao moral character 4)0qgs 4)06),0000 (.' se'ku paper 4)<JSll 4)000'jl

(.' <.' (.' se' kan. second (sixtieth !DOO, !DOO 00 ". m • f-part of a minute)

1--- ._-e:- san da la. caste of cemetery !DW:>ro 4)oo;.pro

workers

119

Subscripted Non-sub8cripted Sound Meaning Form Form Value

(Correct Spelling) (Incorrect Spelling) 0 0 <- sei' c@za. I Q)O)@ Q)O)O)@ mental illness;

a:> 1-----------1---- C' insanity --

""~ E\YJo ,....~.3 san: daja: ___ .... 'f -l- •. _____ _ ... _w J • 'P= ___ "" __ _1_-- plano

oot OO~3 hsan da. desire' w~sh, .-----.. --~---.-T--.. - _ .. _______ ._~E..mlOn; VIews

oot~ OO'3~ hsan da. me: vote --- --.--~-- ----<:' --~--f----- " ----------.--

taxi

C' .. ~-- ---- ------ -.--------.--- --

G3:>.:l~'L __ ~3:>.:ljC1)'l I de; t~311~di!fa+-- regional =-1 q? 1 d'S ~ dou' kha. . pain; suffering;

_ trouble o C' 0 - '--, ---;----+---- . --1 Oi 0) 1 00 ~ 0) dOll kill. tao disabled person

C' G~ G~~ ~

dan rna. Dharma, the Law, teachings of the

I----,::o------!-----O"('--------- __ ~---.---_f---.-.-Buddh~--__ 'j.~O___ 'Q)Q)~O ___ ~el z(,!du wa. i always

I-__ t~, __ 1-- ~ ~(j0'__ ~yban--l--·~I~-:-;:I~~~heave~l--

~o~~~~ _.~I O~005S ~tl:' khalant;;go~:~~~~~i;~

owen ·---o,~oo-----I-----pan di. ta~-f-· wise man; scholar;

If------.-------l-----~ _ . __ c-1ea!:lled man.i._£unt!ii...

~--.-<f~==c-:---_I_--«..L..ao---ar.Y.)----:- ___ p_o._un_n __ a_: ___ +--___ B_fa_hmin __ · ----I

o~§-:>: 0~0')~; b~~mja: ruby (of gem quality) --------.---

0<:' " t;;) O;:;:Q: jack fiuit pein: ne: dhi:

Subscripted Form

(Cori"0Ct S~)

Nou-subscripted Form

(Incorrect S~)

120

Sound Value

bou'da.

bou'~u:

bei' khu.

banda

throne; altar

Buddha

Wednesday

monk

property; finances

o 0 ~. --~~Il ~OOD2 mel'tu copy; duplicate;

~ __________ 4-____ .. ____ -+ __________ +-__ ~r~ep~]li~·c~are~ __ . __ ~~~ ~~crlO"Y.) mji'ta love; kindness;

affection cesspit; septic tank

botany

O~l OcrlO? wu' htu. matter; object, novel; fiction

the' killi'

thi'sa

tha'~wa

tha'ti.

the present Myanmar Era

truth; veracity, oath; vow, loyalty

any living being; creature

ability; attribute; property, courage

121

Subscripted I Non-mb~cripted I' Sound i Meaning Form I Form Value

(Correct SI)elllng) i (lntorrect Spelling) I

122

Lesson 20

Small and big form

It is a kind of pal hsin .. And it is not written like a superscripted letter or subscripted letter. Two small letter put into combination as a big letter. In the big form f!..tha l r': J is omitted. For example, in the word o~

/ p.im nja I [knowledge. education ] , the small form 2 [nja. tha'J

combined with another small form e-:>. 2 is pronounced Ilja' lei: l small

nja.] and 2: is called nja' gji: r big nja.]. Mostly, this system is used for

paJi loan words.

Conl.'ct Spl.'lIing Incorrect Spelling ! ~(two small form) Sound V:liu(' I Meaning

Les~on 21

Myanmar numerals

How to write M -yanmar numerals

English Single Srokt' T Suod Value 1 Euivale nt

o:>~ [ ti' ]

1 0

J C' [ hni' ]

')

;0,) .....

~ • [thoun: J

3 :A?:

---- ~---

GCO: [ lei: J

4 ~ Clg

( -nga: J

5 ~ --

6 G G§:> <' l chau' ]-

.00

7 7 C' l khun hni' J

~90)

I I -

124

English Single Sroke Sund Value Euivalent

[ sm' ]

8

[kou: ]

9

{\-----A-t----

00 G) QCH.rl [ t~hse ]

10

[ hse. ti' ]

11

[hse. hill']

12

20 J ~ ! ~"V.\i' '\ ~ [th -"1 v'QIV""""'" oun: ze]

o 30

[lei: ze 1 I

12S

Lesson 22

Irregularities

There are special symbols for loan words from Pali or other languages. They are not pronounced as they are.

CorrectSpelUDg SDeat Symbol SouDd Value MeaDiDg (atha' )

01~ (' [kou] [~ ]

the body -00

0 0(' (' [wei' [' ] Person with super-

°fO'l'1 -'1 zadou] natural powers

§('o(' (' [ mjin: [4 ] Mount Mmlfrom QC:~'1 -'1 mou] Buddhist Texts

~~ (' [ pou] [~ ]

(ofweigbt) -00 five ticals ~

0 (' (' (bpou] [~ ] state of fruition on <rOO -00 following the Right Patb leading to Nirvana

ot~~ - (' [ku.dbou] [~ ] virtuous action;

-00 merit

~~ (' [bou] [' ]

lieutenant, -00 leader, champion

(9L~ (' [gjou] [~L ] planets in the solar

-00 syatem

Correct SileDt Symbol SouDd Value MeaDiDg SpeWDI (atba' )

(' [da' ] [80S ] the basic property of Q';)O') ~ matter such as soli-

dity, heat, cohesion or fluidity

(' 8 [da' hsi] [80S ] petrol; gasoline G.Y.)O')&X:) ~

u:Y.>2 ~ [jin] [tX>2 ] vehicle; craft

w.>; ~ [man] [tt; ] pride; force of

personality

~o1~ -1 [APC] [ooS ] [Buddhism) the (our uetber worlds

Documents

Reading and Writing Burmese Script