Teaching of the common Ta’ang language has begun in the Ta’ang area in northern Shan State to prevent the people and their literature from dying out, officials of the group said.
The townships where the the official Ta’ang language is being taught include Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Namtu, Lashio, Kutkai, Muse and Namhkan Townships in northern Shan State, and Namhsan and Mantong Townships in the Ta’ang (Palaung) Self-Administered Zone, said the person in charge of the Ta’ang literature group.
“We have started to teach the three Rs. They are from the Palaung textbook we published. When they are done with it, they will be able to read and write Palaung. They will be able to write stories or articles. Words are the key. The language varies slightly between different clans. Once they have mastered the most common words and expressions, they can start writing poems and articles.”
Following the introduction of the official Ta’ang language in 2014, the first Ta’ang textbook was published in 2017 and classes were introduced at the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA).
After that, classes for the Ta’ang population in the official Ta’ang language began in 2020, and a total of 103 classes were opened by 2023, officials said.
“There are six clans of Ta’ang people. The official language was selected according to ten points. The first point is that the most commonly used vocabulary of the particular clans defines the official language. This is easily understood. It is also included in the textbook. We teach the language with the intention that our language will not gradually disappear.”
Depending on the differences in stress and accent among the Ta’ang tribes, the Ta’ang language includes different varieties.
The Ta’ang language is easy to teach as an official language because, unlike other ethnic languages, it does not have major differences except for slight differences in stress and intonation.
A total of 5,562 people of both genders have participated in Ta’ang language courses, he said.
“I teach the language in areas 4 and 5 in Mong Mauk Township. The biggest difficulty here is transportation. And then the language and I also have some difficulties because I have yet to learn the terrain. Our goal is to make sure that every Ta’ang knows the Ta’ang language. That is our main focus,” said a Ta’ang youth who teaches the Ta’ang language in the area.
According to the officials, the purpose of teaching the official Ta’ang language is to promote Ta’ang literature and to ensure that all Ta’ang tribes learn and speak the language, that the Ta’ang people appreciate thier literature and can read and write the language.
However, due to the political and military situation in the areas and difficult transportation conditions, it is still not possible to open the Ta’ang language classes in some areas.
In addition, there are still challenges due in part to language differences among Ta’ang clans, officials said.
The Ta’ang literature group said it is currently making efforts to expand ethnic language classes to other areas.
Sent by NMG.