Comments on: Status and Titles in Burmese

By: dawn_1o9

dawn_1o9 — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 06:45:21 +0000

This is a really nice explanation! Hehe I still refer to myself as “tha-mee” even to those who are younger than me. Alas, can’t help being young at heart!

By: mmhan

mmhan — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:35:51 +0000

What a nice explanation for the word “I” of Myanmar!

Really liked this post, and the post on GVO too.

Keep it up!

By: steve

steve — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 17:34:40 +0000

I joined government service before the age of 30. At work, I was called U xx xx. At first I was not so comfortable. Later its OK. In England, my Burmese full name is used by my myanmar friends when they talk to me. Again I feel they are far away from me. You know at work people use my first name only for informal communication.

Well, it can be said that some language usages are changing as time goes by. For example, “Khinbyar” (you) was derived from “thakhin pha yar” (?your majesty) according to my Burmese teacher. But these days, “Khinbyar” is rather unacceptable word in some Burmese society.

I heard a couple of time on BBC news “Aung San Suu Kyi”. That’s OK for me. But “Suu Kyi” is absolutely unacceptable. People have no right to remove “Aung San” from her name.( some media have used it). That is extremely rude.

By: joy

joy — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:03:50 +0000

I just wanted to know how to address parents and grandparents, even aunties and uncles. I quite knew them but spelling is my problem. I wanted to write them to my journal as i have just visited Myanmar last month. thanks!

By: May

May — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 02:09:08 +0000

@everyone: Thanks all for your kind encouragements. @Aung Kyaw: Yes, "Nyi" and "Kyoke" are mainly used by rural folks although you can hear sometimes among close friends as a friendly slang. It's not really rude...but it's all depend on who you talking with. Both "Nyi" and "Kyoke" are used among females but only "Kyoke" is used by males. Let just say, they are more like regional dialects similar to those of "Gyi Daw" instead of "Aunty" and "A Ba" instead of "A Fay" (Dad)

By: Aung Kyaw

Aung Kyaw — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 06:46:46 +0000

What a thorough explanation.

Do you have any idea what “kyoke” (I or me) and “nyi” (you) are used for in Burma? My mother said it’s a rude way of talking to other people and mostly used among the rural folk, but I’m not entirely sure.

And you shouldn’t worry about English, it’s fine! And besides, everyone makes mistakes. I think experience is the best teacher. And keep up your good work!

By: Preetam Rai

Preetam Rai — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 05:24:38 +0000

Hi May, I guess we are luckier than journalists in a way that even if some things are wrong in the post we can always write an update or use the comments to add to the story.

As you can see from Rezwan’s reading he is interested in Myanmar. There are so many of us who love Myanmar and care about Myanmar issues. We need people like you to help us learn more of your country.

By: Solana

Solana — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 10:29:22 +0000

Thanks for the careful and detailed explanation.

I think everybody gets “stage freight” writing for a public audience sometimes – especially in blogs which are so direct from oneself to the world. You have nothing to worry about though – your writing is great!

By: Ethan Zuckerman

Ethan Zuckerman — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:27:18 +0000

May, you are doing a brilliant job writing about Burma for Global Voices. Please don’t be scared about the work you are doing – you are doing a wonderful service for everyone to understand the Burmese people, culture and language and everyone is grateful for the work that you are doing. Your English skills are excellent – as you just displayed in this post – and you have no reason to be afraid. Thank you so much for what you are doing.

By: Rezwan

Rezwan — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:50:55 +0000

Hey,

Don’t need to be pessimistic. You did a great job in posting that article. Thanks to you we get to know about how Burmese people think of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Yeah I got it right didn’t I?

And thanks to your nice post explaining the addressing culture. I learned a lot.

I think the best way to resolve confusions by communicating to each other.