Okell John Burmese An Introduction To The Script

BURMESE
An Introduction to
the Script
by
John Ok ell
SOAS, University of London
with assistance from

U Saw Tun
and
Daw Khin Mya Swe
Southeast Asian Language Text Series
Series Editor: Grant A. Olson
Copy Editor: David A. Mullikin
© 1994 Northern Illinois University

Center for Southeast Asian Studies
ISBN 1-877979-43-0
- - - - - - - - _ .__.--.-....- - - _..-- ---_. __ ._-_._-._----_._._--_.-.-.-_.-. _.-.
BURMESE
An Introduction to
the Script
by
John Okell
SOAS, University of London
with assistance from

USawTunand
Daw Khin Mya Swe
Parallel with this course:
Burmese: An Introduction to the Spoken Language, Book 1

Burmese: An Introduction to the Spoken Language, Book 2
Burmese: An Introduction to the Literary Style
Burmese: An Introduction to the Script
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMEl'.JTS iv
INTRODUCTION
About this course
Scope and method v
Lesson structure v
Take heart vi
To the teacher vi
History vii
Burmese in roman letters ix
Selecting vocabulary for script practice
Linking script learning with learning the spoken language xi
Irregular spellings in everyday language xii
Words suitable for script practice xiii
Detailed contents: for use as a finder list xiv
PART 1: STANDARD CHARACTERS

The alphabet 2
Lessons 1-40 3
PART 2: LESS COMMON CHARACTERS

Sections 1-34 269
Mismatches 317
Types of mismatch between spelling and pronunciation
SUPPLEMENT: READING FROM LIFE

Questions 322
Texts 334
Answers 367
APPENDICES
1. Conspectus
1a Characters and character combinations
with transcription equivalents 378
1b Characters and character combinations
index to Lessons 384
2. Transcription: a description of the sounds
represented by the roman letters 387
3. Transliteration: the alphabet
with transliteration equivalents 390
4. The Burmese names of the characters and symbols 394
Introduction
5. Identification chart: key to the characters by shape 396

6. Alphabetical order: using dictionaries 397
7. Handwriting: stroke direction and order
A. Schoolroom forms 408
B. Cursive forms 412
C. Handwriting samples to illustrate cursive forms 413
8. Ornate lettering: illustrative samples 426
9. Abbreviations 433
10. Bibliography 437
TAPES
Tape Side a Side b Tape Side a Side b

Sl 1 intro 6 loanwords S5 30 verb s'tences 33 intro
S2 12 practice 15.1 intro S6 36 practice 40 intro
S3 17.1 intro 20.2 intro Review lessons:
S4 24 intro 27 Burmese words S7 12R, 16R, 21R 28R (cont), 32R, 35R, 40R
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Funds from the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University, part of
a grant made to them by the Henry Luce Foundation, allowed me to take time away from
my normal duties in order to make a start on writing new courses for beginners in Burmese.
During this time the School of Oriental and African Studies in the University of London
kindly allowed me to continue to use its equipment and facilities (room, computers, printers,
xeroxing, recording, photography, telephone, mail, fax, stationery and the like). A visit to
Burma was funded by money from both the Center and SOAS, and supplemented by a grant
from the British Academy. I am particularly grateful to Dr. Michael Aung-Thwin, the
director of the Center, who successfully applied for the grant, and chose me to write the
book; and to Dr. Haig D. Roop, coauthor of Beginning Burmese, the standard textbook for 25
years, for his encouragement.
I would also like to acknowledge the part played by my colleague at SOAS, Mrs. Anna
Allott, who heroically shouldered a heavy load of teaching and other duties for part of
the time I had arranged to be away; and the contribution of my wife Sue, who generously
iii
and without complaint took on more than her share of the care of the house and family so
that I could make progress with writing.
I received valuable comments on parts of the draft from U Saw Tun, of Northern Illinois
University, and from Daw Khin Mya Swe and Daw San San Me in London. The recordings
were made at SOAS under the supervision of the Technician Jahan Latif, and the speakers
were-
UAungKhin Dr. Daw Khin Hla Thi Ma Thna
U AungNaing Daw Khin Mya Swe Ma TiL May Aye
Dr. Ba Maw Ma Khin Nan 00 UTunlviin
Ma Kay Thwe Dr. Nay Tun Wa Wa Tin
U Khin Daw San San Me Daw Yi Yi Mya
Saw Yu Win
I am grateful to them all for their willing cooperation and perseverance: the second and
third hours in a stuffy recording studio with pernickety microphones demand a high degree
of concentration and discipline.
Prototype versions of the course were used by the beginners' classes at SOAS in the four
years from 1990/91 to 1993/4, and at the SEASSls held at Cornell University in 1990 and at
the University of Washington in 1992. Members of all these classes made many helpful
comments, as well as finding numerous typing errors, and I would like to thank them for
being so tolerant and constructive.
My greatest debt is to many friends in and from Burma, who not only answered my questions
about their language and customs with immense patience and goodwill, but also made me
welcome in their homes and daily lives, and went to staggering lengths to ensure that my
needs were met in generous measure. 1'0 them all I extend my heartfelt thanks.
The photograph used for the cover is of a carved wooden doorway in the Shwe Inbin
Monastery in Mandalay. It was taken by Dr. Elizabeth Moore of SOAS. and the design of
the cover was implemented by Alfred Birnbaum, who was attending my class at the time.
The photographs used in the text were taken on my visit to Burma in 1991. The remaining
illlustrations are from books, magazines and other material published in Burma.
==============================-
I am responsible for typesetting the text, which includes three home-made fonts, and for
editing the tapes. Professionals would have been more skilled but .'Ilso more costly, so
readers are asked to be indulgent when my lack of expertise shows througll.
iv
Introduction
INTRODUCTION
Scope and method
Burmese: An Introduction to the Script (referred to henceforth as BIS) aims to enable
students with no previous knowledge of Burmese to become competent in reading and writing
Burmese script.
Traditionally, script courses have relied on a romanization as a way of indicating to the

learner the sound associated with a given Burmese letter: "the letter 'J) represents the
sound b ," and so on. This approach works up to a point, but romanizations have serious
disadvantages. Learners often confuse the sounds the 'roman letters are meant to stand for:
pain sometimes gets read as ~2 (like English pine) and sometimes as 8{ (like English
pane). And romanizations suggest mistaken pronunciations: lay makes people rhyme GCD
with English lay, and Min makes them rhyme 02: with pin. (On ways of representing
Burmese in roman letters, see below: Burmese in roman letters.)
Now that cassette tape players are within reach of most students, using tape recordings
seems the obvious escape route from the romanization problem. BIS presents the sounds
associated with the characters of the Burmese script as sounds, on tape, and not as roman
letters on the page. (The romanization is used, but sparingly, to aid the memory when
characters are first presented.) The aim is to cut out the intermediate step of romanization
and its pitfalls, and thereby to enable the learner to establish a more immediate and
accurate link between sound and symbol.
It is assumed that students who are working through BIS will at the same time be learning
to speak Burmese, and that their spoken language lessons will include some guidance and
practice in pronunciation. For this r'eason, BIS does not give exercises in pronunciation.
However, some coverage of pronunciation is unavoidable: you can't learn what sound a
letter represents unless you can recognize the sound. So BIS includes some observations on
sounds, and even here and there an opportunity to practise sounds, but this element is kept
to a minimum. Where there is an overlap between what BIS says about pronunciation and
what you are told on the subject in your spoken language course, you will often find that a
little repetition is not unwelcome, and may even be helpful.
Lesson structure
The typical Lesson begins by presenting one or two new characters - in the text you see
their shapes and how to draw them, and on the tape you hear the sounds they represent.
Then there is a Practice section: a list of words that are both printed on the page and read
out on the tape. Learners can use the words either (a) as reading practice, by pausing the
tape, reading a word aloud, and listening to the tape again for confirmation; or (b) as
writing practice, by listening to the word first, then pausing the tape and writing down the
word, and checking with the printed list for confirmation. You can use the whole list for
reading and then again for writing; or use part of it one way and part of it the other,
In the first three Lessons there are two separate lists of words: one set for reading and one
for writing.
v
Letter names. Most of the letters in the Burmese alphabet have a descriptive name. In
reading classes in English primary schools, teachers sometimes tell children that "Cap" is
spelled with "curly k-," but "Keep" is spelled with "kicking k-." Burm{'se letter names are
similar: "twisty 5," "capped P," and so on.
While you are learning to read Burmese script it is often useful to be able to refer to the
letters by name, so the names are introduced in each Lesson. At this stage it is only
necessary for learners to be able to recognize a name when they hear it, so there are no
Exercises to help learn the names.
Later on, when you can speak Burmese a little, it is handy to be able to ask how something
is spelled - there are a number of sounds in Burmese that can be spellee!. one way or another
- and to be able to follow the answer. I hope to write a supplement to SIS designed to help
you acquire this skill.
Review. For those who simply want to review the ground they have covered, or who are
coming back to Burmese after a break and need to brush up their reading, BIS provides
Review Exercises. The Review Exercises are recorded on a separate tape, and are not
accompanied by explanations. The text to be used with this tapE is printed at the
appropriate point in this booklet: the Review of material presented and practised up to
Lesson 12 is printed following Lesson 12, and so on,
Take heart
Learning a new script imposes a heavy load on your memory, not at the very beginning, but
after a few Lessons, when your mind begins to bulge under the strain, You feel your
recognition of the rrithing mass of symbols and sounds is rapidly diminishing, and each
new arrival weakens your hold on the old. Don't despair: persevere. There comes a phase
after that, when you wonder why you thought it was difficult. And remember that the
Burmese alphabet only has 33 consonants and some eight vowels (and no capitfl,ls), as
against the 26 lower case and 26 capitals of the roman alphabet.
To the teacher
BIS is written in such a way that Learners can work through it on their own, without a
Teacher. However, a Teacher can help in two ways. First he or :;he can present the
material of the next Lesson in class, so that when the Learners come to :tudy it in their own
time it will already be partly familiar. Secondly, after the Learners have worked
through a Lesson on their own, the Teacher can practise the material in class. Here are
some activities you may find helpful.
1. The teacher gives the number of an example in the text, the Learners find the example on
the page and one (or more) of them reads it aloud.
2. The Teacher (or a Learner) reads a word aloud, and the other Learners find where it is on
the page.
3. The Teacher (or a Learner) writes a word on the blackboard, and one of the Learners (or
more) reads it aloud.
4. The Teacher (or a Learner) says a word, and the other Learners write it down. Their
work is then checked by the Teacher (or another Learner).
vi
Introduction
If you wish to give some extra homework tasks to provide variety, you can try the
following:
1. The Teacher issues a passage from a book, and the Learners mark on it any words or
syllables they recognize.
2. All the examples in Part I of Burmese: An Introduction to the Spoken Language are
written in both script and romanization. The Teacher can specify a set of lines in
that volume, and the Learners' task is to identify which words are not pronounced
as written.
3. The Teacher issues a list of words written as pronounced, and the Learners' task is to
write out the correct spelling - looking it up if they need to. This activity cannot
start till after the first mismatch words have been introduced in Lesson 13.1 or
la te r.
Lines from a Burmese inscription dated AD. 1274
Taken from an inked "rubbing" (List nQ 349), in which the letters incised in the stone
appear white against a black background
HISTORY
The earliest examples of writing in Burmese are found on stone inscriptions dating from the
11th and 12th centuries. The letters of the inscriptions are square, as opposed to the
rounded shapes of the present day, and some of the spellings have changed over time, but
otherwise the writing system has changed little. The script was probably acquired from
the Man people, who inhabited the Moulmein-Pegu area at the time, and the Mon in turn
seem to have adopted a script used in the area of Madras on the east coast of India. (For
more detail see Roop's Introduction to the Burmese Writing System, p. ix f.)
The purpose of most of the inscriptions is to make a permanent record of the dedication of
land, buildings and other property to the religion. Other texts produced before the advent
of printing in the 19th century were written either on paper or palm-leaf.
vii
The paper was like a. thick lightweight card about 18 inches wide. It was made in lengths
of several yards, then folded like a fan to form books (yqyaS parabaiq) with pages about 6
inches long. In one type of parabaik the paper was coloured black, and you wrote on it with
a white steatite rod like a slate pencil. In the other, the paper was white, and written on
in ink. For further informa tion on this subject, see The Life of the Buddha, by P. Herbert
(London, The British Library, 1993).
Lines from a palm-leaf manuscript copied in 1871
Palm-l'~af is a longe] lasting material. The leaves were selected and prepared, then cut
into even strips aboL t 18 inches long aIjd 4 inches wide, and stacked up and provided with
covers to form a bo·)k (GUllY) pe-za). The letters were incised in the surface of the leaf with
a sharp metal stylus, then rubbed with black to make them more legible.
The main texts for which the Mon-Burmese script was first used were not in Mon or in
Burmese, but in Pali. Pali is a dead language of ancient India, related to Sanskrit and the
other Indo-European languages, and is the language in which the scriptures of Theravada
Buddhism, the branch of Buddhism practised in Burma, are written. As the language of
the sacred texts Pali is held in high esteem in Burma. The texts and their language have
been studied by the Burmese for over nine centuries, and Pali is used a a o'ource for loanwords
in the same way that Greek and Latin are used for new words in English.
As the Mon-Burme,e script was developed for Indian languages, of which rali is one, it was
ideally suited fOJ writing Pali (which can also be written sati.;factorily in Thai,
Cambodian, Lao, S:nhalese and other scripts - all descended from the same source as the
Burmese script), bu t less suitable as a vehicle for Burmese and Mon. Predictably, there are
sounds in Pali thai don't exist in Mon and Burmese, and vice versa. This has had two
results. One is that the early Mon and Burmese scholars had to devise IT\C'difications of the
characters to repres'~nt the Man and Burmese sounds that were missing (Just as European
languages have hal to devise combinations like cit and sit, and characters like u, ~, 0, and
so on). The other i; that the Mon-Burmese alphabet still contains a resdue of letters that
are not needed for 'vriting Man or Burmese words. However, this doesn't mean that they
viii
Introduction
are never used in Burmese texts. When Burmese borrows a word from Pali, it still spells the
word in the way it is spelled in the Pali texts, including the characters that are not used for
writing Burmese words Uust as we write fianr;e in English although we don't use r; and e for
writing English words). Many of the words that use these non-Burmese characters belong to
learned vocabulary (religion, grammar, medicine), but some of them are current in everyday
speech, such as @C1D "moment" (which uses Pali C1D rather than the standard 'f ), and ~0'f
"department" (which uses Pali ~ rather than the standard 00 ).
Burmese pronunciation of Pali words

The pronunciation of Pali words in Burmese differs in two ways from their pronunciation in
India, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. Firstly, there are the sounds that are needed for Pali but
not used in Burmese (like German ch, which is not used for native English words). These are
given the Burmese sound nearest to them (like the English pronunciation of German Bach as
"bark"); for example, the voiced aspirate Pali sound written OJ in Burmese script and gh in
romanized Pali: in Burmese this character is given the same sound as the unaspirated n ,
romanized g. Secondly, there have been changes in Burmese pronunciation since the script
was established, and these changes are also applied to words from Pali; for example, the
Pali word o~(:J = pancama "fifth" is pronounced /pyin-zama/, because the earlier /c/ has
changed to /s/ and has then been voiced to /z/. As a result it is not always easy for foreign
and Burmese scholars of Pali to communicate orally. Where the foreigner says: Buddham
saral)am gacchami, the Burmese says: Bouq-dan tharanan giq-sha-mi. There is a
similar mismatch in the pronunciation of Latin by, say, a Spaniard and a German.
BIS has a section towards the end for learning to read words with Pali characters, though
one or two characters are introduced earlier because they are used in common words.
BURMESE IN ROMAN LETTERS

Because Burmese has its own script, people writing about Burma in roman-script languages
(like English) have been obliged to devise ways of representing Burmese names and words
in the roman alphabet. People who are more interested in the spelling of the words than in
their sound (such as historical linguists, epigraphists) have established a set of corres-
pondences between Burmese letters and roman letters, so they can represent Burmese words
in roman by consulting a table of equivalents and simply substituting roman letters for
Burmese letters. We call this letter-for-letter method a "transliteration." There is an
example of a transliteration table at the end of this book.
The transliteration tables are constructed to match similar tables for classical languages of
India, like Pali and Sanskrit, and because the pronunciation of Burmese has changed over
time, the roman letters used for transliterating are not a very helpful guide to the way the
words are pronounced today; so, for people who are more interested in the sound of Burmese
words than in their spelling, transliteration is not an appropriate method of romanization.
To represent the sounds of Burmese words in roman letters, rather than their spelling, many
different systems have evolved. There are two main approaches. In the earliest days of
ix
contact between Burma and Europe, European travellers would write the best
approximation they could manage to the sound of a Burmese word or name. Although a few
of the details of the method have changed (for example, people now write Wun for the
18/19th century Woon), this approach is still widely used today by people writing about
Burma in English and other European languages. For this reason we call this the
"traditional romaniza tion."
One advantage of the traditional romanization is that, thanks to its widespread use, it is
familiar to many readers, both Burmese and foreign. For some purposes, however, it has
serious shortcomings. As I have written elsewhere,
For a language learner ... the traditional romanization is far from
adequate. Words romanized in the ad.hoc traditional way don't show tone, they
don't reliably show whether a consonant is aspirated or not, and they don't always
distinguish one vowel from another. As a result, the syllable written "pe" (for
example) in the traditional romanization, may represent anyone of 12 different
syllables in pronunciation:
C' , ,
G(9 G<p G(9: (9U) <p (9
C' ,
GO Gy GO: Ou) Y 0
For the learner of the language, ambiguity of this order is intolerable. It is like
providing, for a learner of English, one written syllable to cover the sounds of the
eight English words pat, bat, pet, bet, pad, bad, ped, and bed.
A further deficiency is that traditional romanization often offers two, or

sometimes three, different ways of romanizing the same sound. So the Burmese
word G(), for example, may be romanized me, or may, or mae. This inconsistency is
particularly rife in Burmese persQnal names, where some people deliberately
adopt a variant spelling for their own name in order to make it more distinctive.
From: Burmese: An IntrodUCtion to the Spoken Language, parallel with this volume
For these reasons, linguists and others have devoted much ingenuity to devising systems of
romanization where each Burmese sound is consistently and unambiguously represented by
one roman equivalent - whether that is one letter or a sequence of letters. We call
romanizations of ths type "systematic romanizations."
Unfortunately the problem of matching Burmese sounds and roman lel'ters is so great that
hardly any two linguists find the same system satisfactory. As a res·.L1t, there are many
variations on the same theme. Each system is entirely consistent and systematic within
itself; but one will use the roman letter e (for example) for one Burmese vowel sound, and
another system will use it for a different vowel sound.
Following this tradition with some reluctance, I have perpetrated yet another systematic
romanization system to use in this course and its sister language books. I have done this
because I believe the new variations are easier for students to use than the alternatives.
However, the best solution to the romanization problem is the most radical:
Don't use a romanization: learn the script instead.
x
Introduction
SELECTING VOCABULARY FOR SCRIPT PRACTICE
Linking script learning with learning the spoken language

How can you start to learn a language with a non-roman script? You have to be able to
handle the script before you can read or write down any words to learn; but it's not easy to
learn the script unless you can recognize the words you are reading: mouthing meaningless
syllables is a demoralizing endeavour.
The obvious candidates for script practice are the first words you learn to speak: each new
word you learn to say, you also learn to read and write in the script, so all the words you
read and write are words you already know. With this advantage in mind, I intended
originally to design BIS as a parallel course to the early parts of my spoken language course
(Burmese: An Introduction to the Spoken Language, abbreviated to BISL).
When you get down to the details, however, you find that the assumed advantages of this
plan are less enticing than they seem. The vocabulary you need in the early stages of a
spoken language course contains a high proportion of words with spelling irregularities of
one kind or another (see Irregular spellings below), and such words are not at all suitable as
material for a well-graduated introduction to the (mostly) systematic way in which the
letters of the Burmese script represent the sounds of the spoken language.
For this reason I abandoned the attempt to link the vocabulary used for practice in BIS
with the vocabulary presented in the early stages of BISL, and decided to write BIS as an
independent entity. This loses the rewards of running parallel with the acquisition of the
spoken language, but it has some c~mpensating advantages. You can still use the script
course at the same time as you are working through a spoken language cOurse - mine or any
other. In addition, BIS can be taken at whatever pace suits the time tab ling arrangements
of the students, and they can start doing it when they like. They can start the script course
before they start the spoken course, or defer starting it till after they are well into the
spoken course; and they can either take it intensively, or space it out, to match the time
they have to spend on it.
Irregular spellings in everyday vocabulary

The Burmese writing system has been in use in its present form for sewral centuries. During
this time the pronunciation of a number of words has changed, but the spelling has not
changed to match. As a result there are many words that look, from the written form, as if
they should be pronounced one way, though in practice they are pronounced another way.
Here are some examples:
xi
written form pronunciation in script pronunciation in roman meaning

as spelled * as spoken as spelled as spoken
::1(6[-l: 1t:(0Y):1 100Y):1 bu-ya p'aya pagoda
00
G~o)'l. iGU3 03 '1 ~I I GU33?~1 shwe-ti-goun shwe-dagoun Shwedagon
11
C
0 111 0';1 18hM k'u-hniq k'un-hniq seven
::A(~ I J:)J:)
lL...
I I::A(~ 2?)1 thu-nya thoun-nya zero
I 'f')~1 I <f~8oSl
C
'f,)8~ na-myi nan-meh name
* = the pronunciation indicated by the spelling
A more systematic divergence between script and sound is due to "weakenmg," a feature
that is predictable in sor:1e words (such as number phrases with one, two,. seven) but not in
all; for example:
O)o';ODoS I O)o';ODoS I 100ODoSi tiq-s'eh tas'eh ten
<f0';6[-l 110'; OY)I l'f OY)I hniq-ya hnaya two hundred
coc Icoci
000'"(C: 000'"(C: I @~ f::1 Siq-kaln Zagaln Sagaing [town]
yo 1'1.01 1001 Pu-gan Pagan Pagan [town]
o~:m~ 10~:m~1 1001 pan-kan pagan plate, bowl
But the most pervasive problem for the beginner is "voicing," a feature that is often
predictable (e.g in suffixes like -O)oS or -m), but not always; for example:
@07 05 lfu07051 lfu~051 pya-taiq pya-daiq museum
o~:~ I 0~:~1 I o~:BI p~ln-c'an pan-jan park
GCD;ODoS I GCD:ODoS/ I GCD;@oS/ le-s'eh le-zeh forty
°
(\)')~f: ol 0) OS I (\)')~f: l (;')05 I I (\)')<[Jf: eY.l3 oSl I a-c'in-pa-t eh Ia -ji n -ba -d eh I want to come
Another set of word: that present problems for the beginner student of the script are those
with non-standard 5 ?ellings - spellings that use rare characters or rare combinations of
characters; for exam Jle:
non-standard orthograph) pronounced pronunciation meaning
element as if spelled • in roman
C
-mm 0<JSll 0mo;r seq-ku paper
C C
-')0) Q')O)Y
0
30)Y
C 0
daq-poun photograph
C
8A(\)')ol 8 CO(\)'):Y.YJ Min-gala-ba Goodmoming
C
8,§ GCD: 8<f:3GCD: Man-dale Mandalay
o C C .: o C C
C(CD~lOCD(;: C(<[JlOCD8: Bo-jouq Lan Bogyoke Street
C C C
-&
G
80')') tl ~ lex ':\) 8: 8 O')')tl <f i CD CD 8: Maha Ban-du-Ia Lan Maha Bandoola St
Learning a new script demands a sustained and committed effort from the learners. When
they havE just stru:;gled through to the stage of being able to read ~f: arId oland 0)05 as
c'in and r)a and tE!l, to have their teacher tell them at that point that "in some contexts
these words are actually pronounced jin and ba and deh" is demorali:~ing and counter-
productive. The same is true of having to tell students who are justifiably proud of having
learned to read 3d) (daq) that in the word for "photograph" (daq-poun) you have to write
not3dj but0ld), iI1troducing a character (0) and a combination (-')d)), which they won't
need for any other words for a long time to come. It is for these reasons that vocabulary
from the early lessons of BISL is not used for script practice in the early parts of BIS.
xii
Introduction
Words suitable for script practice

Given that so many words in the normal everyday vocabulary are unsuitable as material
for learning to read the script, words for practice have to be found elsewhere. To be suitable
for this purpose, words have to meet two requirements: (a) they must be free from the
voicing, weakening, non-standard letters, and miscellaneous irregularities exemplified
above; and (b) they should be words that the learner can recognize, even though he may not
yet know many words of Burmese.
There are two categories of words that meet these requirements. One is Burmese personal
names, which almost always consist of discrete syllables without irregularities or rare
letters. An added advantage of using personal names for practice is that learners will
become more familiar with the elements and shapes of names. Names playa larger part in
Burmese discourse than they do in the West (for example, Burmese often uses names where
English uses "you" and "I"), and they are not marked in the script with capital initial
letters, so the ability to handle and recognize names is an important skill for the foreign
learner.
The second category of words that meet the requirements is foreign words that are used in
Burmese (like of OJ 0) hoot e h "hotel"), foreign place names (like 'lJ (1)0OJ0 J 11 k a -t a
"Jakarta"), and the foreign first names that some Burmese use as nicknames (like G"~~
Maw-Ii "Molly"). All these are written in Burmese script in a way that exactly reflects the
way they are pronounced when spoken with a strong Burmese accent. A possible objection to
using this category for practice is that the learners are not learning Burmese words.
However, loanwords and foreign names do offer a high degree of regularity and
recognizability, and they have one added advantage. Many students report that, after
studying and using Burmese for a" year or two, failing to recognize English and other
loanwords in Burmese frequently causes them difficulty. Using loanwords for script
practice, as BIS does, should give you sufficient familiarity with the sound correspondences
to reduce the size of this problem.
It sometimes happens, particularly in the early portion of BIS, that there are not enough
names or loanwords to provide sufficient practice with a given sequence of letters. In this
situation BIS uses Burmese words that the beginner is unlikely to meet elsewhere (such as
OJ0 ta "embankment"), or even made-up words that don't exist in the language. As the
learner progresses through the course and his/her repertoire of syllables grows, the need
for words in this category eventually disappears.
Once the learner has mastered a number of common consonants and vowels, the course begins
to introduce phrases with voicing and weakening and other unexpected pronunciations; so
that the need for foreign or made-up words diminishes progressively and phrases from the
spoken language take their place.
xiii
DETAILED CONTENTS (For use as a finder list)

Part 1: Standard characters and combinations of characters
Lesson heads rhymes other
Q
l. (\)- 0- --0 -
1.1 figures J J <
2. J)- '1'- suffix -~
2.1 figures C; ~ G
L3. -: suffix -(\)'): -'1'0:
3.1 figures 7 Ii! ~ 0
4. 0)- 0)-
4.1 suffix -~:
5. [&J
C'
-'1'
0
'l
suffix -~ prefix 07 [Name]
5.1 word~~00
C'
6. G- -c -G(\):
7. prefixese: G3T \;) (07) [Name]

8. ::D- o- [-l J
8.1 suffix -'fJ
9. G--0/6 [G-lITJ
10. 3- <1)- [~lJ this/that; is-stce qns ~ [noun]1I 3l [noun]-(\)'):II
prefix G00~ [Name]
C'
11. G-0C ilO hl:J
12. 00- 3d-
112R REVIEW I
13. '/ oS verb sentences in [Verb]-\;)oSll
, is-stce qns3l J:J0[noun]cDll J)oS[noun]cD
13.1 voicing: is-stces in 3l [nounJ-olll
13.2 phrase 0(05011 3l [nounJ-olll ~'fJolll
14. -=/ -? prefix 3d [vb] II (0 [name]) II suffix: [noun]-811
14.1 phrase 00(050l Jf?: II
14.2 voicing: verb stces in [Verb]- 01
15. q- 0-
15.1 I stacked cons: :...

15.2
15.3 I -0)C' -0)C'
voicing: vb stces in [VbJol O)oS·-0[VbJol J;(:II
weakening suspended: q, 0 l ()')oS and others
16.
16.1 voicing: review
16.2 voicing: verb stces in J)')[Vb ]::DcD-[VbJ::D(\)'): II
16.3 stacked consonants: 0)0)&
m
&
30)0)
116R REVIEW .
17 ill- co-
17.1 voicing ill-CO and generally
DC' C'
18 'lC -ill
18.1 voicing ::D

19. @- 00- (9-
I
xiv
Introduction
19.1 voicing m-Ol

20.
o
-(:)
C
prac from BISL: ~(\)r$: JY)(\)r$:cD and so on
verb stces in [VbJ-(:)oSG~,s1l [VbJ-olll
20.1 voicing (f)-CD
20.2 C
21. (J.)-
21R REVIEW
21.1 voicing 0iJ
22. 0-
22.1 voicing 0-(9
o c
23. -(f)
23.1 voicing suspended
24. @-
24.1
25.
25.1 weakening: 1~1 (f)~- [noun]
26. reading aid: voiced cons written in bold
26.1 weakening: cl : Oil J.Y): 0') et al
27.
o
28
28R REVIEW
28.1
28.2
29 [g-~
29.1 .
lrreg sp Igs 000?C:1
~ O~, d th er towns
o~: an 0
30 'ij-:=lj
30.1 G
31 reading aid: weak syllable written with ~

31.1 irreg spellings -~I ~:-
31.2 weakening: ::D~(f)1 G~ and the like
32 n,Q (exel-r::hl
r-----~~~------~--~~~~--~
t) inel ~~~§l$; practice ineludes hotel names
32R REVIEW: fragments of dialogue
QQ ~ ~
32.1 d ouble tones: Oilo Ho (:)3d",,? O'iJG~? Q:JO?
• ~ ~ (. E
32.2 lrreg splgs (j~:G\:y') 000:0().) (J.)J.Y)(f)
32.3 English finals inel :)')Ac\y');G~~
O~
33 -(:) l
33.1 irreg splgsGlr::hyl ~olr::h and other~r::h
33.2 irreg splgs G.§a3f[1 y~.$1 cDCfY.): 1
'r,
l 0'):<61 ~OJc:GO m
cDOl:1
C '1('
34 inelO6J E3 ill ~ but excl ar::hl at
34.1 irreg splgs ~c0 and other-Tc0
prac word ~c0OiJlcS
~ O~ ~
35 -0 -0 -0
35R1 REVIEW: BISL runthrough part 1

35R2 REVIEW: BISL runthrough part 2
36 ~ ~ 2 I I including 2? (£ t2 2c3 26
xv
37
, , , -
-Cf)
0° 0'1',
38 ° , 00, 0'1'
Ocf) 0°
39
,
-~
-ptl
, I~I
-~
,
-pt2 -~
, iG-I
-pt3 -~
, 1-oSl
-pt4 -~ mixed
39.1
39.2
40 -2
40R REVIEW: sentences from BISL Part 1
and newspaper headlines
Part 2: Less common characters and combinations of characters

• Rare combinations Section 20 ~ ,
Section 1 C\ij Section 21
Section 2 ~ Section 22
C1D
c...,
,c C1DC C1D
(1))
...,,"iQ
OJ)
<;
Section 3 ~ Section 23 S S, c
<:J
C1D
r.n
Section 4 o:r Section 24 ~ ~
, iii C1D
nr
• Free-standing vowel syllables Section 25 u u 1f C1D

u
Section 5 <;:;:{ • Non-standard rhymes
Section 6 gJl - Stop-class finals
Section 7 2 Section 26 ~ Z
Section 8 2
G
Section 27 t*
,
Section 9 <8
,
Section 28 G**
Section 10 § 0,
Section 29 1*
Section 11 G~ ,
Section 30 G*0*
• Abbreviated syllables Section 31 **
,
Section 12 01
- Nasal finals
Section 13 ~
Section 32
Section 14 §
All vowels with non-standard nasal finals
Section 1 5 Ci~:
- Other finals
• Consonants used in Pali words
Section 33
Section 16 e.!2
All vowels with non-standard other finals
Section 17 -~-
• Symbols for Sanskrit
Section 18 -lAij-
Section 34 Sanskrit S-$. r-[. !~!
Section 19 ill
xvi
Introduction

Mismatch in initial consonant
Consonant written plain or aspirate, pronounced voiced
Consonant written plain, pronounced aspirate
Consonant written voiced, pronounced aspirate
Nasal consonant written plain, pronounced aspirate
Mismatch in medial consonant
Consonant pronounced with unwritten -J
Medial consonant written but often not pronounced
Mismatch in rhyme
Vowel written G- pronounced / ~ /
Syllables written with stacked consonant, pronounced with high tone
Unwritten final consonant
Final consonant acts as initial of next syllable
Some unique mismatches
Lady in the costume of the Burmese royal court holding a parabaik,

a fanfold book of stiff paper used for writing before the spread of printing.
xvii
The alphabet
Consona.'1ts
The Burmese alphabet has 33 consonants. There are no capitals.
m @ () m c
Q) w @
~ ~ 2
cL ~ ~
() OD
en CD 3 G
'f
0 (9 ~ J) Cd
OJ q CD 0 J0
m ~ 3d
Vowels
The vowels are less systematized than the consonants. Traditionally there are 12,
written in the form of free-standing syllables as follows:
G
2
o
3d
This list has several omissions and anomalies. A more complete picture is gained
from listing the vowel symbols in their "attached" forms: the forms used for
attaching them to consonants to make syllables. In the following list a hyphen
(" _") is used to show the position of the consonant.
G (' (' 0
low tone: -I) G- -CD G-I)
IL
G a "- 0 a
high tone: -I)~ G-~ (;-1)
lCa La
0 "- 0
creaky tone: G- G-'')
La
Other rhymes are represented by adding a final consonant to these consonant+vowel
combinations. For a full listing of combinations and additional symbols see
Appendix 1: Conspectus.
xviii
Lesson 1
Part 1
Standard characters and combinations
of characters
LESSON 1
Read through the text below, down to the heading "Reading practice," then listen to the
tape for Lesson I, keeping the book open.
"Heads" and "rhymes"

Words written in Burmese script are made up of a series of distinct single syllables; and
when you are learning to read and write the script it is often useful to think of each syllable
as made up of two parts:
(a) a consonant, or sometimes two consonants together; and
(b) a vowel, or a vowel and a final consonant together.
In the notes that follow we shall call that first part of the syllable the head, and the
second part the rhyme. As an example, here is the same principle applied to some English
words:
(a) head + (b) rhyme syllable
[consonant or [vowel or
two consonants] vowel and consonant]
T + EE TEE
T + ICK TICK
TR + ICK = TRICK
TR + EE = TREE
In each Lesson below we shall present some new heads, or some new rhymes, or sometimes
both, and give you some exercises to practise reading and writing both the new characters
and the characters you learned in previous Lessons.
New letters
Heads
:) ::= 1 J =2
1- m-
The dotted line under each letter is there to show whether they are written on, or above, or
below the line on the page.
Diphthongs in the roman transcription: 1

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.
Rhymes
\> =3 <7 =4
-i -a
The hyphen. Vowels in Burmese script are are always attached to their head - they're
not letters in their own right, like the a, e, i, 0, u of the roman alphabet, and they are not
normally written independently. When we extract them for presentation purposes, as in
boxes 3 and 4, we write a hyphen ("- ") to show the position of the vowel symbol in relation
to the head As you see, Burmese vowel symbols don't always come after a consonant, like
the vowels in English. Some of them do, like the symbol for the vowel -a in box 4, but the
vowel -i comes over the con"onant, and there are other vowels that are written underneath
the consonant, or even in front of it. Some are written with a pair of symbols, above and
below, or before and after. That's why you need the hyphen when you write a vowel
without its (onsonant.
Example syFables
Head Rhyme Syllable
,----_.-
G G
CD
~ =5 '( = 7
/- -i Ii
G
+
6) =8 :)0 = 10
m- mi
OJ + -C)
:):) = 11 :) J = 12
/- -a
2 Diphthongs in the roman transcription:

pronounce ei is in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.
Lesson 1
+
J<; = 14 J~ = 15
m- -a ma
The roman transcription under the characters above is only there in case you need to jog your
memory. Try and ignore it as much as you can. Transcriptions of Burmese sounds in roman
letters often interfere with a learner's pronunciation and reading.
Notes
Position of vowel symbols. The shapes of most consonants in Burmese script are based on
circles: either a single circle, like ~ , or two circles side by side, like (\). Notice that with
a single-circle consonant the symbol for the -i vowel is positioned directly over the centre of
the circle:
G
8
Over a double-circle consonant it is placed over the right-hand circle, not over the centre of
the whole consonant:
G G
(\) not (\)
The vowel -0 is written after the consonant, like vowels in English, but it's always an
attachment to the consonant, so you write it almost touching the consonant: ~ and (\)0 .
Names
Most of the letters of the Burmese alphabet have descriptive names. It is convenient to be
able to use these names to refer to elements of the script while you are learning it, so there
is a section in each Lesson giving the names of the letters introduced in the Lesson. If you
have a teacher he or she may give you some practice in spelling out words letter by letter.
At this stage all you need to know is that when the tape uses the phrase Gq:crJ (ye-c'a), for
example, it is referring to the symbol -0. There is a full list of the names of all the letters
in the alphabet at the end of the text in Appendix 4.
(\) no descriptive name: referred to as (\) , pronounced / (\)/ = la

~ no descriptive name: referred to as ~ ,pronounced / ~/ = ma
The names of vowel symbols don't include the sound they represent, like the consonants:
they just describe the shape of the symbol.

G o~ C' C' C'

in script: C\:( ; 8: o:)C ;;:0 <'f' @OJ
pronunciation: 1c\:(<'f':l1j:OJc
C' G C' C' C'I
;;:O<'f'@OJ I ' .'. , k'
= oun-JI-tln s an- aq
meaning: a hig round placed on top; with a kernel set inside
-') in script: Gq:ou

pronunciation: 1 GW:1]1 = ye-c'a
meaning: a line set down
At this point, switch on the tape.
Reading practice for Lesson 1

Tape format for reading practice:
Prompt: Read word number 1.
Learner (during silent gap on the tape): C\Y)
Burmese speaker on the tape: C\Y)

... and so on
Syllables
G G
:) = 1 C\Y) OC\)
J =2 00 C\Y)C\..Y)
G G
~ =3 0 7 =7 OC\Y)
G G
C; =4 C\) 6) = 8 C\)C\Y)
Words
Mask the English equivalents in the right-hand column when you are reading these words.
Some of them give you too much help.
(3 =9 C\Y)- come
:)0 = 10 00- be tough, hard

G
:):)=11 -CD times [multiplication]
G
:) J = 12 00 CD gardener
:)~ = 13 00C\Y) flower [also girl's name]

G G
:)C; =14 CDC\) Lily [girl's English name)
G
:)~ = 15 CD 00 Lima
:)G = 16 C\Y)00 Lama

Lesson 1
A note on the glosses. For reasons given in the Introduction, the words we use for practising
reading in the early stages are restricted to certain categories. Most of the words best suited
to this purpose are Burmese personal names, and foreign words and names that are used in
Burmese. We supplement these with sets of syllables selected for practising, which aren't
necessarily words that have a meaning in Burmese. As your script repertoire widens, we
shall be able to use more real words and fewer made-up ones. It is not vital for you at this
stage to know the words you are practising with, but to save you working in the dark, the
glosses give some meanings.
Some of the words in the lists are followed by a hyphen (like 80-). This shows that they
are verbs. The hyphen is there because in actual language use Burmese verbs are (almost)
always followed by a suffix (a word that is attached to the ends of other words). Other
words have a hyphen before them, which is to show that they are suffixes: words that
cannot stand on their own but have to be attached to the end of another word, like the -ing
in the English word talking.
Burmese who have learned English will usually pronounce English loanwords with a good
English accent. Others will produce a heavily Burmanized version. The script, being
designed for Burmese sounds and not for English ones, coincides with the Burmanized
pronunciation, and this is the version we record on the tapes.
Forming the characters

At this point tum off the tape, and practise writing the new characters until you are ready
to do the dictation exercise below.
.
If you're going to write letters that are clear to read and pleasing to look at it's important to
make the strokes in the right direction and the right order - at least to start with. When
you're writing at a reasonable speed you may find you want to take some short cuts; but for
now practise making the strokes in the way that's set out below. This is the way Burmese
children learn to write the characters in school. Knowing the right direction and order also
helps you to interpret fast cursive handwriting, when parts of some of the letters become
separated. For more on cursive shortcuts see Appendix 7B.
You will see that most of the strokes are drawn clockwise. Make them as circular as you
can. One of the commonest words of praise for handwriting in Burma is
c: 0 c: 0 c: "-
C\J(y)Gq: :::DO C(C:O)')OIl
"Your writing is so rOlmd!"
Order of strokes: 1 2 1 2
For cursive shortcuts see Appendix 7B.

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as :n Sauerkraut.
When you write syllables with ~ or - ') , write the consonant first, and the vowel symbol second,
G
Stages in writing c\5 (1) CD (2) CD
Stages in writing m (1) 0 (2) 00
Writing practice for Lesson 1

Copying. Write out the following, making the strokes in the right order:
G G
CD 8
Dictation. When you've written the syllables enough times to feel at hc'i'lw with them, turn
on the tape again, and do the Dictation Exercise. This is the procedure:
• First close the book, or at least cover up the Key to the Dictation Exercise printed below,
• Next, have a pen and paper ready, switch on the tape and listen to word 1; then stop (or
pause) the tape and write the word in Burmese script on your paper.
• Do the same for all the words in the Exercise.
• When you get to the end of the Exercise, look at the text again and cOPlpare your script with
the Key.
KEY TO LESSON 1 DICTATION

Syllables
G
:) =1 C\Y)0
00
~ =5
GG
J =2 C\Y) G=6 ('00
~ =3 ('0
G
r; =7 000
G
G G G
c; =4 0 ()) =8 0('0
LESSON 1.1 FIGlJRES I, 2, 3
The first three Lessons in BIS are each followed by a short additie''1al Lesson which
introduces you to the numerals in Burmese script. From Lesson 4 onwaJ is all words in the
reading and writing examples are numbered with Burmese figures in order to give you
practice in reading them. There is no tape for this Lesson,

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut,
Lesson 1
New figures
d
1 2 3
Notice that the Burmese:) is like our own 1: ours is straight and the Burmese:) is curved,
but they're both made with a single stroke. And the ~ is not so different from our 3 either:
in this case the Burmese figure has a straight line in the lower half where ours has a
curved one. Given those helpful resemblances, the only figure you've really got to work at
here is the J.
J ~
Try writing the figures a few times to help memorize their shapes, then tackle the Reading
Practice.
Reading practice for Lesson 1.1

Take pen and paper, mask the key below, and convert the Burmese figures to Arabic
(Western) figures. Then check your results against the Key.
BURMESE
A. :)J c.
JJ E. ~:)
B.
J~ D. :)~ F. J:)
KEY
A. 12 C. 22 E. 31
B. 23 D. 13 F. 21
Writing practice for Lesson 1.1

Mask the key below and write out the Burmese equivalents of the Arabic fgmes.

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, au as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.
ARABIC
A. 1 D. 22 G. 32
B. 2 E. 31 H. 23
C. 3 F. 11 I. 13
KEY
A. J D.
JJ G.
~J
B.
J E. ~J H.
J~
c. ~ F. JJ 1. J~
LESSON 2
Look at the new heads and examples below, down to "Reading practice," then listen to the
tape for Lesson 2.
New heads
J = 1 J =2
b- n-
Shape. Note that J) is composed of two broken circles, one with the opening to the east,
and the second opening to the south-west. The tail of the 'f descends below the line.
Example syllables
G G
21J
<7 = 4 ~ =5 '7 = 7
bi ni na
Notice that the ~ sits centrally over the 'f ' but is written over the right-hand half of the
J) ,not over the centre. (There is no box 3.)

Lesson 2
Names
c C
J) in script: J)O?~: in script: ~cw
pronunciation: / e>,'1~;
C / ' ,
= ba-goun pronunciation: / ~,coS/ = na-ngeh
meaning: humpback bel. meaning: little na
Now switch on the tape to do-

Syllables G
89 =14 CD~ Lima
8 =1 ':YY)
G English first names
j =2 -::n G G
G 8~ =15 CD CD Lily
~ =3 c? G
8G =16 CD <1'0 Lena
9 =4 c?0 G
87 =17 c? c?0 Nina
~ =5 00
G 86) =18 (\)1)<1'0 Lana
G=6 ~
G
7 =7 CD Burmese names
GG
8~ =19 Ni Ni
6) =8 (\)I) C?C?
~ =9 JY)(\)I) jO =20 ~(\)I) Mala
G
80 =10 -::n~ Burmese words
GG
88 =11 ~c? j8 =21 ':YY) what
G
8 J =12 c\)~0 JJ =22 ~0- be sore
G
j~ =23 ~- be red
Foreign place names
G
Mask the English equivalents in the
right-hand column when you read these
J9 =24 ~(\)I) sapphire
G
words: they give the game away. J~ =25 ~C\) gardener
G
8~ =13 JY)C\) Bali jG =26 (\)I)~ Lama

At this point turn off the tape and practise writing the new characte:s until you are ready
to do the dictation exercise below.

Order of strokes: 1 2

Copying. Write out the following, making the strokes in the right order. Make sure that the tail of
your'f goes below the line.
G
~.
Dictation. 12 words. Cover up the Key below, and proceed as for Lesson 1.
KEY TO LESSON 2 DICTATION

Syllables
G
J =1 JY) 7 =7 C\Y)ef
G
J =2 ef 6) =8 00ef0
G G
~ =3 J) (3 =9 8C\Y)
G G
<J =4 ef0 JO =10 efJ)
G G G
~ =5 8CD J J =11 ef08
G
G=6 J)JY) J J =12 C\Y)JY)
Having much leisure during this six weeks' voyage I now set myself with great
industry to acquire the language .... I soon mastered the written character. As the
language is essentially monosyllabic, there is hardly a combination of two or
three letters which has not its appropriate signification, and it was my daily
amusement to put together a number of these at a venture, and then ferret out their
meaning from my interpreter. Words gained by this process became indelibly fixed
on the memory, and it surprised me to see how soon I became possessed of a large
stock of them.
From Henry Gouger: A Personal Narrative of Two Years Imprisonment in Burmah. London,
1864, p. 22.

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.
Lesson 2
LESSON 2.1 FIGURES 4, 5, 6
There is no tape for this Lesson.
New figures
4 5 6
Notice that the c; i~ not so different from our 4, and the G is a pretty close match to our 6 too.
So the ~ is the one you need to concentrate on .
. Forming the characters
Asbefore, write out the figures a few t:i.mes to help memorise their shapes, then go on to the
Reading practice.

BURMESE
A. j D. jG G. 8G J. ~J
B.
~ E. G~ H. Jj K.
J~
c. G F. ~j I. ~8 L.
j~
KEY
A. 4 D. 46 G. 16 J. 52
B. 5 E. 65 H. 24 K. 23
C. 6 F. 54 I. 51 L. 43

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au a~ in Sauerkraut.

ARABIC
A. 5 D. 45 G. 21 1: 43
B. 4 E. 16 H. 63 K. 35
C. 6 F. 52 1. 34 L. 26
KEY
A.
~ D.
9~ G. j8 J. 9\>
B.
9 E. 8G H. G\> K.
\>~
c. G F.
~j 1.
\>9 L. jG
LESSON 3
Read down to "Reading practice," then listen to the tape.
Tone mark
o
o
:) =1
[marks high tone]
In Burmese, if you pronounce a syllable with a high pitch it means one thing, and if you say
the same syllable on a low pitch it means another. Examples:
1>0 [low pitch] na to hurt
1>0: [high pitch] na to pause
~ [low pitch] ni to be red

~: [high pitch] nI to be near
Fortunately for us, Burmese script marks the speech tones clearly (there are some tone
languages that don't), and the "two-dot" symbol is one of the ways it does so. In the roman
transcription we mark the high pitch with a grave accent (-); and (as for most vowels in
Burmese script) if a syllable doesn't have a tone mark then you know it's a low-pitch
syllable.
We speak of "high-pitch syllable" and "low-pitch syllable" for brevity. To be more

precise, what matters in B:.nmese is that a high-pitch syllable should start high - which

Lesson 3
means higher than any neighbouring low-pitch syllables. Similarly, a low-pitch syllable
should start lower than any nearby highs. Which way they go after they've started is not
critical - as it is in tone languages like Thai and Chinese.
Tones won't be a serious obstacle to learning Burmese - on one condition. The condition is
that you must take them seriously, from the beginning: whenever you say a Burmese word
you must make sure you're conscious of the pitch, and when you learn a word you must learn
its tone as well. That's why tones are brought in so early, here in Lesson 3. Some students
are tempted to pay little attention to them at first, thinking they will polish them up some
time later. This is a bad mistake. It can't be done. When such students get to the stage of
being able to speak quite a lot of Burmese, the bemused Burmans they talk to don't know
whether they're talking about resting or hurting, about being red or being near - and the
students misinterpret what the Burmese say. This is tragic, because all that confusion and
frustration is unnecessary: all you have to do is to take the tone of a word as seriously as you
take its consonants and vowels. Tone is just as important in identifying a word as its vowels
and consonants are; and in some ways you can argue it's even more important. If you're
talking in a noisy room, people can often make out what you're saying because they can hear
the ups and downs of your sentence, even though they can't hear the vowels and consonants
very clearly.
Example syllables
G G
':r2 J2J~
0
'::D 0 JJ)
J =2 ~ =3 9 =4 ~ =5
bi bl ba be.
6) =8 l3 =9
mi ma ma
Name
in script: Gfj1.omGol~
pronunciation: / GOfon,Gr:y)~/ = she-ga-bauq
meaning: dots in front
This symbol has several different names, but in BIS we shall be using the name given above.
You will find some others in Appendix 4 on the names of the letters.

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au ao: in Sauerkraut.
Now listen to the tape.

Syllables
G
6) =8 9~C\Y)
J =2 ~80 (3 =9 90~c\y)
~ =3 mm~ :)0 =10 90 C\Y)

1 =4 m~m~ Words
G G G G
~ =5 J)~9 :):) =11 J)~9 red comb
G =6
G
8~9
G
:) J =12
G
8~9
G
red light
G
r; =7 9C\Y)
Phrases
The suffix -<f0: , attached to the end of a word for a place or person, means "near [place/
G
person]." For example CD 00<f0: means "near Lima." Here are some m0re phrases with
-<f0 : -
G
:)~ =13 C\)m90~ near Lima
G
:)1 =14 J)0(\)90~ near Bali
G G
:)~ =15 C\)C\)90~ near Lily
:)G =16 mC\Y)90~ near Mala
The suffix - (\)0: , attached to the end of a word, is like a question mark. If you say (\)0; tt
it means "Ni Ni?" As in English, people use questions like this to mean "Is that Ni Ni?" or
"Do you mean Ni Ni?" or "Did you say Ni Ni?" Here are some phrases wIth -(\)0;
GG
:)r; =17 9 9 C\Y)~ Ni Ni?
G
:) 6) =18 80 CD C\Y);~ the gardener?
G G
:)(3 =19 8~9C\Y)~ a red light?
JO =20 mC\Y)C\Y)~ Mala?

G
J:) =21 J)0 CD 90 ~ C\Y.) ~ near Bali?
G
JJ =22 9 C\Y) 90 ~ C\Y.) ~ near the sapphire?

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as ~n Sauerkraut.
Lesson 3
Meanings of some single syllables written with the new characters

For reference only: not practised on the tape
G
C\Y): question suffix, mule J): comb
G
CD: penis (vulgar) ef0:- pause, rest
G
8: fire, light ef0: ear
G
J)0: bar ef:- be near

At this point turn off the tape, and practise a few syllables with the tone mark until you
are ready to do the dictation exercise below. Write the tone mark after you have written
the consonant and vowel; like this: J)-dS-dS:
Before paper was used widely for writing in Burma, people wrote on lengths of palm leaf,
treated by soaking and smoking to make them flexible and long lasting. They etched the
shapes of the le~ers on them with a metal point, and then rubbed black colouring into the
lines to make the letters show. One of the weaknesses of palm leaf as a writing material is
that it is liable to split. Clearly, to mark a dot by jabbing the leaf with a metal stylus
would be unwise; so scribes drew a dot by making a very small circle. This convention is still
observed in printing, but in handwriting most people just write dots.

Copying. Write out the following, making the strokes in the right order.
0
G G
J:iJ
0
0 cp'J 0 J) 0
0
cp
0
0
G
ill 0
0 ~
0
0 B 0
0
Dictation. Cover up the Key, and proceed as for Lesson 1.

KEY TO LESSON 3 DIeTA TION
:) =1 C\Y)~C\Y) G=6 <f0<f0~

G
J =2 m~m rc =7 J'Y.)<f
G G G G
~ =3 8~8 6) =8 J)(\)
G
j =4 JY)~JY) (3 =9 m(\)<f0~
G G
~ =5 ~0<f~ :)0 =10 JY.) (\) <f0 ~
LESSON 3.1 FIGURES 7, 8, 9, 0
There is no tape for this Lesson.
New figures
o
7 8 9 o
Memorizing the 7. and the 0 won't give much trouble; but the 6) and the c'. will need some
practice. Notice that the 7. and the G extend below the line. For cl;.rsive shortcuts see
Appendix 7B.
Q
As before, practise writing the new figures, then move on to the Reading practice.
16 Diphthongs in the roman transcription: --

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as.~Sauerkraut.
Lesson 3

BURMESE
A. (3 E. 6)(3 I. JG M. '(O~
B. 6) F. ~O J. '(9 N. :)~(3
C. '( G. (36) K. 6):) o. GJo
D. 0 H. '(0 L.
~~ P. 90 6)
KEY
A. 9 E. 89 I. 26 M. 703
B. 8 F. 30 J. 74 N. 159
C. 7 G. 98 K. 81 O. 620
D. 0 H. 70 L. 35 P. 408

....
ARABIC
A. 7 E. 80 I. 57 M. 308
B. 5 F. 97 J. 81 N. 694
C. 9 G. 90 K. 30 O. 915
D. 0 H. 78 L. 26 P. 472
BURMESE
A. '( E. 6)0 I. ~'( !vI. ~06)
B.
~ F. (3'( J. 6):) N. G(39
c. (3 G. (30 K. ~O O. (3:)~
D. 0 H. '(6) L. JG P.
9'(J
That brings you to the end of your coverage of the Burmese figures. In the next Lesson, and
all the subsequent lessons, we'll be using Burmese figures on the page to identify the
examples. That's to let you have plenty of practice in reading Burmese figures. And when
you're doing dictation, I strongly advise you to use Burmese figures for the numbers of the
words, so that you get some practice in writing the figures as well as reading them.

LESSON 4
Read down to the Practice section, then listen to the tape.
New heads
CD m
:)
J
t- k-
Shape. These two consonants have almost the same shape, but the (J) has a full circle for
its first half, while the m has only a horseshoe. In both letters the second circle is open to
the southwest, like the second half of J ) .
Pronunciation. (J) and m represent "voiceless unaspirated plosives/' or "foreign T and K";
more on the tape.
Example syllables
G G
CD~ m 1_CfY)~
L_ _ _ _ _ _-----'
c; ~ G '(
ti ta ki ka
(There is no box 3.)
For syllables to copy, use the "Example syllables" above.

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as;n Sauerkraut.
Lesson 4
Names
c:
00 in script: OOOId:)( m in script: mE3:
pronunciation: I oo,o~:){1 pronunciation: I m,c1j:!
= ta-wun-bu = ka-jI
'I
meaning: pot-bellied ta meaning: big ka
Change of Lesson fonnat.

Now that you have worked through three Lessons and have got the measure of the task
before you, we're going to change the format of the Lessons to something that gives you more
flexibility in the way you do your practice.
Up to this point you have had separate sets of words for reading practice and writing
practice. In fact, a single set of words can be used for both purposes, so from here on you will
f~4 only one (longish) set of words for practice. You can use the whole set for reading, and
then go through it again to practise writing from dictation; or you can use the first half for
reading and the remainder for dictation; or do dictation first and reading second. Assess
your strengths and weaknesses and go for what you need most.
You will probably find it more rewarding to treat the loanwords and foreign names as
reading practice, rather than dictation, at least for the first time through. There is some
satisfaction to be gained from recognizing familiar words in the unfamiliar script.
When you are writing down words from the tape, write the number of each word in Burmese
numerals. This will give you practice in writing them. From this point on the numbers are
shown in their Burmese form only. Ea<;h number is followed by the symbol II This is a mark
of punctuation that is used to mark the end of a sentence, and to mark numbers in numbered
lists, like the full stop in English. It is known by two names:
c: c:~
II in script: y31d orY3t2]:
pronunciation: I ycAldl or I ycAE23:! = pouq-ma or pouq-ci
meaning: main section or big section
Now listen to the tape.
Practice for Lesson 4

The following words are read aloud on the tape.
G
Syllables m
G G
811 m m~~0
G
JII ~ffi0~
G
O'Y)~~
\>11
ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au a:i in Sauerkraut.
,
G G
CDeyy:,
6)11 C\Y.)O)~
G G
J" litre
~II ~~CD (YY)cv'J colour

G G
JOII ef0~JY) 0) CD Keighley
G
JJII J)~('fY) [Rangoon road name]
G
JY)~0')
JJII ~II ~ O'Y) metre, meter
G G
J~II ~~('fY) Gil ('fY)0) khaki
G GG
J9" J)0')~
1[11 0')0) ef Martini
G G G
J~II 6)11 ~ CD CD OJ') milliE tre
G G G
Loanwords from English ~II ~ CD ~ OJ') millimetre
G G
JII O)J) TB
Burmese words and phrases

G
JII ('fY)~ef red car
GG
JII CDef red worm
G G
~ II CDJ)C\Y)~ TB?
('fY) C\Y.) C\Y.) ~

9" G
colour?
~II ('fY) 0) C\Y.) ~ khaki?

G
Gil ('fY) ~ ef C\Y.) ~ a red car?
G
1[11 0 ) ef0 ~ C\Y) ~ near the worm?
G
6)11 m0~ef ef0~c\y)~ near the red car?
For reference: meanings of some single syllables written with the new characters
03 earthworm (Y)')- ward off
G
00:- beat, strike spread out
CfY) [measure of length] car
O'Y):- block the way

Lesson 4
LESSON 4.1 "GREAT"
Here and there in the course you will come across a ".1 Lesson," and sornetimes ".2" and ".3"
Lessons as well. These are short supplementary Lessons that introduce, not the major heads
and rhymes of the script, but some small extra point. In this case it is a high-frequency
word. As usual, read down to the Practice section, then listen to the tape.
New word
There is one very common suffix which you can now read apart from one symbol - a
symbol that won't be formally introduced till much later in the course. As the suffix is so
common (you are very likely to spot it if you look at any example of Burmese), and as you
are so close to being able to read it, here's a sneak preview.
The suffix is written ts: . In Lesson 4 you learned to read the syllable c!5: . When the
extra element C is added to c!5: the resulting syllable ~: is pron(Junced like the ge in
genius. It means "great" or "big"; so O'Y):~: means "a big car."
-
Build up E3: in these stages: m-§-E3-E3:
Here are some examples for practice:
:)11 CYY)~E3~ the big car
JII 03(03~ a large worm
~II m03(03~ the old gardener
<;11 ~C\Y)E3~ a big sapphire
~II C\Y)mE3~ the great Lama
See how many occurrences of the word ~: you can find in the following passage. It is taken
from a book about Burmese music and musicians: "i?CX?G3T3d~ (G6'F) §~~~U'Y.)<'S0?1I 0B5'JBII
~~ GCD:II B:~:GEi[: II 00-o;;>B II The answer is in the answer section of the Reading from Life
Supplement, under Lesson 4.1.

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au ;.s in Sauerkraut.
LESSON 5
By now we assume you will have a fair idea of how the Lessons are structured, so we
discontinue our reminders to switch the tape on and off.
New rhymes
o C'
I
J
-0 -an

Lesson 5
Example syllables
o o C' C'
~ <; ~ G
mo ko ban tan
0
-
1:
.
Bulld up "f
0 .
ill these stages: 0 - "f - "fo
II
. c:
BUlld up 0 ~
.
ill
c:
these stages: 8 - 0 ~ - 0 ~ II
For syllables to copy, use the "Example syllables" above.
Notes
o
The vowelL
1. Position. You have met a vowel 'that comes after the head (-0), and a vowel that is
written over the head (~). The vowel ~ is written both above and below the head. With a
one-circle consonant like ~ the vowel ~ is centred above and below the consonant, and over a
two-circle consonant like m it is centred above and below the right-hand circle. In other
words this vowel is positioned in the same way as the vowel ~ . Make sure you write
o
o? not
cp.
2. With consonant., . When you combine the consonant ~ with the vowel ~ there is a clash
below the line between the leg of the vowel and the tail of the consonant. Type designers
adopt two solutions to this conflict:
(a) you displace the leg of the vowel to the right, and write: 'toL ; or
o
(b) you retract the tail of the ~ to get it out of the way, and write: ~
Currently solution (a) has government approval, but in BIS we shall he using solution (b).
As you will discover later, solution (a) results in a syllable that loo:«s deceptively like a
combination of another vowel and ~ ('t vs. ~), and it is possible that official approval will
shift to solution (b).

3. Pronunciation. ~ represents a half-close back rounded vowel, like tile French word eau
"water." There are examples the tape.
The rhyme-~
S. Component parts. Notice that the rhyme -~ is made up of the consonant 'i' with a hook
above it. The hook is called the "killer stroke" (3d:::Dd; athaq) and its ftinction is to show
that the 'i' here is at the end of the syllable, representing the rhyme -- 4. Without the
killer stroke the 'i' would look like the beginning of another syllable, representing the head
'i' -. So if you see a ct without the killer, you know it's the beginning of the syllable and you
look for the rhyme that goes with it; but if you see a ~ with the killer, you know that that
is the rhyme and you look for its head.
6. Pronunciation. At the present time this rhyme is not pronounced with' a final N (as you
will hear on the :ape); but it is very likely that when the Burmese writing system was
being devised, in the 11th and 12th centuries, words that are written with -~ did have a
rhyme that was, omething like the - an in English can, and that is why the consonant 'i'
was used with a 1 iller to represent it in writing.
7. Burmese perso nal names. Starting with this Lesson the practice lists will include some
Burmese name elements and some actual names. Burmese personal names mostly consist of
two syllables, but some have only one, and there are names that contain four. In principle
you can use any syllable as a name for your child, but in practice people restrict themselves
to a range of perhaps 80 to 100 favourite syllables, and the choice is of{:en determined by
the astrological factor: each letter of th~ alphabet is associated with lt1e of the days of
the week, and if you are following tradition you choose a name that b·: gins with a letter
appropriate to the weekday on which the child was born. The syllables usually mean some
desirable or lovable quality, such as "progress" or "handsome" or "little" or "brother."
Traditionally each name is individual, and is in no way related to the name of the
bearer's parents or spouse. However, within the last 50 years or so, some families,
particularly those that have had contact with Westerners, have adopkd ':he practice of
incorporating elements of the parents' names into the names of the ch.ildren; and some
married women have chosen to add their husband's name, or part of it, to j~he end of their
own. Names constructed on these Western lines are still a small minority.
Names
'i' in script: 'i'cw
C'
in script: 3d:::D OJC'
pronunciation: / 'i"cuS/ = na-ngeh pronunciation: /3d:::Dd;/ = athaq
meaning: Ii ttle na meaning: killer
The rhyme -~ is called 'i':::DaS (pronounced / 'i',:::DaS/ ::= na-thaq) "na with a killer"
':

Lesson 5
<: <: <:

~:E3:m8
0
-l in script: mlDGctP c :cc in script:
pronuncia tion: / mGctP8:c8/ pronunciation: / cy~:~:m8/
= tik'aun-ngin = loun-jl-tin
meaning: a line drawn down meaning: a big round set on top
The rhyme ~ is spelled out by naming the two symbols: m&;GctP8:c8 ~:8:m8.

Syllables Burmese name elements
c See note 7 above.
JII (\)9 o
c JII O(~ advance, progress
JII :)')9 G
:(11
0
JII 9 red
~ o
0 :(11 ~~ sky, heavens
9" to o
0 ::y( captain, leader
~II O(O(~
c 0 (properly spelled ~cS but written in d?
Gil CD9 ~::Y( some names)
0 c
'(II 0(~CD9~ Burmese names
6)11 m9CD9~
c c 07 "Ko" is a prefix used with the names of
young (or younger) men. For other prefixes
see Lesson 7. Names are shown here with
English first names
G their "traditional romanization": see the
JII CD 90 Tina section on romanization in the Introduction.
0
Lola Note the inconsistenci<os of this sytem: ~ =
JII ~CD0
0 Ni or Nee and other variants.
Mona
:(11 ~9° J II
o
CY(O(~
0
Ko Toe
o G
9" 0(:)') Toby 00
OG JII CY(~~ Ko Mo
~II 0(9 Tony OG
:( II CY( 9 Ko Nee
o 0 G
Loanwords from English
0 0
9" CY(::Y(9 Ko Bo Ni
JII CY(CY(~ cocoa
G 0 Bunnese words
JII CD 0( Tito c 0
G JII 009 ::y(~ value
:( II 8CfY) metre 0
0 OG JII ~~mtJ rainproof
CY(~9 colony
9" G OG :(11
0
mtJ::Y(~ Kabo [town name 1
~II m~8CfY) kilometre c
CD9~CD0- come direct
Gil G 0 G
m~CDCfY) kilolitre 911 c c
0 0 ~II CD9~CD9~ unfinished
'(II CY(mtJO?CD0 Coca-cola

Phrases
The suffix -~ means "like, resembling," so d5:~ means "like a comb." Here are some more
phrases with -~ .
o 0 0
~II O(O(~C$ like cocoa
00 0
JII O(~~C\( like Ko Mo
G G 0
~II O'):D C\( C\Y) ~ like TB?
o
C\Y) <:n C\( C\Y) ~ like a Lama
o
(Y)')~C\( like a car
(Y)')~~~~ like a large car

G 0
1(11 ~C\Y)C\( like a sapphire
G ~ 0
6)11 ~ C\Y) t23 ~ C\( like a large sapphire
GOO 0
m~~C\( like a kimono
GOO~ 0
~Oll m~~t23~C\( like a large kimono
GOO~ 0
~~" m~~t23~C\(C\Y)~ like a large kimono?
c:- 0
($4'- be turned back X-0( like X, resembling X
c:- 0
(\)4':- be refreshed 0(- need
c:- 0
~4': [short for Mandalay] C\(:- copulate [vulgar]
c:- 0
J)4': tray ~: sky, rain
c:- 0
4'4': palace ~:- wakeup
c:- 0
0')4'- be worth the price 0(- be short
c:- 0
0')4':- be extended in line 0(:- advance
c:- 0
0)4'- kick O? [prefix for ymmg men]
c:- 0
0)4':- be blind 07:- rely on
LESSON 5.1 "BURMESE"
New word
You are almost equipped to read the Burmese for Myanmar (pronounced Myan-mat one of
the two forms of the name of the country and its people.

Lesson 5
You can read (pronounced man),

and you can read (pronounced -ma).
Put them together, and you get (pronounced man-ma).
The missing -y- is written with a symbol that won't come up till later, but here's a preview:
Cdrawn round a <:) gives the combination § ,which is pronounced my-.
With that you can read §~ (pronounced myan)
Put that with (Y) and you get §~ 80 (pronounced myan-ma)
In fast speech ~~(Y) is shortened from Myan-ma to Myama. "Myanmar" is the same word
written in the traditional romanization.

Write Gin the same way as the wider 5- ' but narrower, so as to accommodate the 0
comfortably. Build up ~~ in these stages: 0-~-~<f-~~
Notes
The traditional English name "Burma" comes from the other form of the name: ~00 ,
pronounced B ama (the sound b- can be written either YJ or ~ , and for the B- in this word
you use the second option). The older spelling "Burmah" was probably intended to reflect
the stress pattern of ~(Y) = Bama. Unti11989 ~~(Y) was the form used in official documents
and formal contexts, but in everyday conversation you used the form ~(Y). However, in 1989
the military government announced that the two forms were to be given new meanings:
§~ 0') (romanized "Myanmar") was to be used for anything related to the whole country, to
include all its different ethnic groups'(Burman, Karen, Shan, Kachin, Mon and the others);
and ~0') (romanized "Bamar") was to be used to refer to the Burman ethnic group as distinct
from the others. Traditional English usage makes the same distinction, when necessary, by
using "Burmese" to relate to all the ethnic groups and "Burman" for the one dominant group.
Under the new ruling it followed that for foreigners too the name of the country could no
longer be "Burma," as that appeared to favour the "Bamar" race over the rest; so the
country was officially renamed "Myanmar," but at the time of writing (February 1993) the
new name has not been taken up universally outside the country. Some writers (among
whom I class myself) continue to use "Burma" on the grounds that many readers won't
recognize the new name "Myanmar." Opponents of the military government defiantly reject
the new name as a way of flaunting their opposition. Supporters of the military
government use "Myanmar" assiduously, and it is also used by international agencies like
the U.N.
Notice that ar in the traditional romanizations "Myanmar" anq "Bamar" is meant to
be pronounced in the southern English way, with no r sounded. Another example is the
girl's name 8')C\.)') , sometimes romanized "Marlar," and again to be pronounced with no r.
Other people romanize the same name "Mala." This R-Iess pronunciation is taught and
treated as standard in Burma. Some Burmans defend the spelling mar on the grounds that it
suggests a longer vowel than rna, which they want to reserve for short syllables (to come in
Lesson 14).

Here is some practice in reading §~ 8'J .
:)" ~~~O'Y)~ Burmese cai

~(' G
J" 89~9C\Y) Burmese sapphire
~(' G
~" 89~9C\Y)C\Y)~ a Burmese sapphire?
9" ~~~~C\Y)E3~ a big Burmese sapphire

~(' 0
~" 89~C\( in Burmese ["like Burmese, Burmese way"]
~('
G" 0
89~C\(C\Y)~ in Burmese?
Gj(' 0 OG
89~0?C\(9 Burmese colony
re"
6)" ~~~a?~~~ like a Burmese colony
The following passage is taken from an encyclopedia. See how many occurrences of the
word §~ iCY.) you can find in it. The answer is in the answer section of the Reading from Life
Supplement, under Lesson 5.1. ...

Lesson 5
LESSON 6
New rhymes
C'
G- C
J
-e -in
Example syllables
C' I C'
0
0 [_me
~ c; ~ G
Ie me nin tin
G- -c -
Write G before you write the consonant: build up GCD in these stages: G-GCD .

Build up (Y) 2 in these stages: (Y) - (Y) C - (Y) 2 . Remember to write - 2 from the bottom
upwards: if you yield to the temptation to start anywhere else it will look wrong when you
learn to write faster. For cursive shortcuts see Appendix 7B.
Notes
1. The vowel CD-. Note that this symbol is placed before the consona;:1t. When writing a
syllable like GCD you write the G first, then the CD . In pronunciation G- is a half-close
front unrounded vowel: like the ein French cafe. For examples, listen to thE: tape.
2. The rhyme -~ . This rhyme is written on the same principle as the rhyme -~ . c is a
consonant pronounced ng-, and it is used with the killer stroke (3d:::D05 athaq) to write this
rhyme. Probably, in the early days of the script, syllables written with the rhyme - 2
were pronounced with a final ng, like the English word sing. Nowadays however, -2 is
pronounced (like -~) without the tongue and the roof of the mouth coming into contact. So
it is not the same as the rhyme of English sing. Listen to the examples on the tape.
3. The symbols used to represent rhymes. You have now met the four symbols that are
attached to consonants to represent vowels:
o
G- -')
l
Each is used on its own to represent a vowel, and some of them are used in pairs (like ~ ) to
represent other vowels. Some of them can be modified to mark a different tone (like'::).
Together these symbols cover eight of the twenty-four rhymes of Burmese.
A second way of representing rhymes in Burmese script is to write a final consonant after
the head consonant. You have already.met syllables written with -~ and -2 , and there
are more to come: in all there are eight consonants in common use as finals. They all work on
the same principle as -~ and -2 , and they are used for a further eight rhymes.
There is one other way in which Burmese script represents rhymes: you can use both a
vowel symbol (or a pair of vowel symbols) and a final consonant in th,~ same syllable: for
example in ~6. The remaining eight rhymes of the language are writto'n in this way: you
will meet your first example in Lesson 11.
Names
o C r
G- in script: :::D GOCX?: - C in script: C:::D cr:)
pronunciation: / :::D GO c2r:! pronunciation: / C,~):)(:h/
= thawe-t'o = n9 a-tha q
meaning: draw a spiral meaning: nga with a killer stroke
Syllables JII
:) II GCD ~II

Lesson 6
C'
9" '1'C Burmese name elements
C' C'
~II ('f)C :)11 ~C~ lord, official, master
C' C'
Gil cnc JII (\)C~ light
C'
English first names ~II cnc survivor
:)11 G~ May [not dead in infancy]
0 C'
G ~~'1'C~ sky-treader
JII G~~ Mamie 911 0
C'
~II older brother
~II (YY)~C Carmen or
0'J(\)C ~
C'
Marlene
Gil G9 sun
9" C' G(\)~ little, younger
0'Jcnc Martin 1(11
~II
C'G Burmese names
Gil ~C'1' Minnie
(all with prefix d? "Ko": see Lesson 7)
Famous people 0 C'
G C' :)11 or~C~ KoMin
:)11 (\)'1' C Lenin 0 C'
C' C' JII or(\)C~ KoLin
JII (\)C('f)9 Lincoln 0 C'
~II orcnc KoTin
~II G:),)('f)CC' Bacon
o C'E3
orcnc ('f)~ KoTin Gyi
9 11 00 C'
C' 0 ~II or~~'1'C~ KoMoNin
:)11 (\)C::Y{ limbo 0 0
C' Gil ororG(\)~ Ko Ko Lay
JII G:),)('f)C bacon
C' 0 1(11
o 0E3
oror ('f)~ Ko KoGyi
~II :),)C::Y{ bimbo 0 C'
G 6)11 or G'1' (\) C~ Ko Ne Lin
(YY)('f) khaki
9" ~II
0
orcnc~~
C'O
KoTinMoe

o C'
:)11 ~~(\)C~- dawn breaks
C'
J II G:),)~('f)C~- be free from danger
G
~II ~~ G:),) ~ fire hazard
C'
G~~'1' ~(YY)~ the Maymyo-Mandalay bus
9" 0
~II GCDC\.( like the air
0 0
Gil G4>o(~c\'( like NATO
G C'
CD9C C\Y)~ Lenin?
re" G
6)11 ~ ~ G:::n ~ C\Y)~ fire hazard?
C' C' 0
B" CD Cm 4> C\.( C\Y) ~ like Lincoln?
C' 0
:)011 G::::r:)(Y) CC\.( C\Y) ~ like Bacon?

near Ko Tin Mo?

near Ko Ko Lay?
The suffix -GCD: means "little," as in OY):GCD: "a little car." Here are some examples:
G
:::>\? II :)') ~ GCD ~ a little comb
:::>9" d5~E3~ a big comb

G
:::>~II Cf)GCD~ a small worm
:::>G"
§C' G
~'f00:),)~ a Burmese comb
:::>rc"
§C' 00:)') GCD
~'f
G
~ ~ a small Burmese comb
~'f °
:::>6) II § C' 00:)') GCD C\(
G~ ~ like a small Burmese comb
~ °
:::>B" . § 'fC' 00:)') GCD C\(
G~ ~ C\Y.) ~ like a small Burmese comb?
JO" GCD C\(

O'Y) ~ ° ~ like a little car
J:::>II 0'Y)~E3~~ like a big car

G~ ~ GCD ~ 'f'J~ near his little chin
JJ"
J\?"
° 0E]
0(0( OJ~'f'J~ near Ko Ko Gyi
G
'f C\Y.) GCD ~ C\Y.) ~ a small sapphire?
J9"
J~II ~ C\Y.)E] ~ C\Y.) ~ a large sapphire?
0 OG 0
JGII 0( C\( 'f GCD ~ C\( C\Y.) ~ like a small colony?
Jrc" 0(°C\(OG~ 0
'f OJ ~ C\( C\Y.) ~ • like a big colony?
c-
-GCD: little CDC:-
c-
GCD:- be heavy '=lC:
c-
G'=l mother cj>c
c-
G'=l: chin cj>c:-
c-
G'=l:- ask OOC- put on tOF
c-
GJ): danger OOC:- be taut
c-
Gcj> sun mc- toast
c-
Gcj>- live, stay mc:- be free from
GOO: song
The picture that follows is from a children's comic. Find the Burmese script for "May Mi Lay,"
The answer is in the answer section of the Reading from Life Supplement, under Lesson 6.

Lesson 6
LESSON 7 PREFIXES TO NAMES
This Lesson is here to give you a kind of breather - a break from the succession of new
heads and new rhymes. You already know how to read and write one of the common
prefixes to Burmese names: o? . Set out below you see three others. For the time being we'll
treat these as solid blocks that can't be analysed into component parts. Just learn to
recognize 2: as a unit, G3T as a unit, and () as a unit. The point of bringing them in at this
stage is that they are very common items in all sorts of texts, and if you can learn to read
them now, you will be able to recognize names in almost any document you may come across,
even at this early stage in learning to read the script.

New words
r---
G
G3T ~
o
o
J
J \'
U Daw Ma
Example names
G o o
o
<; ~
U To Daw Ma La
UToe Daw Mar Lay
o C' o
GG
o
G 7
Ko Ne Min Ma Ni Ni
Ko Nay Min Ma Ni Ni
Build up G3T in these stages: G--G3 -G3T.
Names
G
in script: 3dO;?Gp2:
pronunciation: / 3d~~UY.:l3f(:! = eq-k'aya-u
meaning: character u

Lesson 7
the components are:

in script: 8JG0cx?: (G) 3Gaa: (3) G6[:<ilJ 0) G~ocx?: (.:)
pronunciation: / 8JG0 cx?: 3,G~: GlD:<ilJ G~ocx?:/
= thawe-t'c da-dwe ye-c'a she-t'c
meaning: draw a spiral, tiny da, a line set down, a forward thrust
Notes
1. Prefixes to names. People call children, and adult friends they first knew as children, by
the name on its own (or by a nickname); but adults who are not yet on familiar terms always
use a prefix before the name. There are many prefixes to choose from (including words like
"Doctor" and "Teacher" and "Brigadier"), but by far the commonest are the two in boxes 1
and 2 above. 2: u "U" is the same as a word meaning "uncle," and G3T Daw "Daw" means
"aunt."
A young man of student age will be addressed and referred to with the prefix o? Ko "Ko"
(from "older brother"). If you first met a young man when he was at student age and got to
know him then with the prefix "Ko," then even many years later, when you are both grey
haired, you will still use "Ko" with his name, because you still stand in the same
relationship to each other. The practice can also be extended to include cases where you
first meet someone at an older age, say 40 or 50, and get to know him so well that you feel as
if you had known him since his early adulthood, or as if you were his younger brother. In
such as case too, you would use a "Ko" before his name. There are analogies with the custom
among English speakers of using "Mr." with the surname for some relationships and first
name for others.
For women's names the equivalent of "Ko" is ~ Ma "Ma" (from "older sister") .
•
2. The prefixes in script. The three new prefixes are introduced at this stage to be learned
as whole syllables. The separate elements of which they are composed will be presented in
later Lessons. The point of bringing them in early is to enable you to read and write Burmese
personal names and their prefixes for practice.
3. Romanizing names. The example names above are given two romanizations. The first
romanization is systematic, and is there to show you how the name is pronounced. The
second is traditional, and is there to show you how the name is often romanized in contexts
other than language study. For the difference between the two, see the section on
romanization in the Introduction. Many Burmese use a deliberately unconventional spelling
for the romanized form of their names, in order to differentiate their name from other
similar names. So you will find different traditional roman spellings for elements of names
that in fact have identical pronunciation.
4. Pronunciation. 2: U "U" rhymes with English "too," and is pronounced on the familiar
high tone. G3T D aw "Daw" is a low-tone word, and is like the daw in (British) English
jackdaw.o? Ko "Ko" you have met before, in Lesson 5; and \:) Ma "Ma" is pronounced on a
high "creaky" tone. Listen to the tape for examples.

Practice for Lesson 7: Burmese names

The words 2,:
U "U," ~ Ko "Ko," and bl M a "Ma," as well as being used as prefixes, also
appear as elements in personal names.
Older men Mixed names

G 0 GOO
:)11 2~0(~ UTo :)11 2~0(0( (J Ko Ko
G C'
JII 2~mc UTin JII G3T {;y)GC\): Oaw Mar Lay
G C' o C'
~II 2~C\)C~ ULin ~II O(G1C\)C~ Ko Nay Lin
G C' G C'
2~8C~ UMin U Tin Lay
9" 911 2:mCGc\)~
~II G3Tm6G8 Daw Tin May

Older women C' G
:)11 G3T~ Daw Ni
Gil 8C\)C~1 M3. Lin Ni
G 0 C'
7 11 2~~~1C: U MoNin
JII G3TG8 DawMe o 0
6)11 0(0(: K0Toe
~II G3 T {;Y) DawMa
911 G3Tm6 Daw Tin a?o?:E3:

G
KoToe Gyi
82: MaU
G3T {;y) C\Y) Daw Marlar
Ko Ne Lin o C'G
:)JII O( mc 2: KoTinOo
Ko Tin 00 8{;y) MaMa
:)~II
KoTinMoe G OG
:)9 11 2~J?1 U Bo Ni
KoNeMin G OG
:)~II 2:0(2: UKoU
Younger women
:)GII 2~a?E3: U Ko Gyi
GG Burmese name elements new in this Lesson
:)11 888 Ma MiMi
C' :)11 80 hard, firm, fit
JII 8mCGc\)~ Ma Tin Lay
811
GG JII G8 nother, girl
~II Ma Ni Ni G
C' G ~II 2~ .'lrst, foremost
9II 8C\)C: 1 Ma Lin Ni
The wedding invitation below includes the names of close relatives of the bride and groom.
See how many examples you can find of the name prefixes 2
G T
~ - G3 - (Y'{-- <:> II The answer
0
is in the answer section of the Reading from Life Supplement, under Lesson 7.

Lesson 7
-l! ;.
~c
J
"
0
The words below are all used as elements in names. Most of them have appeared in the
vocabularies of earlier Lessons, but they are repeated here for convenience.
o G
cy?:- advance, progress 2: foremost, vanguard; uncle
C 0
CDC put on top, survive ~: sky
C GG
CDC:- be light, shine 00 Mimi
C
oc: king, ruler [noun]-GCD: little [noun]
G 0
'1'- be red Ojl older brother
C
GO mother '1'c:- tread, step on
0 C
(:Y.)- be tough, fit ~:'1'c: sky-treader
G'1' sun (:Y.)C\)') blossom
C
CDC:- shine

LESSON 8
New heads
()
:)
J
th- p-
Notice that::D is a two-circle letter with the first circle open to the west, like J) , and the
second circle open to the northwest. Actually its shape is a mirror image of J), written
upside down.
Example syllables
('
~ 9 ~
tha thl than
It,
o
t
o
o
G '( Q)
pa po pin

Lesson 8
Notes
1. Two shapes for -') -a. Notice the difference between ::D') in box 3 and olin box 6. Both
are syllables with the vowel-0 -a; but if you wrote the usual form -0 after the head 0, the
resulting syllable ()') would have exactly the same shape as one of the other consonants: ()')
h-. To avoid this ambiguity, when you want to write a ° with the vowel -0 , you
straighten up the -0 to -l ; so instead of writing °+0 = ()'), you write 0 +0 = °l .
Later on we shall meet a few other consonants which trigger this change in -0 .
2. Pronunciation. ::D represents a voiceless dental fricative or affricate: sometimes people

read it as a sound like the "th" in English "thin"; and sometimes it comes out like the "th"
in English "eighth" - as if you were saying a "t" and a "th" together: "tth."
o represents a voiceless unaspirated bilabial plosive: it is a "foreign P," in the same
class as (1) and m . For examples, listen to the tape.
Names
C'
::D no descriptive name: referred to as::D , o in script: OGlD0m
pronounced / ::D?/ = tha pronunciation: /O,G@0r/:;/ =pa-zauq
meaning: steep pa

Syllables English first names
('
011 O,)C 011 Martha
G
JII G8.) JII 0 O'Y) Peter
('
8.)'f Loanwords from English
~II
9 11 ;~ 011 «o (YY) poker
~II
G
0
JII 0 l C\Y) parlour
Gil GO ~II oldS party

C' C'
re ll ol 911 oc~c~
o 0
pinmen [drycleaners]
6J1I ol~::{3 ~II «0:( polo
(311 G8.) o 'f ~

C' Gil o~ CD~'f
G C'
parliament
0011
C' ('
8.)'f~OC '7 11 olol Papa
G
Foreign place names 6J1I ~~ Mummy
0 C'
Burmese name elements
011 «CD'f Poland
C'
G ('
011 8.)c~ fragrant
JII O'f'f Penang
G C'
JII ol [meaning not known]
~II omc~ Peking
~II 8.)1) pleasant

2~ol
C'
9" :)) cf ~ million
J" U Par
G 0
GOO:)) CY(JY) Ko Tha
~"
[fine] hair
0 ~" G C' C'
G" 4~
0
to wake up
9" 2~O)C:))cf~
GG C'
U Tin Than
re" « to exceed
~" 8cfcf:))cf~ lvIa Ni Ni Than
G3TGOO~
G
6)" :)) to string flowers in a
G
G" G 0
Daw Kethi
garland, or possibly from:)) 0)1) cool
re" 2 ~JY)4~ (J Tha No
G3T :))cf~2~
G C' G
or GOO:)) hair] 6)" Daw Than U
Burmese names
JII G3T:))8~ Daw Thin
Bunnese words and phrases

J" 80l oil drum
C'
JII JY)8cf ordinary
C'
~II Ocf (Y)I) fan [punkah]
C'
9" o cf (Y)I)GCD ~ small fan
o ~ (Y)I)r3 ~
~"
big fan
0
G" JY)~GCD~C$ like a young son
C' 0
re" Ocf ~C\( like a flower
6)" E3
OcfC' ~ m~C\(0 like a great flower
C' 0
~" °cf~GCD~C\( like a little flower

JOII o~ CDG 8 cfC' C\(0 C$I) ~ like parliament?
G C'
JJII o cf cf cfl)~ nearPenang
G C'
JJ" om c ~ cfl)~ C\)I)~ near Peking?
G 0 C'
J~II 2~<i~cfC~C\)I)~ UMoNin?
J9" G3T Gm:))C$

G 0
C$I)~ like Daw Kethi?
C'
:)Y)- be pleasant :::D9:- cross
o
:)Y): son J.:(: sheep
thread G:::D- die
bear fruit G:::D: - be small
C'
be strong :::DC - learn

Lesson 8
C' 0
::DC:- be fragrant y- be in excess
0
01- be included, have with one y:- court, woo
01:- be thin GO- be dirty
C'
o~- wear flowers GO:- give
C' C'
o~: flower oc plant
LESSON 8.1 "IN, AT, ON"
New suffix
:)
-hma

4-
T
Build up ~ in these stages: 0-'j-'j'J
-~ is a common suffix used with nouns and meaning "at/in/on [noun]"; for example:
o
YCD 'f r
C'
J II in Poland
~II on the car
You can read -~ without hesitation now, and to read the suffix -'=j0 you only need to be
able to recognize one more symbol: the J ,which is written under the 8 to give the head Icj .
You won't need J in any other words till you get further on in these Lessons, but we're
introducing -~ here, ahead of its due position, as it features early on in BISL.
Pronunciation. The head Icj represents a sound that is not standardly used in English.
Perhaps the nearest English speakers get to Icj is the hm- sound people make when they say
"Hmm. Let me see." For more, listen to the tape.

Examples for pronunciation:

:)11 ~ rna [rn - a]
...,III h ma [h m - m - a]
Names
o
in script: (J') C'C(:
pronunciation: / (J'),cir:/ = hcJ.-t'o
meaning: M thrust in
Practice for Lesson 8.1

0 C'
:::>11 «CD1~ in Poland
G C'
inPenang
JII °11~
~ G C'
~II o CD01~ in parliament
911 ol C\Y.)~ in the parlour
~II 0'YJ~E3~~ on the big car

G C'
Gil OmC~10~~ near Peking
G
near Lima
rc ll CD0010~~
6)11 JY) CDG ~ C\Y.) ~ in Bali?
G
(311 O'YJ ~ 1 ~ C\Y.) ~ in the red car?
LESSON 9
New vowel: Ordinary form

low pitch high pitch
C'
G-Q G-Q
J
-aw -aw

Lesson 9
Example syllables
C'
Gkn
maw maw
Notes
1. Component parts. Insofar as concerns its shape (and hence the way you write it on a
typewriter or a computer) the vowel G-0 is composed of two elements you have met before:
G- and -0. However, when they are used together, one on each side (,f the head, these two
elements constitute an entirely new vowel. As regards pronunciation, c; -0 has nothing to do
with the sounds of G- or -0. The resemblance is in graphical shape only. For a parallel in
English, you could say that the letter "d" is made up of the shapes of "c" and "I," and
resembles them in that respect; but the sound that the letter "d" stands for has nothing to
do with the sounds of "c" or "l."
2. Tone marking. With the vowel G-,) you don't mark high tone with the usual -: .
Instead, to write a low tone, you write a hook over the -0, to produce G--6. To write a high
tone, you remove the hook and write G-0 .
3. Pronunciation. G~ and G-0 represent a vowel like the "aw" in British (not American)
English "saw."
Straightened form
G-T G-l
G
-aw -aw
Example syllables
6)
'(
paw paw

4. Modifications. When the vowel G-0 is attached to the head U (or to any of the other
straightening consonants), the -o (box 2) has to be straightened to -l (box 6) to avoid
ambiguity - like the straightening you saw in r .esson 8, So instead of writing GUO you
write GUl (box 8). When the low-tone version of this vowel (G-~ box 1) is attached to a
straightening consonant, the hook stays on top of the straightened element: G-T (box 5). So
instead of G~ you write GuT (box 7). You are already familiar with the vowel G-Tin the
word G3T , one of the prefixes to women's names.

There are no new symbols in these rhymes. Build up syllables in these stages: G-G8-G0J ;
G-G8-G0J-G~; G-Gu-Gul-GuT
Names
G--0 the components are:
in script: ::DGoJ?: ( G) - Gq:ctJ (0)
pronunciation: I ::DGoJ?: - G<.D:ctJI = thawe-t'a - ye-c'a
meaning: draw a spiral, a line set down
In the low-tone version of this vowel (G-~ or G-T ), the added hook looks like a "killer
stroke" (3d::D~ athaq) - and on a typewriter you use the same key for both. However, the
hook is not "killing" a final consonant, so it gets a different name: it is called GEJl. J?: = sh e-
1'a "thrust forward." You don't use it anywhere except in this combination, so you can think
of --6 as Gq:ctJGEJl. J?: = ye-c'a-she-t'a "set down a line and thrust forward,"

Syllables Loanwords from English
C' C'G
:J II G::D0cp GO'Y)U
:) II copy
C'
JII G::D0C\)') JII GO'Y)80 comma
C'
~II ::D0G80 ~II GO'Y)C\)') collar
G C'
<; II U:GO'Y) <; II GuTCfYJ porter
C' C'
~II GuTd5 ~II G80GCfYJ motor
C' C'
Gil G::r:i.) GUl Gil G90 8 9 . normal
English first names [category of school in colonial days]
C' G
:J II G:::D')J) Bobby C' C'
G80GCfYJO'Y): motor car
'(II
C' C' C' G G
JII GO'Y)CDC Colin 6)11 G0'Y)8CD committee
C' G C'
~II G80CD Molly BII G:::D')UCballpoint pen
C'G
<;11 G8090'Y) Monica Burmese name elements
C' C'
~II G90 80 Norma :) II G80 outatanding
C' C'
[possibly from G~OYJ
C'
Gil G90 8 9 Norman JII G::D0
'(II GuTG3 Polly moon or G~G~ £leTal decoration or scent]
6) II GuT8 Poppy ~II GuT appear, emerge

Lesson 9
c: c:
Burmese names ~ II 8:::D <f ::::D <f : GCD: Ma Than Than Lay
c: c: c:
:) II T
G3 G'=:I0G0'XDC: Daw Maw Maw Thin Gil G3TG8G8B: DawMeMeGyi
0 c: c:
JII 0?8C:G'=:10
G c: c:
Ko Min Maw 7 11 2:J?B: U Ko Gyi
:{II 2: 8C : G::D0 UMin Thaw
G JG
<;11 2: GO 2: U Paw 00

c: G
:) II G:::rJ0CD bodice [from English]
G
JII GC\Y)m worldly
c: 0
:{II en <f:J?: value
G
<; II OGC\Y) [plant name]
~II GCY)')C\Y) : forest journey [a type of poem]
Gil §~'=:I0G~C'00: Burmese glue?
7 11 (YY);B:~ like a large car
o c: c:
6) II O? 8 c: G::D0<f0: near Ko Min Thaw
8 11 2: GoT 2:C\Y): U Paw U?

o c:
:)0 II YCD<f <f0: near Poland
c: G G 0
:):) II G(yy)8 en cy like a committee
C:G G~ 0
:) J II G(yy)8 en t23: cy like a large committee
c:
:):{II G:::rJ00C GCD;C\Y): the little ballpoint pen?
:)<;11 G:::rJ008@3:C'00: the big ballpoint pen?
C:G
:)~ II GCY'y)o'P in the copy
c:
:)GII Gm0C\Y)<f0: 'P near the collar
r,c: c:
:)7 11 t3 <f '=:10 G:::rJ0 0 C 'P on a Burmese ballpoint pen
c: G G
:) 6) II Gm08 en 'PC'00; in the committee?
GCY)')B: 'PC\:)'); in the big forest?
c:
GC\:)')- be in a hurry G0J0- be able, clever
c: c:
G'=:I0- be high -G0J0 royal, sacred, official
c:
G80- be tired G(fY) glue
c:
G:::rJ0 sil ver G(fY)- be convex
c:
-G<f0 OK? GoT- appear
G0J0 forest Gol- be plentiful, cheap

LESSON 10
New heads
3
:)
J
d- j-
Example syllables
G o
3
< '7 G
di do daw
G o C'
o
o GOO
-=LL __
L---.-.-_ _ _ _
'( :)0
ji jaw
3
Order of strokes: 1 2 3 1 2
The firstC(J above shows the schoolroom method of drawing the -J. In practice most people
draw it in one stroke, as in the second C(J II See Appendix 7B.
o 0
Build up the syllable rrJl in the following stages: () - C(J - C(Jl' - C(Jl

Lesson 10
Notes
1. Component parts. The head ru - j- is a combination of two characters, like the
combination ch in English. In other combinations n- is pronounced g-, and -J (a modified
form used for combining with another consonant) is pronounced -y-. So g- + -y- = j-. This
origin of the head <[J- is reflected in the traditional romanization: it is often romanized gy
(as in "Zawgyi" for G~~ ).
2. Modification 1. The consonant 3 is one of the small set that precipItate straightening in
-I) (like 0). See the examples in boxes 5 and 6. If you wrote a normal -I) with a 3 the
resulting syllable 31) would have almost the same shape as the consonant 3d .
3. Modification 2. The -J of the head C(J- interferes with the l of the vowel ~ ; so when you
write a syllable with the head <[J- and the rhyme ~, you write the 1: to the side, and
lengthen it: rtJl (box 8).
Names
C(J the components are:
3 in script: 3 Gexa: in script: ncoS (n) O)o~ (J)
pronunciation: / 3 ,G~:! pronunciation: / n,coS O),o~/
= da-dwe = ga-ngeh ya-pfn
meaning: littlest da meaning: little gal propping-up ya

G
:) II 3 :) II G3T '\'1) Donna
0 C
J II i C JII C(JC: Jim
CG
~II C(Jc ~II C(JC8 Jimmy
CG
S; II GC(J 7" C(Jc,\, Ginny
0
::1 11 GrtP 3l ::1" C(Jl: Joe
CG l
Gil G3T rtll Gil ffi,\,33 Candida
'(II G3GC(J0 '(II (\)63l Linda
C C
6) II C(J,\,3C: Loanwords from English
Foreign place names :) II G3T (\)') dollar
:) II ~Gol Nepal J II 3l (\)6 dilrling
C C C
JII C\),\,3,\, London ~II C(Jc g:n
o
~II JY)GJ)i Barbados <;11 Gffi3l cadre
C C CGO
S; II GC(J03 '\' Jordan ::1 11 G0J0°i torpedo
C C 0
::1 11 C(J08,\, German Gil J)cC(Jl banjo
C
Gil G303 Delhi '(II 8,\,G,\,C(J0 manager
co 00
'(II GJY)i Bordeaux 6) II
ii dodo
CG C
6)11 3,\,,\,3C Dunedin


011 G3TG3T auntie
water hyacinth
like aluminium
GOYJ'fJ: near the woods
GOYJ8:'f0: near the great wood
r, (' (' 0
~ 'f <:y')::::D C <1J lG CD : a small Burmese banjo
('
'=''f G'f <1J0 CD0: the manager?

6) II ,=,~G'f <1J00: CD0 : the senior manager?
(' ('
G<1J0 3 'f 'f0: CD0: near Jordan?

0011 G(y)3l GCD:o?CD0: like a small cadre?
G
G3 CD'f0:'j') near Delhi
('0
OJII G::::D0i 'f0: 'j') near Bordeaux
('
<1J0 '=' 'i' (Y)'): 'j')CD0: in the German car?

'1 G ('
o I CD '=' 'f 'j') CD0: in parliament?
('
O~II ::::D0CDC'i'0:'j')CD0: near Berlin?
OGII 'i'~(Y)~:'i'0:'j')CD0: near Nankin?
The word ~ , written (or spoken) before a noun, means "this [noun]," as in ~ (Y)'): "this car."
Here are some examples for reading and writing practice:
o II ~ 0 ~: this flower
J II ~ 3l : this knife
G
~II 3GOYJ this forest
G ('
'7 11 3G(Y)') this glue

G 0
~II 3C\( this way, like this
G
Gil 3GOYJ'j') in this forest
G~(, ('
~II 3 '=' 'i' <:y.) <1J C 'j') in this Burmese gin
G (,G
6) II 3 G(Y)')O 'j') on this copy
G
(311 3 (Y)'):'j') on this car
When there is no noun between ~ "this/that," and 'j') "in/at/on," you mentally supply a
noun meaning "place": you can think of ~ 'j') as made up of the elements 8 [+ - ] + 'j')
"this [+ place] + in" = "in this place, here."
0011 3'j') in this place, here
Is-sentences in Burmese. If you are learning spoken Burmese at the same time as you are
working through this script course, you will probably by now have come across some "is-
sentences": sentences that in English have an "is" in them, like "What is that?" and "That
is beer" and "Is that cocoa?" In case you haven't met any Burmese is-sentences yet, here's an
example of that last question to show how they are constructed.

Lesson 10
0 0
1. Bunnese: 3 l O(O(:C\Y):
2. words: That cocoa-question
3. meaning: "Is that cocoa?"
Line 2 shows you that-

• is-sentences in Bunnese contain no word that corresponds to "is" in English;
• -C\Y.): marks a question (like a spoken question mark); and
• the word 3l means "this [= this thing]" or "that [= that thing]."
Here are some more examples for you to read and write. Imagine you are looking at
photographs of friends with English names.
:)11 3l rtJ~~c\y):1I Is that Jimmy?
C' G
J II 3 l
rtJ Ccf C\Y): II Is that Ginny?
~II 3l (\)~3lc\y'):11 Is that Linda?
C' G
<;11 3 l G0'J(\)c\y): II Is that Molly?
~II 3l GoT G3C\Y):1I Is that Polly?
Gil 3l GoT8C\Y):1I Is that Poppy?
Note that the end of each sentence is marked by the punctuation mark II
Questions asking about where things are use exactly the same fonnula as the is-sentences
above except that they include -~ "in/at/on":
o C' C' G C'
1. Bunnese: O(o)C::Dcf: omc:~C\Y):
2. words: Ko Tin Than Peking-in-question

3. meaning: "I~ Ko Tin Than in Peking?"
Is Ko Tin Lay in London?

Is Ko Nay Min in Nepal?
Is Ma Than Than Le in Jordan?
Is U Min Thaw in Bali?
Is Daw Me Me Gyi in Dunedin?
Questions asking "Is it here?", such as you might ask when you're trying to locate places on
Is Penang here?
Is Delhi here?
Is Nepal here?
Is Bordeaux here?
Diphthongs In the roman transc;ription: 49

The text below is from an advertisement for a restaurant. The lettering of the first word is
quite florid, but if you use the picture as a clue you will probably be able to work it out.
You'll find it in normal print in the answer section of the Reading from Life Supplement,
ill1der Lesson 10.
3 [noun] this [noun] 36 butt [of gun]
3l this thing, that G3 T [prefix to woman's name]
3l : knife G3l anger
( (
3'f aluminium f(Jc [children's] top; gin
( (
3'f : swing [on ropes] f(J C: ginger
LESSON 11
New rhymes
u ' - -_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1
J
-u -aun

Lesson 11
Example syllables
0 0
0 0
~ c; ~ G
lu mu du tu
~--------------------
(' (' ('

G~C GC0C2C GCL2:2C
0
0
6J
~
maun kaun taun
Modified letter shapes
:lJ :l~
paun daun
-
Order of strokes: 1
Build up oJ Il in these stages: 0 - oJ - oJ Il . Build up GoleC: in these stages:
G-Go-Gol-GOl c-Gol [;.
Notes
The rhyme 'il .
1. Modifications of shape.
(a) You retract the tail of 4' to make room for 'il' and so write 'it (box 10). Compare the parallel
t
procedure for (Lesson 5)
Diphthongs in the roman transcription: .51

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, au as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.
(b) With the head «J- you write Ii to the side, to avoid a tangle: «Jil (box 11). Compare «J°l
(Lesson 10).
The rhyme G-08 .
2. Graphic composition. This rhyme is entirely made up of (graphic) elements you have
met in other combinations: two vowel symbols that are used (singly and in combination) for
other rhymes, and a final consonant:
G- = -e -0 = -a G-0 = -aw -8 = -in
But when these elements are put together to make up G-08 they form a totally independent
unit. The pronunciation of G-0~ has nothing to do with the pronunciation of its parts. The
analogy of c + 1 = d in the roman alphabet, .mentioned earlier, applies here too. So when
you are a reading a word that begins with G- it is vital to read on to the end of the syllable
(is it G- or G-0 or G-0~ 7) before you attempt to pronounce it.
3. Modifications of shape. The heads 0 and 3 trigger straightening in -0 , so you write GOl ~
and G3l ~ (boxes 12, 13) to avoid the misleading G(Y)8 and G30~. Compare the straightening
for 3l G3l ol Gol (Lesson 9).
4. Pronunciation. Although we romanize G-0~ as -aun, the final n does not have the same
value as a final "n" in English. Like the rhymes -~ and -~ ,G-0~ is pronounced without
letting your tongue touch the roof of your mouth. Compare the "n" in words like French" son,
fin, Caen" and similar. Remember also that the -au- diphthong in the roman transcription
is to be read as in Sauerkraut (not as in sauce)
5. Increasing reading speed. When you're in the early stages of learning to read a script it is
inevitable that your eye should move along the line and take in the symbois one by one. But
as your reading speed increases you will find that you progress to a stage of seeing the script
in terms of whole syllables, and eventually you will come to read them as groups of
syllables, that is to say whole words. To accelerate this process, make a conscious effort to
see syllables lhce G00~ as a unit. Try and train your eye to see, not a string of separate
symbols like this:
but a consonant head surrounded by a rhyme, like this:

I I
~GJ~
I I
Names
~ ~ ~
IL
in script: 1'O:JGctPc :cc
pronunciation: / 1'GctP~:cU =hn,"tc'aun-ngin
meaning: two lines drawn down

Lesson 11
G-0~ the components are:

in script: 8.)G0o?: (G) G6'F"tJ (o) C8.)d:; (~)
pronunciation: / ° 1
8.)GOCX(: GOJ:<'tj C 08.)00C / =t h awe-t
~ ,
0 " , a'
ye-c , th aq
nga-
meaning: draw a spiral, a line set down, killed nga

Syllables JOII G3TWWGrrY)~: Daw Mu Mu Kaung
JII W JJII G3TOO~W DawTinMu
JII ~ °
JJII O?C)(G(\): Ko Lu Lay
C
~II rull J~II CcJG8J0C:GCcJ Ma Thaung May
CJII 0;1 JCJII CcJoo8GCcJE3: Ma Tin Me Gyi
c
~II GCD0C - G<:n~ "younger brother" is not only used as an
Gil Gul~ element in a name; it is also used as a prefix
c with the names of boys or men considerably
'(II G<f:lc
6)11
c younger than yourself; for example, when your
G8J0C
ages are 20 and 10, or (if you know each other
well) 40 and 20
JII Gul~ pound C C
J~II G<:nCG8J0C: Maung Thaung
Jew C C
JGII G<:nCGrrY)C: MaungKaung
pudding C C C
J'(II G<:nc G8.)0GrrY)C: Maung Thaw Kaung
[like a caramel custard] C C C
J6)1I Maung Tin Thaung
G<:nc 00 C G8J0C:
711 rull~ judo Burmese words and phrases
~II Gu1831 powder C Q
JII GJY)C:J') trousers
Burmese name elements C
JII G"i'GrrY)c:- be well, fit
J II G8J0~: ten thousand C
~II rrY): G<:nC:- drive a car
JII GrrY)8: good
c CJII Jj?:C$° like a container
~II G<:nc younger brother Q
~II c)("i' Red Indian
[of woman]
~"person-red"]
[meaning not clear: Q
Gil 3)t: ~his knee
perhaps "graceful"] Q 0
'(II 3C)lC\( :ike this man
~II C)( person Q
6111 3Jj?:G($: this little container
Gil J.i? person
~II ~J'j?:Ej: the big conlainer
Burmese names Q CQO
Q C C JOII 3GOO0U G(\):
1 this small torpedo
JII 2:G<:nCG<:nc UMaungMaung
Q C QOEj
Q C c~ :):) II 3GOO0Ui m: this big torpedo
JII 2:G<:nCG<:nc~: U Maung Maung Gyi Q C Q 1-
Q C C :)JII 3GJY)C:J')CD0:11 tHese trousers?
~II 2:G<:nCG<:nCG(\): U Maung Maung Lay
Distinguishing c;;--3 and c;;..J)c§
711 G3TW DawMuMu
Some people at this stage find they are reading
~II Daw Thaung Tin
the first of these rhymes as the second, or vice
o C
Gil o?C)lGrrY)c: KoLuKaung versa, so here are a few nonsense words to help:
C
'(II CcJ8.)c:W MaThinMu disentangle the two.
6)11 ° C
o?C)lG<:nc KoLuMaung JII
C
G"i'0G"i'0C
C
C ° C C
Q
2: G<:ncO? UMaungKo JII GrrY)GCD0C
Diphthongs In the roman transcription: 53

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, au as in thou h, au af· in Sauerkraut.
~II T ~ ~
G3 G'[pG:::D')C
Gil Go1~G<hGOYl~G3T
==============="
Sentences
::>11 31 'r(3 ~:(\)'): II Is that pudding?
JII 31 Go1~31(\),):11 Is this powder?
For the next few examples, imagine the speaker is pointing to some photographs:
"" 31 O[(GC0:(\)'):II Is that [your] young nephew?
9" 31 G<>0tGC0!(\)')!II Is this [your] little brother?
~II 31 G3TG:::D')t:(\)'):II Is this Daw Thaung?
o
l.:lll 3
1 G ~
e!mcG<>0c(\)')!II
~
Is that U Tin Maung?
0 <:
'7" 31 O[>C)?G<>0(\)'):II Is this Ko Lu Maw?
6)11 31 81"(1t(\)')!11 Is that Ma Mu Mu?
For the next few examples, imagine the speaker is pointing to a spot on a map:
Gil GOYltB: ~~~!II Is Taunggyi here?
~ <: G
JOII G'[p3<j> 3~(\),):II Is Jordan here?
0 G
JJII J'Y.) GJ'.) i 3~(\),)!1I Is Barbados here?
~Go1
G
JJII 3~(\),):II Is Nepal here?
<:
G(\)')C- bum G31t! peacock
<:
G(\)')C:- pour, wager C)? man, person
<:
G<>0C younger brother C)?! millet
[of woman] 0-;(- help
.<:
G<>0C: gong 0-;(:- cross, cOFY
<:
G<>0C:- drive ~ he, she, it
<:
GJ'Y)C frame OJ( nephew
<:
G<f0c older brother [royal] 0[(- be similar, the same
<:
GOYlC mountain OJ(:- dig
<:
GOYlC! basket 'r(- be hot
~
GOYlC!- ask for )?:- be attached
<:
GO'YJC body, creature ~! knee
<:
GO'YJC:- be good «1ll: Jew
<:
G:::D')C sandbank <jt:- be tender
<:
G:::D')G: 10,000 1t
principle
Go18 pound 1t:- be dizzy
Go1t:- add, spell, consort with o;?: box, container

Lesson 12
LESSON 12
New heads
W 3d
:)
J
y-
Example syllables
0 C'
W0 GW we
~ C; ~ G
ya yo ye yin
G C'
3d!) 3d · _. G3dQ
:)0
a u aw
Order of strokes: 1 2 3 1 2 1 2
The first 3d is the printed form. In handwriting the letter is usually written without the
curl, as in the second 3d. See Appendix 7B.
Notes
1. ().) and 3d are both two-circle consonants, so
. 1es: vy,,~G 0 G
7and ~ and il are centred on their right-hand
ClrC ().) OJ( 3f 3d 3[.

2. 3d is a consonant that is not a consonant: it is a dummy. The vowel symbols are all
attached symbols: they C8.nnot be written independently, but have to be attached to a
consonant. So when you want to write the syllable aw what can you do? You can't just write
G .;, because that would be writing vowel symbols without a consonant. TIle answer is: you
use the consonant 3d , which can be seen but not heard: it is an inaudible consonant. It
provides a visible peg to hang the vowels on. It is called a- which is itself a syllable
with a vowel but no audible consonant.
3. Some speakers pronounce as zh, like the s in English measure. This is most common
0)
before the vow:els -i and -e: so, for 03 and GO) , in place of yi and ye, you may hear zhi and
zhe.
4. 3d is the reason why 3 + --0 =31 not 30 .
Names
<: <:
3d no descriptive name: referred to as 3d , in script: 0) 0 (Y) (D (Y)
pronounced /3d?/ = a pronunciation: /

<:
oy:! 0 (Y) cv (Y)
<:
or oy:! 0 cv (Y)<:/
= ya-peq-Ieq or ya-paleq
meaning: ya on its back

G 0
::>11 0)0 ::>11 cv3f Leo
GO <:
JII GO) JII 3d'fC(Jc hnogt'n
<:
~II O)<f ~II
3d')::>Y.) Arthur
<:
<7 11 OJ( <7 11 3d<f: Anne
<:G
~II 3d0 ~II 3dH Annie
<:G
Gil G3d Gil 3d<f3 Andy
<: G G
'(II 3d<f '(II 3:CV:()Y): Delia
6)11
3fI 6)11 G3d31 Ad.,
<: G
(311 G3d')C (311 G3d~ Amy
G <:
Foreign place names ::>011 Julim
C(JllcvO)<f
::>11 JY)'it 31 Bermuda Loanwords from English
0 G
JII (0)?0? Maputo ::>11 J)()Y) beer
<: G G 0
~II 3d') C(J coo: <f0: Argentina JII o<J.Y)'t piano
G GOG o G 0
<7 11 3d:),) U?:O: 0)'): Ethiopia ~II ycvU? polio
<:
~II o)(H Yunnan <7 11 0000)0 tyre
GG <: <:G
Gil C(J33d') GDR ~II 3d C C(J C <f ()Y) engineer
G~31
G
'(II 3d ::>Y.) (YY) Ithaca Gil order
GOG <: <:
6)11 O'Y) cv ~ : <f : ()Y): Caledonia '(II 3dcC(Jc engine
<: G <: G
(311 00 <f C(J ()Y) Tangier 6)11 3d<f00 auntie
G
for more see under Phrases (311 G3CVO)') dahlia

Lesson 12
o
Burmese name elements JII :Jt Oh! [how annoying]
<::
811 G3d0C victory ;;>11 G3d: yeah
<::
JII G3d: cool, calm <;111 G3d0 Oh [is that so?]
Burmese names ~II 000y) wiles
Q <::
811 2:G3d0C UAung Gil 3d0C)(: potato
o <::C3(
JII rqG3d0CC3: KoAungGyi '(II 3d6:G(\): Inlay ["little lake"]
;;>11 G3TG3d: Daw Aye Distinguishing (Cl--5 and (Cl·Jja
<;111 Maung E Maung The following are some more nonsense words to
~II Ma Tin Aye give you some practice with these two rhymes.
Q <:: <:: <:: <:: c
Gil 2 :G3d0C:)')C: U AungThinn 811 G00CG3d0CGC(p
<:: <:: c
'( II G3Tro6G0G3d: Daw Tin May Aye J II Goy)C GCfY)C GCfY)C
<:: 0 c c
6)11 G00CG3d:Y MaungEPo ;;> II G:)')'JG<j>0C
<::
0G0G3d0C MaMe Aung <;1 II G3T G<..DSGC\Y)6
Burmese words ~II GO'Y)~:G~G3l~

<:: 'T' <:: c
811 3dC: yeah GII GO I GC(pC G<j>0
Sentences
<:: 0
811 3l GJ)')'f
Q
U? C\Y): II Is that Borneo?
0
JII 3l C\Y):Jt C\Y): II Is this Laos?
Q c
;;>11 3l ()')0CC\Y): II Is that the Yemen?
c
<;111 3l G3d 3 C C\Y): II Is this Aden?
Q <::
~II 3l C(p0'f 2f) OY)C\Y): II Is this German beer?
Gil 3l @c <::
0'f(0)(3C:C\Y):1I Is that Burmese pudding?
'(II 3l 8m~:Gol~3lc\y):1I Is this Peking powder?
Q
()')0 field for crops 3d- feel queasy
Q
OY):- itch 3d: faeces [childish]
().)'1c' : yen
0
:Jt- be old
0 0
U?-c leak, ooze :Jt: pot
().)C house fly G3'd:- be cold
c c
Goy)C- swell 3'de: lake
c
OJ(- take G3d0 Oh
c
3'd0: strength G3d0C- succeed
c
3d0;- be free G3d0C:- lie hidden

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou hI au as in Sauerkraut.
LESSON 12R REVIEW LESSON
This Lesson introduces no new material. Its purpose is to enable you to review the heads and
rhymes and words you have learned so far. The recorded words and phrases for practice are
on the separate Review tape.
Practice for Lesson 12R

English first names darling
:)11 C(J~: Jim dodo
jll Anne order
\lll Joe dollar
C'
<JII Arthur '711 G(yy) C\Y.) collar
C'G
~II Martha 6)11 GO')')O copy
G
Gil OOY) Peter ~II Gm3l cadre
G3T 'f0 Donna JOII Gol~ pound
G3d3l Ada :)JII GoTOY) porter
lC' G
Candida C'GO
m4' 3 3 J j II GOY) 0 i torpedo
C'G C'
:)011 3dp Andy :)\lll C(JC gin
Amy :) <J II C(Jll: Jew
C' G GOG
J j II GO'YJJ) Bobby J~II m0?80y) kilometre
J\lll GOT~ Polly JGII n70?~ colory
G G G
J<JII GoT8 Poppy J '7 /I 8 (\) (\) OY) millilitre
C'G C'
:)~II C(JC4' Jinny J6)1I 84'G4''lP manager
I' G C' G 0
C(Jll(\)w4'
:)\311 Julian J~II o()Y)t piano
Foreign place names o 0
JOIl YO? poln
o
:)11 O'YJGJ)i Barbados jJIl
1
01 (\)84'
G C'
parliament
C'O
GO'YJi Bordeaux party
jjll oloo
GG
C(J33d0 CDR C'
pudding
RII ~3C:
o C'
Y(\)4' Poland j<J1I 0)0W0 tyn~
G
3dJY)(YY) Ithaca Bunnese names
o G C'
C\YJ3f Laos :)11 2:G3d:G80C UE Mmmg
~Gol Nepal jll
G
2:G3d':lC::Dc:
C' C'
U Almg Thin
G C'
omc: Peking o C' C'~
\lll O[lG80CG80Ct2]: Ko Maung Maung Cyi
C' C' 0
~II 0i(4'4' Yunnan <JII G80CJJ0t: MaungThaNo
C' G 0 G C'
:)011 GO'YJ4'U? Borneo ~II 2: G8G 3d':lC UMeOung
G C'
:):)11 W8C Yemen Gil G3T G8GJJ0~: Daw May Thaung
Loanwords from English 11 G80CG4'8C:
C' C'
Maung Nay Min
'7
:)11 3d4'0)
C'
C'
G
C'
aunty 6)11 e:G GolJJ0 U Paw Tha
jll :)')4'0)4' bantam
~II 2: GOJG2: U Paw 00

Lesson 12R
o ~ ~
:Jo II O'(G:::00Goy)C: Ko Thaw Kaung ::l::lll ~~mol~~ in the Myanmar party
~ ~ ~ G G
:J:J II 8G:::00C:O:JC Ma Thaung Tin ::l JII G0y)8O:JGCD: a small commi ttee
~G G~
MaungLu E ::l;;:11 G0y)8(),)C3:~ at the big committee
~ ~
Daw Mo Mo Aung ::l<;;11 GmG0:J0OY):GCD: a little motor car
Ma Tha E :J~II G~G<Y.J0OY):E3: a large motor car
G <: (' GGOG
2 : :::00G<"[p U Tha Gyaw :J1511 3d::DOY:o:OY):~,): near Ethiopia
G G ~ G
2::::002: UTha U :J '? II 3d') C(j C O:J : ~'): ~'): near Argentina
G3T::D~:G~
~ ~
:J,?II Daw Thin Maw :J Glil G<"[p 3 ~ ~'): near Jordan
o ~ G ~
:JGlII 0'(::D~:2: KoThan 00 ::lell G3d3C~,): near Aden
G G 0
:Jell G3T0:J~G8GTd: Daw Tin Me E JOII 0:JJ)C\l like TB
o GOO
JOII 8O:J~G8B: Ma Tin Me Gyi pll YCDOYC\l like polio
~ ~ <: o 0
pll GmcO:JCG:::00C: Maung Tin Thaung JJII G~a;>:C\l like NATO
o 0 ~ ~ ~~ 0
JJII Ko Toe AW1g
O'(a;>:G3d')C RII 3~C(jCC3:C\l like a big dungeon
~G ~
Bunnese words and phrases 3~~3C~,):CD0: near Dunedin?
~ <:
:J II 3d')C)j>: pota to CDp ~~,):CD0: near London?
~ ~
trousers ~~(Y)C:~'):CD0: near Nanking?
<: G
aunty J,?II 0:J~C(j0Y)~'):CD0: near Tangier?
~
~ 0 0
G,\,GOY)c:- be well JGlII J)~C(jlC\lCD0: like a banjo?
~~m Burmese ["Myanmar") Jell
~ 0 ~G
3dcC(jC~oy)C\lC\Y)~
l'k '?
1 can engll1eer,
~
GJYJOCGCD: little ballpoint pen ;;:0 II
o 0
i(Jll:rC\lCD0:
k judo?
lie
a small engine ;;::JII GOl~3lc\?CD0: like powder?
a big engine [tape has weak nasal in Gol ~ )
Burmese gin
the Myanmar party
Sentences
:JII Is that beer?
~
GJ)(Y)CCD0: Is this bacon?
Is that cocoa?
Is that Myanmar cocoa?
Is this Coca-cola?
Is this Myanmar Coca-cola?
Is U Tha Aung in Putao?
Is Daw Than Aye in Duya?
ell Is Ko To Aung in Yunnan?
:JOII Is Ma Mo Mo Aung in Ithaca?

LESSON 13
New rhyme
C'
'-W
:)
J
-eh -eh
Example syllables
C'
~ 7
neh neh
C' "- I
CDW CD
'-----_J
I
~ G
leh leh
C'
7
neh ne
"-
CD
:)0
Ie
Lesson 13
-
The elements of -oS are already known. Write W before.':. , and::: after the consonant.
Notes
1. Tone marking. The vowel pronounced -eh has a non-standard way of marking high tone:
boxes 1,3,5 and 7 show low tone (-oS); boxes 2, 4, 6 and 9 show high ('::). The standard tone
mark for high tone (-:) is not used with this vowel.
2. Pronunciation. -oS represents a half open front vowel: it is like the "e" in English "men,"
or the "ais" in French "mais."
Names
<: <: <: <: c
-w in script: W::UCf) or wumCDm::uCf)
pronunciation: / o.:Y.:! ::ucA/ = ya-thaq or
/ o.:Y.:! ucACDcA::ucA/ = ya-paleq-thaq
meaning: yei [on its back] with a killer stroke
<: c
in script: G<f0m~Q)
pronuncia tion: / G<f0cA<.(J&l/ = nauq-pyiq

meaning: back-throw

c , <:0
:)11 Cf)W Cf) :) II 3dW3 Eddie
, c c c
mmw JII 3dWCDC Ellen
<: , c
3W3 ~II G8J)W Mabel
, c
83W Loanwords from English
c 0
:) II 3dW3000 editor
JII :::DGCD; ballet
, c c
88W ~II GCDJ)W label
c <:
Gill eDGCD; <J II 3d<fmw uncle
c c 0
G<f3W ~II 3d<fCf) aunty
c <: c
:)011
<f W3W
Gil '1P<fw journal


C' C'
JII OC(\)O) the sea
,G 0
JII 3d30? like that
This new rhyme makes several useful words available for practice.
The word J)OS is used in front of a noun to mean "which [noun]?", as in :::0 OS OYJOY:l "which
tyre?" Examples for practice:
C' C' C'
\lll J)o)3dc'ljc which engine
9 11 J)OS3l: which knife

~II which committee
Gil J)o)G(yy)O C'
W h'IC h copy C'G
The suffix -cD is used to mark a question (like a written and spoken question mark) when
the question has a J)oS in it, as in J)oSol03cD "Which party?" - a question that's used for
short where the fuller question might have been "Which party do you mean?" or "Which
party did you say?" or "Which party did he join?" (When the question has no J)0.5 in it
the question suffix is -CD'):.) Examples for practice:
'711 J)OS (YY): cD II Which car?
C' C' ,
6111 J) 0) 0 9 (YY)(\) II Which fan?
C' C' ,
J)o)GJY)OC(\)II Which ballpoint pen?
C' 0 ,
JOII J)0)0?(\) II In which way? How?
C' G ,
JJII J) 0) J) 0Y:l (\) II Which beer?
J)OSGol 83l cD II Which powder?
C'
J)0)f(p90)'fJ(\)II In whic h jouma? I C' ,
J911
C' 0 0 G ,
J)O) 0?0? 9 'fJ(\) II
In W h'IC h co Iony.7
The suffix -o0.5 is attached to a verb with the meaning "is going to [wrb]"; for example:
070')8 G008:0OS "Ko Tin is going to dri~e." Her~ are some sentences cont2.ining verbs with
C'
-O0) :
::>~II
G
2:G3d':lC
C'
CD') 0) II ° C'
U Aung is going to come.
OGII T
G3 G3d:
G
3'fJ (900) II
C'
Daw Aye is going to live here
::>'7 11 G3TG8 G0:0OSII Daw May is going to ask.
o C' C'
::>6l11 0?0C: ot/(0)11 Ko Min is going to take [itJ.
o C'
::>(311 JY)GJ)~'fJ <r(00)1I It is going to be hot in Barbados.
C' C' C'
JOII (\)939'fJ G3d:00) II It is going to be hot in London.
(' C' G ,,(,
pll 3dC 'ljC 90Y:l 900) II Engineers are going to be scarce, in short supply.
C' C' C'
JJII <r(3C: G(YY)C:00) II The pudding is going to be good.
Discrimination. The next set of phrases are pairs of words pronounced with similar but
different vowels, for practice in distinguishing between them. Use them first for dictation:
discriminating between them by ear is what many people need practice with.
JII G:gj0OSI df00Sil will shout, will be old
JII Y0OS1 GoT0OS11 will be too much, will emerge
C' C' C'
::).)0)O0) I G::).)00) II will carry, will die
C' C'
G::).)00) I G::).):00) II will die, will be small

Lesson 13
~II will be small, will be heavy [rain]

Gil will fall over, will be heav:v [weight]
'(II will be heavy, will go to waste
6)11 will go to waste, will wander round
The symbol I , used between the pairs of verbs above, is a mark of punctuation. It is used to
mark a pause, but a shorter pause than the end of a sentence -like the comma, semi-colon
and colon in English. Like the mark of a major pause (II) it has two names:
<: <:
in script: Y3G:)): or Y3mG(\):
pronunciation: / yr::hG:)):/ or / yr::hmG(\):/ = pouq-the or pouq-k'ale
meaning: minor section or little section
The text below is from a newspaper. It reports the arrival (GEipaS~) of a Deputy Foreign
Minister (:~o~E3:). Where was the Deputy Foreign Minister from, and where had he gone
to? If you need help go to the answer section of the Reading from Life Supplement, under
Lesson 13.
(\)05 middle will often find the word written
suffix: "question" as here.)
fall over hut, shack
verb suffix: "future" stay [with someone, at hotel or
vote the like]
<:
be dark, black mw- rescue
which Right! Now! OK!
duck exceed
suffix: emphatic carry
state, district sand
<:
be little, small, few (The ow [a measur~~ of land]
correct spelling is 4'~:-' but you bean

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au e,S in Sauerkraut.
LESSON 13.1 VOICING
Voicing
There are no new letters to learn in this Lesson, so you can take a break from the consumption
of shapes and sounds. Instead you are about to be initiated into one of the greatest mysteries
of Burmese script and pronunciation. It is called "voicing."
The significance of 1.. .1. As a speaker of English, you will be no stranger to the fact that
the way a word is spelled doesn't always correspond to the way it is pronounced. We write
"through," for example, but say "throo"; and we write "rough," but say "ruff." Burmese is
not as bad as English in this respect, but there are quite a few divergences between spelling
and pronunciation. In what follows, we shall sometimes need to show you how a word is
pronounced as well as how it is spelled. We shall adopt the convention that the spelling is
written as usual, but the pronunciation will be written between slashes: I ... 1. So if you saw
Ithrool and Iruffl you would know that these were ways of representing the pronunciation
and were not necessarily the same as the spelling. Sometimes, of course, spelling and
pronunciation coincide: we write "god" and say /god/.
Is-sentences ending in I ~/. You have practised s.ome is-sentences in earlier Lessons:
sentences that in English have an "is" in them, like "What is that?" and "That is beer." In
the Statement form is-sentences often end in a suffix that is pronounced / 'JY.)/ ; for example:
question statement
1. pronunciation: /31 'JY.)cO/ /31 dSOY)'JY.)/
2. words: That what-question That beer-polite
3. meaning: "What is that?" "That is beer."
Take care to differentiate the / J)0/ "polite" at the end of the statement with the / J)0/
"what?" in the question.
Voicing. Your first encounter with voicing in BIS is in that polite suffix / 'JY.)/. Though it is
pronounced / 'JY.)/, it is actually written 01.
The writte!, syllable 0 1 looks as if it should be pronounced /01/ , and in other contexts it is
pronounced /01/; but when it's the polite suffix tacked onto another word (d5 000 in our
example), then it is pronounced not /01/ but / 'JY.)/. When you change the pronunciation
from /01/ to / 'JY.)/, we say you are "voicing" the 0; and when we talk about "the Voicing
Rule," we mean the rule that requires a consonant to be voiced when the word containing the
consonant is tacked onto a preceding word under certain conditions. The change from /01/ to
/ 'JY.)/ is an example of the application of that rule.
We can now add the correct spelling to the examples above:

Lesson 13
question statement
1. prommciation: /3l 'JYx:o/ h l -:lJ ()Y) JY) /
2. words: That what-question That beer-polite
3. meaning: "What is that?" "That is beer."
4. spelling: 3l JY)cD 3l -:lJ ()Y) 0l
In a nutshell, the new point for this Lesson is that the polite suffix that you tack onto the
end of a statement is written oland pronounced / JY)/. We shall meet other instances of
voicing in later Lessons.
If you have found it a struggle to master the script symbols so far, and are feeling that
voicing is an added burden you could do without, console yourself with the thought that you
encounter voicing whenever you read English: you see "is" and read liz/, you see "use" and
read Iyooz/, you see "of" and read lov/, and so on. Converting "s" to Izl and "f" to Ivl
makes a close parallel to Burmese voicing. If you learned to cope with that conversion in
reading English, you won't have great difficulty in coping with voicing when you read
Burmese.
Example sentences
Play the tape to hear the examples.
All the answers contain a ol that is voiced, and so pronounced not /ol / but / JY)/.
Question:
:)11 3l JY)cDll What's that?
Answers:
JII 3l )p8:olll That's [custard] pudding.
\> II 3l ::Y) 0)CG~ C\Y) 0l II That's vanilla.
o 0 l
3l oror:o That's cocoa.
111 II
~II 3l ru8oll1 That's gin.
Question:
Gil Where is the glue?
Answers:
C' GO 'I
'(II GOY:J ::Y):r 'Po III The glue is in the cupboard.
6) II G~ ~'P0lll The glue is here.

The sentences for practice all contain a ol that is voiced from /ol / to / JY)/. In other words,
it is subject to the Voicing Rule. As usual, use the sentences for reading practice, or for
dictation, or both.
:)11 3l oror:o
0 0 l II That's cocoa.
JII 3l GJY)o~G(\):olll That's a little ballpoint pen.
\>11 3l o~OY:JE3:olll That's the large fan.

7" 3l oolll That's beans.

~II 3l 3Y.)C)(:olll That's potatoes.
Gil 3l «J6:ol" That's ginger.
Where's my son? - He's in the hut.

Where are the potatoes? - They're in the basket.
Where's the knife? - It's in the box.
Where's the banjo? - It's in the cupboard.
LESSON 13.2 YES
Yes
This is a good point at which to introduce another of those words that 1.'lave a strong claim
to jump the queue - to be introduced as a word before you learn the separate symbols that
are used to write it. The word is <.1(05n? pronounced houq-keh and meaning-
1. Yes [that is correct]
2. Yes [1 will do what you ask]
3. Yes [1 am following what you say]
Needless to say, it is a high frequency Pllrase. You have probably come across it elsewhere
already.
Look first at the second syllable n? II You can read m (pronounced keh). The new syllable is
m written with a dot underneath, which changes it from keh to keh: you say it with a
tight, creaky voice instead of a relaxed, breathy one.
Now look at the first syllable u:;> cA II It ends in a Cf) with a ::. II Like other "killed
consonants" (you have met -~ and -6), a 05 marks the end of a syllable. Unlike -~ and -6,
which represent a nasal sound, -05 is pronounced as a glottal stop (the sound we romanize
as q), and the whole syllable <.1(05 is pronounced houq.
The heads and rhymes in <.1(a5n? that you haven't met yet will be formally introduced in
later Lessons. For now we ask you to accept the phrase as an unanalysed block.

Lesson 13
-
o
In handwriting, -:- is written as a dot: in printing it is a small circle. For cursive shortcuts see
Appendix 7B. Build up U?r:A1i? in these stages:
C' C' C' " C' "-
m-U?-U?m-U?m-U?mm-U?mm-U?oo~.

U?r:A1i? is often used in answer to a question:
Q: 3l ~().Y)C\YJ: II Is that beer?
A:U?r:A1i?1I 3l ::is().Y)olll Yes. That is beer.
The sentences in the Practice section are all of this pattern.
Is that aluminium?
- Yes, it is aluminium.
Is that a sapphire?
- Yes, it is a sapphire.
Is that the Maymyo-Mandalay bus?
- Yes, it is the Maymyo-Mandalay bus.
Is that Ma Tin Lay?
- Yes, it is Ma Tin Lay.
Is Maputo here?
- Yes, it is here.
Is Delhi here?
- Yes, it is here.
Is Ethiopia here?
- Yes, it is here.
Is the ginger in the basket?
Yes, it is in the basket.
Is the ballpoint pen in the box?
Yes, it is in the box.
Is the banjo in the cupboard?
Yes, it is in the cupboard.
Is Daw Aye Aye by the car?
Yes, she is by the car.
Is the knife on the tray?
Yes, it is on the tray.
Is Ma Than 00 in the parlour?
Yes, she is in the parlour.
Is Mummy in the shed?
Yes, she is in the shed.

LESSON 14
New rhymes
at end of word: -a -"- elsewhere: -a
Example words
J ~
law-ka Kane-da
c; ~
tu-ma Mani-Ia
G '(
lu-a ako
"-"-------1
o
Gir88?J8 ~
C'
~
6)
Ko Ba Maw Daw Ma Ma Tin

Lesson 14
JO
Daw Ama
Forming the characters. There is no copying practice for this Lesson. The new vowel for the
Lesson, as you have seen, is written by not writing any (other) vowel symb~l. We do not ask
you to write the unwritten.
Notes
1. The unwritten vowel. Box 1 represents a consonant with no written vowel symbol. The
absence of symbol has as much significance as the presence of one - you could say it has
even more: a consonant written like this (with no written vowel symbol attached) is
pronounced with the vowel-a if it comes at the end of a word, and (usually) with the vowel
-e. elsewhere (that is to say, at the beginning or in the middle of a word). Boxes 2, 4 and 6
show words with the pronunciation -a; boxes 3, 5 and 7 show words with the pronunciation
-e..
2. Pronunciation. The -a is the short, sharp, "creaky" vowel you are familiar with from the
way we refer to the consonants ("the consonant (\) "), and from the prefix ~ (Ma) before young
women's names. The non-final pronunciation -a is like the "a" in English "balloon."
•
3. No-vowel syllables in names. For the purpose of reading aloud, most Burmese personal
names can be treated as sequences of separate words. So when you find a name containing a
syllable like J ) or ~, even if they are not at the end of the name, you pronounce them with
the full creaky -a vowel (Ba and Ma), not with the weak -a vowel (Ba, Ma). See the
examples in boxes 8 and 9. The same goes for the prefix ~ used before the names of young
women, as in ~()')8G(\): ,~~~ and so on, pronounced Ma Tin Le, Ma Ni Ni, not MaTin Le,
MaNi Ni. For other examples and exposition see Lesson 7.
An exception to this rule is the syllable 3d. In names this syllable is always
pronounced with the weak vowel (a): see the example in box 10.
4. Coverage to date. With the addition of the vowel -a to your repertoire you will have
learned how to read and write all eight vowels of open syllables in Burmese:
G ~ o
G- -') G-,) -L IL
-i -e -eh -a -aw -0 -u -a
There are one or two modifications of shape and tone yet to be learned, but the above is the
full set of the vowels in the low tone.


Syllables Burmese name elements
- with full tiIlal syllable :)11 J) father, uncle, man
:)11 mom 00 older sister
JII
000
JII [pronounce as two words: 0 then again 0]
~II 0Y)C\)
~II 3d 00 firm, fit
~
111 3h G:)Y)m [name of flowering tree]
111
Bunnese words Burmese words
- with weak non-final syllable - with full final syllable
:)11 0:)y) funeral Oil m0C\) time, period
JII m:::00 Katha [town] JII 00'1' pri(ie
~
~II 0)C\)'1' one Ian charitable giving
\1 11 31'1'
[measure of length] 111 G3::D reglOn

111 0)0;(: one container ~II GC\)')J) greed
~II 3d OJ( assistance Gil GC\)')m world
~
Gil 3d0)C: forcibly four months
711 GC\):C\)
Foreign place names 6)11
G
::DC\) good conduct, precept
G G
:)11 '1'0:J):UY): Namibia :::o0GmO) Thaketa [a township in
(311
G
JII '1'o;?:G3C\) New Delhi
Greater Rangoon]
\1 11 0GC\): Malay - with weak non-final syllable
<: G
111 C(J0'1' Japan :)011 oC\) mosque
~II C(JG0m0 Jamaica ::>:) II OC\)')0)0 para ~;a
Gil C(J m0 ()'jr) Jakarta ::>jll 0)00 [narr.e oftree]
G
711 <"(P'=l'1' Germany ::>\111 '=l00 unwell
<:
6)11 G00C\)0)0 Malta ::>1 II 3d)? hea~, hot
<: <:
(311 3d'1'3'=l<f Andaman ::>~II 3dG3d: cold
<:,
0011 Gm0'1' Cornell OGII 3d0(:
0
[monetary] interest
0:)11 0'1'0:00: Panama - with both: a weak non-final syllable and a
English first names full final syllable
~
Oil 3d')C\)'1' Alan :)7 11 3dJ) father
G G
jll 3d'=l:C\):uy): Amelia :)6)11 3d0 older sister
G
\1 11 3d'1'0)0 Anita :)(311 O)C\) one month
111 J)c\)~31 Belinda JOIl 0m not only
G
~II m'=lC\)') Camilla pll Go10)'=l Gotama
<: G
Gil 3d0)0C\) Emily [the name of the most recent Buddha]
<: G
711 '=l0)c\)'1' Melanie

Lesson 14
Is-sentences with the voiced suffix.

Imagine you are looking at some photographs of people. Remember that, in people's names, a
syllable with the unwritten vowel is pronounced with the full creaky in the same way as the -a,
prefix ~. So you read J):).)6 as Ba Thin, not BaThin. The exception is the syllable written 3d ,
which is weakened to a. Read 3d'=Y.) as Arna, not A Ma.
:)11 3l e:J)G'=Y.)8(\)'):1I Is that U Ba Maung?
JII or00o?lI e:J)G'=Y.)8olll - Yes, it is U Ba Maung.
~II 3l G3T~~G(\):(\),):II Is this Daw Ma Ma Lay?
911 or00o?lI G3T~'=IG(\):olll - Yes, it is Daw Ma Ma Lay?
~II 3l G3T'=I'=IE3:(\)'):1I Is that Daw Ma Ma Gyi?
Gil or00o?lI G3T'=I'=IE3:olll - Yes, it is Daw Ma Ma Gyi.
'(II 3l 07J):)')~:(\),):1I Is this Ko Ba Than?
6)11 <:,,0<''1
orCDO"? II O?J):).)q.:o III - Yes, it is KBTh
0 a an.
BII 3l '=I 3d '=Y.)(\)'): II Is that Ma Ama?
:)011 or00o?lI '=I 3d '=Y.)ol II - Yes, it is Ma Ama.
:):)11 3l '=1:).)8::).)8:(\)'):11 Is this Ma Thin Thin?
or00o?lI ~:).)8::).)8:oll1 - Yes, it is Ma Thin Thin.
More on "going to [verb]"

In an earlier lesson you met sentences of the form [verb]-'=IoS "[someone] is going to [verb]." In
this Lesson you can read the corresponding questions:
Example 1 question (for information) corresponding statement
1. Burmese: :)'Y) OJ('=IcDll 3l 0.,:('=10511
2. words: What take-will-question That take-will
3. meaning:
•
"What are you going to take?" ''I'm going to take that."
Example 2 question (for Yes/No) corresponding statement

o <: o <: <:
4. Burmese: O? CD C (\)') '=I (\)'): II O? CD C (\)') '=I ().) II
5. words: Ko Tin come-will-question Ko Tin come-will
6. meaning: "Is Ko Tin going to come?" "Ko Tin's going to come."
Examples for practice:

:) II What are [you] going to play?
<: 0 G
JII J) C C(J l CD: '" (\)'): II Are [you] going to play the banjo?
('.... C' 0 G c-
~II or CD O"? II J) C C(J l CD : '=I ().) II Yes. [I]'m going to play the banjo.
<;11 :)'Y) OJ( '" cD II What are [you] going to take?
<:
~II G:)'Y) 0 C 0.,:( '=I (\)'): II Are [you] going to take the ballpoint pen?
Gil or OJ O"? II
C' " C'
G:)'Y) 0 co.,:('" ().) II
c-
Yes. [I]'m going to take the ballpoint pen.
<: ,
'(II :)'Y) GCfY.) c: '" (\) II What are [you] going to ask for?
6)11 Gol83l G0'Y)8:'=I(\)'):II* Are [you] going to ask for powder?
BII ur
00 o?lI Gol83l G0'Y)8:'=IoSlI* Yes. [I]'m going to ask for p~lwder.
(You will notice that the nasal in Gol83l is only weakly soundec'.: the speaker on
the tape knows how the word should sound in English)

CD moon [noun}--m noun suffix: "subject"
[noun]-B main, major [noun] 3d- [pronounced a-] be dumb
8- lift, raise 3d- [pronounced a-: prefix to many nouns,
8-[verb] not [verb] specially nouns formed from verbs; for
Cf)- long for example: 'il: - to feel dizzy: 3d ~l :
m- dance dizziness]
LESSON 14.1 NO
No
You have already learned to read and write the high-frequency phrase U?05o? "yes." Here
is the phrase often used (but not always) where English uses "No";
8U?dlo1J;(:
Here's an example of a typical exchange including 8U?dlol:yij': :
Q: 31 Bm8:(\)'):11 Is that Peking?
A: 8U?dlo1J;(:1I 31 <f~m~:olll No, it's Nankin.
The phrase 8U?0501J;(: contains the syllable U?05 (a verb meaning "to be true, to be so"),
which you met in 0{ 05 o? ,although the symbols used to write it have not yet been
introduced singly. The other syllables in 8U?0501J;(: are already within your range. The
practice sentences below give you some practice with the new phrase.

All characters in the new phrase are known.

Is-sentences with the voiced suffix and 8U?0501 J;(:
Imagine the speakers are looking at a map of the world.
JII 31 rrr8~(\),):11 Is that Germany?
JII 8U?dlo1J;(:1I 31 yCD~olll - No, it's Poland.
\l" 31 «JG80y)(\)'): II Is that Jamaica?
9" 8U?dlo1J;(:1I 31 :y'y)'i(310111 - No, it's Bermuda.
G G
~II 31 <f8:J.l:0J'):(\)'): II Is that Namibia?
Gil G GOG
8U?dlo1J;(:1I 31 3d::DU(:0:0J'):0:l II - No; it's Ethiopia.
0
7" 31 (\)')3f (\)'): II Is that Laos?
6)11 8 U?dl ol::yij':II 31 OJ(<f~011l - No, it's Yunnan.
~
31 G8'JCD ()Y.)(\)'): II Is that Malta?
e"
JOII 8U?dlo1 Jj{:11 31 ~Cf)030111 - No, it's Italy.

Lesson 14
LESSON 14.2 "PLEASE DO"
Invitations/requests/commands of the form [verb]-ul

You know that the polite suffix that follows a noun, as in the examples above, is pronounced
/ <:1)1')/ although it is written -ol. There is another suffix, related to the polite suffix,
that requires the same adjustment when you reading aloud or taking dictation. It is used
after a verb in invitations, requests and commands, and has a meaning like "please." This
suffix too is written -ol but pronounced / -'JY)/:
request response
c:
1. written: C\Y)olli C\Y)I:)()')II
2. pronounced: / C\Y)'JY)/ [as written]

3. words: Come-please Come-going to
4. meaning: "Please come." I will." If

c:
011 C\Y)olli - C\Y)I:)().) II Please come [here]. - I will.
G c:
JII a3:oll1 - m:l:)().) II Please play [the instrument]. - I will.
c: c:
,?II m~olll - mcfl:)().) II Please kick [the football]. - I will.
c:
9 11 GI:):olll - GI:):I:)().) II Please ask [me]. - I will.
c:
~II Gcfolll - Gcf I:)().) II Please stay [there]. - I will
c:
Gil Go:olli - GO:I:)().) II Please give [it to me]. - I will.
c:
'(II OJ{oIII - OJ{1:)().) II Please take [it]. - I will.
LESSON 15
New heads
o
J
y- g-
(in foreign words: r-)

Example syllables
r-·--l
l~
C'
~ c; ~ G
yin (rin) yaw (raw) yi (ri) ya (ra)
---------,
G o
o
6) :)0
rr B
gi gaw go ga
o
:):)
JJ
yo (ro) yu (ru)
q o
The first 6[ is the printed form. In handwriting the curl is usually omitted. See Appendix
7B.
Notes
The consonant 6[
1. The two Ys. As the caption says, the normal pronunciation of 6[ is y, which gives it the
same sound as ru. How do you know which letter to use? The answer is that you learn to
spell correctly. In English we write "candy" the sweet and "Kandy" the town, using
different letters for the same sound because that is the way the words are spelled. Burmese
is the same. You write ru8 for "fly" and 6[8 for "chest": both words have the same sound,
but the established spelling is different for each.

Lesson 15
2. Y and R. There was a time when 6) was pronounced r, and in the version of Burmese that
people speak in Arakan it still is. However, in Standard Burmese there was a change, and
the words that used to be pronounced with r are now routinely pronounced with y instead.
So or
"hundred," which is ra in Arakanese, and used to be ra in Burmese, is pronounced ya in
the standard language of today. Although the r pronunciation has disappeared from
Burmese words, there are loanwords (like "camera") that most Burmese pronounce with a r,
and the consonant 6) is used to represent that sound. So if you see a 6) in a word that is
obviously foreign, read it as r. Otherwise read it as y.
3. Pronunciation. You saw in Lesson 12 that some speakers pronounce w like the s in the
English word measure. The same applies to 6)11 For syllables like ~ and G6), while some
speakers say yi and ye, others say zhi and zhe.
4. The tangled tail. As you can see, the tail of 6) descends below the line, so combining 6)
with vowel symbols like ~ or iL would produce quite a tangle. You will remember a similar
problem with '1" The solution is the same: you retract the tail to make room for the vowels:
see the examples in boxes 11 and 12.
The head n
5. Shape. Strictly speaking, the consonant n is not quite the same as the figure 6). The
figure starts with a curl, which is missing in the consonant. Although the distinction is
made in printing, in handwriting most people use the same shape for both, and typewriters
only have one key for both purposes.
6. Straightening. If you combined the consonant n with a normal -0, intending to write the
•
sound ga, you would end up with w, which is identical to the consonant ('f) (k-). As you saw
when the same problem arose with 3 and 0, the solution is to straighten the -0 to -l , so you
end up with nl (and Gnl). See boxes 8 and 10.
Names
C' C'
6) in script: 6) G()'Y) ('f) () in script: ncw
pronunciation: / o.:Y.:! Gnlo5/ = ya-gauq pronunciation: / n'lcoS/ = ga-ngeh
meaning: curved ya meaning: little ga

Now that you have two ways of writing the sound y-, you will need to know, when you are
writing from dictation, whether you are to write it with the 6) (6)G('f)(lo5 = ya-gauq "bent
ya") or the w (woo5(\)o5 = ya-paJeq "ya on its back").
The solution we recommend is to write the word both ways. This has two advantages: first,
you can't go wrong, because one of your versions is bound to be the right spelling; and second,
you gain by having an extra word for writing practice. You will find that 6) comes up more
often than w, so if you're in a hurry 6) is the safer choice.

In foreign names and loanwords there will be no problem. Write 0) when you hear y-, and "1
when you hear r-,
C' Q
Syllables :):)11 GGpJ) Robbie
('
:)11 c Loanwords from English
"1
c g
JII "14'
:)11 OCfY) guitar
c g
\1" "10) JII OOY) gear
c g 0
<7" GGpc \1" G"1 3 0? radio
c ('
~II 04' <7" mC8Gp camera
Gil Gol~ ~II
g
"1 G()'Y)3
l ('
recorder
g g
7" GO Gil 30"1 degree
0 ('
6111 ol
7" oEi,1mc: protein
Cg
~II GoT 6)If J)"14'3 brandy
Foreign country names: c c
~II J)"1c : 0 'f: Brengun
- see Sentences with voiced suffix Burmese name elements
English first names :)11 c
('
[meaning not clear:
c "1
:)11 3d4'3~: Andrew perhaps for 0)2 elegant]
JII JY)J)Gp Barbara
JII "1
gain, win
\1" J)"1~3l Brenda Burmese words
<7" G3TGp Dora :)11 GCD:Gp four hundred
~II G3T"1~: Doreen 0
nine hW1dred
JII or:Gp
Gil G3T"1~ Dorothy
\1 11 ~:6[c:
c
durian
('
7" G()'Y)Gp Cora 0 ('

c koyin, novice monk
<7" or"1
6111 GCD0Gp: Laura ~II 3d~: madman
c c
~II GId0"1c : Maureen
:)011 G'f0 Gp: Nora
Verb sentences with [verbJ-~03 and [verbJ-~- "going to [verbJ"

:)11 G"1 GGp80511 [I]'m going to mix water [with it].
c
JII G"1 0;(:80) II [IJ'm going to swim.
\1" JY) GGpt:8cDil What are [you] going to sell'?
(' ('
<7" ()'Y); GGpC:(0)II [I]'m going to sell the car.

(' c,
~II J)O)()'Y): GGpC:8CD II Which car are [you] going to sell?
g (' ('
Gil 3()'Y): GGpC:(0)II [I]'m going to sell this car.
g ~ (' ('
7" 3()'Y);~; GGpC:(0)II [IJ'm going to sell this big car.
(' ('
6111 GJY)OC GGpC:8CD0; II Are [you] going to sell ballpoint pens?
(' (' ('
~II GJY)OC GGpC:(0)1I [I]'m going to sell ballpoint pens.
C' C' (,,,
:)011 J)o)GJY)OC GGpC:8CDil Which ballpoint pens are [you] going to sell?
g (' (' ('
:):)11 3GJY)OCGCD; GGpC:(0)II [I]'m going to sell these little ballpoint pens.

Lesson 15
Is-sentences
G c
::lll 3l 2: J.)qc (\)I): II Is that U Ba Yin?
JII 3l G3T J.YJqt(\)l):11 Is this Daw Tha Yin?
c
~II 31 0qCG0(\)1):1I Is that Ma Yin May?
<7 11 3l G3T ee
GJ)')C: qc (\)I): II Is this Daw Thaung Yin?
0 C C
~II 3l O? q'9 G3d'JC C\YJ; II Is that Ko Yan Aung?
G C
Gil 3l 2:q'9G3d:C\YJ: II Is this U Yan Aye?
Is-sentences with voiced suffix.
In these sentences you need to apply the Voicing Rule to the suffix 0 l .
Imagine you are looking at a map of the world.
::lll 3l 3dt~ C\YJC\YJ:II Is that Angola?
JII 0<J?05ol:r;r:1I 3l '9~:d5:u:n:olll No, that's Namibia.
~II 3l ?S OY) 'P C\.Y): II Is that Guyana?
l
c, G
<J?(f)0?11 3 o u:n '9') 0 I II
')
Yes, that's Guyana.
<7 11
~II 3l GOT a;rOoSC\YJ:11 Is that Portugal?
Gil 0<J?05ol:r;r:1I 3l G.J)~rr?0lll No, that's Morocco.
'(II Is that Iran?
6)11 No, that's Turkey.
~II Is that Korea?
::lOll Yes, that's Korea.
00 II 3l :r;rC\.)Go: q:u:n:C\YJ:1I Is that Bulgaria?
OJII 0<J?05ol:r;r:1I 3l ~G0:~u:n:olll No, that's Romania.
For reference: meanings of some single syllables written with the new cha;'acters
C
~ hundred G~C:- sell
C
q'9 enemy, enmity 1;):- be mad
Gq water ~- be bold
Gq:- write q- get
C 0
qc chest fl.: goal
G~- mix 'll cave
LESSON 15.1 THE RIDER ON THE FOREHEAD
The rider on the forehead

You have already learned to read the rhyme -6 , as in
<:0
:) II 0CCj> Minnie
<: <:
JII C\)cwCj> Lincoln
<: 0
~II ::Dc::y( bimbo

ron ounce ei as in uein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au ao: in Sauerkraut.
and so on. In a few words - many of them loanwords - the 6 is not written on the line in
the usual way, but is placed above the first consonant of the next syllable. Examples:
correct spelling pronounced as if written meaning
::DA'103 ::D6nl03 Bengali
3dAl 3d6nl Tuesday
symb.)l
The effect is as if the word has been compressed from either end, and the 6 has been forced
up and over the succeeding letter. Notice, however, that the C is placed over the consonant
of the next syllable even if, as in Example 3, there is a G before that consonant: you write
C C
::DGo)cn not ::DGo)cn .
The name of the character', the reduced form of [; ,is.m[;:0'5:, pronounced kln-zl, and
meaning "forehead··rider" - for obvious reasons.
When you are taking dictation and come across a word with the rhyme -2:, you won't know
- unless you have already learned the spelling of the word - whether it should be
written with the full [; or the reduced E. As a rule, write ~ : it is far more common than' ;
but as the Practice sections below are to give you practice in reading and writing' ,here you
can safely use E throughout.
The common greeting that is pronounced /0[; n0Y)JY)/ is another w(,rd written with the
reduced ~ . The / JY)/ on the end is the voiced version of the suffix 0'1 so the spelling and
pronunciation of this phrase are:
correct spelling pronounsed as if written mellning
'(II ",A0Y)ol / "'~n0Y)JY)/ Creeting!
Unmarked high tone

In the examples above all the syllables written with E are in the loy: tone, and so are
pronounced as if they were written with -~ . In a few words (a very small proportion of the
words written with E) the' syllable is pronounced with a high tone, a~ if it were written
with~:. Examples:
correct spelling pronounced as if written mea11lng
E G
0') 9' ::D0 "l 0')9'6:::D0q (not/0')9'6::D0q/) Tenasserim
3Al: 36:nl: (not/3~nl/) coin
The spelling of the words gives no indication that they are pronounced with a high tone on
the' syllable. This is an area where you learn the spelling and pronunciation as you add
the word to your vocabulary. In the Practice section below the unmarked high tones are
signalled in advance.

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in though, au as in Sauerkraut.
Lesson 15
-
Write a word like 3dAl in these stages: 3d-3do-3dA-3dAl .

E c:
:)11 3dOCD<f England
JII 3dAl Tuesday
<II J)Al03 Bengali
<;11 ()OC\Y)
E
good omen
E
~II J.)GmCD symbol
Gil ()AC\Y)ol Greeting!
Words in which the f syllable is pronounced with high tone

E
~II J.)GJY) ship
E
6)11 J)OC\Y): Bengal
(311 3Al: coin
E
:)011 CD<fC\Y) Monday
E G
:):)11 CD <f J.)') q Tenasserim
LESSON 15.2 MORE VOICING
More voicing
A couple of Lessons back you practised reading and writing sentences with the polite suffix
written ol and pronounced / JY)/ . The same suffix crops up in verb sentences, as you will see
below.
Verb sentences
In case you haven't yet met any verb sentences, here are some examples to show how they
are formed. The first example is a negative statement.
Diphthongs in the roman transcription: 7Y

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as m Sauerkraut.
Example 1
1. pronunciation: / 0 0Y)JY)J~.d
2. words: not-come-polite-negative
3. meaning: "[They] didn't come."
4. spelling: 00Y)ol ::r;r:
This example shows that -

• 0- is a prefix meaning "not";
• the polite suffix 01 gets voiced to / JY)/ in this position as well as in is-sentences;
• ::r;?: is a suffix that is attached to a verb at the end of a sentence when the verb is negated
(marked beow as "negative"); and
• Burmese verb sentences don't always have subjects expressed, so 00Y)0l::r;r: could mean "He
didn't come," or "1 didn't come," or "You didn't come," and so on. That's why "They" is in
brackets: there could be some other pronoun in its place.
Here's the positive statement corresponding to the example above:

Example 2
1. pronunciation: /0Y)JY)305/
2. words: come-poli te-pres/pas t
3. meaning: "[They] came."
4. spelling: 0Y)01CD 05
This example shows that there is a suffix that is written CD 05 , which is subject to the Voicing Rule
and so voiced to /305 /. Whereas::r;?: is suffixed to negated verbs only, CD u5 is suffixed to
positive verbs and indicates "present or past time." It is translated below as "pres/past."
The suffix CD05 (pronounced /305/) is y~ur second example of voicing.
Here are some more example sentences to show the suffixes CDu5 and 0 1 being voiced to
/303/ and / JY)/ .
\> II GO'Y)~:O1 CD 05 II [It]'s good.

~II G3d:ol CDO.s II [It]'s cold.
~II )?01 CD 05 II [Jtl's hot.
Gil 0GO'Y)~:ol::r;r:1I [Itl's not good.
'(II 0G3d:ol::r;r:1I [Itl's not cold.
6)11 0)?ol::r;r:1I [It l' s not hot.

When you're reading the practice sentences, remember that the 0'1 is voiced to / JY)/, and
the CDo3 is voiced to /303/. If you're using the sentences as dictatiol'" remember the
reverse: that what you hear as / :yy)/ is written 01, and what you hear as /305 / is wri tten
c
CDW .
JII The beer's good.

Lesson 15
G <: 1
JII ::J)OY) 8G(Y)')C:OIJji>:1I The beer's not good.
G 1 <:
~II (Y)'): 'f:OlOOWIl The car's near.
911 (Y)'): 8~:olJji>:1I The car's not near.
<: 1 <:
~II 8qCG8 G'f0lOOWIl Ma Yin May lives there.
Gil 8q6G8 8G'f0lJji>:1I Ma Yin May doesn't live tl,ere.
'T'G G <: 1 <:
'7
11 G31 qq G'fG(Y)')C:OlOOWIl Daw Yi Yi is well.
'T'G G <: 1
6111 G31 qq G'f8G(Y)')C:OIJji>:1I Daw Yi Yi is not well.
o <: 1 <:
(311 "? ::J) q C Glf.)O I 00 W II Ko Ba Yin is tired.
o <: 1
8011 ,,?::J)qc 8Glf.)0I Jji>:II Ko Ba Yin is not tired.
8811 )l: 'f00l 00 oS II My knee hurts.
8JII )l: 8'f00l Jji>: II My knee doesn't hurt.
G <: <: 1 <:
8~1I 2:q'fG3d0C G8:0100WII U Yan Aung asked.
G <: <: 1
89 11 2:q'fG3d0C 8G8:01Jji>:1I U Yan Aung didn't ask.
8~1I C(J8~ Gm00l 00 oS II Jennie is clever.
8GII C(J8~ 8G~olJji>:1I Jennie is not clever.
o <: 0 1 <:
8'7 11 0<\100C: 0:(0IOOWII Protein is needed.
o <: 0 1
86111 0<\100C: 80:(0 I Jji>: II Protein is not needed.
G <: <: 1 <:
8(311 2:G3d0C::;QC: 3d0:0100WII U Aung Thin is free := not busy.
G <: <: 1
JOII 2:G3d0C::;QC: 83d0:0 I Jji>: II U Aung Thin is not free.
pll 3d~~ 3d0:'f00l 00 oS II Auntie feels bad about imrosing on you.
<: G 1
JJII 3d'f00 3d0: 8 <f00 I Jji>: II Auntie doesn't feel bad about imposing on you.
LESSON 15.3 MORE ON THE UNWRITTEN VOWEL
Suffixes to words with the rhyme -a

You learned in an earlier Lesson that, as a rule, the unwritten vowel is pronounced -a at the
end of a word and -a elsewhere. That's a useful rule of thumb, but it has some exceptions.
One common type of exception is a word or phrase that contains a SUffL'< attached to a word
ending in -a.
Example 1
script: + r,p = G0Y)mr,p
pronunciation: law-ka + hma = law-ka-hma (not law-kah ma)
English: world +in = in the world
Example 2
script: 3d8 + [3: = 3d 8[3:
pronuncia tion: ama + )1.' = ama-jI (not amajl)

English: sister + older = older sister
Diphthongs in the roman transcription:

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au u in Sauerkraut.
J 81
Example 3
o o
script: m~ + C\( m~C\(
pronunciation: ma-na + 10 = ma-na-Io (not ma-nalo)
English: pride + like = like pride
Example 4
script: 0 + olmoS = 00lmoS
pronunciation: ma + ba-deh = ma-ba-deh (not maba-deh)
English: lift + poli te-pres/pas t = We lifted it.
Example 5
script: m + 0-01);(: 0mol J;(:
pronunciation: ka + ma-ba-bu maka-ba-bu (not makaba-bu)
English: dance + not-polite-negative = We didn't d:mce.
The rule is, then, that when you come across a suffix attached to a word ending in an
unwritten vowel, read that vowel as -a and not -ii. To apply this rule, you have to be able
to recognize a suffix when you see one. That is a skill you will acquire gradually as you
learn the language. For the time being, here is a list of suffixes you have encountered so far
in this course:
[noun}-~ red [noun] [noun}-'fl in [noun.]
[noun]-C\Y:l; [noun]-question [noun]-ol [noun i-polite
[noun]-fJ: near [noun] [verb]-ul Please [V(~rb]
[noun]-~: big [noun] [verb]-(;)oS [I]'m going to [verb]
[noun}-cY like [noun] [verb]- olmoS [I] [verb]
[noun}-GCD: little [noun] 0- [verb ]-0l J;(: [I] don't [verb]
The following examples underline the necessity of recognizing individual words in such cases.
Example 6
~ ~
script: 6[ + 0W 6[0W
meaning 1: get + going to = They're going to get [some].
meaning 2: excuse [not a compolmd word] =an excuse
pronunciation 1: ya + meh = ya-meh (not yameh)
pronunciation 2: ya - meh = yameh (not ya-meh)
Example 7
script: 0 + :::D0 = 0:::D0
meaning 1: Miss + Pleasant = [girl's name]
meaning 2: not + pleasant = a funeral
pronunciation 1: ma + tha = Ma Tha (not MaTha)
pronunciation 2: ma - tha = matha (not ma-tha)
As you see, there is no clue in the script to show which pronunciation is a.?propriate. You
can only know the pronunciation if you know the word.

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as In Sauerkraut.
Lesson 15
Printers' convention.
As even native Burmese speakers are sometimes misled by the absence of clues to the
pronunciation, printers occasionally adopt the convention of using a comma (a symbol
imported into the Burmese script in recent times) to show that an unwritten vowel is to
have its full-a value. So you may see pronunciation 1 in Example 6 above written 6[,005 ,
which is a help; but the convention is not consistently applied.

G
3G3::D this region
G
JII 3G3::D'l'0:'{=l near this region
G
~II 2::)') U Ba
G 0
911 2::)')CY like U Ba
G
~II om music
Gil a bit of music
f(1I mcu one month
6)11 one month?
~II ffi- to dance
:)011 is going to dance
<:: <::
06[CG0 ffi0W Ma Yin Me is going to dan':e.
o <::
:)JII cy?G3d0C ffi0C00:11 Is Ko Aung going to dance~
:)~II 6[- get, achieve, manage, be '~ll right
:)SII 6[olm05 That's all right.
:)6':11
~
06[olJj(:1I It didn't work, it's no good.
0- to lift
<::
o 'it 'it 00WII Ma Mu Mu is going to lift it.
- 000lJj(:1I - No, she isn't.
:)(? II 3d:)') father, old man
JOII uncle (older than parents)
pll 3d0 older sister
JJII 3d0G23: [big] older sister
RII 3d- to be dim
JC111 3dol m05 II He's dim.
<:: <:: '1 <::
J~II G00C:D'l': 3dOlmWIl Maung Than's dim.
JGII - 03dolJj(:1I - No, he's not.

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au ,~s in Sauerkraut.
LESSON 16
New rhymes
C' C'
CD CL2
:)
J
-eq -aq
Example syllables
r---------------~
C'
mCD
~ 9
meq leq
C'
:DCL2
~
maq thaq
C' C' C' C'

:DCDCL2C GBC2CmCL2 j
r; G!
Theq Tin Maun Laq
As for initial m and OJ , with the"::. Write m and OJ before you write":: .
Notes
1. Pronunciation. The two rhymes above are pronounced with a final glottal stop: the sound
you hear in southern British English in place of final T, as in "the ca' sa' on the rna'." In the
roman transcription we use a q to represent this sound, so we would write: The caq saq on
the maq. In traditional romanizations people use a final T or K: U Lat for U Laq, U Thaik
for U Thaiq.

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thow;;h, au as ill Sauerkraut.
Lesson 16
2. Components. Both new rhymes are written with final consonants: 3 m with the killer
stroke (3d Xl 05 athaq) and a 00 with the killer stroke. At the period when the writing
system was first devised, it is more than likely that these final consor.ants were sounded,
giving rhymes like -ak and -at; but over time the k and t were replaced by a glottal stop,
and the vowels diverged, giving us the pronunciation of today: -eq and -aq.
4. Pitch. Syllables ending in a glottal stop are pronounced with high pitch. This means
they are spoken on the same pitch level as high-pitch syllables marked by -:. For
examples, listen to the tape.
Names
e r ymes -mC and -00C are re f
Thh erred 'to m the same way as -cC and -<fC : they are called -
mXlc:r5 (ka-thaq) "ka with a killer stroke," and
OOXlc:r5 (ta-thaq) "ta with a killer stroke."

Syllables - foreign currencies
C C
:)11 <fm Gil w<f: yer>
JII (;imC
C
711 Gol8 :'olmd
\lll CUOO 6111 G3T(\)') :loHar
C
c; II woo ell (;iOO" ,na:k
C C
:)11 3ml 300 Bunnese name elements
C C
Gil 0001 om :::>11 breath, life
711 " moo

mml
C
JII 3scE'nd, advance
6111 3d 00 "I 3dm
C
\lll middle [of 3 siblings]
English first names Bunnese names
CG G C C
:::>11 3dm3 Eddie :::>11 2:XlmooC U Thet Tin
JII (;imoCG
Maggie JII G
2:oo m "0
or: U Tet Toe
\lll G"p::DOO" Robert \lll 2:G0')CCUOO
G "" M aung L at
U.
c;" <ljm
C
Jack c;lI e: GoT:::>.)05 U Paw Thet
:)11 mmXl
" G Kathy :)11 G3TG(;i Xl 05 Daw May Thet
Gil '
m'fm" Kenneth Burmese words and phrases
0')o~m "
Margaret :::>11 CUmOOO'f0~
C " G wrist-watc h
7"
Loanwords from English JII 'f0'fc:r5:::>3: pineapple [ananasl
G G C C G
:::>11 ::Dcuwm billiards \lll :::>.)~m:::>.): mango
JII mcu~:'fm
,G
" clarinet c;lI 3d0:~m " free day
" c,
\lll " "
::DOO<ljm budget :)11 ::DW::Dmcu Wllich way?
c;lI (;iOOC
March Gil this way?
0
:)11 " "
0':(3oomC(;i"p Kodak camera

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as b Sauerkraut.
"Killed consonants"
You know already that a consonant written without any attached vowel symbols is
pronounced with the short sharp vowel a - as in words like 3l4' and J3(\) i which you met in
earlier lessons. You also know that the symbol":: is used on a consonant to show that the
vowe 1 a' IS
. not to b e pronounce d
,as'111 -4'C' -cC' -00C' -m.
C' Th e -C' suppresses th e vowe 1, so 1't' s
not surprising to find that its Burmese name is 3d::Da5 meaning "killer." When you are
spelling out a word like::D~ the combination of m and': is called m::Da5 .
Note that these terms, like the verbs you practised in Lesson 15.3, are exceptions to the
rule that a consonant with no written vowel symbol is pronounced with the vowel at the a
end of a syllable, but a at the beginning or in the middle. Here are some examples for
practice:
[name of the combination ~ ]
C'
:)11 4' ::DOO
[name of the combination c:iJ ]
C'
JII OO::DOO
[name of the combination ~ ]
C'
?II C ::DOO
[name of the combination dJ ]

C'
9 11 m::DOO
[name of the combination 0 ]
C'
~II U::DOO
(\)~ hand 3d~- crack
C' C'
8m- yearn for qm day
C'
4'm- be deep [noun]-(\)d) middle [noun]
C' C'
oom- ascend, go up 4'00 nat, spirit
C' C'
3d::Dm life, breath 0000 - know how to
C' C'
um- spray ::DOO- kill
C' C'
rum jet Uoo- wind round, encircle
C'
().)m- weave
LESSON 16.1 VOICING AGAIN
Practice with voicing

There is no new material in this Lesson. It is here to provide more practice in reading is-
sentences and verb sentences with voiced suffixes.

Is-sentences with voiced suffix
:)11 3l ::DJ;C\Y):II Is that [your] son?
JII Yes, it is my son.

Lesson 16
~II 3l 0;(1:)(\)0:11 Is that [your] niece?

C;II 1:)00050l~:1I 3l ::0~:olll No, it's [my] daughter.
~II 3l 3dG3T(\)0:11 Is that [your] aunt?
Gil 1:)00050l~:1I 3l 3d GI:) ol II No, it's [my] mother.
'(II 3l 0;((\)0: II Is that [your] nephew?
6111 0(05011 3l o;(olll Yes, it is my nephew.
Gil 3l ::0~:(\)0:11 Is that [your] daughter?
:::>011 1:)00d;ol~:1I 3l o;(l:)olll No, it's [my] niece.
:::>:::>11 3l. 2: GCD: (\)0: II Is that [your] uncle?
c, '1 Q '1
O(mO?II 31 e:GCD:OIII Yes, it is my uncle.
3l 3dG3T(\)0:11 Is that [your] aunt?
0(05011 3l 3dG3Tolll Yes, it is my aunt.
Please verb - I will

:::>11 (\)0oll1 (\)01:)0511 Please come [here]. - I will.
JII G6[:olll G6'[:1:) oS II Please write [it]. - I will.
<: '1 <: <:
~II Gq:>C:OIIi - Gq:>C:I:)WII Please sell [it]. - I will.
C;II ::0 05 ol II - ::0 oS I:) oS II Please carry [it]. - I will.
<: '1 <: <:
~II 1 W011I - 1 W I:)WII Please knead [it]. - I will.
Verb sentences with voiced suffixes

In these phrases you need to apply the Voicing Rule to ol and moS if you're reading aloud,
or to 1-:::rnl and 13 oSl if you're writing from dictation.
:::>11 0y)303 Gq:>~:olmoSll [They] sell Yardley.
JII 0y)303 I:)Gq:>~:ol~:1I [They] don't sell Yardley.
~II
Q
OOY) 1;1:olmwll '1 C
Peter is ma d .
C;II BOY) 1:)1;1:ol~:11 Peter is not mad.
'1 C
~II 1:)')<1] G6[:olmwll
Q
Margie wrote [ it.]
Gil 1:l0c1J I:)G6[:ol~:11 Margie didn't write [it].
~G6[~~ o;(olmo5l1 This radio is like [it].
6111 Q QO
3G6[3ll:( 1:)0;(01~:1I '1 Th is radio is not like [it].
Gil 0707: )?olmo5l1 The cocoa is hot.

:::>011 o 0
O{O{: 1:))?01~:1I '1 Th e cocoa is not hot.
:::>:::>11 ::}lOY) G3d:olmo5l1 The beer is cold.
::}lOY) ()G3d:Ol~:11 The beer is not cold.
In an earlier Lesson you practised reading and writing 6[1:) oS 1 (Y)l:)oSl 1:)1:)05 and so on, where
the unwritten vowel had its full -Ii value (and is therefore sometimes printed with a
comma: 6[,1:)051 (YJ,1:)051 1:),1:)05). Another common case in which the unwritten vowel is read
-a even though it is not at the end of a word, is the "auxiliary verb'" - "1-' which means
"should [verb]" or "has to [verb]" or "is allowed to [verb]":

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au a~; in Sauerkraut.
verb meaning in phrase with - 6)- meaning

~ ~ ~
m(Y)- attend m(Y)q'='w He'll ha\'e to attend.
Gq:- write Gq:qolmoS He had to write.
::DoS- carry '='::DoSqol::r;r: He doesn't have to carry [it).
The following phrases provide some practice in reading this - q- with its full value.
:)11 ~'r Gq:q8(\)'):11 Should I write it here?
JII '='Gq:qol::r;r:1I No, you mustn't.
~ ,
~II ::nw'r Gq:q8C011 Where do I have to write it?
G ~
3'r Gq:q'='wII You should write it there.
GOl~3l GO:q8(\)'):11 Will you have to give them some powder?
8Go:qol::r;r:1I No, I won't.
JY) GO:q8c011 What will you have to give them?
G~ 1 ~
::nq93 GO:qOI8WII I'll have to give them some brandy.
More voicing
You have met voicing in 0 l (voiced to I JY)I), and moS (voiced to 13 cJ. /). Another high-
frequency suffix that is subject to the Voicing Rule is the one written ::D. As you know, this
consonant represents a sound like the sound of "th" in English "thin." When it is voiced it is
pronounced like the "th" in English "this." There is no established le:ter for this voiced
sound in the Burmese alphabet Gust as ,there isn't in English), so the Burmese Language
Commission devised the combination loyl to represent it. So when you apply the Voicing
Rule to the sound I::DI it comes out as l:::>y/.
Questions in verb sentences

The suffix::D is found most commonly in verb sentence questions, and in case you haven't yet
met any, here are some examples:
Example 1 Example 2
1. pron.: I JY) G6p~::::>YC\)/ 1. pron.: 1\fY): G"?~::::>y(\),):!
2. words: what sell-pres/past-question 2. words: car sell-pres/past-questiol1
3. meaning: "What did [you) sell?" 3. meaning: "Did [you) sell cars?"
,~ ~
4. spelling: JY) G6pC:::D C0 4. spelling: \fY): G6pc:::D(\)'):
As you can see,::D is another suffix with the meaning "pres/past" (it is in fact a reduced
form of moS), and it is subject to the Voicing Rule. Here are a few more examples. Listen to
the tape to hear them.
~II JY) GO:::Dc011 What did [he) give?
Did [he) give a fan?
What did [she) ask for?
Did [she) ask for a ballpoint pen?

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as ir Sauerkraut.
Lesson 16
Words in which the Voicing Rule does not operate:

'(II ::DeDll (pron I ::DeDI not I J.jleD/) pomegranate
6)11 ::D(\)'):-II (pron I ::D(\)'):! not I J.jl(\)'):!) saunter

In all the following examples, the Voicing Rule applies to uland ()')US and::D .
JII ::m d5:::DeDll What did [he] play?
, 0 G
JII J) Cf(J l()') : ::D C\Y): II Did [he] play the banjo?
,0 G 1
~II J)Cf(Jl 0()');U I:::r;?: II [He] didn't play the banjo.
<;11 r'lCf)') d5:ul ()')uSll [He] played the guitar.
o ,
~II ::m C\jl::D C\) II What does [he] need?
GOO
Gil GG)30? C\jl::D(\)'):1I Does [he] need a radio?
GOO 1
'(II GG)30? 0C\jlUI:::r;?:1I [He] doesn't need a radio.
6)11 G) G O'Y)'3l
G 01
C\jl UI()') oo II ,
[He] needs a recorder.
, ,
~II J)OO~ G<f::DC\) II Where does [he] live?
G C
JOII umc;~ G<f ::DC\Y): II Does [he] live in Peking?
Gel
JJ II umc:~ 0G<fUI:::r;?:11 [He] doesn't live in Peking.
G 1 C
JJII 0<f C\Y)~ G<f UI()')OO II [He] lives in Manila.
J~II ::m GU:::DeDll What did [he] give [them]?
J<; II Did [he] give [them] brandy?
J~II [He] didn't give [them] brandy.
JGII [He] gave [them] gin.
LESSON 16.3 STACKED CONSONANTS
"Stacked consonants"
You have now learned to read syllables with four different final consonants, namely those
in:
c , c c
C\) C C\) <f C\) ()') C\) m
You have also learned that a final 8 may be forced up and over the next consonant in the
word (Lesson 15.1). The compression phenomenon is found (in some words) with other final
consonants as well, but the other consonants are not treated in quite the same way as ~ .
With all final consonants other than ~ , instead of the final consonant being forced up and
over the next consonant, it is the next consonant that is forced down and under the final
consonant. So if you have a pair of syllables like -
::D ~ and Cf)')
and they appear in a word that requires them to be compressed, instead of writing -
C
::D<fCf)')

you force the en under the ~ , and write -

correct spelling pronounced as if written meaning
('
:J II m6>.0
Cf)
m4'OY) woman
('
JII 3ffi0:
OJ
3mffi0: Dakha
('
~II m<65ll mooo;;> [kind of boat]
('
<;11 J)G~J) J)4'G3J) message
A pair of consonants written vertically like this is called -

. . c. C ., C C
ill scnpt: 'l'IDCY:;;o<;: or 01 5;;0<;:
pronunciation: / 'l'CY~:@~/ = hnaloun-zfn / ociJ;;o~/ = paq-s'fn

meaning: two letters stacked text stacked
There are several small points to notice about these examples.

1. When a final consonant (like (~ and cr5 and ciJ in the examples) is written with another
consonant un d erneat h ,It oses'Its 3d::DenC (C)
. I . (' d (' d ('
- : you wnte, not m~0 an 3~5'0: an m<65ll'
but m6>.0
CY.l
and 3 ffi0:
m and mooll.
Cf)
You will find in later Lessons that the 8ame is true of other
stacked consonants as well.
2. To make room for a consonant under a 4' you have to pull up the tail of "he 4' : S ~ ~
3. When a syllable with ooQ;G'W~:C~ (l) or tQ;G'W~:C~ (il)' like 'J[{ in Example 3, is
compressed against the syllable before it, the GCi!P~: C ~ gets shifted to the right of the
stacked pair: -<65ll' There is not enough ~pace for it under the <65 .
3. When two syllables are compressed, and the second syllable contains a G- , the J)GocX?:
gets forced to the left of the preceding final consonant. It is the consonants that are stacked,
not consonants and vowel symbols. In example 4:
J)~ + G3 = J)G~ (not J)~3)
Remember that the G- still belongs to the 3 , and not to the 4" Although you can see the
sequence G4' in the word J)G~ , when you decompress the two syllables you get J)~+G3 ,
and J)~G3 is what you read.
To decompress a pair of stacked consonants, then, the procedure is this:

Example 5 Example 6
Word with stacked consonants: J)G~J)
(' ('
Add - to upper consonant: J)G~J)
('
Extract upper consonant and its preceding consonant: J)4'-G 3 J)
('
Position lower consonant on the line: ::U'i'-G3J)
('
Read as: ::')4'G3J)

Lesson 16
Unmarked high tone

In some words the first syllable of a pair with stacked consonants tahs a high tone that is
not marked in the script - like the unmarked high tone in syllables written with':' (Lesson
15.1). This quirk has to be learned when the word is added to your repertoire. For examples
see "piano" below and the note on "Mandalay" in Lesson 20.1.

Write the upper consonant before the lower: &-& and so on.
3

Some of the words in the list are shown with the stacked consonants written out in decom-
pressed form. This is simply to aid your reading: it is not the way the words are spelled.
Monks' names
c
:)11 llccf~ Shin Nanda [=~8't~311 Pali Nanda]
c
ll c cf ~,(Y)C\Y) Shin Nandamala [Pali Nand::lmala]
G
2:cf~'(Y)C\Y) U Nandamala [Pali Nandamala]
G
2:cf~m U Nandaka [Pali Nandak:l]
Notes
1. The prefix llc
is sometimes used in place of 2:
as a prefix to the namt of a Buddhist monk.
2. The name cf ~ (Y)C\Y) is wri tten here with a comma cf ~,(Y)C\Y) to show you that the 3 has its
full value da and is not pronounced with the weak vowel: dB..
Other words and names

~II 30y):
m
Dakha [=303m0:]
Gil ::U~0 seventh[=::uaSCD011 Palisattama]
'(II 3d CD GJY)
Q')
body [Pali attabhava]
6)11 m~ll [kind of boat]
(311 mCD0: Q')
subject [in grammar; Pali katta]
:)011 UCDC\Y):
Q')
xylophone
:):)11 UCD0 Q')
hinge
:)JII 3dcf~ non-self [a Buddhist principle; Pali anatta)
:)\>11 m50 Q')
woman [=m~CD011 Pali kanta]
:)<7 11 ::U5 Q')
peaceful [Pali santa]
:)~II 3dG50
en
interior [Pali anto]
:)GII ::u~ 0cf continuity [Pali santana]
:)'{II 35
en
tooth [Pali danta]
:)6)11 ::U~0cf chain, fetter [=::D~ 3l 't II Pali sandana]
:)(311 3d0cf~0 Ananda [disciple of Budd>la,
also name of a well-known pagoda in Pagan)
JOII ::UG5::U
3
message [Pali sandesa]

rejoicing [Pali nandana]

armour[=:::D~'i'0())1I Palisannaha]
Channa [the charioteer of Prince Siddhatthal
..
0& fallen [Pali panna]
Lastly a word in which the first syllable of the pair with stacked consonants has an
unmarked high tone:
piano [pronounced / 1D~:3()J'):/ J
There is no new material in this Lesson. It is for review only. The recorded words and
phrases are on the separate Review Tape.

Foreign place names :::> ~ II :Y.l'):Y.l 6p Barbara
G C
:::>11 3d6[CD Iraq :::>G II :Y.lC0~ 3l Belinda
C C
JII 3C:0CD Denmark :::>'711 G3T6[J3 Dorothy
C
;;>11 C[j('0')()')') Jakarta :::>6) II G6pC(p Roger
G G
9 11 'i' 0::Y.l: ()J'); Namibia ::l(? II 0
G
6[ ()')') Greta
C
G
~II 3d'i'('0')6p Ankara JOII m00)') Cami1.la
Gil
C
'7 II m C:Y.l')"p Canberra Loanwords from English
6)11 3 ('0'):
()')
Dakha billi,,'rds
G 0
JII 30C$00 diploma
G G
English first names ;;>11 306[ degree
G o C
:::>11 06[:0Y:l: Maria 9 11 0l\1CDC protein
CG , G C
JII 3dm3 Eddie ~II mC06[:'i'm clarinet
G
;;> II 00C(J 6[ Marjorie
Jack Burmese words
C
Cathy ::lll 3d0:6[m free day
Kenneth JII 3d:Y.l father
'C
'7 11 0006[m Margaret ;;>11 3dG3d: cold
CG
6)11 omo Peggie 911 3d~ hea t
G C
(? II 6[ :Y.l m ('0') Rebecca ~II G3l:::D anger
C
::lOll C[jm Jack GII G0)'):Y.l greed
C
:::>::l II G6p:Y.l00 Robert '711 G0)')m the world
C
:::>JII 000 Mark 6)11 rfY)8 destre
G C C G
::l ;;> II 3d 'i' ()')') Anita (?II C0mo00'i'06[ wri"t-v"atch
G G
::l911 3d8:C0:()J'): Amelia ::lOll 8m unv/ell

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sc.uerkraut.
Lesson 16R
::l::lll 0:::D') funeral ::lGIl oW hinge

<: <:
::lJII OCCDW ocean ::l'711 3dG&0 ir. terior
G ,
Cf)
<:
::l;::11 ::DCD virtuous conduct, precept ::l6)11 3d() CD <f England
::l'711 3d<f<i2 non-self ::lell 0h($')ol Greetings!
,
[a teaching of Buddhism1 JOII ::DGmCD symbol
::l~1I ::DCD0
Cf)
7th
Is-sentences
Questions and statements about Relatives
::l II 3l :::D');(\)'): II Is that your son?
JII 00?aSol~:1I 3l a;?olll - No, that's my nephew.
;::11 3l 3d0(\)'):11 Is that your sister?
<: , 1
'7 11 O?CDO?II 3d00111 - Yes, it's my sister.
~II 3l 3dG0(\)'):11 Is that your mother?
Gil 00?aSol~:11 3l G3TG3Tolil - No, that's my auntie.
'711 3l ::D~:(\),):II Is that your daughter?
6)11 00?aSol~:1I 3l a;?00ll1 - No, that's my niece.
ell 3l:::D'): (\)'): II Is that your son?
<: , 1
::lOll O?CDO?II :::D'):OIIl - Yes, it is my son.
::l::lll 3l 3d0(\)'): II Is that your sister?
::lJII 00?aSol~:1I 3l 3dG3T olll - No, that's my aunt.
::l;::11 3l 3d G0 (\)'): II Is that your mother?
<: , 1
::l'711 O?CDO?II 3dG00 III - Yes, it's my mother.
::l~1I
G
3l 2: GCD :(\)'):1I Is that your uncle?
::lGII 00?dJOl~:11 3l 3do?0lll - No, that's my brother.
Questions and statements about Countries

::l II 3l f1jG0(Y)0(\)'): II Is that Jamaica?
JII O?aSo?ll 3l f1jG0(Y)00l11 Yes, it is Jamaica.
;::11 00?aSol~:11 3l J'Y)G::n~olll No, it's Barbados.
'711 3l G~CD CfY)(\)'): II Is that Malta?
~II
<:,
O?CDO?II 3
l <:
GMCDCD00111
1
Yes, it is Malta.
Gil 00?aSol~:11 3l ~CDG3olli No, it's Italy.
'711 3l f1jO~(\),):1I Is that Japan?
6) II
<:,
O?CDO?II 3
l f1jO<fOIII
<: 1
Yes, it is Japan.
ell 00?aSol~:1I 3l o?~:W0:olll No, it's Korea.
<:
::lOll 3 l G G
3dWCDf1j:q:W0:C\Y.):1I Is that Algeria?
::l::lll
<:,
O?CDO?II 3
l <:
3dWCDf1j:q:W0:0111
GG 1
Yes, it is Algeria.
<:1
00?CDOI~:1I 3
l <:001
GM\i,,?OIIl No, it's Morocco.
::l;::11 l
3
OG
\iG0:<f:W0:(\)'):1I Is that Romania?
<:, lOG 1
O?CDO?II 3 \iG0:<f:W0:OIIl Yes, it is Romania.
00?aSol~:11 3l ~CDG():~:W0:olll No, it's Bulgaria.

Where is Namibia?
Namibia is here.
Is Argentina here?
Yes, Argentina is here.
Where is Jamaica?
Jamaica is here.
Is Tangier here?
No, Tangier is here.
Questions and statements about Makes and brands

:)11 31 JY)G01~31C\)1I What powder is that?
JII UYJ3030111 That's Yardley.
What car is that?
That's a Toyota.
What camera is that?
That's a Minolta.
What gin is that?
That's Gordon's gin.
What beer is that?
That's Tali beer.
What brandy is that?
That's Myanmar brandy.
Verb sentences
Structure: [name] [verb]-O10003 II [naIl'\e] ~ [verb]-O1~: II
G ~ l ~
:)11 2·~G~CG(\); C\Y)OI(J)WII U Maung Lay came.
JII G3T(J)~::D~: 8C\Y)01~:1I Daw Tin Than didn't come.
o ~ ~ ~l ~
?" O?::DC:G~C GO'Y)OI(J)WII Ko Thin Maung is clever.

o ~ ~ l
9" O?(J)CG(\); 8GO'Y)OI~:1I Ko Tin Lay is not clever.

:)11 G3T~G(\): 0)01 (J)05 II Daw Mar Lay stayed [with us].
Gil G3T~C\Y) 80)01~:11 Daw Marlar didn't stay [with us].
G 0 ~ l ~
'7" 2:¥:4'C: 3d0;OI(J)WII U Mo Nin is free.

~ ~ l
6111 8G:::D0C;(J)C 83d0:0 I~: II Ma Thaung Tin is not free.
G OG l ~
(311 2:0?2: 1i: OI (J)wlI U Ko U is drunk.
G 0
~ l
:)011 2:G~cO? 8W:01~:1I U Maung Ko is not drunk.
:):)11 G3TG~G~::D~: G~ol(J)0511 Daw Maw Maw Thin is tired.
:)JII 8(J)~G3d: 8G~01~:11 Ma Tin Aye is not tired.
G G ~ l ~
:)?" 2::::D02: G4'GO'Y)C;O I (J)WII U Tha 00 is well.
:)9 11 G3TG8G3d0~ G4'8GO'Y)~:01~:1I Daw May Aung is not well.
G ~ ~ l ~
:):)11 2:(J)CG~CG3d: 3d0:4',)OI(J)WII U Tin Maung Aye feels embar;assed.
o 0 ~ l
:)GII O?O?:G3d0C 3d0:84',)01~:11 Ko To Aung doesn't feel embarrassed.
J'7" 8G3d:~ ::DGJY) GO'Y)~:ol(J)0511 Ma Aye Mar is kind.
o ~ ~ ~ l
:)6111 O?(J)CG3d0C ::DGJY) 8 GO'Y)C; 0 I~: II Ko Tin Aung is not kind.

Lesson 16R
Structure: [thing] [verb]-ol 000511 [thing] ~ [verb]-o10(: II

:)11 ::/SOY) G3d:oloo0311 The beer is cold.
0 0 ' 1
J II <q ('1)'x1 C\Y) 0 G3d : 0 I J;( : II The Coca-cola is not cold.
\>11 oC\Y)O'Y) 't(ol 000311 The parata is hot.
<;11 't(3t: 0'r(olJ;(:1I The pudding is not hot.
~II )l: ~')oloo0311 [His] knee hurts.
Gil cudJ 0~')olJ;(:1I [His] hand doesn't hurt.
"c ~ c '1 c
7 II 3 0 ~ ()')') 023 : G()')') e: 0 I 00 0.) II This big fan is good.
" C C '1
6111 30~(),),)GCU: OG(b')e:OI J;(: II This little fan is no good.
C ''1 C
(?II <1Jc ~OIOOWIl The gin is low [is nearly all gone).
:)011 ::nq~3
c" ''1
O~OIJ;(:1I The brandy is not low [there's plenty left).
[name] [thing] ~ [verb]-O10(: II

Ma Yin Yin wrote the labels.
Ko Aung Thet didn't wri~e the labels.
He wrote the orders.
Daw Maw Maw Lat listel'ed to the radio.
Ma Mo Mo Thet didn't lit. ten to the radio.
She listened to the recorC8r.
Daw Tin May Aye sells b::-andy.
Ma Tin Lat doesn't sell brandy.
She sells beer.
Daw May Thet drives a big lorry.
Maung Tha No doesn't drive a big lorry.
He drives the little car.
Ko Than Aung plays the banjo.
Daw Mu Mu Thin doesn't play the banjo.
She plays the mandoline.
Structure:
[name 1] OX) [verb]-Broll - [thing 1] [verb]-~0511
[name 2] [thing 1] [verb]-~c\y'):11 ~[verb]-olO(:1I [thing 2] [verb]-~0511
:)11 " TJ:)('()
2:GOI C JY)
c,
GUYle:OCUII Wh at is U Paw Th et going to as k for?
C C
JII - Gcu:bp GO')')e:'.IWII He's going to ask for 400.
" c c c
\>11 2:J:)('()OOC Gcu:cr- GO'Y)e:0 C\Y):II Is U Thet Tin going to ask for 4007
c '1 0 C C
<;11 - OGO'Y)e:OIJ;(:11 0(:G[J GO'Y)e:OWII He isn't. He's going to ask for 900.
o C
~II <qJ:)~: GCU:CU G~ ,)C\Y): II Is Ko Than going to stay there for four months?
'1 0 C
GII - OG~OIJ;(:11 <q:cu G~0WII He isn't. He's going to stay there for nine months.
G (' 0 C' "-
7 11 2:00('()cq: JY) J:)CuOCUIl What is U Tet Toe going to Giffy?
C ~ C C
6111 - 0~()')')023: J:)W0WII He's going to carry a big fc.n.
" c c c ~ c
ell 2:G00CCUOO 0~()')')023: J:)WOC\Y):II Is U Maung Maung Lat gOl'1g to carry a big fan?
c '1 " c l~ c c
:)011 - 0J:)WOI J;(: II qG(),),)3 023: J:)W0WII He isn't. He's going to carry the big recorder.
o C' C' (' .....
:):)11 <qooccuoo JY) GbpC:0CUIl What is Ko Tin Lat going to sell?
c c
:) JII - 3d0C\ij': Gbpe:0WII He's going to sell potatoes.
o c c c c
:)\>11 <qG00CG00C cuoo 3d0C\ij': Gbpe:0C\Y): II Is Ko Maung Maung Lat going to sell potatoes?

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as TI Sauerkraut.
~ 1 ,
- '=lG"pC:OI~:11 0 He isn't. He's going to sell beans.
0 0 ,
'=l~:~:
J.f) GO:'=lCDIl What is Ma Mo Mo going to give?
- G3TC\Y) GO: '=l oS II She's going to give dollars.
:Jr?1I
G
2:GOY)C;
~ T
G3 C\Y) GO:'=lC\Y):1I Is U Kaung going to give dollars?
:)6)11 - \')Go:ol~:11 Gol8 GO: '=loS II He isn't. He's going to give pounds.
LESSON 17
New heads
J
s- s'-
Example syllables
:( j
sa [s - a] s'a [s - h - a]
C'
(DC
~
sin
C'
;x]C
s'in

Lesson 17
Notes
1. Pronunciation. These two consonants represent two sounds, both of which sound like 5 to
the novice's ear. The difference - which you learn to perceive after a few weeks' attentive
listening - is that the second (in box 2) has a puff of breath (like an H) after the 5, and the
first (in box 1) doesn't. For examples listen to the tape.
Names
O~
in script: O)~: in script: 00(\)8
pronunciation: / 0?0.?~:/ == sa-Ioun pronunciation: /OO?cS~1 == s'a-Iein

meaning: round sa meaning: twisty s'a

Syllables in sis' pairs English first names
~ ~ ~ G
JII O)c-ooc :)11 f(J m 00 ('fY) Jessica
0 0 G
JII O(:-<X(: JII C)(0 LUC'j
~ ~
~II G0')C - GOO')C ~II C)(0083l Lucinda
~G
111 0-<>011 111 00~3 Sandy
~ G
- sis' pairs in mixed order ~II OOLD(\) Sally
~ ~
~II O)~-oo~ Loanwords from English

GO G
Gil GOO-GO) :)11 3\lmGG[0) democracy
~G
'(II G0') - GOO') JII G('fY)C0 council
~G
011 00')-0') \lll enmO) taxi
G
Foreign country names 111 :)') <>r 0) lD0 brassiere
G G ~ ~
JII 00:G[:lD0: Syria ~II ocO)c pension
G G G ~
JII 00')3:~ :lD0: Sardinia Gil O):mG[m cigarette
0 G ~
\lll <X( <en (\) C\) 9 Somaliland 711

~
O)menc:::r:Y.)
~
September
111
~G
OOLDIj>GOJ Senegal 6111
~
:)') en 0) ('fY): bus car
~
GG 0
~II Qj?31j> Sudan stereo
G ~
B" O)enG[O-:(
Gil Qj?G[H Surinam :)011 mmoom
~ ~
cassette

o
:X) II Y <D O'Y) poster 911 woman teacher
Q
:) JII Gox::>?q: sorry ~II government
o
:) ~ II
0 \l«Jll ox::>? producer (of films) G!! food
Burmese name elements - words from menus
G
:)11 <D [meaning not clear: 7 11 <D1tox::>? samosa (Note that
perhaps "benefit accrues," or Bunnese has mu wr.ere English has mo.)
English Cissy or similar] 61 II 0 C\Y)O'Y) parata
moon [full fonn <D~0] (311 )l3C:
C
pudding [custard]
control, rule :)011 <DolmC\)~ Sparkling
C
<DC pure Coca-cola
G
unusual, wondrous OJII :)'JOY) beer
o 0
elephant O~II oror: cocoa
GOO chief O~II 3'dG3'd: cold
C
Gox::>?C bearer [of good qualities or :)~II 3'd'I( hot
o GII
C CG
similar] <DGO'Y):)'Jwq strawberry
Burmese names 0711 :uqm
<:'
mango
G C C
JII 2:G3d0c<>o,\,: U AungSan 06111 ,\,0,\,00
C
pineapple
JII G3Td5S Daw Si Si 0(311
C
~:qc: durian
G C
~II <>O"p2:<>OC Saya U Hsin Words with stacked consonants
00 C
~ II or 0(: G0')C KoSo Maung (see Lesson 16.3)
~ II <>0 "p<:iG3T GOOG<:i Sayama Daw Saw Me J II <>O~ t
wish, desire [= <>0 3 ]
Gil G3T:U~:GOO Daw Than Saw JII :U'61<:i seventh [=:u0'300<:i]
711 G0')CGOOG0')C
C C
Maung Saw Maung ~II <Dg{ll paper 1.=Q)~Oj?J
Burmese words ~II CDg{Q)
G
taxi [= CD~ m~ ]
G G G J
ten ~II Q)g{qGooq C G
secretary [ =Q)mmqGmq
in that case Gil Q)&0
3
t
moon, girl's name[ = Q) 31 J
teacher
Verb sentences with voiced suffixes -01, -0005, -0.)
In all the following examples, the Voicing Rule applies to ol and 0005 and~) .
JII Q)W<>00 Q)0:01 muS II [He] ate a samosa.
JII Q)W<>00 <:ioo:010';(:1I [He] didn't eat a samosa.
~II m0: G<>o:olmuSll [He] washed the car.
~II m0: <:iG<>o:olO';(:1I [He] didn't wash the car.
00 C o~ C
~II orO(:G0')C ~:o mW11 Ko So Maung is bad [badly behaved].
00 C
Gil orO(:G0')C <:iJ?:010';(:1I Ko So Maung is not bad.
7
11 G3Tasas GQ)00100uSll Daw Si Si was early.
6111 G3Td5as <:iGQ)001 0';(: II Daw Si Si was not early.
(311 O')'J oo::U cD II What did [he] eat?

Lesson 17
Jail G;;o: 1lY): ::D CD'): II Did [he) take the medicine?
JJII G;;O: ollY):ulYr?:1I [He) didn't take the medicine.
JJII u CD') CfY) 1lY): u l CD 05 II [He) ate a parata.
~
J\lll )(3 C: 1lY);::DCD'): II Did [he) eat a parata?
J9 11 )(38: ollY):ulJ;?:II [He] didn't eat a pudding.
~ ,
J~II JY) Gmc:::D(\)II What does [he] drive?
JGII 0')'): Gm~:ulCD0511 [He] drives a car.
J,?II Does [he] drive a lorry?
J6111 [He] doesn't drive a lorry.
G ,
J~II JY) CD:::D (\) II What does [he] play?
Jail ~CfY) cl5:ul CD 05 II [He] plays the guitar.
pll Does [he] play the banjo?
JJII [He] doesn't play the banjo.
~ ,
RII JY) G"pC:::D(\)II What does [he] sell?
~ 'I ~
J9 11 3d0C\j(: G"pC:U1CDo)lI [He] sells potatoes.

J~II C[J~: G"p~:::DC\)'):1I Does [he] sell ginger?
C' 0 C' "-
JGII :J)0)0? G"pC:::D(\)II How does [he] sell it?
~ ~ 'I
J,?II C[JC: OG"p C : U I J;?: II [He] doesn't sell ginger.
o ,
JIllII JY) 0?::D (\) II What does [he] need?
G 0 'I ~
J~II :J)0Y:l 0?UI CD 0) II [He] needs some beer.
o
\lOll GG[ 0?::D CD'): II Does [he] need any water?
\lJII GG[ o~ulJ;?:1I [He] doesn't need water.
IlY) text, letter, writing ;;08 elephant
;;x)')- be hungry GIlY)- be early
~
1lY);- eat GIlY)C blanket
c:
;;x)'): sal t G;;x)')C- carry
G ~
0)- arrange in line GIlY)C; harp
G ~
;;0 oil G;;x)')C: cold season
G
0):- ride, travel in Q)(- boil, bubble
G
;;0: urine '1(:- pierce
0
0(- be wet 0- ease off [rain]
0
~- say, state ;;i)- abuse, revile
0
0(:- control 0)- start
0 c:
~:- be bad O)(Y) machine
~ c:
o)c shelf ;;O(Y)- continue

Here is an advertisement for a shop. The lettering is florid, but can you work out the
Burmese for "ministore"?
IID'~~-~~"""" ...: ......... 14· .. r

.. , .d,,-.tlli'-"'h"na·d'AnY¢$"i/* ·(!I·'w;.:jeJ'-..ghV)j·~;.
~ :::P:.!;r;;,Jyj3w$:notP':)~""s;., 'fT]:
\ .~,:;. ~.); ---
"'"a .1. h
Voicing CD and QO
You have met the effects of the Voicing Rule now in the suffixes - 0 l ,- 0) oS , and - J.) .
Voicing is not limited to those three suffixes. It applies to almost all suffixes in Burmese,

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, a u as in Sauerkraut.
Lesson 17
and to all words that are made up of smaller words, like the English word "underpass,"
composed of "under" and "pass." If the Voicing Rule applied in English we would pronounce
"underpass" / underbass/. In all there are 11 sounds (and therefo/e 11 letters) that are
subject to the Voicing Rule. For the full set see the Note on VOicing in Appendix 1:
Conspectus. In this and subsequent Lessons you will be introduced to examples of voicing
with an increasing range of sounds.
°
In this Lesson you meet voicing in words with the consonants and;;o. When either of
these is voiced it is pronounced z. For example, the syllable 00 " when attached to an
appropriate word to make up a compound word, means "food." It is us(?d in talking about
"Indian food," "Chinese food" and so on. In this position it is subject to the Voicing Rule:
first element + second element =compound meaning
[country name] ["food"] written pronounced
Ex.1 ru()~ 0') f(J()~0') I f(J()~ -zal Japanese food
Ex.2 (dGCD: 0') (dGCD:0') I (dGCD:-zal Malay food
Another example is the word;;ooS "ten." When;;ooS is the second element in a compound, it
complies with the Voicing Rule:
first element + second element =compound meaning
[number] ["ten"] written pronounced
Ex.3 GCD: ;;owc GCD:;;oWc I GCD:-zehl forty
Ex.4 0
0[: ;;owc 0
O[:;;ow
c
107:- zehl ninety
A verb may be followed by the syllables -0'r flat the start of," and the resulting compound
means "when [he' first began to [verb]." The element-0 is also subject to voicing:
first element + second element =icompound mea~ling
[verb] [flat the start"] written pronounced

c c
Ex.S G(d')C: 0'r G(d')C: 0 'r maun-za-hma when [he] first drove
0 0
Ex.6 CX? 0'r CX?0'r s'o-za-h ma ,,,hen [he] first sang
Note that the ° in -0'r is pronounced with the full vowel -a (-sa-h mal, not the weakened
vowel-a (-sah rna). For comparable cases see Lesson 14, Note 3.
The words below give you some practice in voicing ° and;;o in compounds of this type.
c
::lll f(J00<f 0') German food
0 c
JII YCD<f0') Polish food
~ll §~(d')0') Burmese food
c
<7 11 OJ(4'4'0') Ywmanese food
~II ~G()l0') Nepalese food
Gil G3T oe
CD') O[:;;oW $90
c
'{II G()l~ GCD:;;oW £40
(defY) O[:;;oW
G 0 c
6)11 90m

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, au as in thou h, au as m Sauerkraut.
ell ol C\)~ ~
GC\) : ;:;0 OJ 40 gallons
:)011 G6[:IDYJ when [he] began to write
~
:):)11 GC\Y)CIDYJ when [it] began to bum
:)JII on>:IDYJ when [they] began to dig
:)~II G3d:IDYJ when [it] began to be cold
:)9 11 'r(IDYJ when [it] began to be hot
LESSON 18
New rhymes
0(' ('
Q)
:J
J
-ain -iq
Example syllables
OC' 0('
~ c;
main kain
C' C'
CDQ)
~ G
yiq s'iq

Both new rhymes are written with components you have met before. Build up the syllable
O~.ill th ese stages: O[l-O[l-O[lc-O[lc. Remem b er to wnte
. C~f rom thb
O[lc 0 0 O~
e oaom up, not f rom
the top. Write ID before:: to make &; .

Lesson 18
Notes
The rhyme ~t
1. Pronunciation. ~~ almost rhymes with English words like "wine" or "sign." The
difference is that where the English has a final N the Burmese rhyme has a nasalized
vowel- in the same way as rhymes like -t and -~ and G-,)~. Remember also that -ai- in
the roman transcription is to be read as in Thai (not as in tail).
2. Components. You noticed in earlier Lessons that although the writter. form of the rhyme
G-,) is composed of graphic elements that are identical to those in the two rhymes G- and
-') , the pronunciation of G-,) has no relationship at all to the pronunciation of either G- or
-'). The new rhyme ~~ is the same. You have met ~ ,pronounced -0, and -t, pronounced -in;
but when you put them together they form an entirely new and unrelated rhyme ~~ , whose
7
pronunciation has nothing to do with the pronunciation of or of -t. I remind you again of
the importance of making a conscious effort to progress from the stage of perceiving Burmese
script in terms of individual graphic elements to the stage of reading in terms of whole
syllables. Train yourself to see this rhyme, not as a succession of disparate elements -
but as one integral shape:

IO"Sl
~
3. Tone. High tone is marked in the regular way: 7t:
The rhyme-~
4. Pronunciation. The rhyme -~ ends.in a glottal stop and is close to the rhyme of British
"Cockney" pronunciahons of words like "pit" and "sit." It is normall:! pronounced with a
high pitch.
Names
O~
L"c th e components are:
in script: OJ~G'W~:c8 (L") ~:B:OJ~ (.~) c:ucfj (<5)
c C C Gel ~/
pronunciation. / OJ G'W c: c C C\( <f : C(J : OJ C C o:::D OJ
= tac'aun-ngin loun-ji-tin nga-thaq
meaning: a line set down, set a big round on top, kill a nga
The rhyme -~ is nan,ed in the same way as the other final consonants. It is called 0:::Dcfj
(sa-thaq) "sa with a killer stroke"

~
Syllables ~II C(J0
oc ~
:;lll 'fc Gil OJ0
oc ~
JII eyc C(II <f0
oc C
\1 11 :JYc 6111 3d0
o~
C;;II J:(c

Foreign place names

permit
Egypt OCD(DQ)(DQ)
<: <:
plastic
JII Libya dynamo
<:
~II 83qQ) Madrid
, c diary
'7 11 oqQ) Paris <: <: 0 <: c
0<: C
G00GO'Y)CI:(cmw motor-cycle
~II :q C()Y.) CD <f Ireland oc
0<:0
C(JllC\(c July (traditionally
Gil O?c'(1 Cairo written and pronounced zu-~c;)
English first names
~II necktie
::lll Edith o C C
G C
::lOll iC:<f8Q) dynamics
3d:<fQ) Enid o C 0
oc C
::l::lll 'tlcC\( Milo
:qCCDC: Eileen Burmese name elements
oc oc
i C <f0 Dinah ::lll tC overcome
oc oc
i c()Y.)<f 0 Diana JII yc possess, own
0<:
C(J'tl C00 Jemima Burmese words
C oc
C(Jll3 Q) Judith ::lll 8C$C cream
c C C 0<:
6)11 <fQ)G0)')CDm Nicolette JII GCD:'tl C four miles
C G oc 0 c
~II <fQ)m: Nicky ~II '(1c:'(1c: uncouth
C G C 0 C
::lOll Q)Q)3<f Sidney 3d '1m Cl:(c liquor shop
C C
::l::lll 3dcnqQ) Ingrid :::D <lY.)
<0
loyalty [=:::D &; <lY.)]
C
Loanwords from English Shin Kissayana [monk's
C
llcm 'lrxD <f
::lll a;j>:qQ)JY.):00: Tourist Burma name =m&;<lY.)w<f]
C
J II C(JQ)0)'): jeep [car]
Verb sentences with suffix -~u3 and -~- "going to [verb]"

::l IICD&;8CD0:-CD&;8oS II Are [you] going to skive off? - I am going to skive off.
JII <f&;8CD0:-<f68oSll Is [it] going to sink? - It is going to sink.
~II q&;8CD0:-q&;8oSll Are [you] going to wind [it]? - I am going to wind [it].
'7 11 <X>&;8CD0:-<X>&;8oSll Are [you] going to haggle? - I am going to haggle.

oc
::lll YC:::DCD0:11 Does [he] own it?
o C ~ C
JII yco (DWII [He] does own it.
o C ~
~II 8YCO ~:II [He] doesn't own it.
o C
'7 11 O? c: :::D c$'): II Did [he] measure it?

1
o c
O?C:o (DCDII
C
[He] measured it.
~II
Gil 1 oc
80?C:O ~:II [He] didn't measure it.
oc
'7 11 O?c :::DCD0: II Did [he] report it?
6) II o C ~ C
O?co (DWII [He) reported it.
~II
1 o
80?CO ~:II
C
[He) didn't report it.

Lesson 18
:)011 ri?8::DC\Y):1I Did [he] handle it?

:):)11 O~ '1 ~
orC010')WII He han d led it.
[}
:) JII (:J07 8ol ::J;(:1I [He) didn't handle it.

A common suffix that you can now read in Burmese script is -t8-. [Verb]-t8-means "can
[verb]"; for example: ::D03~6olO')03 "[He] can carry [it]." Here are some examples for
practice:
~ 0 ~
:)~II ;;:oc:tC::DC\Y): II Can [he] get down?
~ 0 ~ '1
:)<;;11 (:J;;:oc:t COI ::J;(:II [He] can't get down.
~'1 0 ~ ~
:)~II ;;:oc:tco I O')WII [He] can get down.
o ~ ~ 0 ~
:)GII or 0') CG(:J')C C\Y)t C::D C\Y): II Can Ko Tin Maung come?
o ~ '1
:)'(11 (:JC\Y)t co I 8';(:11 He can't come.
oo~ O~'l ~
:)6)11 oryc C\Y)tC010')WII Ko Paing can come.
o~ ,
:)~II :yy) 00: t C::D C\) II What can [they] eat?
O~
JOII ID ~;;:o') 00: t C::D C\Y): II Can [they] eat samosa?
o ~ '1
pll (:J00:t COI 8';(: II [They] can't eat [them].
o ~ '1 ~
JJII OC\Y)OY) 00:tC010')WII [They] can eat parata.
Is-sentences with voiced suffix and Yes and No

0 G G ~
:)11 3 l 3?C"l4'C\Y):II Is that Irene?
l ~, O~GG'1
Yes, it is Irene.
JII U{O')O?II 3 3?C"l4'olll
~II (:JU{Mol8';(:1I 3l 8c\)~<.xY:d II No, it's Melissa.
Is that Dicky?
~II Yes, it is Dicky.
Gil No, it's Micky.
'(II Is that Coca-cola?
6)11 Yes, it is Coca-cola.
No, it's Pepsi-cola.
O~ O~
~c mile ll c :- be uncouth
O~ O~
~c: mine OX?c shop
O~
[verbJ-t8 - be able to [verb] OX?c- be concerned with
O~ O~
t c- overcome, beat OX?c:- postpone
O~ ~
o;>c- report C\)ID- make off, scarper
O~ ~
O;>C post, pole 4'1D- sink
O~ ~
O;>C:- measure O')ID one
O~ ~
o;>c: district 3d::D1D new
O~ ~
Ojlc- hold, handle "l1D- wind
O~ ~
Y(c: martial arts IDID- check, examine
O~ ~
yc- own 3d1D1D real, genuine
o~ ~
3?c pool, puddle ;;:0 ID- bargain, haggle

The card reproduced below is issued by a car parts firm. What car paHs does it offer? (See
line 1.) The answer is in the answer section of the Reading from Life Supplement, under
Lesson 18.
Voicing 0.:>
Is-sentences with voiced suffix and Who
In an earlier lesson you learned how ::D has two pronunciations: one voiced and one unvoiced,
like the two THs in English "this" (voiced) and "thin" (unvoiced). Ano,:heI Burmese word
in which you find ::D voiced is :n0.5:).jf , meaning "who?" The word:).jf on its own is pro-
nounced with an unvoiced ::D , but when it forms part of the compound Wo)rd :n0.5:).jf the::D is
voiced to 1oyl. Listen to the examples on the tape.
written pronounced meaning
Example 1: l:).jfl he, she
Example 2: 1:n0.5~1 who?
Another position in which you frequently meet ::D voiced to loy 1 is in the words ::D ~ :
"million" and GJ.Y)~; "10,000." On their own these two words are pronounced with the
unvoiced I::D/, but when they are part of a compound they are pronounced with the voiced
loyl.

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, a u as in Sauerkraut.
Lesson 18
pronounced meaning
Example 3: /J:)~:/ million
~
Example 4: GCD:J:)~: /GCD:8]~:! four million
~
Example 5: GJY)C: IGJY)~:! 10,000
Example 6: GCD:GJY)6: / GCD:Go.p~:I 40,000
Practice for Lesson lS.l

Sentences with Who
,
JI1 3l ~
:)"XD J.j( CD 11 Who's that? - It's U Ye Naing.

,
JI1 3l J:)()J
~
J.j( CD 11 Who's that? - It's U Aung Naing.

,
3l ~
J) ()) J.j( CD 11 Who's that? - It's U Min Naing.

,
3l ~
J ) ()) J.j( CD 11 Who's that? - It's U So Naing.

,
3l ~
J ) ()) J.j( CD 11 Who's that? - It's U Aye Naing.
Phrases with:>.),: and GOYJe3:

G 0 ~
JI1 CD O'Y) <I( : J:) 'f : 9 million lit res
JII G3TC\J') GCD:J:)~: 4 million dollars
') ~ 0 ~
() I CD 'f <I( : J:) 'f : 9 million gallons
G ~
711 80'Y) GCD:GJYJC: 40,000 metres

G 0 ~
~II 3~,) <I(:GJYJc: 90,000 dinar
0 c ~
Gil O())~ GCD:GJYJC: 40,000 pesos
LESSON 19
New heads
@ CD _i.L
~
:)
J
k'- t'- p'
(in foreign words: f-)
Example syllables
c; ~
ku k'u [k - h -u 1
Diphthongs in the roman transcription: J 107

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand,
L--L~~~~~~~~~~~
ou as in thou h, au
______________ as ir. Sauerkraut. _
______________ ~~
G '7
tu t'u [t - h -u ]
6)
B
pu p'u [p - h -u ]
in foreign words: fu
:)0 :)J
k'a k'aw
Order of strokes: 1 2 132

Notes
1. Pronunciation. These three consonants are introduced together because they all have one
feature in common. Unlike the sounds we have called "Burmese K," "Burmese T," and
"Burmese P," represented by m ,Cf), and 0, these new heads are "aspirated," which means
they sound more like the English K, T and P in words like Kick, Tick and Pick. Listen to the
tape to hear the sounds.
2. F in foreign words. Burmese does not use the sound represented by F in foreign words like
"Finland," and the script therefore has no letter to represent it. As a makeshift solution,
people use the letter for the Burmese sound nearest to F, which is <.9. So when you are
reading foreign words remember to read <.9 as F. For example "Finland" is written <.96(\)~ .

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in ·Sauerkraut.
Lesson 19
3. Modifications. If you write Q and -0 together, the resulting Q0 would be easy to confuse
with 00 , so people use the straight form of -0 and write Ql, as in box 10. For the same
reason, you write GQl and GQT (boxes 11 and 12) instead of GQ0 and Gc0 •
Names
in script: QGC'I6:
pronunciation: / Ql,Gg:! = k'a-gwe
meaning: curved k'a
<:
co in script: cooocOj(:
pronunciation: / C00,008~:! = t'a-s'in-du
meaning: elephant f~tter t'a
(named from its resemblance to the cane figure-of-eight structure that is slipped over
the forefeet of a timber elephant at night to prevent it wandering too far afield)
G <:
in script: (92:cx(o
pronunciation: /(9l,~a3CX(a3/ = p'a-ouq-t'ouq
meaning: capped p'a, p'a with a hat
Verbs: in pairs for contrast:

<:
:)11 ol'=l05 (9')'=l ().) will be included - will patch
c::
JII 3d GoT 3dG(9') above - companion
<: <: <: <:
:(11 om'=l()') (9m'=l()') will spray - will embrace
<: <:
911 OY): '=l ().) <xy.): '=l ().) will stop - will put down
<: <: <: <:
~II GOY) C : '=l ().) G<xy')C : '=l ().) will request - will pound
0<: <: 0<: <:
Gil CY.( C '=l ().) CX(C'=l()') will report - will sit
0<: <: 0<: <:
,/11 OJ'C'=l()') ,?C '=l()') will hold - will be strong
<: <:
6)11 0;( :'=l()') 'it:'=l()') will copy - will dish out
0 <: o <:
(311 OJ': '=l ().) '?: '=l()') will rely on - will steal
GOG
Single verbs, for recognition :)11 O'Y.) (\) <f : ~ : OJ'): California
0 <:
:)11 OY:'=l()') will punch JII
G " G
(9 C\X) 3 (\) (9: OJ'): Philadelphia
<: <: <:
JII GO:'=l()') will give :(11 (9C(\)~ Finland
<: <:
:(11 m~'=l()') will kick <: G l
Flo;'ida
<:
911 (9G(\)')Ei[3
<: 0
9 11 o;('=l()') will resemble ~II
c:: c::
0~(9Ei[~0000j' San Francisco
c:: c::
~II Qm'=l()') will be difficult English first names
C::G
Foreign place names :)11 C[Jc ~ (9') Jennifer
NB in foreign words (9 = F

G G e e
JII (Ky) Phoebe '(II (9O)~W will read
~II (9 GCD') 6'(J: Flora - some words written with m~:d5:
e e
<;11 (9~'f1l)1l) Frances (Lesson 15.1);
Loanwords from English 6)11 :DGOlO
E
compendiwn
eG
Oil GOY)(9 toffee (311 :D~l~ the principle of change
JII mG(9: cafe - some words written with
~II (9(\)Ce film
G
stacked consonants (Lesson 16.1):
e
<;11 0)( 'f GtY.lc: uniform 0011 o~ portion
e G
::)11 J)mw~ battery 0011 Mekkhaya [place name)
~~6'(J
0
Gil OX?tY.l sofa OJII 3d~6'(J letter, character
e e e
'(II 'f mo O)Il)(9(\)C negative film O~II li'0'o~ [name of a Jataka]
G 0 OG
6)11 philosophy
(90.? OX? (9 e
0<;11 'f~0) constella tion
Burmese name elements ultimate truth
0::)11 o~~<6S
Oil Ol [meaning not clear] 3d 0)
e
OGII co
meaning
JII OlC friendly, affectionate
- some words for relatives:
~II OCY): [from :DrilOCY): "as precious as life,"
0'( II 3dG~ mother
03cSOCY): "placed on the head," 06)11 3dG(9 father
hence valued] 0(311 OY.): son
e
<;11 wc conspicuous G
:D~: daughter
JOII
::)11 Oji': outstanding, wonderful G
2: G(\): uncle
jOll
0
Gil Cf: grandfather, old fellow 3dG3T aunt
JJII
'(II G(9 father, man, lad
RII ~ nephew
Burmese words
e J<;II ~~ niece
011 w~c: rice [when cooked] 0
e J:JII 3d0'j> brother [older]
JII :DOlC master
e JGII 3d~ sister [older]
~II 3dOl'f: room e
J,(II G\:Y.)C brother [younger]
<;11 o)Ollo)G(\) sometimes 0
J6)1I 3dCf: grandfather
::)11 3d0ji': special
e e
Gil ~'fm(9'f tomorrow

011 3l JY)c:DlI - What's that?
JII 3l GOCY)~E3:olll That's the big prison.
~II 3l G~c'§olll That's coffee.
3l tY.lC)(3lolll That's faluda.
3l ~:~OCY):olll That's a train.
'1 e ,
Gil 31 J)W~(\)II Who's that?
'(II 3l 3dG'f:;~ocy)Olll That's Anawrahta.

Lesson 19
That's Ma Khin Khin Htar.

~II 31 <:l0l80l8@:0111 That's Ma Khin Khin Gyi.
:)011 31 ;;:OOP<:l G3T0l80l80l,0111 That's Sayama Daw Khin Khin Hka.
Is-sentences with voiced suffix and Yes and No
Looking at pictures
:) II 31 <:l0l8:::Dd>CXY):C\Y): II Is that Ma Khin Thet Htar?
c... '1 c c '1
JII <.Y(OOO?II 31 <:lOlC:::D(y)cxy):OIIl Yes, that's Ma Khin Thet Htar.
\>11 <:l<.Y(oSol8f(:1I 31 <:l0l80l80l0111 No, that's Ma Khin Khin Kha.
'1 Q C
911 31 e:G(9OlCC\Y):1I Is that U Pe Kin?
c... '1 Q C '1
~II <.Y(OOO?II 31 2:G(9OlCOIIi Yes, that's U Pe Kin.
Gil c'1
<:l<.Y(OOOI 8f(: II 3
1 Q C
2:<:lC:ooCOIIi
c'1
No, that's U Min Htin.
Verb sentences with voiced suffixes:
co 'i' ...
:)11 ::YJwC$ GOlI :::DC$ II What is it called?
Q1 ::::D C\Y): II Is it bitter?
cr:<:lGCXY)801 o;?: II She doesn't listen.
c 0 C ...
::YJ WC$ 00 C:::DC$ II What do you think of it?
~II ~:oloooSll They revered it.
c ...
Gil :yy) (9 00 G<f :::D C\) II What are you reading?
Please [verb] - I will.
o c '1 0 c c
:) II ,,?C 0 III - ,,?C<:lW II Please hold [it). - I will.
JII Q8:0111 - Q6:<:l0311 Please spread [it] out. - I will.
o C '1 0 c c
O(COIII - O(C<:lWIl Please sit down. - I will.
c '1 c c:
cr:Gcxy)COIIi - cr:GCXY)C<:lWIl Please listen. - I will.
~II 0'):0111 - 0'):<:loSll Please eat [some]. - I will.
Gil Please go down. - I will.
0l1- shake Old>- be difficult
0l1: waist CXY);- put down
Q
0l1:- be bitter 00 lottery
C Q
3dQ'f: room 00: umbrella
c C
Ol'f:- dry up oo'f: toddy palm
0 0
y-
o
take shelter 0(:- punch, stab
C
y:- steal ooc- appear, think
C c
OlC- be friendly, affectionate ooc: firewood
c c
QC:- spread out Gcxy)C prison
C
GQT- call Gcxy)C- setup
c
GQ1t- be remote Gcxy)C:- pound, thump
GQ1t:- be hollow q(- be thick
~ caterpillar q(:- be out of the ordinary
c
~;- pluck, dish out OO(Y)- be sharp
@- solidify (9'): frog
3d0l fee, charge (9')- patch
__ ~~~ ____________D~i_P_ht_h~On_g_S_i_n_th_e__
rO~ln_a_n_t_ra_n_s_cr_iP_tl_'o~n~:~________________~1. 111
L..
o c-
'f kiln GCY.lC raft
grandfather, old man ~:- revere, pay respect to [pagoda
father or other sacred object]
,
bum (9 playing card
c- c-
3dGCY.l companion (90)- embrace
c- c-
GCY.l- disclose (9()')- read
Voicing m and ())

You were warned in Lesson 17.1 that you would be meeting voicing with an increasing range
of sounds. There you saw how CD and ro , when voiced, were both pronounced Izl instead of
the expected lsi and Is'l. Now it is the tum of 0) and Ol : when either of these is voiced, it is
pronounced 10/.
Our first examples are of the following pattern:

Example 1
1. written: ::D60l1CD'(l
2. pronounced: Ithin-ga-za-h mal
3. words: learn-time-start-at
4. meaning: "when [he] started learning"
Although you might expect 6>1 and CD to be pronounced Ik'i and lsi, here they are pronounced
Igi and Izl because they are both attached to a preceding word and therefore subject to the
Voicing Rule. Here are some examples to listen to on the tape:
written form apparent actual meaning

pronunciation pronunciation
Example 2
G(\),)~6>1 CD'(l Ilaun-k'a-sa-h mal Ilaun-ga-za-h mal when [it] started burning
Example 3
GoT6>lCD'(l Ipaw-k'a-sa-h mal Ipaw-ga-za-h mal when [it] started appearing
Now for some examples of voicing applied to 0 ) . The first is the suffix - 0 ) , which comes
after a noun. Two of its meanings are illustrated in these examples:
Example 4
c- 1 c-
1. written: C(j 0 'f 0) (\)') 0 I ()') U)
2. pronounced: 1C(jo~o (\)')JY)3oSl
3. words: Japan-from come-polite-pres/past
4. meaning: "[They] come from Japan."

Lesson 19
As you can see from line 3, the suffix meaning "from" is written -m and pronounced -0. It
obeys the Voicing Rule.
Example 5
l. written: 3lm rr?rr?:ol
2. pronounced: 13lo rr?rr?:JY)1
3. words: Tha t-empha tic cocoa-pol i te
4. meaning: "That is cocoa."
Another meaning of the suffix -m attached to a noun is "emphatic": it singles out its noun
for special attention. Sometimes the way it is used is reminiscent of "as for" ("As for that,
that's cocoa"), but the "as for" translation doesn't sound right in every example. If you
haven't come across this meaning of -m in your spoken Burmese course, probably you soon
will. The important point for now is that, like the - m that means "from," this suffix is
also written -m and pronounced 1-01 .
Here are some more examples. You can hear them read out on the tape.

"emphatic"
Example 6 3lm <[J~:ol 13lo <[J6:JY)1 That is ginger.
1~J;?:0 d5 ()..Y)J;?: JY) 1
G
Example 7 3J;?:m d5 OYX:f;?: 0l This can is a beer can.
"from"
Example 8 ~Golm C\.Y) 0 l Q') oS II I~Golo C\.Y)JY) 3oS 1 [They] come from Nepal.
Example 9 co 'p '\'<: m
~
C\.Y)::A) C\.Y): 1\ 1~ ~ 3~ n C\.Y)O:; C\.Y):! Do [they] come from London?
The sentences that follow give you an opportunity to practise handling the Voicing Rule as
it operates on m and 6l when they are in syllables that are attached to a preceding word,
and so subject to the Voicing Rule.
You may remember that there are 11 consonants subject to voicing in Burmese. The full list is
in Appendix 1. So far you have practised voicing seven of the eleven:
voiceable consonants: 0 Q') :)) 0) ;;0 m 6l
voice to: 1J) 1 131 1'J.:f 1 /z/ * /z/ * 1n i l n 1
* The Burmese letter that corresponds to this sound is but you have not yet been
@ ,
introduced to it - hence the need to write the romanized symbol here.

Phrases with [verbl-611a>'j0 "on first [verbl-ing"
JII rr?~61lO)y:> when [he] first held [it]
JII o:?~61lO)y:> when [he] first sat down
~II ci5:61lO)y:> when [he] first played [it]

<7 11 G.n~:0110YJ when [he] first drove [it]

~II ro:0110YJ when [he] first ate [it]
Gil G"l: 0110 YJ when [he] first wrote [with it]
'7 11 G3d:0110YJ when it began to get cold
Olll 'r(0110YJ when it began to get hot
Phrases with [placel-m "from [place]"

:)11 Where do [they] come from?
c '"1 c
C]01(Y) C\Y)OIWWII They come from Japan.
C]G<d O'Y)(Y) C\Y) 01 O'x0 II They come from Jamaica.
g '"1 c
C(p<d1(Y) (\)')OIWWII They come from Gennany.
C C '"1 C
G'1P31 m (\)')0 I WO) II They come from Jordan.
Phrases with [noun]-m "emphatic subject"

:) II 31 ::YYXD II - What's that?
JII 31m djUY)oll1 That one's beer.
'"1
3 1m 0 0
O'jl 0'Y)0'jl (\)')0 I II That one's Coca-cola.
31m 001mCDt0111 That one's Sparkling.
~II That one's coffee.
LESSON 20
New rhymes
o (' o
J
J
-aiq -an
Example syllables
o (' o
c; ~
maiq t'aiq

Lesson 20
( )
G rc
kan k'an
0 0
CD ~
6)
B
kan k'an
C' C'
CDrd @~
0 0
0 0
:)0 :):)
kan k'an

Write': as a dot: in print it is a small ci.rcle. The other components are familiar.
BUl'ld up CX?m
0 c. h 0 0
In t ese stages: CD-CX?-CX?-CX?m-CX?m ;
0 c
and build up m0: like this: m-m'd-m0-m0: .
Notes
oc
Th e rh yme"lm
1. Pronunciation. This rhyme is close the rhyme of English words like "bite" and "fight" in
the British "Cockney" pronunciation, with a glottal stop for the T. As for all syllables
ending in a glottal stop, it is normally pronounced on a relatively high pitch. Remember
also that -ai- in the roman transcription is to be read as in Thai (not as in tail).
2. Components. ~03 is composed of the same elements as ~8 except for the -03 in place of
the -t. All that was said in Lesson 18, about the importance of reading rhymes like ~~ as a
unit, is equally valid for ~03 .
The rhyme -0 (or':)

3. Pronunciation. The sound represented by -0 and': is identical to that represented by -~ .
For that reason some Burmese speakers have difficulty in remembering whether a given
word should be written with -~ or with': .

4. Variant forms. If languages were systematic, this rhyme would be -0 and that would be
the end of the story. In real life things are less predictable. The form -0 is used for the
high tone (-0:) and for the low tone in a few foreign words written with -am or M (as in
0')0't(:<w: Kampuchea, 9~3d0~G3d YMCA). In Burmese words (and some foreign words) the
low tone is written not -0 but': , which is an abbreviated form of -0. To summarize: use-
-0: for high tone everywhere
-0 for low tone in a few foreign words
for low tone everywhere else (Burmese or foreign words)
5. Position. Notice that': is centred over a single circle consonant (box 9), and centred over
the right-hand circle of a two-circle consonant (box 8).
Names
The rhyme ~oS is referred to by naming its component parts:
o ~
to') th e components are:
in script: m~G<W~:c~ (t) ~:~:m~ (.~) 0')::Dd; (oS)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~I
pronuncia tion: 1mG<Wc:cc C\jl,\,:C(J:mc ~::Dm
Q
= tac'aun-ngin loun-ji-tin ka-thaq

meaning: a line set down, a big round set on top, killed ka
~
in script: G::D:G::D:mc
pronunciation: 1G::D:G'Xf:mU =the-dhe-tin
meaning: tiny thing on top
The rhyme -0 is named in the same way as the other final consonants. It is called 8::D05
(ma-thaq) "ma with a killer stroke."

When you are writing from the tape, remember that you now know three ways of writing
the rhyme pronounced 1-~/, namely -~ ,.: , and -0. The text will show you which is the
correct spelling for the word concerned.
Syllables JII ~oS~:~:OY): Libuia

o ~ ~
o ~ Q N"Igena
J II C\jl0')8W will accompany \,11
Q
"t'O')C(J:qOY):
o ~ ~
JII ~0')8W will feel hot The -an rhyme in the next three names is
\' II
o
0L 0')
~
manner spelled with G::D:G::D:m~ (.:) (not with 1:::D05
<;11 3d(\) (=3dc\)~) fathom (-~) )
~ Q •
~II 3d:::D (=3d::D~) sound ::DwC(Jw Belgium

o • Q
Gil (90:805 (=(9~:805) will catch 0( C\)::D OY) Colombia
o • 0
'711 (=0~:805)
00:805 will feel O(C\)J? Colombo
Foreign place names: Note voicing in the followir;g,
Iceland from written 0') to spoken 10.1

Lesson 20
'(II 1D~)i =/ 1D8nl)i1 Singapore ideal, model

Loanwords from English: [by which others are measured]
JII ~cDo~ Olympic Bunnese names
~ ~ Q 0 ~ 0
JII 1D00ffiOOID s ta tic JII 2:O?ffiO(: U Taik So
Q • ~
\11 dynamite JII 2:ID:)),) G3d0 C lJ San Tha Aung
o • ~
<;11 nitrogen ~II O(Q)CY)c Ko San Tin
o·
~II director (of films) 0(1DCXj(: .<0 San Htoo
:))~~ surnmons[ =:))00~]
~ ~
Gil 01D0:1D0:G0 .\.fa San San Me
-Transport: o ~ ~
0(1D0:Gv)C KoSanMaung
o ~
'(II ;;q ffiO'Y.l: sidecar Bunnese words
~ ~
6)11 G~Ga:Y)O'Y.l: motor car J."ailway
~Q
(311 GC\YJ 6[0'Y.l: lorry [car] wall
C'Q
JOII OOffilD taxi l;'lOr.ey
JJII ru~O'Y.l: jeep [car] oil l"water-smelly"]
J J II
C'
:::D 00 ID 0'Y.l: bus [car] (\)ffiO
~ . [name of a tree]
Bunnese name elements wildly, tremendously
J II ~ cA masonry building, - the next examples are from Pali/Sanskrit:
treasury read 6[ as R
o ~ E 0 C'
JII ~ffi treasure '(II :)):))ffi~ffi Sanskrit
o ~
\11 CX(ffi valuable, worth 6)11 ffi1;?,O'Y.l6[ffi action verb
spring water
Sentences with [verb]-Q03 and [verb]-Q-

o ~ ,
JII JY) ~ffi0(\)11 What will you take [a photo of]?
o ~ ~
JII :Jtffi0WII It will be hot.
o ~
\11 CYffi0C\YJ:1I Will you come with [us]?

o ~ ~
<;11 O?ffi0WII I'll give [him a drink].
o ~
~II O(ffi0COO:1I Will it match?

JII Did you smell it?
~ ,
JII JY) 3d0::))(\)11 What change did he give you?
~II 0:))0:0l:Yjil:1I She didn't yawn.
~ I ~
<;11 6[0:01cy)W They were wild.
~II 1D0:ol CY)0511 They checked it.
Gil @0COO:1I Will it take [the strain]?
~ ,
'(II JY) 000::))(\)11 What did he carry?
6)11 190:olooo5l1 They caught him.


Imagine the speakers are looking at a street plan.
:)11 3C\)~: :),),)c\)~:C\)11 - What road is this road?
jll This road is A Road.
~II Is this road BRoad?
<;11 Yes. It is BRoad.
DII Is this road C Road?
Gil No. It's 0 Road.
711 Where is Anawrahta Street?
6)11 Anawrahta Street is here.
~II Is Strand Road here?
:)011 Yes. It's here.
:):) II Is Saya San Street here?
No. Saya San Street is here.
What road is this one?
This road is Sitke Maung Htaw Lay Street.
Where is Keighley Street?
Keighley Street is here.
A form of request and response that you may have met in your language course is illustrated below:
request response
formula: [verb]-805Gt';II [ verbJ-ulli
example:
script: ° c c c 11
O?C8OJGt0 ° C ')
O?CUIII
oc
1O?C8OJGt0 ci
pronunciation: C
11 Io? 6:::tY) III
words: handle-will-OK? handle-please
meaning: I'm going to handle it - OK? Please do.
= Do you mind if I handle it? No. Go ahead.
You can read all the elements in the formula, including the voicing of -ul to I -:::tY)I. Here
Is it all right if I unroll it? - Please do.

Is it all right if I pick some? - Please do.
Is it all right if I sit here? - Please do.
<; II Is it all right if I eat some? - Please do.
~II G;;x):ulll Is it all right if I wash it? - Please do.
Gil G6[:ulll Is it all right if I write it down? -- Please do.
U)(ulll Is it all right if I take some? - Please do.
6)11 0~:ulll Is it all right if I try it out? - Please do.
<.9~:ulll Is it all right if I catch one? - Please do.
The words below are on a paper bag from a photographic studio in Mandalay. The studio's
name is an English word. Can you see what it is? To check your answer see the list of
answers in the Reading from Life Supplement, under Lesson 20.

Lesson 20
c\?05- follow, accompany m~: bank, shore
~05- be thick, thuggish m~:- offer, hold out
d? 05 masonry building OJ iron
o <:
O?m- attac k 3d::D sound, voice
o <: <:
Ofm- bite OJ~:- yawn
o <: <:
:A(m nest, treasure 3d~:- give in change
y05- cradle in the arms 3dq subsidiary, attendant
o <:
3jlm- f ee1 hot <:
6[~:- be wild, uncontrolled
o <:
\lm- strike, beat, print, take [photo] standard, model
o <:
~m- arrive, draw up feel, test
fathom hair
road undergo, experience
<:
be smelly OJ~: toddy palm
<:
smell, sniff, kiss OJ~:- carry [on back]
<:
rod (9~:- catch, capture
m karma, fa te
Voicing O? and 00
This Lesson gives you some practice in voicing (Y) and OJ. When either of these is voiced it
is pronounced /3/. For example, in the word GCXY)8 "thousand":

Example 1
1 <:: <::
1. written: n I CD l' GCD:Gccy)C
2. pronounced: /OlCDt GCD:G3l6/
3. words: gallon four-thousand
4. meaning: "4000 gallons"
Another word beginning with CD that is a suffix and therefore often voiced is CDa5 meaning
"more than":
Example 2
o <:: <:: <::
1. written: c"y? Q) () : Gc:y')C CD m
0 <:: <:: <::/
2. pronounced: / c"y? Q) (): GC:Y.)C 3 m
3. words: Ko San Maung-above

4. meaning: "more than Ko San Maung"
You are by now very familiar with the voicing of 00 to / 3 /: you have met it many times in
the formula [verb)-ol 0005 , read as / [verb)-J.YJ303/. Another word that you will probably
meet fairly frequently is the suffix -Goo,s, which is attached to words to do with things
royal or sacred or official. Predictably, being a suffix, although it looks like -Goo,s it is
read as / - G3T / :
Example 3
<:: <::
1. written: m'fGOYJ
2. pronounced: /mt G3T/
3. words: lake-honorific
4. meaning: "Royal Lake"
The Practice section gives further exampl~s of these three words.
Now that you know about voicing 00 to /3/ you can read the name of a well-known town:
correct spelling pronounced English
()~ GCD: / ()t:3GCD:/ Mandalay
Notice that the first syllable () t is pronounced with a high tone that is not marked in the
script. And the 00 is voiced to /3/. The same applies to -
q()')~') /<.D(),)~:3l/ arahant,
spiritually advanced person

Voicing with [number]-GCXY.>8 /I [number] thousand"
811 G3TC\)') d?:GCCY)6 $9000
JII ol CD~ GCD:GCCY)6 4000 gallons
g 0 <::
,?II () OYJ c"y?: Gccy)C 9000 metres
0<:: <'
911 ~c GCD:Gccy)C 4000 miles
<:: 0 C'
~II ooc: c"y?:Gccy)c. 9000 baskets [measure for rice crop]
C' . C'
Gil 001' GCD:Gccy)C 4000 tons

Lesson 20
Voicing with (nounl-0005 "more than [noun]"

o <: <: <:
811 3jI m Q) CD 1(X) m more than Iceland
o <: Q Q <:
JU "fmC(J:~:OY):oom more than Nigeria
o . 0 <:
~II O;>CD::1(oom more than Colombo
o . Q <:
0;> CD 'YJ OY)OO m more than Columbia
<: Q. <:
~II 'YJ().)C(J().)oom more than Belgium
<: <:
Gil Q
2:G3;):G~coom more than U E Maung
0;>o·Q) ::D0G3d'JC<: (X) m<: more than Ko San Tha Aung
') <: <: <:
6)11 0lCD1 GCD:GOYJcoom more than 4000 gallons
Q 0 <: <:
(311 (.)0)') more than 9000 gallons
O;>:GOYJcoom
Voicing with (noun]-GOYS "sacred/royal/official [nounJ"
<: <:
811 11: GOYJ royal palace
JII royal mother
o <:
~II ::1(:GOYJ royal grandfather
<: <:
9 11 G10CGO)') royal older brother
<: <:
~II m'i'GO)') royal lake
<:
Gil ::D0:GOYJ royal son
f"(11 royal daughter
o <:
6)11 3;) OX{ GO)') royal singer, star singer
<: <:
c;oCGO)') royal elephant
• <:
c;oGOYJ sacred hair
Some words for belongings
As the incidence of voicing is hard .to predict in the words in this section, we mark
consonants that are voiced by printing them in bold type. This is a purely private and ad
hoc device to help your reading in this section. It is not known to Burmese speakers, nor is it
used in other course books.
<:
811 GO'Y.)oc ballpoint pen (from English]
JII pencil ["lead-stick"]
~II ruler ["foot-stick"]
o <: •
911 ymc;o money
<: <: Q
~II CDmo0')10~ wrist-watch [" arm-encircle-clock"]
0<: Q
Gil ~cOY)~ diary [from English]
f"(11 scarf [from English "muffler"]
Q
6)11 00: umbrella
Some kings of the Konbaung dynasty
Voiced consonants are printed in bold type.
811 'YJ@3:Goo6 Bagyidaw ["Royal uncle"]
<: <:r;:;;<
JII G10 CG O?0l3: Naungdawgyi ["Royal older brother"]
<: <: <:
~II (')C:O;>1:(.)C: Mindon ["Lord of Mindon"J
'111 ::D0OY)o03(.)~: Tharrawaddy ["Lord of Tha-ya-wadi"]
Diphthongs in the roman transcription: . 121

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au a. ~ in Sauerkraut.
Burmese: 'An Introduction to the Script
The lettering below is from an advertisement for an ointment. What is its Burmese name
(the large black letters)?
LESSON 20.2 THE CONSONANT C
New head
c
:)
ng-

Lesson 20
Common words
C' o C'
ern
0
J ~ 9
ngeh nga nain-ngan or nain-gan
"little" "five" and "fish" "state, country"
This consonant is not found in many words, but four of the words it does occur in are quite
frequent. They are the words set out above: "little," "five," "fish," and "country."
Start c at the bottom and write it clockwise. Not anticlockwise like a C.
Notes
1. Modification.
Note that C+--0 is us ally written with •the straight form of -/), so
C + -') = cl
and c + G-,) Gcl

and c + G-,s = GCT .
2. Pronunciation.
The sound represented by c is the same as the sound written "ng" in English words like
"sing" and "singer." English has no words that begin with this sound, so some English
speakers find it hard to say at first. As a way of easing yourself into it, try saying the
English word "singer" several times slowly. As you do so, make a short break between "si"
and "nger," so that you are saying "si-nger," and at each repetition increase the length of
the break: "si-nger," "si--nger," "si---nger." For a demonstration, listen to the tape. When
you can say the "nger" without the "si," you will have mastered the Burmese consonant c .
.. £0C'.
3P
. ronunClatIon 0 'lCC
If you find the pronunciation of c difficult, here is a crumb of comfort. Although someone
speaking very slowly and carefully will read t8c as / t8c~/ as you would expect, people
t
most often pronounce the word / 8() ~ /. So for this one word, you Gill get away with not
being able to pronounce c properly. However, you will need the proper pronunciation for all
other words written with c , so keep trying.

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as ill. Sauerkraut.
Burmese:! An Introduction to the Script
Name
C has no descriptive name: it is referred to as C ,pronounced / cl/ =nga

Names of countries Phrases containing C1: "fish"
o <: <: 0 <: 0
:)11 3f OO (l)C\)'i'''t cc Iceland :)11 cl:oo~ fish pool
o <: G G 0<: 0
JII "t ooC1J: q().Y.): "t c c Nigeria JII 08C\)oScl: sea fish
<: GoO <: 0
~II ::DooC1Joo"t cc Belgium ~II cl:~: fish bone
<: <:0<:0
'111 <.9cC\)'i'''t cc Finland Phrases containing coS "little"
~<:
~II (-)'i' =Y.>'0<:0
't cc Burma/Myanmar :)11 coS- be small, young
0<: <:0<:0
Gil 3f C ().Y.)C\) 'i' "t C C Ireland JII younger son
0<: ,0<: 0
'7 11 <X(C!"t cc Thailand \,11 C)(COO
<:
youngster
G <:0<:.
3dC1J(l)"tcc Egypt
0)11
911 ocoS /o,coS/ little ga [the letter 0 ]
Phrases containing C1: "five" ~II 'i'coS / 'i"coS/ little na [the letter 'i' ]
:)11 Cl:G3TC\)') five dollars Other words written with c
JII C l ::)[2: five jars :)11
o
C(- weep, cry
~II cl:'fl~ five hours, five o'clock JII
<:
GOY.lc<j( Taung-ngu [name of town,
'111 cl:C\) five months also written Toungoo, and pronounced
0 <:
~II l
C :~c five miles either / G0Y.l8<j(/ or / G0Y.l8C?l/]
Gil cl:olC\)~ five gallons
'7 11 cl :w: five mil [= half a kyat]
LESSON 21
New heads
en
:::> J
h- c'-

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkrauto
Lesson 21
Example syllables
o
\? <;
ha ho
o
~ G
c'a c'o
m~~~-f--o.r
Order of strokes: 1 2 3 1 2 3
You know the components of"lJ. For cursive shortcuts see Appendix 78.
Build up a syllable like 9Jl in these stages: 6l-"lJ-"lJl-9Jl'
1
9t 2
Notes
1. Pronunciation. The head "lJ represents a sound that is not far from the sound of the "ch" in
the English word "child." The difference is that most English speakers pronounce the
Engish "ch" with the tip of the tongue curled up to touch the roof of the mouth, whereas in
Burmese you make the contact with the flat of the tongue, the part behind the tip, not with
the tip itself.
2. Components. The head 9.J is made up of the consonant 61 and the attached symbol -J .
When -J is attached to other consonants it is pronounced _yo, and in an earlier phase of
Burmese the combination "lJ was no doubt pronounced k'y-, as you would expect. Over time
the pronunciation has changed to the present c'-.
3. Modifications. Notice that when you combine the head 9.J with the rhyme ~ , you have
to displace the l to the right to make room for the -J, as shown in box 6. You met the same
procedure in the syllable f1ll in Lesson 10.

Names
OJ no descriptive name: referred to as OJ , the components are:
pronOlmced/ (;0'/ = ha in script:
I \ C' I \
6>Gaa: \6» O)oe;: \ -J)
pronunciation: /el,Gg: OYJ,09/
= k'a-gwe ya-pln
meaning: curved k' a, propping-up ya

Syllables JII love
o C'
JII U?(f) sweet
~II
911 cool, calm

C'
G()y')C Burmese names
o C'
JII O(JJOJcj> Ko Ba Han
C' C'
JII :::D6>c<tJ<D Thakin Chit
~ II e:<tJ<D(),)c
Q C' C'
U Chit Tin
C'
Loanwords from English 911 ;;:O'Pe :<D<tJ<D
Q,
Saya U San Chit
C'
J IIG()Y.)CI) <D Horlicks Q 0
U AyeCho
~II e:G3d:<tJl
o C' 0 C'
o
JII U?(f)3\1C(JC hydrogen ~II ;;:O'P tClG3 <tJl<tJl6[
TO OQ
Sayama
o C' 0 C'
~ (f) CX) \1 C(J C nitrogen Daw Cho Cho Yi
OJ~OY.)()l hamburger 711
C'
:::D6>c<tJ<DGtd0C
C' C'
Thakin Chit Maung
o C'
U?0?0) hotel 61 II ;;:0 'P<tJ <D GCI):
C'
Saya Chit Le
G'W(f)CI)05 chocolate ~II
Q
e:<tJ<DO(O(
C' 0 0
U Chit Ko Ko
<iJ80)~ (NB ':'and-~) JOII
Q C'
e:<tJ<D:::Dcj>:
C'
U Chit Than
C'Q
champion tCl<tJ<De: Ma Chit 00
- religions Q C'
o C'
;;:0 'Pe :<tJ tCl: :).Y.) Saya U Chan Tha
6111 'f()y')GtCl3C Mohammedan Q C'
U Chan Aye
e:<tJtCl:G3d:
C'
~ II \j>;;:OCl)C Muslim Q C'
UChin
e:<tJc
JOII C(J1l: Jew J~II ;;:O'P2:OJ~()')6 Saya U Han Tin
C' C'
::0 II 6> 6[<D0) cj> Christian JGII ;;:O'PtClG3T6>66>6G'W Sayama
C' C'
J J II (f) (f):::D CI) <D Catholic
Daw Khin Khin Chaw
-sports Burmese words and phrases
C' C'
:)~II (),)c:cj><D tennis sweet
C' C'
J 911 6> 6[<D (f) (f) cricket love
:)~II Gdd5 hockey company, friends
JGII Q)d5: ski rna therna tics
:)711 cj>05GOY.) netball curry and rice
:)6JII JJcAQ)(f)d:;Goy') basketball Q
3()y') this thing, this one
Burmese name elements o
U?()Y.) that thing, that one
appearance

Lesson 21
Is-sentences with voiced suffixes

811 3l ::rYJcDll What is that?
JII 3lm 07O)oSolll That's a hotel.
(" 0 C',
~II G3d0 II ::rYJ 0( 0) ().) CD II Oh. What hotel is it?
C' 0 C' '1
9 11 1D0l~::)y)0(0)().)0 III The Sakhantha Hotel.
C' C' 0 C' C' ,
~II G3d011 IDOO6[C:O(o)()') ::Y)().)'(lCDIl Oh. Where's the Strand Hotel?
C' 0 C' '1
Gil lDoo6[c:O(O)().)m
Q
3'(l011i The Strand Hotel is here.

Q C'
::D'd : <yJ'd :::D (\)'): II Is your daughter feeling cold?
C' 0 '1 C'
JII G"Wc:~:G~O I O)().) II My throat is sore.
C' Q 0
~II G(yy) (9 <yJ l::D (\)'): II Is the coffee sweet?
9 11 ~;:;06p 'dG"W0l::Yi(:1I This teacher is not good looking.
C' C' C',
~II ::Y) ().) CD 'd: G<{p C ::D CD II Which road is clear [unclogged]?
C' '1 C'
Gil 3d'd <yJ1D0 I O)().) II She loves her older siste}.
C' C'.....
'(II ::rYJ(f) C : <yJ m 'd CD II What curry is he going to cook?
C' '1 C'
6">11 'dG'd(f)~ G"W0 I O)().)II Ma Me Han is beautiful.
;:;06p~: CD6p: GUYJol CD 05 II The great teacher preached.
More verb sentences with voiced suffixes

- incorporating foreign place names and English first names: sentf~nces of the pattern
"Rachel comes from Holland." Remember that the suffixes -m and -ol 0)05 are all subject
to the Voicing Rule.
C' C' C' 0 C' • '1 C'
JII G6[<yJ().)m GlJY)CD~1ccm (\)')010)()')1I Rachel comes from Holland.
JII lJY)~m GlJY)~G(YY)~m (\)')olO)oSll Harley comes from Hong Kong.
\lll 1JY.J'd8m G(f)cAm (\)')olO)0511 Herman comes from Haiti.
C' Q C' QO C'. '1 C'
911 (f)mO)m (f)~G()6[1ccm (\)')0 I O)().) II Hettie comes from Hungary.
C' C' 00 '1 C'
:J II (f) ().) CD C : m 0( t 0)( 0)( m (\)')0 I 0) ().) II Helen comes from Honolulu.
GIi ... Q 0 (" C' 1 e-
(f)6[:m O?OCG(f)()cm (\)')010)()')1I Harry comes from Copenhagen.
Q C' Q Q '1 C'
'(II "WCDm ~~(f)m::Y)6[:3:m (\)')OICD()')1I Charlie comes from the New Hebrides.
C' Q '1 C'
6) II <yJ ().) 6[ m ::Y) lJY): 'd':): m (\)') 0 I CD ().) II Cherry comes from the Bahamas.
~ II
C'
6[ID <yJ CD m
C'
o:r 0 0
O? UYJ: 'd':): m
'1
(\)') 0 I CD ().) II
C'
Richard comes from Yokohama.
The letterhead that follows enables you to deduce the Burmese for "lake." What is it? To
check your answer see the Answers section of the Reading from Life Supplement, under
Lesson 21.

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as ;,n Sauerkraut.
IJk ~n8:OD:O)fd2O)oS
7u'lfa ~ J-htd
L
'-
Til. 5064 4, P, 0, B. 1045, RANGOON, Cubics: - !NYALAKEIIO"
Rangoon, ............... ...... " ..... .
o
UY) thing ~l- be sweet
UY)- gape open ~l:- break
c
lD'f manner, appearance [verb]-~6- want to [verb]
J? c [noW1] that [noW1] Gcyp- be good looking
lDC: curry G<tP- be slippery
c
Guy)- preach Gcypc- be loose, W1crammed
c
GUY) palace [of a Shan Sawbwa] Gcyp6: stream
c
Guy)C- bark ~- drop, set down
c c
Guy)C:- be old, archaic ~(Y)- cook
Q c
~- lift, carry ~ID- love
c c
~t-: . omit ~~:- feel cold
!"'
There is no new material in this Lesson. It is here to provide practice only.

0
Loanwords from English Gil "9(9') sofa
c c c c
:)/1 '1J 1D 0y): jeep [car] :)011 'f (Y) () Q') ID C9 CD C negative film
c c o • c
JII G~GOYJoy): motorcar :):)11 Olympic
o c
3f CDOID
"9(Y)0Y): sidecar • Q c
::?II :)JII ~oU)t champion
o CD Q')c ID Q') IDc plastic oc o c
dynamite
7" :)::?II ic:t't(Y)
o C Q
~II i C {).Y.)"1 diary :)7 11 (y)GC9: cafe
oc 0 c
Gil '1JJl<\'C July :)~II lYj'Q')U) hotel
J) Q')c ID (Y) (Y)c G:)'Y.) basketball c
Horlicks
711 :)GII G(JY)CD ID
c Q oc 0
6)11 J)(Y)oo"1 battery :)7 11 'tce\( Milo

Lesson 21 R
::l6) II ())~:::J.Y.)()l hamburger \,11

9
2:GmcGmct.:..:5:
C' C'r,::::Q
UMaung Maung Gyi
C'9 C' C' C'
::l~1I GO'Y)(9 toffee <;11 GmCGJ.Y:lG(Y)')c: Maung Thaw Kaung
C'
j011 Gctfxy)CDm chocolate ~ II ;;:0 6[X)')Oj( : Say a Ba Too
English first names Gil 2:oo6E3: U Htin Gyi
9 C'
::lll 3d:30) Edith 7 11 '=IQ6Q6@3: Ma Kin Kin Gyi
0<:
1 C<XYJ'f0 Diana 6)11 3dG~06[000
C'
Anawyahta
0C'
Jemima C' <:
'1]'fcm ~II QCJ-)mOO0: Khin Thet Htar
C'
9
'1]ll30) Judith ::lOll 2:G(9QC
C'
U Pe Khin
C'9
'1]c 'f (9') Jennifer ::l::lll GmCOOCG(9
C' C'
MaungTinPe
G 9
(9J) Phoebe ::l jll
9
2:O?mO(:
0 C' 0
U Taik So
, C'
36(0) Derek ::l\,11
G •
2:0)J.Y:lG3d0C
C'
U San Tha Aung
9
6) II ())CD~ Helena MaSan San Me
<:
G6[9JO,) Rachel Ko Ba Han
,9
())6[: Harry Thakin Chit
::l:) II <tJ0 CD9 Charlie ::l711 2: G3d :<tJl U Aye Cho
C'9
::ljll 9J0,)6[ Cherry :)6)11 J-)Qc<t]o)Gmc
C' C' C'
Thakin Chit Maung
Burmese nanles :)~ II ;;:0 -r2 :<t]'=I:J.Y:l
9 C'
Saya U Chan Tha
:) II G3 TG~G~J-)8: Daw Maw Maw Thin
JOIl ;;:o-r2:())~OOC
9 C' C'
Suya U Han Tin
KoMinMaw
===============--
Burmese phrases with voicing

In this and subsequent sections weakening and voicing are marked only in cases where you
may not expect them. Otherwise apply the rules as you have learned tpem.
'1 C' C'

::l II () I CD'f GCD:;;:OO,) 40 gallons
jll ~O'Y) cl:GJ.Y:l8: 50,000 metres
o
\,11 T
G3 (\)') <J(l:GOO0C
C'
$9000
C' C'
<;11 00'f GCD:GOO0C 4000 tons
~II Gol8 cl:-r £500
('
\)11
0C'
'fC
0
<J(l:-r C :;;:00,)
l C'
950 miles
C' C'
7 11 oo'f GCD:GOO0C 4000 tons
::lll 3l :)'Y)c011 What is that?
jll - 3lm u?O')oSolll That's a hotel.
C' 0 C' "-
\' II G3d0I1:)'Y) O? 00 0,) CD II Oh. What hotel is it?
C' 0 C' '1
911 - o)OO6[C:O?OOo')OIIl The Strand Hotel.
C' C' 0 C' C' ,
~ II G3d011 0) Q 'f : J.Y:l0? 0') 0,) J) 0,) 'PCD II Oh. Where's the Sakhantha Hotel?
(' C' 0 C' 9 '1
\)11 - O)Q'f :J.Y:llYj'O')O,)m 3 'PO III The Sakhantha Hotel is hl~re.
G C' C' "
711 3 CD '=I: :::J.Y.)CD '=I: CD II - What road is this road?
6)11 - ~CD0:m G3dCD0:olll This road is A Road.

ronounceei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.
g ~ g ~
(311 3c\)~:(),) J)c\)~:c\y):1I Is this road BRoad?
C'" GC' 1
:)011 - lY(OOO?II J)c\)~:011l Yes. It is BRoad.
g ~ g ~
:):)11 3c\)~:(),) Q)c\)~:c\y):1I Is this road C Road?
(' '1 G ~ ~
:)JII - ~lY(OOOIOj(:1I 3C\)~:011l No. It's D Road.
C' C' C' "-
:) \l" 3d G1 0 Ei[(X)')C\) ~ : J ) 0) 'f-l C\) II Where is Anawrahta Street?
~ ~ g '1
:)<;;11 - 3dG10Ei[(X)')C\)~:()') 3'f-l011i Anawrahta Street is here.
~ ~ g
:) ~II ()')~:'f0:C\)~:()') 3 'f-lC\Y): II Is Strand Road here?
(' ~,g '1
:)1511 - lY(OOO?II 3'f-l011i Yes. It's here.
• ~ g
:) '7 II ;;:0 GpQ) C\) ~ : ()') 3 'f-l C\Y): II Is Saya San Street here?
~'1 • ~ g '1
:)6l11 - ~lY(OOOIOj(:1I ;;:OGpQ)C\)~:()') 3'f-l011i No. Saya San Street is here.
G C' C' "-
:)(311 3c\)~: J)0c\)~:c\)1I What road is this one?
JOII - ~C\)0:()') Q)Q5mGm~G~GC\):C\)0:olll This road is Sitke Maung Htaw Lay Street.
:) II Does Helen come from Hungary?
No, she doesn't.
Which country does she come from?
She comes from Chile.
Is Khin San Htaik going to sit here?
No, she's not.
Where's she going to sit?
She's going to sit here.
(311 Does Ko Yeh Naing live in Pansodan?
:)011 No, he doesn't.
:):)11 Which road does he live in/on?
:)JII He lives in/ on Strand Road. *
:)\l" Are you staying at the Myanmar Hotel?
:)<;; II No, we're not.
:)~II Which hotel are you staying at?
:)GII We are staying at the Kandawgyi Hotel.
:)'7" Are you going to come tomorrow?
:)6l11 Yes, I am.
:)(311 Bring your daughter, won't you?
JOII Yes, I will.
pll You will come and have a meal tomorrow, won't you?
JJII Yes, I will.
pll Are you going to cook fish curry?
$11 No, I'm not going to cook fish curry.
J~II What curry are you going to cook?
JGII I'm going to cook bean curry.
,
J'7" o Q)0::::D C\Y): II Do you eat beans?
~ , '1 ~
J6l11 - lY(ooO? II 00:0 I ( 0 0 ) II Yes, I do.
~ ,~
J(311 ~ OJ C (X)'): :::D <tP :::D C :::D C\Y): II Do you (Ma Khin Htar) study mathematics?
\lOll - ~:::D80lOj(:1I No, I don't.
, ~
\l:)11 J)0 :::D C:::D C\) II What do you study?

o ~ (' '1 ~
\l J II - :::D¥c: :::DCOIOOo)lI I study history.
~ ~ ~
\l\l" co~c: 'it:~o)G'f0" Is it all right if I dish out the rice?

Lesson 21 R
Yes, please do. That's fine.

Is it all right if I listen to the radio?
Yes, please do. That's fine.
* The phrase (\) 0: ~') reveals a difference between British and American English: British
speakers say "in Strand Road" where Americans say "on Strand Road." In this volume we
try to satisfy both groups by writing inion where necessary.
VoicingtlJ
You can now read another common suffix: -CUt-. It is suffixed to verb,; and means "want to
[verb ]," and is subject to the Voicing Rule. Examples:
Example 1
1. spelling: :JY) QY); CU C<: :)J (\)"-
2. pronunciation: /:JY) QY):'1J8::Ajlc0/
3. words: what eat-want-pres/past-question
4. meaning: "What do [you] want to eat?"
Example 2
<:., <:
1. spelling: ill'ir;;:(Y) QY):CUCOIOOWIl
2. pronunciation: / ill 'ir ;;:(Y) QY): '1J t :JY) 3 05 II /
3. words: samosa eat-want-polite-preslpast

4. meaning: "I want to eat a samosa."
Example 3
1. spelling: o (\)') 0')') QY): CU C<: :)J (\)'): II
2. pronunciation: / 0 (\)') 0')') QY): '1J t :)J (\)'): II /
3. words: parata eat-want-preslpas t-question

4. meaning: "Do you want to eat a parata?"
Example 4
1. spelling: 0(\)')0')') I:) QY): cut 0 l Ji(: II
2. pronunciation: I 0 (\)') 0')') I:) QY): '1J t :JY) Ji(: II I
3. words: parata not-eat-want-polite-pres/past

4. meaning: "1 don't want to eat a parata."

Voicing of CU~ II
c: "-
811 :JY) Gq:<tJc:)J(\) II What do you want to write?
c: "-
:JY) GO: <tJ C:)J (\) II What do you want to give them?
c: "-
:JY) GI:): <tJ C:)J (\) II What do you want to ask?

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as w Sauerkraut.
~ ~ ,
yll JY) J)C<tjCJ)C\)II What do you want to learn?
~II G3T3d(:¥) C\Y)<tj6olwoSll Daw Ama would like to come.
~ 1 ('
Gil GC\);C\) G'f<tjCOIWWII They want to stay four months.
G 0 (' (' 1 ('
7" G6PU? 90 : GCO')C<tjCOIWWII She wants to listen to the radio.
0(' (' 1 ('
6:111 arC<tjCOIWWII I'd like to sit down.
(' 0 (' ('
~II G<tJ0(DC\)(D rY(C <tjCJ)C\Y): II Do you want to hold the chocolate?
:)011 3d8 G@T<tj6J)C\Y):1I Would you like to bring your sister with you?
:):)11 m0: 8G;x):<tj6ol:::Y;(:11 She doesn't want to wash the car.
(' (' 1
C08C: 8<D0:<tjCOI:::Y;(:1I We don't want to eat rice [have a meal].
('
Cl :())C:
(' 1
<D0:<tjCOIWWII
~
They want to eat fish curry.
~ G G (' 1
W(D~ 8~:<tjCOI:::Y;(;11 I don't want to take a taxi.
LESSON 22
New heads
0
:)
J
w- sh-
Example syllables
~
C'
OC
~ C;
win wa
C' 0
~ G
shin sho

Lesson 22
Q
Order of strokes: write the ~ before the J .
Notes
The head 0
1. Modifications. 0 needs a straightened -0: see box 4. If you combined the regular -0 with
o , you would get (Y) •
The head 1l
2. Components. This head is a combination of ~ and an attached symbol that in other

combinations is pronounced h- - it is in fact a modified form of lJ) . .At one time this head
was probably pronounced something like hy-, but over time it has developed into its present
pronunciation sh-.
3. Modifications. There is one small modification needed for 1l : when it is combined with
any rhyme containing a l you have to shorten the tail of the ~ to avoid a tangle: see box 6.
Names
o no descriptive name: referred to as 0, pronounced /ol/ = wa
the components are:
in script: "[G0Y)o-S ("[) lJ)d?: (J)
pronunciation: / cp.Golo-S UYJ.d?:/ = ya-gauq ha-t'o
meaning: curved ya, ha thrust in

Syllables o
'(II 1)
o <::
811 C(>m 6)11 Gil
0<::
JII C(>C Foreign place names
;;>11 ol 811 3lo~ Di>rwin
<:: 0<::.
GoT JII GIj>0GO:<fCC N:)rway
0<:: G
;;>11 lJ)C(>C3d Hawaii
<::G <::
1" oClj>om Winnipeg

o C'
~II Wellington 'f0cO'Y.) November
C' C' C'
Gil Washington 3dc«Jm~c injection
o C'. C'
711 (:)GCD:W:'f CC Malaysia CD G()'Y.)(\)'): ~.CD scholarship
C' 0 C'. C' C'
6)11 6[O)W:'f CC Russia CDOo')~o') special
o C' C'
3d'.)~ Asia Ql:( 510.) CD CD socialist
C'OQ OC'.
0011 3dC:r'f:W:'fCC Indonesia Burmese name elements
C'~ C'
0011 (:)CD~l0'f Michigan 0" 06: radiant, brilliant
English first names: J" GO overflow, spill over
o C'
011 3foc Owen Burmese names
o C'
JII GOlCDoy): Walter :) II QJEipO(:oc: Saya Soe Win
C' C' C' Q
C)(:OCD Lewis J" (:)@coc:6[ Ma Khin Win Yi
Q
51(\)') Sheila ;;>" T
QJEip(:)G3 CDCDOC: Sayama Daw Si Si Win
QQ C'
Wc\5 Shirley 9" G3T0)~0)606: Daw Tin Tin Win

C'Q' C' C' C'
OC3 Wendy :J.)@Co)coc: Thakin Tin Win
~"
711 06~ Winnie G" n7:J.) 05 GO Ko Thet We
Q C'
Loanwords from English 7" QJEip2:GOCDC: Sara U We Lin
o C' C' Q o C'
0" «C~(:)CDG3d YMCA 6)" O?:J.)'f: GO Ko Than We
Q C'
J" olm wire 2:O'J51c U Ba Shin
;;>" ol~ washer U Pe Shin
Descriptive letter names

Just for this section we adopt the printl!rs' convention mentioned in Lesson 15.3: when a
syllable with the unwritten vowel is pronounced unexpectedly as a full syllable, without
weakening, even though it is not the last in the word, we mark it with a comma; for
example, 'f:J.)oS is written 'f,:J.)oS to show that it is pronounced na-thaq, not nathaq.
0" G6[:<tj write and set down [name of the vowel symbol-0 or -l ]
0
J" :J.)GoCX(: stamp a thawe [name of the vowel symbol G- ]
;;>" m,B: big ka [name of the consonant m]
C'
9" 'f ,cO.) little na [name of the consonant 'f]
C'
O,CO') little nga [name of the consonant c]
~"
Gil 00,000)C' ka killed [name of the combination dJ]
7" CD,00o)C' sa killed [name of the combination ~ ]

0" 3dol yellow
J" 0'Y.)0'f0 meditation (bhavana in Pali)

;;>" :J.)~ol : wood and bamboo
C'
9" (:)oc6[ no entry ["not-enter-may"]
C' , C'
CD 000 G(:),)C: left-hand drive
~"

Lesson 22
('
Gil 3dOC entrance
('
'(II om:J.)'): pork
(' 0 (' 1
6'>11 CDmO?COOI handkerchief ["hand-hold-cloth"]
0(' ('
~C~C shopkeeper
(' (' Q
~~:G:)')')C::n Shan trousers
:)'):),),)0 nature
:).)~,ol ().)~ cooperative organization
('
II)mom
m
[a bird]
- in the following two words read 'l as R:
:::><;11 0'l~ol [a plant]
('
~CII)~')0'l Shin Sandawara [monk's name]
C
n~oc classical
Names of some of the races of Bunna
C
:::>11 ~~: Shan
('
JII ~c: Chin
('
~II m~c Kachin
C
<;11 m'lc Karen
oc
~II 'lyC Arakanese
Gil m().)'): Kayah
1 C C
:::>11 o I ~C(Y)'f GO::).)(\)'): II Is Washington far away?
- ~Go:ol::Yi(:1I It's not far.
C ....
C)( : 0 II) 3d:),) 0:),) (\)'): II Does Lewis have a bad accent?
... 1 Q 1 C
- ~aOI::Yi(:1I OOI(y)()')1I He doesn't. He has a good accent.
oc C C 1 C
~C OC~COI(y)()')1I I'd like to go into the shop.
C1 COC1 C
- OCOIII OC.!f-COI(y)()')1I Go ahead. You can go in.
C' (' C' .....
:)')') mc~~ O()')~C:)')CD II What camera do you want to buy?
- ~mt~~~:olll This big camera.
C 0 C C
OcexcC~C:::D(\),): II Do you want to go in and sit down?
C 1 0 C 1
- acolll excCOl1i Go in. Sit down.
C C C
:::>:)11 om:::D0: GijpC~C:::D(\),):1I Do you want to avoid pork?
C C 1 C
:::>JII - GijpC"l.]COI(y)()')1I I do.
:)~II O'Y.) ijpG'f:::D cD II What are you looking for?
C oc 1 1 C
:::><;11 - CDmO?COOI ijpG'fO I (y)()')1I I'm looking for my handkerchief.
C C C
:::>~II 3d0l'f: ~C:~C:::D(\),):II Do you want to tidy the room?
1 C C
:)GII - ~~C:~COI::Yi(:1I I don't.

3dol yellow W- look for
ol: bamboo W:- be scarce
('
GO- distribute ~c owner, master, lord
('
GO:- be distant ~c- be alive
(' ('
oc- enter ~c:- be clear
(' ('
3dOC entrance GWC- avoid
0- have a bad accent ~- graze, nick
(' ('
000- buy ~m- be ashamed
('
0- be fat, stout ~(» eight
(' ('
om pig ~(;): Shan
LESSON 22.1 MOH.E VOICING
Voicing 0 and <.9

This Lesson introduces voicing with two more sounds: 0 and (9. When these sounds are
subject to the Voicing Rule, they both voice to I~/. Our first example is the verb suffix~::
attached to a verb it has the meaning "ever," and it is subject to the Voicing Rule.
Example 1
1. spelling: o cooOY) QY): ~::)) coo: II
2. pronunciation: I ocooOY) QY)::::Yj(:=9coo: III
3. words: Parata eat-ever-preslpast-question
4. meaning: "Have [you] ever eaten a parata?"
You are already familiar with some examples of words in which 0 is voiced to I ~I : you
have practised this change with the suffix -ol. In the Practice section below you will find
o pronounced I ~I in the word 08 . 08 means "plant, tree," and is voiced when it forms part
of a larger word:
Example 2
, ('
1. spelling: ooc
2. pronunciation: lo~81
3. words: bean-plant
4. meaning: "bean plant"
You have now met all but one of the eleven heads that can be voiced. When they are in a
position that makes them subject to voicing -
voiceable consonants: m (» 0 CD
OU
:))
and: @ <X) (9 00
are voiced to: Inl I@I I~I 131 IC{j1 1=9 1
In case you are curious, here is the eleventh and last voiceable head, which is to come in
Lesson 32:
is voiced to IC{j1

Lesson 23
There are alternative ways of spelling the sounds represented by 0iJ and O[J , namely 6 and
§. These variants too will be presented in Lesson 32.

V oicing with [verb]- 'l:
o C •
011 ymQ:) GO:- to give money
o C •
JII ymQ:) GO:~:::DC\Y.l: II Have [they] ever given [him] any money?
;;'11 3dcD o~- to go inside
, C '1
911 3dOO 00C~:OI:::r;;>:1I I have never been inside.
o
~II 0-(:3lV):'(=l G~- to live in Thailand
o '1 C
Gil 0-(:3lV):'(=l G~~:OI(),)WII We have lived in Thailand.
C C
'(II GO'Y:> ow- to buy glue
C Q C '1 C
6)11 GO'Y:> 3'(=l OW~:OI(),)WII I have bought glue here bdore.
o C
~II O?(),)W )p- to look for a hotel
Q 0 C
0011 3'(=l O?(),)W )p~:::DC\Y.l:1I Have you ever looked for a hotel here before?
Q oc
0011 ~C\Y.l Ojlc- to handle a sapphire
OJ II ~C\Y.l 0o?8~:ol:::r;;>:11 I have never handled a sc.pphire before.
Q
0;;'11 O'Y:>: ID:- to ride in a car
0<;11 O'Y:>: 0S:~:ol:::r;;>: II They had never been in a car.
C
O~II 3d6[CD alcoholic drink
C
oGIl 3d6[m 1'(:- be drunk
C
0'(11 3d6[m 1'(:~:::Dc\'y'):11 Have you ever been drunk?
Voicing with [plant name]-08

C
011 0') (\) O'Y:> 0 C guava tree
C C
JII oo~:oc sugar palm tree
C
;;'11 GOOC palmyra tree
11
c •
(\)mooc
.- silk cotton tree
9
C C
~II o~:oc flowering plant
CQ C
Gil G(Y)')00C coffee bush
'(II olo~ cotton plant
Voicing with suffix -0 "emphatic"

CQ,
011 6[W3 OC\Y.l: II Are you ready?
CQ,
JII - 6[W3011 - Ready.
;;'11 3luC\Y.l:1I Is that all? ("That-emphu tic-ques tion")
<;11 - 3lolull - That's all. ("That-polite-emphatic")
Q ,
~II G;;:()1) 6[: 0 II Sorry!
Gil - 6[ol ()')OS II - That's all right.

LESSON 23
New rhymes
o (' 0('
m
:)
J
-eiq -ein
Example syllables
o (' 0('
Q)m
~ 9
seiq c'ein

You know all the components. Build a syllable like <M in these stages: 6>-~-~-~9'-~~ .
Notes
1. Pronunciation. These two rhymes have the same vowel, but differ in that'::d; ends in a
glottal stop (to rhyme with Cockney "mate") and .::~ ends in a nasalized vowel. As usual,
the nasal in the latter is not the same as in English "lane" or "chain": the tongue does not
make contact with the roof of the mouth. Note also that the -ei- in the roman transcription
is to be read as in vein (not as in receive, or German klein).
2. Parallels. Notice the parallels between rhymes with a stop final and rhymes with a
nasal final:
0 <: 0<:
-CD -4' -eiq -ein
<: <:
-CD -4' -aq -an
0 <: 0<:
l"OO l"c -aiq -ain
<: <:
-q) -c -iq -i n
Each pair has the same vowel (or diphthong). There is one stop-final rhyme that has no
corresponding nasal:
<:
-00 -eq

Lesson 23
Names
o ~
-CD the componehts are:
~ ~ ~
in script: C$ : t23 :CD C CD ::.D CD
o
pronuncia tion: l C\(9:<1j:CDC

eG C C/ I ' .'. 'h
~::.DCD == oun-JI-tm ta-t aq
meaning: a big round set on top, killed ta
I
O~
-9 the components are:

~ C C
in script: o
C\( : t:S: CD C 9 ::.D CD

pronunciation: eG e e l I ' .'. ,
l C\(9:<1j:CDC 9'Jo ::.DCD == oun-JI-tm na-thaq
meaning: a big round set on top, killed na

Syllables diamond
O~
JII ~9 Burmese words and phrases
jll JII purse
:(11 jll envelope
o ~ 0 C
'7 11 ~II OCD<tJ9 closing time
o ~ G
~II 911 0<Y.l0?IQlCV:q no [roller] skating
o C
Gil ~II ;;:0 CD ::.D'J: goat meat
o ~ C
'(II 0CD Gil om::::D'J: pork
O~ OC
6111 09 '(II 1Ql9:1Ql woman
English first names oc
09
6111 diamond
G 0 ~
JII 3dC$9: Elaine - words for round numbers:
~o~
jll GC\)')"l9: Lorraine ten
o ~
\lll mCD Kate hundred
~
Foreign place names JJII Gcxy)C thousand
o ~
JII OJ(OCD Kuwait JJII G::.D'JC:
C
ten thousand
c 0<:
oc
jll :)') 6')00:)')9: Brisbane J\lll ::.D9: hundred thousand
oc c
\lll 09C\j(:00 Saint Lewis J'7 11 ::.D4-: million
'7 08H~c
11 Spain - words written with m ~ :.E: over m and
Loanwords from English pronounced with voicir.g I-~o-/:
o c e
JII mCD cake J ~ II C\) m'J verse
eGO c ee
JII 0CCD06')CD centigrade J GII ::.Dm9: monk's robe
c 0 ~ e
:(11 G(y') CCD 9 fountain [pen] J '(II ::.D <Y.l'J suspicion
G 0 C e
<;11 m:<'{J9: key chain J6I11 0m'J)? Singapore
Burmese name elements - words in which the m6:.E: syllable has a
JII ~4- [meaning not clear] high tone:
e
jll
O~
!Jl9 f orce, momentum Jell (J)JY) hamsa, goose
e
hundred thousand JOIl 3dOGCD building plaster
Diphthongs In the roman transcription: 139

Bunnese words and phrases [continued]

- words written with other stacked consonants:
o G
011 Id~(\),) Meikhtila [Pali Mithila]
JII 3d,g~p3l~ ungiven gift [a stolen object; Pali adinnadana]
o
\>11 U)~ll Hindu
o 0 G
<;11 m~"rm*6[ kinnara and kinnari
[mythical bird-human creatures; Pali kinnara kinnarT]
o
~II 1d~ll copy
o
Gil CDOO@
0')
psychological [Pali cittaja]
- loans from Pali, in which 6[ is read as R:
o
'(II 06[~ Paritta [Pali Buddhist textsJ
6)11 ,:onduct, behaviour [Pali caritta]
- monks' nam2S:
c: 0
Gil Ej1c~/y)~ Shin Nageinda [Pali Naginda]
c: 0
0011 Ej1C@ir~ Shin Zaneinda [Pali Janinda]
G 0
0011 2: 0YD &
Y>3
U Sekkeinda [Pali Cakkindaj
Verb sentences wifh voiced suffixes:

C' 0 C' a ....
011 ::nu.)~ccm (\)')0.)(\)11 What country does she come from?
o c: ., c:.
JII - CDo~m (\)')01 OOC')II She comes from Spain.
0 c: c:
\>11 J:\ 6[CDCD::n~:m (\)')O.)(\)'): II Does he come from Brisbane?
<;11 - Id(\)')Ol:::Y;(:1I He doesn't.
G c: ., c:
~II ~.)CD3~m (\)')01000)11 He comes from Sydney.
Gil Where do they come from?
c: 0 c: '1 c:
'(II ._- 3dC:CD~m (\)')OIOOWIl They come from Insein .
o c: c: c:
6)11 ([y)3dOO OJ(IdWG~,)1I I'm going to take an envelope: OK?
- OJ(olll Fine: go ahead.
c: 0 c: c: c:
Gil GCY.lC oo~ OJ(IdWG~,)1I I'm going to take a fountain pen: OK?
- OJ(olll Fine: go ahead.
o c: c: c:
0011 moo OJ(IdWG~')1I I'm going to take a cake: OK?
- OJ(olll Fine: go ahead,
o c: G C:., c:
0011 ~cO.)')6[ G~FtJCOICDWII I want to write up my diary.
Gcypm(\)03 Go:~60lCD0511 I'd like to give them some chocolate.
c: c: 0 c: '1 c:
(\)~3~ (\),)~COIOOWIl They can come to London.
c:
3d0')(]) c:.,I OOWc: II
GId:~CO Sh e wants to as k your age.
:)~II G tJ
G6[3o.;' c: c:.,
~'):IdGOCf)C~COI:::Y;(:1I He d '
oesntwantto l'Isten t '
ot.'lera d'10.
Is-sentences with voiced suffix (incorporating Burmese names)
011 3lm ::n03O)(cDll - Who is that? -
JII 3lm 2:~~olll That's U Chein.
G c: 0 c:
3l ('c 2:oocEj1~(\),):1I Is that U Tin Shein?
140 r----.. Diphthongs in the roman transcription:

~~,::e ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.
Lesson 23
9" '=>tJ?0501::Yj(:1I 31m 2:~:S~011l No. That's U Po Sein.

~II 31m :))0l8::Y):i5~:coo:1I Is that Thakin Ba Thein?
GII '=>tJ?0)01::Yj(:1I C' '")
31m G OC'
2::))'f:011l '") NTh'
o. at s U Th em.
.
'(II 31m 2::i5~:~8coo:1I Is that U Thein Naing?
6)11 '=>tJ?0)01::Yj(:1I C' '")
31m 0 OC'
rt?()')'f:011l '") NTh'
o. at s K0 H'
em.
e" 31m ;:;:O~'=>G3TS~S~COO:11 Is that Sayama Daw Sein Sein?
:::>011 '=>tJ?aS01::Yj(:1I 31m ;:;:o~S~0)80111 No. That's Saya Sein Tin.
:::>:::>11 31m G3T:i5~:1l8coo:1I Is that Daw Thein Shin?
:::>JII tJ?aS0 11 G3T:i5~:1l80111 Yes. It's Daw Thein Shin.
:i5~: 100,000 a3cA cake
OC"
0'f- bth k
e in, s inny OC'
00)- close
S~ diamond ~ 05 bag
o C' 0 C'
3'd~'f time 1))0) mind
o C' 0 C'
3'd1l'f momenhnn ;:;:0 0) goat
0305- be silent 8aS- invite
V oicing: a puzzle
This Lesson presents you with a puzzle to solve. Keep the text open at this page, so that
you can read the example sentences, and start the tape.

C' C' ,
JII JY) OW"1JC:))CDII / JY) OWC[jC=»CDII C' C' '/
What do you want to buy?
C' C' C' '") C' C' C' C' C' /
JII GJY)OC oW"1J COl o)WII / GJY)oc OWC[jCJY)3WII I want to buy a ballpoint pen.
C' 0 C' C' C' C' 0 C' C' C' /
\>11 GC90Co)'f OW "1JC:))COO:II / GC90Co)'f oWC[jC=»COO: II Do you want to buy a fountain pen?
C' 0 C' C' C' '") C' 0 C' C' C' /
<7 11 GC90Co)'f '=>OW"1JCOI~:1I / GC90Co)'f '=>OWC[jCJY)::Yj(:1I I don't want to buy a fountain pen.
What do you want to read?

I want to read my diary.
Do you want to read a journal?
I don't want to read a journal.
Further examples with [verb]-~8-

o C' C' '") C'
Gil OO)"1J COl o)WII [fie] wants to close [it].
o C' C' '") C'
Jail 0'f"1JCOlo)WII [He] wants to be thin.
o C' C' '") C'
:J:JII (9o)~COlo)WII [He] wants to invite [us].

[He] wants to reveal [it].

[He] wants to cook [some].
[He] wants to break [them].
[He] wants to check [it].
[He] wants to eat [one].
[He] has washed [one] before.

[He] has connected [one] before.
[He] has stayed [there] before.
[He] has gone up [there] before.
The Voicing Rule restated. Given a pair of words, Word 1 and Word 2, such that Word 2 is
suffixed to Word 1 (that is: the two words are linked to make up a compound word), then:
(a) if Word 2 begins with a voiceable consonant: then that consonant is to be read as a
voiced consonant; except
(b) if Word 1 ends in a glottal stop (that is: anyone of -dJ -oS -~ - S): then the rule is
suspended: Word 2 is exempted from voicing and is to be read with a voiceless consonant, as
written.
Example: written pronounced meaning
1. Rule enforced: (90:~80l ()')05 II / (9~:C(J8:'yy)30511/ [He] wants to catch [one].
2Rl
. uesuspen dd ~ ~1 ~
e : (9(),)~COI()')o')lI ~ ~ ~/
/ (9(),)~C:'yy)30')1I [H]e wants to rea done.
[]
The Practice section below gives you an opportunity to read and write words with voicing
and exemption in all the ten voiceable consonants you have met so far. You may find that
the difference between
voiced/-n, -3, -::D, _o:x;/ andexempted/-m, -()'), -0, -':Xi/
is not s9 obvious to your ear as the differepce between
voiced/-n, --3, -::D, -C(J/ andexempted/-@, -CD, -(9, -~/.
However, the difference is there to the Burmese ear, and it will become clearer to yours as
you become more familiar with the sounds of the language.

Words and phrases with voicing enforced and suspended
Verb phrases with suffix -CUc3- "want to"
C C 1 C
011 ~m~col 0)0,)11 wants to cook
C C '1 ~
JI' OC ~c 0 I ()')O,) II wants to go in

C C '1 C
(9m~co ()')O,) I II wants to hug
~ ~ '1 C
(90:~C 0 I()')O,) II wants to catch
o ~ C '1 C
~II CX?c~c 0 I ()')O,) II wants to sit
o ~ C '1 ~
Gil 0.?m~c 0 I ()')O,) II wants to accompany
C '1 C
7 11 CO'):~c 0 I0)0,) II wants to put down

• C '1 C
6111 @~COI()')o')lI wants to accept
C ~ '1 ~
;;:om ~c 0 I ()')o,) II wants to continue

Lesson 23
Verb sentences with suffix -~: "ever"

o c::
:) II (90)~:J,)C\Y.): II Has [he] ever invited (them]?
c:: 1 c::
JII 9jm)Z:Olo)OOIl He has cooked [some] before.
oc::
\lll CY(C~:J,)C\Y.): II Has [he] ever handled [them]?
o c:: 1
\,jCY(m~:OIJ;(:1I [He] hasn~t ever bitten [one].
c:: 1 c::
~II oC)Z:OIO)OOIl [He] has gone inside before.
Gil \,j0'):~;0l J;(: II [He] hasn't ever eaten [any].
Verb sentences with suffix-oo "from"
o 1 c::
:) II :)'Y)G:::Y)i m C\Y.)O 1O)OO II He comes from Barbados.
G 0 1 c::
JII Ejl (YY)tt m C\Y.)O 10) oo II He comes from Chicago.
o c::
<D '\' C\i(: ° c::
<D m C\Y.)O 10) oo II
1 c::
He comes from Saint Louis.
, c:: 1 c::
o6[<Dm C\Y)O 10)0) II He comes from Paris.
~II ()~W 6 m C\Y.) 0 l 0) oS II He comes from the Yemen.
o c:: 1 c::
Gil o;(0O')m C\Y)01 O')OO II He comes from Kuwait.
'(II
G
3d6[,\,m c::
C\Y)OIO')OOIl
1 c::
Hecomes from Iran.
6) II
G
3d 6[0') m c::
C\Y.)O 10') oo II
1 c:: H e comes f rom Iraq.
Is-sentences with suffixes -00 "emphatic" and -01 "polite"
:)11
G c:: c::
30mm Ejl\,j:omolll
C::1 Th is pig is a Sh an pig.
JII
G c:: c:: ~ c:: c:: c:: 1
30CDO')<D0')<Dm L'3,\,lnOCDO')<DO')<DOIII
Th·IS P1ashc
. IS
. Burmese p 1 ·
ashc.
\lll ~6p:)'Y)m \,jGCD:W:6p:)'Y)olll This rubber is Malaysia rubber.
<;;11 ~19CD6m ~~19CD60lll This film is Fuji film.
Verb sentences with suffix -01 "polite"
:)11 O')03ulll Please climb up / get in.
JII 19d';Olll Please read [it].
\lll 0'):0III Please eat [some].
'111 Oi(olll Please take [some].
Words containing -aY.) "food"
:) II @~ In 0') Burmese food
Egyptian food
Hong Kong food
c:: c::
'111 3C:\,j0')0') Danish food
Numbers containing -0005 "ten"
c:: c::
:) II G 3 C\Y)T Ejl<D Q:) oo $80
c:: G 0 c::
JII OO),\, O?;Q:)O) 90 pennies
OOO~
c:: 0 l c::
C :Q:)O) 50 pesos
c:: c:: c::
'1 II :::Y) 0') Ejl<D Q:) oo 80 baht
c:: <:
~II \,j0') GCD;Q:)O) 40 marks
Numbers containing -coCXY.)8 "thousand"
O)~: d?:GC(Y)6 9,000 yen
G C <:
JII 3,\,O ll<DGOO0C 8,000 dinar

<:
~II GOl~ GCD:Gcxy)C 4,000 pOW1ds
0 <: <:
<;11 CD6p ~<DGcxy)C 8,000 lire
<:
~II J)Cf) cl :Ga::YJf 5,000 baht
Verb sentences with suffix -~C\Y.): "question" and -~ro "question"

<:
:)11 Cf)(D::DC\Y):1I Did [he] climb up/get in?
JII Where did [he] climb up/get in?
o ,
~II 3'P Cf)::D(\)'):1I Did [he] stay here?
<: , ,
<;11 J)w'P Cf)::DCD// Where did [he] stay?
o <:
~II o Cf)::DC\Y): II Did [he] close [it]?
Gil 2fY) GO:::DcDll What did [he] give [them]?
Phrases containing ~,: "million" and GOYJa: "10,000"
o 0 <:
:)11 (\)OYJ 0(:::D<f: 9 million litres
0 <: c
JII (\)OYJ ~<D::D<f: 8 million lit res
~II G3TC\Y) G(\):::D~: 4 million dollars
c c
<;11 G3TC\Y) ~<D::D<f: 8 million dollars
c
ol(\)~
0
~II 0(:::D<f: 9 million gallons
0 c c
Gil ~OYJ ~<DG:xYJC : 80,000 metres
0 c
'(II ~OYJ G(\):G:xYJC: 40,000 metres
0 0 c
6)11 3<f') 0(:G:xYJC: 90,000 dinar
0 <: c
(311 3~ ~<DG:xYJC: 80,000 dinar
c 0 c
:)011 OW OX( GCD:G:xYJC: 40,000 pesos
Phrases from a letter

Dear Teacher,
JII ::D~: ~Cf)~2: <D') Gb'[:o?050lCf)oSil Your daughter Ma Tin U writes to you.
~II ;:;x)6p G<fG(YY)~:Cf)oSG~';II You're well I hope.
<;11 ::D~:
o G~G(YY)C:O/Cf)WII
<: '1 <:
I am we 11 .
o 0 <: E <: <:
~II ::D~: 3<ji><D 3'dO(\)<f c\y)~WII I am going to come to England this year.
<: <: <: <: '1 <:
Gil CD<f3<f'P <D') ::DC~CO/Cf)WII I want to study in London.
'(II ::D~~: ol::D~,) ololCf)oSil I am keen on history.
C' (' 0 C' ....
6)11 J)W'P Cf)(DtC~CDIl Where could I attend?
(311 <D') Gb'[:O G<f'; ;;06p1l 1 You will write, won't you, T'oacher?
o <:0
:)011 ::D~: ~Cf)C2: Your daughter Ma Tin U
Kings of the Konbaung dynasty

Remember to voice all voiceable consonants
:)11 J),E3:G~ Bagyidaw
<: <:r:;:::Q
JII G~,)c GOYJC3: Naungdawgyi
<: <: <:
~II ~c:O(<f:<:JC: MindonMin
o <:
<;11 :xYJW')0 Cf) ~ C : Thayawaddy Min

Lesson 23
~II Thibaw Min

Gil Paunggaza Maung Maung
LESSON 24
New heads
@
J
J
b- z
(in foreign words: v-)
Example syllables
o
~ c;
ba (va) bo (vo)
C'
G@/)
~ G
za zaw

Notes
1. Pronunciation. There is no sound in Burmese that matches the V in foreign words like
"Vienna," and it follows that there is no letter in the script earmarked to represent it.
When people have to try and represent a foreign V in the script, they mostly use ~. There
is always, of course, a risk that readers will take the ~ to read with the same sound as 0') ,
so to avoid that contingency some writers represent a foreign V with the made-up
combination g - most commonly in the word 03g
"TV." So, when you come across a foreign
name or word that contains either a ~ or a g , read ,it as V. In Burmese words ~ is always
read with the same sound as 0') •
2. "Burmese." In an early Lesson we mentioned @4w.l and ~w.l, two forms of the word
meaning "Burmese" or "Myanmar." Now that you have met ~ you are equipped to read the
second form ~w.l, pronounced / O')w.l/. Traditionally @tw.l was used in formal contexts and
~"'0 was preferred in everyday talk. For the attempt to give them new meanings see the
notes in Lesson 5.1.
Names
C' 0 C'
~ in script: ~ ex) (y) <tJ l(y) @ in script: @~
pronunciation: C' 0
/ 0')')0 3 (y) <tJ l(y)
C'/ 0 C'/
0 r 0')')0 3 <tJ l(y)
/
pronunciation: /00 9/
0
= ba-deq-c'aiq or ba-dac'aiq = za-gweh

meaning: bel with a dented top meaning: split za

G
Foreign place names ~II CD@') Lisa
(Remember to read e> as V in foreign words.) Gil CDQ)@
C'G
Lizzie
G C'
JII e>()')C'1'0 Vienna G
Q)O):e>c:
C'
Steven
G C' C' 0 C' 0
'7 11
JII e>().)(Y)'1' "'cf CC Vietnam 6)11 ~@C
C'
Susan
o GG
\lll J( CD e> OJ'): Bolivia Loanwords from English
yll Java o C'
'1P~ :)11 3f~O)c: Ovaltine
G
~II '1J'1'~ Geneva JII vitamin
Gil @t ~O')') Zanzibar \lll
GOC'
3<rc: design
oG
~e>().)(y)
C' S oviet G C'
'7 11
~II 3@()') diesel
C' 0 0 C' G 0 C'
O? ;;0 cy cf
0
6)11 <tJ (y) e> (y) (y) : OJ'): C C

~II 3l@8 dozen
Czechoslovakia Gil bazooka
o G 0 C'
0;( <1 ;;0 CD'): ~ : OJ'): cf C C
0
~II - cakes
o C' 0 C'
Yugoslavia '7 11 OCD'1':(Y)O) plain cake
C' G 0 C'
English first names 6)11 (9CQ)(Y)O) fancy cake
C' C' C' G ,
:)11 3d ().) CD Q) @O') (y) Elizabeth eclair
~ II 3d (y) CD OJ'):
C'
JII G3 :e>Q) David - hi-fi shop:
G 0
\lll G3@G Daisy :)011 Gq3O:C radio
G G G 0
~II G"'@ Maisie :::J:::JII Q)O)qo:c stereo

Lesson 24
00
:)JII '(~ mono Bunnese words
~
:)~II G3d03 U-:(
G 0
audio (In the following read t? as J ) . If writing, write
:)<;;11
GG
t?3 U-:(
0
video the word once with t? and again with J ) . The
GG list will show which of the two is the correct
:)~II Cf)t? (= a3B) TV
~ ~
spelling.)
:)GII mm;;;om cassette
:)11 tlcn Bamar, Burmese
- car makes: ~
0 0 JII Gtl3C fortune telling
:)'(11 0]lU-:( OY) Toyota 0
~II tlcncy in Burmese
:)6111 cn@3l Mazda G
~ ~ <;;11 @'f: wife
:)8 11 3 Cf);;;o 'f : Datsun ~
~ ~II GO'Y)G@') carpet
JOII 'f ° Nissan
~
;;;0 'f :
- words with stacked consonants:
Bunnese name elements E
:)11 G@')
~
supreme, champion
Gil ::DO@') [place name]
G@') power of mind '(II GO@W~0 Vejayanta [name of a
JII
Bunnese names mythical palace]
:)11
G
2:o>CG@') ~ ~
U Khin Zaw 6)11 mGcn@ [old name for] Cambodia
'"
~
JII
~
::Do>CGcnCG@')
~ ~
Thakin Maung Zaw 8 11 ::D~'f sampan
~II <:OEflG@')8C:
~ ~
Saya Zaw Min :)011 ::D~,Gtl3 zoology
0
<;;11
0
O(G@')oc:
~ ~
KoZawWynn :):)11 0g;>,Gtl3 psychology
:)JII Cf)<J:j>,Gtl3 logic
Verb sentences wit}, voicing enforced and suspended

o
:)11 tlld)CY in Burmese
~ 0
J)(')CY how? in what way?
3l tlcno? J)oSo? Go>T::Dc011 What's that called in Burmese?
~ ~
Cf) c)') 9j C ::D C\Y): II Do you want to go up?
~ ~ ')
- 8CDm9jcolJ[?:1I I don't want to go up.
c ~ "1 ~
- ;;;oC:9jCOICf)WII I want to get down.
o,~ ~
\1 (Y) 9j C ::D C\Y): II Do you want to take [a photo]?

o ~ ~ "1
- 8Ej1m9jco I J[?: II I don't want to take [a photo].
~ "1 ~
8 11 - <j>0:9jCOICf)WII I want to rest.

:)011 iD':) text, writing, letter
~
:):)11 ilY::' G"):9jC::DC\Y):1I Do you want to write a letter?
:)JII - 8G"):9j8olJ[?:II I don't want to write.
~ ~ "1 ~
:)~II - Q)0 (9Cf)9jCO I Cf)WII I want to read.
G ~ ~ ~ ~
:)<;;11 2::))mCf)c GW C 9jC::DC\Y):1I Do you want to avoid U The! Tin?
~ ~ "1
:)~II - dGWC9jCOIJ[?:1I I don't want to avoid him.
o c ~ "1 ~
:)GII - (9Cf)9jCOICf)WII I want to invite him.
<: ~
or)'JJ)0:lJ)c: pork curry
Has [she] ever cooked a pork curry?

pronoun<:e ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.
0(311
C' '" C' 1 c-
O? CD O? II OJ.] OJ )l : 0 I CD 0) II Yes. [She] has.
<: <:
'jOIl CD OJ G<;XY)C present, gift
<: <:
jOll CDOJG<;XY)C GO:)l:OJCOO: II Has [she] ever given [him] a present?
jjll - ~Go:)l:ol~:11 No. [She] hasn't,
o
RII tA?: 3 ().Y.): 'P G'f )l: OJ COO: II Has [she] ever lived in Thailand?
<: , '1 <:
J91i O?CDO?II G'f~:OICDo)lI Yes. [She] has.
j~1I fire, light
jGII Has [she] ever swtiched off the light?
J'III No. [She] hasn't,
The card reproduced below is from a clothes shop. The first word, in large letters, is the
name of the shop. What is it? The answer is in the answer section of the Reading from Life
Supplement, under Lesson 24.
@') lace, knitting @&; zip
~: [fruit like a plum]

Lesson 24
LESSON 24.1 THE CONSONANT Q{J
New head
:)
New word
o
o
J
ze

Write 0iJ as if you were writing a 0 with a -J .
Name
~ ,
in script: 0iJ'tJ2:~
pron uncia tion: / @,'tJ~:~/ = za-myln-zweh
meaning: za with a line attached below
Notes
1. Frequency. In the whole of the five-volume Burmese dictionary
(@~ ~~:yg G0~ ~O:U2 :o!jl0) there are only three words listed that begin with 0iJ : they are
GIllF "market," 1llJ00~0 "funeral," and 1llJ0~ "jhana, trance." Learners of Burmese may not
have an immediate need to talk about funerals and jhans, but they are very likely to want
to talk about markets, and that is why this otherwise rare consonant is introduced here.
2. Common words with rare or misleading spellings. There are other words like GOiJ: that
you will need in the early stages of learning the language, particularly if you are following
BISL: words that are themselves of high frequency, but are written with characters, or
combinations of characters, that are otherwise only found in much less useful words.
Similar to words of this type are common words with misleading spellings: they are
pronounced one way and spelled another, like "busy" (pronounced "bizzy") in English. As
one of the aims of this course is to enable you to read the phrases and dialogues in BISL, we

shall continue to introduce these common words with rare or misleading spellings as the
course develops. Instead of giving you the one word and hoping you will remember it, we
shall, where possible, give you some practice in reading the spelling in other, less useful:
words, with the aim of helping you remember how to read and write the one common word
you need to know.
3. Shape. Graphically ~ looks like a Q)~: (Q) pronounced s-) with an attached woe; (-J
pronounced -y-). On a typewriter you use these symbols to type it, and it would be under-
standable if you thought it should be pronounced sy-. In pronunciation, however, ~ has
nothing to do with Q) and -J. It is a totally separate consonant that is ;:ead with the same
sound as @. The resemblance to Q) and -J is entirely fortuitous.

Is-sentences with voiced suffixes
::JII 31 JY)cDll What's that?
JII 31 G~:olll That's a market.
~ ,
;;>11 G3d011 JY)G~:c\)1I Oh. What market is it?
Q Q '1
911 mc\)G~:olll It's Keighley Market.
~ Q Q
~II G3d011 mc\)G~:c\y):11 Oh. Keighley Market is it?
E ~,
Gil 8()c\y)G~: ::1)W'(JC\) II Where's Mingala Market?
E Q '1
711 8()c\y)G~:m 3'(J0111 Mingala Market is here.
~ ~ Q
6)11 Gv)OJcG~:m 3 '(JC\Y): II Is Mawtin Market here?
(511 8U[>cf.;OlJI(: II • No.
:JOII GvSOJ~G~:m ~'(Jolil Mawtin Market is here.
As that is a very short list, even for a ".1 Lesson," here are some sentence'; that use [verb]-
SZ:J..)C\Y): "Have you ever [verb]ed?" and [verb]-0Jj6J..)C\Y): "Do you wam to [verb]?" (and
related sentences), to give you some practice in enforcing and suspending the Voicing Rule.
The verbs used here are J?ch-
"to offer [a drink)" and 005- "to buy."
• 0 ~ 0 ~
:JII Ej\ o 9: O?m~:J..)c\y):1I Have you ever offered them champagne?
C'"1
U[>OJO?II O?m~:o OJWII
0 C' ~
Yes, I have.
Q Q ~
oQ)m OW~:J..)C\Y):1I Have you ever bought whisky?
8005~:Ol:Ji(: II No, I haven't
~ Q ~ '1 ~
::1)6)93 OW~:OIOJWII I have bought brandy.
O~ ~
C(C oW~:J..)c\y):1I Have you ever bought wine?
~, ~ '1 ~
U[>OJO?II OW~:OIOJWII Yes, I have.
o C' C' "-
JY)C(c OWJ..)C\) II What wine did you buy?
~ Q ~ '1 ~
(511 Ij[(6) OWOIOJWII I bought sherry.
QQ 0 ~
Jail v)OJ'l' O(m~:J..)c\y):1I Have you ever offered them Martini?
'1o ~
::J::JII 80(m~:o 1:Ji(: II No, I haven't.
~ 0 ~ ~
6)8 O(mOJjcJ..)C\Y):1I Do you want to offer them rum?

Lesson 24
o ~ ~ 1
0;;>11 '=lCJ?m<tjco I 0-;(:11 No, I don't.
o C' (' .....
0<;11 JY) CJ? m <tj C ::D (\) II What do you want to offer them?
~ 0 ~ ~ 1 ~
O~II C1JC CJ?m<tjCOICDWIl I want to offer them gin.
G ~ ~
OGII J) ().Y) 0 W <tj C ::D C\Y): II Do you want to buy some beer?
~, ~ ~ 1 ~
0'(11 O]>CDO?II OW<tjCOICDWIl Yes, I do.
G C' C' "-
06111 JY) J) ().Y) 0 W <tj C ::D (\) II What beer do you want to buy?
1 ~ ~
C\Y)OI OW<tjC::DC\Y):1I Do you want to buy lager?
~ ~ 1
'=lOW<tjC 0 10-;(: II No, I don't.
~ ~ ~ ~1 ~
OC:<f0 OW<tjCOICDWIl I want to buy Guinness.
LESSON 25
New heads
0 J ~
hm- hn- hl-
Example syllables
0 (' 0
l
C; ~ G '(
hma hmein hmo hmu
[hm - m - a]
0 (' 0
6) 00 00
G
hna hnein hno hnu
[hn - n - a]

I~
JJ J:( J~
hla hlein hlu
[hi - I - a]

The components are all familiar. Write the T after the other consonant.
Notes
1. Components. All three new heads are consonants you have practised already. Here they
are combined with the "medial consonant" T ' a modified form of w .
2. Pronunciation. You have already been introduced to the head If in the suffix -If')
"at/in/ on." We noted there that English does not standardly use the sound represented by
'j, and the same is true of t and C\j>. Perhaps the nearest to 'j is the hm- sound people make
when they say "Hmm. Let me see." Also the pronunciation of LL in words like "Llan" in
Welsh is close to the Burmese sound represented by C\j>. For more, listen to the tape.
3. Modifications. Notice that you need to retract the tail of the '1' to make room for the
T (box 2). Also that, although the T on its own is centred under the consonant (or under the
right-hand circle of a two-circle consonant), when there is a l in the same syllable, both
strokes are displaced slightly to the side so as not to be too close to each other (boxes 6, 10,
14). The same procedure is adopted when T and Ii: both occur in the same syllable (boxes 7,
11, 15).
Names
o
T in script: war:
pronunciation: / (J)0/ir:/ = ha-t'o
meaning: ha thrust in
A consonant combined with T is described by listing the component parts; for example:
'j in script: 0wc9:
pronunciation: / ~~c9:1 = ma-ha-t'o
meaning: rna, ha thrus t in

Syllables
:)11 'f0
Q
JII 'j

Lesson 25
~
~II :):) II 0Ij>C:GO Ma Hnin We
Gil :) JII G3TG3d:G3d:t 6: Daw Aye Aye Hnin
T O~
'III :)~II G31C\j>Gru:lD Daw Hla Lay Sein
6)11 :) '111 ;;:0 bp:)J0C\j> Saya Tha Hla
~ C'
:)~II G(,Y.)cC\j'G3d0C Maung Hla Aung
C'
:)011 GCyJC Burmese words
XlII C\j'1D
C'
where
o C'
here
:) J II C\j'CD
C' C'
Burmese name elements ~ II rum"fCD ticket, certificate
pretty, attractive -Numbers:
mark [on one's face, for :)11 one
example] JII two
essence, heart '111 four
dew ~II five
Burmese names eight
T C' C'
:) II ;;:Obp0G310lCG<lY)ij>Q; Sayama Daw Khin nine
C'
~"aw Hnit :) 0 II CD ;;:0 OJ ten
C' C' G
JII 00lCij>C:2: JI,1a Khin Hnin 00 - Names of townships in Greater Rangoon:
C' C'
~ II :DOlCCDCC\j' '!nakin Tin Hla :)11 :)J0GmCD Thaketa
9 11 ;;:ObpE3:2:~:C\j> ~,ayagyi U Po Hla C'
3dc: lD 
0 C'
Insein
o C' C'
~II o?C\j>CDC 1<.0 Hla Tin t:)()'): Bahan
Gil ;;:0 bpC\j'G(9 Slya Hla Pe OC'
C\j(C Hlaing / Hline
G 0
'III 2:0?:C\j> t. Toe Hla In the next two names
6)11 0C\j'G0 T'v,a Hla Me the Voicing Rule is enforr:ed:
C' C' C'
~ II ;;:0 bp C\j> CD C S;;qa Hla Tin ~II qmc: Yangin
C' C'
:)011 G('y')c~c:
C'OC'
Maung Hmaing GII 1D0:G<tPC: Sangyaung
Is-sentences with exempted suffix -01

:) II 3l :::YY)C'~) II What's that?
JII - 3l m
' G C' '"1
mruq:mulli That's a clarinet.
~II - 3lm ~:mqcYSulll That's a cigarette.
C',
9 11 3l m J)(),)~rull Who's that?
~II - 3l m e:GuT:DcYSulll That's U Paw Thet.
Gil -That's Daw Me Thet.
3lm G3TG0:Drrsulll
Is-sentences with voiced and exempted suffix-01
:)11 3lm o?~:ulll That's cocoa.
JII 3lm GU)::lruQ;ulll That's Horlicks.
~II 3lm Gq:';~olll That's a radio.
'111 3lm m«(jc:odlolll That's a cassette player.

~II 3lm ::>')Olt~:ol II That's Thakin Soe.

Gil 3lm ::>')Olt"tJ~ol II That's Thakin Chit.
'(II
G
3 GiI(F m °n (\)')G(Ilp:\)0: "
E
Is this market the Mingala Market?
C' 1 C' C' 1
6)11 - 00?mOIJ;(:II G00mCGII(J:olli No. It's Mawtin Market.
::>11 '(l:::>.)(\)'):11 0'(l:olJ;(:II Is that wrong? - I t isn't.
C' 1 C'
C'
JII ~4'::>')(\),):II - ~4'olmWil Is that right? - It is.
~II W:::>.)(\)'):II - 0W:olJ;(:II Are they scarce? - They aren't.
Verb sentences with exempted suffixes
o C' 0 C' 1
::>11 3fm::>.)(\)'):11 - 03fmOIJ;(:II Do you feel hot? - I don't.
C' C' 1 C'
JII ~m::>.)(\)'): II - 'jmol mw II Did you note it down? - I did.
o C' 0 C' 1
~II om::>.)(\)'): II - Did you close it? - I didn't. 00mOI J;(: II
Verb sentences with voiced and exempted suffixes
::> II 11~::>.)(\)'): II - 11~ol moS II Is he shy? - He is.
JII <.90:::>.)(\)');11 <.90:olmoSll Did you catch it? - I did.
o C' 0 C' 1
~II 6(1m::>.)(\)'):11 - 06(1molJ;(:II Did you photograph it? - I didn't.
9" mm::>.)(\)'): II - C'
0mmo I J;(: II C' 1
Do you kn ow it? - I don't.
~II G<Y.l0t:::>')(\)'):II - G<Y.l0t:olmoSll Is it good? - I t is.
O O 1
GII "tJl::>.)(\)'):1I - 0"tJlolJ;(:II Is it sweet? - It's not.
C' C' 1 C'
'(II "tJ 0::>,) (\)'): II - "tJ00lmwil Does he love her? - He does.
Verb sentences with mixed suffixes
::>11 to be pretty, look nice
C'
JII (\) m G"1: C\jl::>.) (\)'): II Is his handwriting good?
~II (\)~G"1: C\jlol moS II His handwriting is good.
0C'
9" 3;)~4' time
C' 0 C' 0 ...
~II J)W3;)"tJ4' *:0(\) II What time will you wake them?
G
Gil 4'0"1 hour, clock, o'clock.
C' G 0 1
'(II 11°4'°"1 *:01 II Please wake them at eight o'clock.
6)11 C)i(- donate, make an offering
(' ,
(311 ::D') C)~ "tJ C::>.) (\) II What donation would you like to make?
G 0 C' 1 C'
::>011 - 0W01- C)i("tJCOlmWIl I want to donate a piano.
::>::>11 "10J): carriage, train
::>JII "10J): Gt:::>.)(\)'):11 Was the train slow?
::>~II - 0Gt:olJ;(:11 It wasn't.
0(' G
::>9" 3;)"tJ4' ~- to be in time
o C' G 0 C' 1 C'
::>~II - 3;)"tJ4'~ ~mOlmWII It arrived on time.
('
::>GII ~4'::>')(\),):1I Is that correct?
(' 1 C'
~4'olmWII It is.
- 0~~olJ;(:II It is not correct.
C' G (' 1 C'
G<Y.l0<.9 'fl"tJCOlmWIl I want to order some coffee.
G
o:- to flow, run

Lesson 25
pll Does he have a runny nose?

JJII His nose is running a bit.
"(J- order, give instructions ~ oboe, shawm
[noun}-<p
in, at [noun] if-~: dew
O~
"(J:- b e wrong <jtc:- compare
G
'1- d epend on 0 ~
<jtm- pick out
G I G
'1:- ean on oy:- slice
~ ~
'1'f- be correct, true G0jDc- be close, stuffy; joke, tease
~
'1'f:- aim at C)j1- donate
G"(J~- be dark oy- be pretty
'1Cf)-~
rna k e a note, mark G
if-01D:- nose runs
*:-~
wake up [someone] ~
~
mushroom, fungus
ink
if-ID year '1c
~
if-ID two 3dhl: chief
o ~
be slow 3d'i{m rubbish, trash
o ~
sesamum '1Cf)- blink
LESSON 25.1 W"EAKENING
Weakening
The spelling systems of many languages provide evidence of the resistance of spelling to
change. The spoken language develops steadily, generation by generation, even decade by
decade (try listening to some old news broadcasts in English to test the .3peed of the change),
but nations rarely alter tJ.1eir spelling to keep up with the changes in the spoken language.
Burmese spelling is no exception. You have seen already how voicing in the spoken
language is not ret1ected in the spelling: you see GC\):o:o05 and you say / GC\):@05/. One other
major area in which speech has left spelling behind is in the representation of "weakened"
syllables. Consider the following phrases. You will also find them read out on the tape.
Examples with Cf)'£ "one"

1. Cf) ID~ C\)G Cf)0 / Cf) c8 Cf)0 / "one litre"
2.
~o~
Cf)1D'(C / Cf)~~/ "one mile"
~
3. Cf)1D"p / Cf)"p/ "one hundred"

"two hours"
"two pounds"
"two million"
As the examples show, both the number OJ~ "one" and the number 1~ "two," when they are
joined to another word, are not given their full written value. They are pronounced with
the rhyme -a
instead of the rhyme -iq. This reduction of -iq to -a
is a process we call
"weakening." There are many syllables written with -~ and with other rhymes which
undergo weakening in this way. You can't tell by looking at the spelling of a word whether
a syllable is to be weakened or not: you learn which syllables to weaken as you learn each
word. OJ05 and 105 in number phrases are two words that weaken regularly. We shall
introduce more examples of weakening in due course. For the time being, practise reading
the examples below.
Notes
1. The two,~. Not every compound that begins with 1~ is a number compound. There is one
word 105 that means "two" and another word 1~ that means "year," and it is only the 10S
meaning "two" that is weakened in compounds. The 105 that means "year" is always read
with its full unweakened rhyme:
Examples with 1~ "year"
wri tten pronounced meaning
7. 1~0)~ 11~0)~1 "the new year"
8. 1~o~ 1105o~1 "half-year, semester"
There is even a pair of words that look identical on the page but have different
•
pronunciations, one full and one weakened:
1~2: 11053[:1 "the start of the year"
1~2: 113[:1 "two persons"
These examples show that - in some cases at any rate - you have to know what a word
means before you can read it aloud.
2. Counting years. Phrases that count years take this form:

9. OJ~1~ IOJ1051 "one year"
10. 1~1&; 111 &;1 "two years"
Be on your guard against thinking that the two apparently identical syllables of 1~1~ are
pronounced in the same way.
3. Writing O)~ • The spelling of OJ~ in number phrases actually constitutes an exception to
the generalisations above about the resistance of spelling to change. For some centuries OJ 05
in number phrases has been written OJ: so people used to write OJEi[~ "one day," OJ(\) "one
month" and so on, instead of OJoSEi[~, OJoS(\) and so on. In this case writing did manage to
catch up with speech. The word for "two," however, was not treated in the same way.
Although people were saying 1Ei[~ and 1(\) they still wrote 1oSEi[~ and 1oS(\). In the 1980s a
decision was made to systematize the spelling of OJ 05 and 105 , and writers and publishers

Lesson 25
were ordered to write W 05 in full, in the same way as they wrote 105. The practical
consequence for you of this little observation is that you must be prepared to find both
spellings: sometimes you will see w056[05 and sometimes w6[05 , and you must learn to read
them both as / W 6[05 /. You will find the pre-reform spelling not only in texts written
before the reform, but also in texts written outside the country, some by writers who see no
need for the change, and some by persons who reject the reform as an act of defiance against
the government that introduced it.

Phrases with w05 and weakening Here are the names of some car parts,
CG
JII W080'Y) one metre thrown in as a make-weight:
JII w05G3TC\Y) one dollar JII W0m0 tyre
C C G
\>11 W0(\) one month JII ::Dmco6[ battery
C
C ~ C cushion
<;; II W0() (\)'1' one gallon \>11 "r(~c
<:: o <::
:)11 W08W
C
one mark <;;11 ::D6[w brake
<:: C G
Gil W0(\)m8 one inch :)11 ()OJ') gear
Phrases with,~ and weakening
C
Gil m(\)w clutch
<:: <:: C C
JII 1 0 ;;:om twenty [two tens] 'III 3dc'ljc engine
<:: C
two hundred 6)11 O(\)W plug
JII 1 0 6p
<:: <:: C
two thousand Gil nut
\>11 1 0GC00C '1'w
<:: C
<;; II 1 0GJJ0C : 20,000 :)011 olW washer
<:: 0 C C <::
:)11 1°:)')'1': 200,000 :):)11 ()W0mm gasket
Gil <:: C
two million ;;:O(\)~3l cylinder
1°:)')'1': :)JII
C C
:)\>11 000WC piston
0<:: 0
:)<;;11 ~c'1'~ dynamo
LESSON 26
New rhymes
C' C'
J
J
-ouq -oun

Example syllables
C' C'
\ c;
pouq hloun

The new rhymes are written with known components. The order is: C\)-C\jl-C\j(-C\j(4'-C\j(~ .
Notes
1. Pronunciation. These two rhymes have marked parallels with the two rhymes you
learned in Lesson 23: ~05 and ~~. Both the new ones have the same vowel, but differ in
that [05 ends in a glottal stop (to rhyme with Cockney "boat") and L~ ends in a nasalized
vowel. As usual, the nasal in the latter is not the same as in English "bone" or "moan": the
tongue does not make contact with the roof of the mouth. You have already met the rhyme
L~ in the phrases O?~o? and 80?~ul J?:II Note that the -ou- in the roman transcription is
to be read as in though and soul (not as in thought or through or foul).
2. Rhymes with final consonants. There is now a further pair to add to the list of rhymes
you know that have both a stop final and a nasal final:
<: <:
-0) -4' -aq -an
o <: 0<:
-0) -4' -eiq -ei n
-ouq -oun
-aiq -ain
-i q -i n
Each pair has the same vowel (or diphthong).
3. Rangoon. One of the Burmese place names that is probably most familiar to you now lies
within your reading competence:
written pronounced English
G)~o?~ / U)~<[V Rangoon, Yangon
As you see, the m in the second syllable is voiced to /0/. You can also see why the Burmese
authorities wanted it to be romanized "Yangon": this spelling approximates more closely to
the Burmese pronunciation.
You may wonder how the name came to be wriHen "Rangoon." The most likely
explanation is that early Western travellers first heard it from the Arakanese: to this day
there are dialects in Arakan where the standard pronunciation of this name comes out as
"Ren-goon." Another possibility is that in those early days Standard Burmese speakers
were still saying "Ren-goon," and the changes from "r" to "y," and from "goon" to "gon,"
came later - too late to change the spelling that had become established in the West.

Lesson 26
Names
the components are:
c c c C
in script: 0)o)G'tP c :cc 0) Xl 0)
C C
pronunciation: / 0) G'tP c :cc CfYJ.Xla'5/ = tac'aun-ngin ta··thaq
meaning: a line set down, killed ta
the components are:

C C C C
in script: 0)o)G'tPc :cc 'fXl0)
pronunciation: /
C C
OOG'tPc:cc f:::Xl0)
c/ =tac
v,' .
aun-ngm na-thaq
meaning: a line set down, killed ml

Syllables GII 0) <y.? <is.? fourth
C
:) II C\jloo vitriol
C
'7 11 ~~
J II c:rr oo ::A? <6:? 'f
6) II
C
sutta [Buddhist text]
~II - in the next word read 6[ as R or Y:
S;II ~II GC\)')O?<6:?~
other-worldly
:]11 - things in a classroom
Gil :)011 ~: light, fire
'7 11 :):)11 0~0'Y) fan
6)11 [Indian English "punkah"]
~II :) JII ~~ cupboard
C
:)011 CIj{'f [English "bureau"]
C C
Loanwords from English :)~II mmoom cassette player
:)11 zone [from English]
tone :)S;II XlC'?'f:
C C
blackboard
C G C
0) CD (\) S9 'f : telephone :):]11 0) CD (\) S9 'f :
C G C
telephone
C C c
G00GOY')J'( 00 motorboat Burma place names
oc C C c
Q:.( c : J'( 0) signboard :)11 6['f O?'f Rangoon [Yangon]
Burmese name elements JII 3dC:O
C
Ava
:)11 c:rr0)C true The next is a Pali name: read 6[ as R:
C
JII 3f'f : [meaning not clear: Amarapura
possibly from 2: first] Townships in Greater Rangoon:
Burmese words S; II 3 <[ 'f
C
Dagon
C
:)11 OC'f: mGo witches and wizards - township names subject to Voicing:
C c
JII CX(000?'f exports :]11 6[~mc':: Yangin
C
~II <.At' 'f G(\) : a young rabbit o C C
\511 0)8:G'tPC: Sangyaung
C C
S;II oom'lt'l': ra te of increase
:]11 OC00 first


Consonants that are written as unvoiced but pronounced as voiced are printed in bold type.
We also use the comma to show an unwritten vowel that is pronounced as if it were at the -a
end of the word (see Lesson 15.3 for a little more on this).
:)11 m8:~: forehead rider [name of the symbol:"]
JII G:)'):G::>':>:008 tiny thing set on top [name of the symbol': ]
~II G6].:~ line set down [name of the vowel symbol-0 or -1 ]
0
<;11 :).)G0CX(: thawe thrust in [name of the vowel symbol G- ]
0
~II (J),CX(: ha thrust in [name of the symbol J]
Gil m,~: big ka [name of the consonant m ]
c::
'(II 'f,cw little net [name of the consonant 6f]
c::
6)11 ("l,CW little ga [name of the consonant ()]
ta killed [name of the combination ch]
c::
ell 00,:),)00
c::
:)011 C,:),)00 nga killed [name of the combination [; ]
c::
:):)11 00 ,;;:0 con>: elephant fetter t'a [name of the consonant co]
c::
:)JII :)"),C"Yt'f: hunched ba [name of the consonant J.)]
Sentences with/out voicing

c:: 1 c::
:)11 U(OOOIOOWIl It is so.
JII ,=,U(d;ol::rr?:11 lt is not so.
c::
~II CX(OO- put out, extend
c:: c::
<;11 C\)m '='CX(006].1I You must not put your hand out [of the window].
~II wipe, smear, dress salad
c:: c:: ,
Gil :;yy) O? 00 ~ C:).)C\) II • What salad do you want to make?
c:: c:: 1 c:: C'
'(II C(JC: O?oo~COIOOWIl I want to make a ginger salad.
c::
6)11 'P oo - to chop
e C' C'C' "-
ell ooc: :)")W~ 'POO~C:)')c\)1I Who wants to chop some firevlOod?
G c:: c:: c:: c::
0011 2 :3?'F;lC 'Poo~c:)')c\y): II Does U Ohn Khin want to chop some?
c:: c:: 1
0011 '=''POO~co I 0[(: II He doesn't.
c::
OJ II If 00- to bake
o c:: c:: c:: c:: ,
O~II moo :)")W~ 1f00~c:)')c\)1I Who wants to bake a cake?
o c:: 0 c:: c:: c::
:) <;11 0?U(000'f Ifoo~c:)')c\y): II Does Ko Hoke Sein want to bake one?
00 c:: c:: c:: c:: 1 c::
O~II 0?0'f3?'f: 1f00~COIOOWIl Ko Sein Ohn wants to bake one.
c::
oGII ;;:om- to connect, join, make phone call
0'(11 :)")oS~ oooS03If~: ;;:o05~8:).)roll Who wants to make a phone call?
06) II 2:U(d;S~ oooS03If~: ;;:o05~8:)')c\y):1I Does U Hoke Sein want to make a phone call?
,=,;;:o05~8olO[(:1I
°e ll He doesn't.
JOII
G c::
2:3?'f:GO ;;:om~col OOWII c:: C::1 c:: U 0 hn Wai wants to mak e one.
pll 'tl~:- to hate

JJII Who hates U Ohn Chein?
pll DoesU Shein Ohn hate him?

Lesson 26
J911 He doesn't.
J~II No one hates him.

JGII Are your knees trembling?
J'7 11 They're not.

J6)1I My hands are trembling.
Is-sentences with voicing
'1 0 c: c:
:)11 310') 0(3f'1':G80CC\Y.):II Is that Ko Ohn Maung?
JII - 8U(aSol:y;(:1I It isn't.
~II - 3lO') rr?3f~:G<.90ll1 That's Ko Ohn Pe.
'1 c: c:
310') 8OJC3f'1':C\Y.):1I Is that Ma Tin Ohn?
~II - 8U(aSol::Y;(:1I It isn't.
Gil -
l
3 0')
0 c:
8 Q)'1' 3f'1':O I II
c: '1
That's Ma Sein Ohn.
'1 G c: c:
310') ;;:Q6p2:3f'1':G@0C\Y.):1I Is that Saya U Ohn Zaw?
6)11 - 8U(aSol::Y;(:tt It isn't.
'1 G c: c: '1
- 310') ;;:Q6p2:3f'1':QCOIIi That's Saya U Ohn Khin.
G G G c:
:)011 0') CD Gutj : 0') 3 J) 0') >p C\Y.): II Is Keighley Market this way?
8U(aSol::Y;(:1I It isn't.
G G G c: '1
- O')CDGutj:O') 3 J)O')>pO III Keighley Market is this way.
c: c:
:::J..?OJ- wipe, make salad 'll'1':- hate
c: c:
'1> OJ- suck 07'1'- tremble
c: c:
~OJ- tear 0('1'- run out, be used up
c: c:
'(OJ- chop 0('1':- stoop, bend over
c: c:
CXjlOJ- take out, put out 0('1': land, ground
c: c:
i OJ c:
stick \1'1':-
c:
struggle
YOJ- dab ~'1' rabbit, hare
c: c:
'f OJ - bake '1>'1': witch
c: c:
3fOJ brick 'f'1': phone
c c:
U(OJ- be so U('1' impetus
c: c
'ff OJ - blow '('1'- jump
c: c c
oft OJ- extract OOQ)'tll'1':- thunder
The text that follows is a paragraph from a biography of a distinguished diplomat. The
last two lines list five countries he visited in the period 1959-1960. What were they? For
the answer see the answer section in the Reading from Life Supplement, under Lesson 26.
Read::Y;(c0 as bu!.

ronaunce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, au as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut. 1
OG ('0('. o ('0('.
Q)tKD(}).§\CCI OCD.5.§\CCI
L L L T L
LESSON 26.1 MORE WEAKENING
More weakening
You recently practised weakening in some words beginning with oo~ and 9~' Another
syllable that is sometimes weakened is:::»( "person"; for example:
l.::Aj?q l::Dql "warrior"
2. ::Aj?~: I'X>~:I "thief"
.
You cannot make rules for weakening::::»( "person" is not weakened in all itG compounds:
3. ::Aj?~>0 1:::»(<f01 not 1'X><f01 "ill person, patient"
4.::Aj?~ 1:::»(d?1 not 1'X>~I "old person"
The same applies to all words that you find weakened: they will be weakened in some
compounds and pronounced in full in others. With certain elements in compounds (like 00 a'; ,
9~' and cl: "fish" [see examples below]) you can say that there is a likelihood, even a
strong likelihood, that they will be weakened, but with others you simply have to note
weakening for each word you learn. This means that if you first meet the word in writing,
you need to check the pronunciation; and if you first meet it in speech, you need to check the
spelling.
If this strikes you as a heavy burden to bear, here are two crumbs of comfort: first, the
incidence of weakening is not high: probably less than 3% of all the words you meet will be
affected; and secondly, be thankful that you are not learning English: think of learning to
pronounce "nature" and "mature," and all the other unpredictables of English spelling.
The Practice section provides some further examples of weakening with Ji{ and other
syllables.

Lesson 26

~ "person" is weakened in the following BII Cl 0 <:
:(9~: [kind of fish]
:)11 ~~ warrior :)011 cl:'{a3 [kind of fish]
JII ~@: headman :):) II cl:<J.:?a3 [kind of fish]
o
~II ~y: thief aY.) "writing" is weakened in the following
<:
<;11 ~C().) child :) II IlY.)G~: clerk
C 1: "fish" is weakened in the following list
:)11 Cl:bl~: shark clerk
JII cl:~6 [kind of fish] :xx>: "child, flesh" is weakened in the
~II cl:~6: [kind of fish] following
<;11 Cl :(905 [kind of fish] :)11 OY):2: firstborn
~II cl:'i( [kind of fish] JII oy):G~ skin, leather
Gil Cl:~:bl [kind of fish] Other syllables are weakened in the following
Q
'(II
l <: 0
c:G(9')c\l: [kind of fish] :) II ::),x't(: ogre
6)11 cl:005bl [kind of fish] JII Bhamo (Bamaw) [town name]
LESSON 27
Creaky tone
o
:)
[marks creaky tone: see below]
Hitherto you have mostly practised reading and writing words in the high tone (normally
indicated by -;) or the low tone (normally indicated by not having -:).
You have also practised with words written with the unwritten vowel, as in words like
a;(bl, O'y.)(\) , J3(\), and names like 2:J),
G3TQ~Q~Q and so on. This vowel (which we
romanize -a) is not in the high tone or the low tone. Because of its sharp creaky voice
quality, it is often called the "creaky" tone. It is spoken on a high pitch, like the familiar
high tone, but it is distinguished from the high tone by its creakiness. You will find the
following examples on the tape:

Examples
l. low tone: creaky tone O'Y)O1 enoS II mol enoS II fends off; dances
2. low tone: high tone O'Y)O1 enoS II O'Y):O1 enoS II fends off; expands
3. creaky tone: low tone 001 enoS II VJO1 enoS II lifts; is tough
4. high tone: creaky tone 00:01 enoS II 001 enoS II eats; begins
5. creaky tone: high tone lDolenoSll lfY):olenoSll prizes open; guffaws
Creaky tone on the vowel-') is written by writing no vowel symbol. On most other vowels it
is written by adding a dot underneath the appropriate part of the syllable. The examples
are all written with the consonant 0 .
low tone creaky tone low tone creaky tone
oc oc
Gil GO G';! J J II '(C '(e;:
'(II (0)c ~ 1 J;;>II O'f

c
O'fo
c
c
6)11 GVJ GO? 2 J<;II 0 ';!
0 0 c c
8" '( '(0 J~II GVJC GVJe;:
(' (' (' ('
JOII OC \ole;: JGII '('f '('fo
oc oc
JJ II <J'f <J'fo
1. NB high tone 0 2. NB high tone GVJ

1. Shape. In print, and on palm leaf manuscripts, the creaky-tone mark is written as a
small circle, of the same size as .:.. In handwriting, people usually just make a dot.
2. Position. Notice that the preferred position for the tone mark:- is under the centre of the
last element in the syllable, whether that is a final consonant (-9), or a vowel symbol (-?),
or an initial consonant (~). If that space is occupied,:- is displaced to the right (~o I <J~J.
Name
in script: G3d':lJSm~.£ or G3d':lJSGl.£
pronunciation: /c;3d':lJS(m,)"lJ.£/ = auq-(ka-)myiq
meaning: stop underneath

Syllables for recognition ~II GO:II G?II
c c c c
JII O'fll 0'foll Gil G3d':lC:1I G3d':lC;: II
('
00)11 YII 0 0
JII '(II 0'(: II 0'(0 11
c c
;;>11 GO'Y)II Gtl'Y?11 6J II :JJ 'fo II :JJ~II/ J.? :JJ
c c (' ('
<;11 oell or;: II
8 11 'til'fo II 'til'f II

Lesson 27
~ ~ ~
:)011 G",?II G0011 :)~II GOY)yll Goy)C:1I
~ O~ O~
:):)11 ~II (9 OJ II :)GII 8'1'11 8'1'.11
~ ~
:)JII ()')y II ()')C:II :)'(11 GCDII GC\>II
0 0 ~ ~
:)\111 y." y:1I :)6111 G'f-0CII G'f-0 y ll
:)CJII G';'II G8:11
Similar syllables for contrast

G ~ G ~
:)11 2::::D'f.1I 2::::D'f:11 U Thant. U Than.
G ~ G ~
JII 2:(),)CII 2:()')yll UTin. UTint.
\111 G3T;;0911 G3T;;;o~11 Daw Hsint. Daw Hsin.
<;;11 GC\>CD0ol()')oSll GCD:CD00l()')oSll He studied. It became heavy.
~II G8:G'fol()')oSll G';'G'fol()')oSll He was asking. He had forgotten.
Gil Gol.ol ()')OS II Golol()')oSll It was light. It was cheap.
Foreign place names Burmese words and phrases

~
:)11 G::D?Q)()')'f Boston In this section voiced consonants are printed in
JII Q)G(Y)').()')CD~ Scotland bold type.
, ~
Foreign loanwords :)11 U(()')O?" Yes.

~
, ~
:)11 ;;09 cent G'fG(Y)')C:6[.CD0:11 Are you well?

~ ~ 1 ~
JII Q)<J.?'f. second G'f G(Y)')C: 0 I ()') OJ II I am.

\111 Guy?G3l hotdog then, so
, G
passport 3'd3 Goy? then, so
postcard G:::D? key
~ o ~ ~ k
GftJxy)CDmGCD? chocolate log m()')"t'f. ca e
helicopter G3T()')9~. To Daw Tint
Burmese name elements ~
'?'f.()')C:OlI:
~ 1
mo nh inga
~
:)11 :::D'f. clean, wholesome (noodle and fish soup)
~ , ~
JII ()')y comely, decorous :)011 G6[Ol"t'f. ice cream

Burmese names cold milk
:)11 2G :J)()')y ~
U Ba Tint hot milk
o ~ ~
0J.l ()') C;; ;;0 '1' : Ko Tint Hsan milk powder
G ~
2 ::::D'f. U Thant bread

~ ~
G00C(),)C MaungTint mole [on skin]
Saya San Tint order, edict
Burma place names :)'(11
~
8 GOY) 0?G '1'0 II
0 ~
sorry!
~
:)11 G<:yy/G:::D0c: Kawthaung
["because it was accidental, you see?"]
JII n~.Gnl Gangaw

Foreign loanwords in phrases and sentences

011 $4.50
c c
JII ;;:ow <D~,\,. 10 seconds
:(11 GO'Y?G3l. 8QY.):~~01);?:1I He doesn't want to eat a hotdog.
C' 0 C' ,
oo)<DY. J)w'{J CXY):8(\) II Where are you going to put your passport?
o CO Cl C
~II y.<D\Do) y.~COlo)WII I'd like to send her a postcard.
COl
Gil Gl.P\D(\)\DGc\y?\D 8CXjl:010-;(:1I The chocolate log is not bad.
C G G '1
'(II (),)W(\)GrYY;>O(yy) 8<D:)?:0 I0-;(: II I've never been in ("ridden") a helicopter.
The use of bold type for voicing is discontinued in this section.
-Statements
C
011 (\)1.- to be startled
JII 3d~:E3: (\),\,.Oo)WII C ~ C
The old man was startled.
C
:(11 OJ 1.- to be clean
OJ,\,.ol O)WII
C C C
<;;11 3d@,\,: The room is clean.
0
~II Y.- to send
0 C o ~ C
Gil y.<D\Do) y.o O)WII We sent a postcard.
'(II Gol.- be light in weight
<:
6)11 GJY)oc Gol.olO)oSll A ballpen is lightweight.
C
~II G~o)w to play, mess around
0011 OY): G<xy?G1 0l O)oSll His son was playing.
<: <:
0011 GQY.)90)wlI to wait
<: <: l G <:
OJII 0) <D '\'0'1 GQY.)90 O)WII They waited an hour.
<:
0:(11 G';Jo)WII to forget
0<;;11 GOJ? G';JG1 0l O)oSll He had forgotten the key.
• <:
:) ~ II 3? G3;Y.)O) W II to be amazed
:)GII G80~G(\): :J?G3;Y.)G10lO)oSll Maung Lay was amazed.
-Prohibitions. Formula: 8-[verbl-ol~.
0<: '1 ,
3d~1 8G';J011. 11 Don't forget the time.
<: '1,
06)11 8(\)1. 0 I 1.11 Don't be alarmed.
G 1,
3'{J 8G<xy?011.11 Don't play around here.
3;Y.): 8100l ~.II Don't feel embarrassed.
pll
G
8: l'1.11
o <:
(00)0 Don't turn out the light.
<: l'
3d cO 80CO Don't go inside.
JJII 1.11
o 0
RII O?O? 8G@Tol~.1I Don't bring Ko Ko with you.
<:
J<;;II 01: 0\t:ol~.11 Don't pick the flowers.
J~II O)\D<D
<:G
G
0<D:0 l'1.11 Don't take ("ride") a taxi.

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as lCl Sauerkraut.
Lesson 27
(\)~o- be alarmed G3d'J9- feel constricted
[verb]-o? because [verb] 6[9- be mature
[sentence]-o? [sentence]" [=quoted] [nounl-~ [noun]'s
3dGC\? custom [verb]-~ [verb ]-pres/past
G';i- forget [verb]-?- -back there
C'
G",?- look upwards G009- wait, guard
C' C'
~~o cake, confection ;;o~o- stretch out, straighten
o C'
"fo breast, milk ;;09- stack
C'
G~o day ~~o- appoint
o
O?o- touch, prod [verb]-~o to [verb]
o
[noun l-d2. [marks plurality] oo"UL some
C'
::D,\,o - be clean G"lj?- humour, gruntle
[nounl-~ to [noun] (literary style) <qjo - widen
C'
::D9- be suitable, proper G~o front, east
GJY?
o
key ~o mole [on skin]
Yo- send powder
Gol o
- be lightweight nuisance
y- be chipped
LESSON 28
New rhymes
0
I
J
J \
-a -I -u
Example syllables
creaky low high

Example 1 0 00 00~
0 G G
Example 2 0 0 0~
Example 3
~ ~ ~~

In the last lesson you saw that for most rhymes you write a creaky tone by adding -;
(G3d003(Y)@~ = auq-ka-myiq) to the low-tone version of the rhyme (or to the high-tone
version in the case of ~ and G-?). There are three vowels in the script system that don't use
-; to mark creaky tone, and they are the three shown in in the boxes above. You are already
familiar with the unwritten vowel in box 1, but it is inserted here for comparison.
The examples show that you write a creaky tone -

for the vowel -0 by removing the -0 : to make - (i.e no vowel symbol at all)
for the vowel::' by removing the line inside the circle (the ;;:o~o>05 ): to make ~
for the vowel il by removing the left-hand stroke: to make l

There are no new components. Write ~ and l after the consonant: ~-~II ~-'(
Note
1. Modifications. When the space under the consonant is occupied by other symbols the l is
displaced to the right in the usual way: "tJ + l = "tJl' However, J and l are usually
written together: If + l = ~ (some prefer Ifl); and 'f and q are shortened as usual: 'f + l =
t (though some prefer ~), and q + l = \1.
2. Open syllables. You have now met the complete range of open syllables (syllables with
no final consonant) in all three tones:
c o
low tone Q G- - oS -') G-,)
l Il
o
high tone Q G-: G-,) l:
o o
creaky tone G-; , - G-? l
l'
roman -i -e -eh -a -aw -0 -u
Names
the mark of the creaky tone -a has no symbol and no name: you just say the name of the
consonant it is attached to: CD, 8, and so on.
o c c c
in script: c:y:S:CD~ in script: CD<DG~C:CC
pronunciation: / CY~:r?J:CDU pron uncia tion: /CDG~~:C~/

= loun-ji-tin = tac'aun-ngin
meaning: large round seton top meaning: a line set down

Foreign place names Burmese name elements
0 0
:)11 3dG~qm America :)11 ~ mother, woman, girl
0
JII 3d0<9qm Africa JII 3d0 soft, yielding
c
\lll GC(J \1;;:0 CD C Jerusalem \lll Y short of stature
0 cococ.
<7 II <9CD<DYC,,?CC The Philippines <7 11 0( collection, mass
00 o c.
:)11 3d~()'),,?cc India :) II ~ prize, reward

Lesson 28
c: c:
Gil 1- tender, delicate ~II 3d G<f0 6[OO')C\) 0: Anawrahta Street
Burmese names Burmese words
::lll UPu In this section consonants subject to voicing are
KoSu marked in bold type,
c: c: :)11 3dC( now
Gmc~tjlc Maung Hsu Shin
c: disturbance, unrest
0't1 0 Q( Ma Chit Suu JII ~)(~
c: c:
G3TG3d:~ Daw E Mi O>C0C~ friendship, fondness
Ma I I Khin ~o.:n:~ family
Q
UNu J? G0) :::D <f research
2:1-
Q c: general knowledge
2: G<foc: U Ne Win e>0(J?0)
Q c: first prize
U Thant '(II OC00,~
~II 2::::D <f.
c: c: o
:)011
Q
2: G3d') C ;;:0 <f : U AungSan 6)11 iO)O,) second
o
Road names ~II 0),0)0,) third
o c: c: 0
In this section consonants subject to voicing are :)0 II ~tjlo')(\)03d:::D Socialist knowledge
marked in bold type, [or contact]
Q 0 c:
2: 000 6[(\)0: U Wisara Road :)::lll up to 8 o'clock
c: 0 c:
Panzodan (or Pansodan) ["eight-hour-up to"]
JII 0<f:~:0')<f:
o
c: 0 c: c: ::lJII 0J) parents
\lll 3dC:0<fC\)0: Insein Road
Strand Road
===============~.
Words with stacked consonants

Most of the words in this list are loans from Pali: pronounce ~ as R.
o
:)11 :::D'6? courage [Pali satti]
JII :::D~l metal
0
\lll 3d'6?,lf)0) one's own advantage [Pali attahita]
0
'111 oq,lf)O) the advantage of others [PaU parahita]
0
~II Q)~J?ClmG(.9: The Happiness of Mind Cafe [Pali cittasukha]
0
Gil '-'1''6? likelihood, plausibility [Pali yutti]
Monks' names
Also Pali: read q as R.
c: 0
:)11 tjlc mo Shin Kawi [Pali Kavi]
c: 0
JII tjlC<f0 ()0) Shin Nagita [Pali Nagita]
c:
\lll tjlcO(mq Shin Kumara [Pali Kumara]
Q 0
'111 2: 000 q U Wisara [Pali Vicara]
Q
~II 2:J?0) U Thuta [Pali Suta]
c: 0
Gil tjl C:::D0q Y'6? Shin Tharipokta [Pali Sariputta]
c: 0
'(II tjlc~<f~,:::D0q Shin Muneindathara [Pali Munindasara]
c:
6)11 tjlcQ)~,O(mq Shin Sandakumara [Pali Candakumara]
Q 0
~II 2:<f~0,) U Nandiya [Pali Nandiya]
" Diphthongs in the roman transcription: 1 169

LE.:'onounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in though, au as in Sauerkraut. ,
<: 0 0
::>011 ~c(Y.)'M Shin Keitti [Pali Kitti]
o 0
::>::>11 '=lC\)~ MiIeinda [Pali Milinda]
<: 0 0
::>JII EjlC (y.) 0 ~/X)') Shin Kaweindabi [Pali Kavindcibhi]
Verb sentences
o C'
::>11 EjlOJ()') there is
G 0 C' 0
3 <f0: '(l 0( OJ ().) Ejl::A.) (\)'): II Is there a hotel near here?
G C' G C' 0 ') C'
3'(l OJ()')C\)'f<f: EjlO I OJ().) II There is a telephone here.
o C'
::A.)OJ().) to know
G3TO(O( ::>3::A.)(\)'); II Do you know Daw Su Su?
3dGC93dG'=l '=l::>3ol~:11 My father and mother don't know.
o C'. 0 ')
y(y.)~ '=lEjlOI~:1I They don't have any money.
Q 0 <' 0 "-
3;;:.yC'(l JY) Ejl::A.)C\)1I What is there in this shop?
C' 0 C'
'j OJ '=l OJ ().) to remember
C' " C' 0
~'P::A.)C:fl ::A.)'); 'jOJ'=l::A.)(\)'):1I Do you remember Saya Thin's son?
C' ') C' 0
::>::>11 3d::A.)(Y.) '=l'jOJ'=lC' I~: II I don't remember his age.
::> JII 3dcx3 up to, as far as
::>~II o GO,) <:
or:<f06[3dCO 3d'):OIOJ()')1I
Th eyare f reeupt090'coc
1 k.
::><;11 '=l~c\)3dc8 G<f '=loS II I'll be staying till March.
Verb sentences with suffix -~- "back there, in space or time"
Remember to enforce or suspend the Voicing Rule on -~- as appropriate.
C'
::>11 C)j{ OJ ().) II donate, make a contribution
') C' C' ,') C'
GOIC OJQ)'P C)j{<?OIOJ()')1I They donated [back there] £100.
C' C'
C\) (y.) G~: OJ ().) to wash hands
to instruct, order
Tell them [back there] to wash their hands.
close, switch off
G 0 C',
'=l: o OJ?::A.) (\)'): II Did you turn off the light [back there)?
C'
'=l <f (Y.) morning
C' , ')
ell '=l <f (Y.) (\)')? 0 I II Come round [from back there] in the morning.
::>011 cl:O')~: fish curry
C' C' , ('
::>::>11 l
C : 0') c: 6(J (Y.) <? '=l ().) II I'll cook a fish curry [back there].
o C' C'
CY(Y.)O)().) follow, accompany
'
G3TG3T<f.
0 C', 1
CY(y')?O III Come along [from back there] with me [Auntie]
G::D? key
::>~II G::D? OJ(~G<f;;1I Bring the key with you [from back there].
Verb sentences with [verb]-~. 'j'J- "tell [someone] to [verb]"
Remember to enforce or suspend the Voicing Rule on -~. as appropriate
C'
::>11 O')C: curry
C' C' 0 , C'
0') C : 6(J (Y.) 'f. '(l<? '=l ().) II I'll tell them to cook a curry.
C'
O(OJ()') II to collect, save
o C'. 0 1 C'
Y(Y.) ~ 0( 'f. '(l CO'): 0 I 0) ().) II He told them to save their money.

Lesson 28
I:
~II oq> (Y)') fan
I: o I: 0
Gil oq>(Y)') oO)~. yXD C\Y.); II Did you tell them to tum off the fan?
0 I:
'(II Y.O)O) II to send
0 I: 00 I: ~ I:
6)11 y.1D 0) 0) Y8. '{)ctJco 0')0)11 1'd like to tell them to send a postcard.
~ I: I:
Gil GO c~q>. bread
~ I: I: 1:0
:)011 GO c~q>. ~O)~. '{)CXY.l;ol 0')05 II We told them to bake some bread.
0 I:
:):) II <jt:0)0) to wake [someone] up
G o 0 o I: I:
:)JII 2: GCD : <jt:~. ,{)C»0)00) II I told him to wake his uncle.
3d~ affair, case 0(- collect, amass
0
11- exist, be located ~ reward, favour
0
~- look at, gaze on :).)- know
3d,? now Y- be squat, short
oy- thump, beat 3d 0':( false, unauthentic
0
co- touch O?- give treatment
[noun] 3dc8 up to [noun] 't- be tender, delicate
0 0
(9- press, squeeze 0- catch

Where voicing and weakening are not easily predictable they are marked in the usual way:
bold type for voicing and the breve for weakening. Elsewhere words are printed as you
would find them in authentic texts: without warnings for voicing and weakening.
Is-sentences, with voiced and exempted suffixes: Where is it from?

G I: I: G I: I:
:)11 3CD0)OO')q>06[0) G000CG(Y)')C0)C\Y.):II Is this watch from Hong Kong?
JII - 00?05ol J;(: II 1D~)?0)olll No, it's from Singapore.
G I: 0 I: I:
~II 3 GC!I0CO')q>0) IDGoy?o)CDq>0)C\Y.): II Is this fountain pen from Scotland?
, ~ 1 ~
<;111 - O?O)O;>II IDGoy?o)CDq>0)OIIl Yes, it is from Scotland.
GIl: l E I :
~II 3GOIC3 0) 3dOCDq>0)C\Y.):II Is this powder from England?
Gil - 00?05olJ;(:1I 3dG0~0)0)olll No, it's from America.
G I: G 0 I:
'(II 3 OJ 0) CD Goy? 0 0)0 0) Y CD q> 0) C\Y.): II Is this helicopter from Pol,md?

Yes, it is from Poland.

Is this cassette player from Germany?
No, it's from Holland.
Is this telephone from Japan?
Yes, it is from Japan.
Is-sentences, with voiced and exempted suffixes: Whose is it?

Note: the suffix -~ is used in a similar way to the suffix -'s in English, but it is optional:
Burmese can express possession equally well without the suffix. See the examples.
011 ~(9(\)8m G3TG3d:8~ (9(\)8(\)'):11 Is this film Daw Aye Mi's film?
JII - O(~o?lI G3TG3d:~~ (9(\)80ll1 Yes, it is Daw Aye Mi's film.
:(11 GG
31D:m"lmm " ° ", lD:m"lm(\)'):1I
O(::DmO(~ G" Are th ese cigarettes Ko Th et S"us cIgarettes.?
<;11 - (;)O(~oh;(:11 G3T't't ~:m"l~olll No, they're Daw Nu Nu's cigarettes.
~II G G
30'):m ° "0'" 0'):(\)'):11
O(O(wO)~~ G
Is th is comb Ko Ho ke Sein's com b ?
GII - O(WO?II ° "0" 0'):0111
", O(O(WID~ G 1 Yes, it is Ko Ho k e Sem's
. com.b
'(II ~G"l~J?m ;;:OGp:)Y)C\f~ G"l~J?(\),):1I Is this radio Saya Tha Hla's radio?
6)11 - (;)O(~ol Jf?:11 ;;:0 Gp2:Go(\)8: G"l~J?olll No, it's Saya U Wai Lin's radio.
G C" G C'" C'
8" 3mC(;)Gpm 2:O')w9~ mC(;)Gp(\)'):1I Is this camera U Ba Tint's camera?
C'.... Q C' C' 1
0011 - O(WO?II 2:::Y;lW9 mC(;)Gpolll Yes, it is U Ba Tint's camera.
G "0" 1
0011 3(\)mO(coolm Is this handkerchief
G3T@CGQ.Y)1-O)~ C0mO(COOI(\)'):1I
c ", "0" 1
Daw May Hla's handkerchief?
OJII - (;)O(~olJf?:1I G3TG(;)C\f (\)~o?~oololll No, it's Daw Khin Saw Hnit's handkerchief.
Verb sentences, with voiced and exempted suffixes: Did they/do they ... ?
011 (;)'9JcbQ(m G~&):(~. OoS::D(\)'):1I Did Ma Chit Su buy instant coffee?
JII - (;)ooSolOJ?:1I No, she didn't.
:(11 J.Y) o oS::D cD II What did she buy?
<;11 - ~.):(~. ooSolwoSll She bought milk powder.
8 11 " "G
(;)@c1-c2:m "
)?3C: Q.Y):::D(\)'):II Did Ma Khin Hnin 00 eat pudding?
Gil - (;)Q.Y):olJf?:1I No, she didn't.
'( II J.Y) Q.Y):::D cD II What did she eat?
"C' 1 C'
6)11 - G"lS'?~. Q.Y):OIWWII She ate ice cream.
8" Does U Aung Chain live in/ on U Wisara Road?

0011 No, he doesn't.
0011 Which road does he live in/ on?
He lives in/ on Strand Road.
0:(11 °0"
O(G(9y~~m GIl1H'):~ G~::D(\),):II Does Ko Pe Pu Shane live near the market?
0<;11 - (;)G~olJf?:1I No, he doesn't.
08 11 O')w~
" G~::D(\)II
, Where does he live?
OGII - Q.Y)o?~~'):~ G~olwoSll He lives near the post office.

Lesson 28R
Verb sentences, with voiced and exempted suffixes: Did they/do they want to '" ?
:)11 ;;X)(;pDCf)~m GJY)o8 ooS<yJ8::DC\YJ:" Do you (Saya San Tint) want to buy a ballpoint pen?
JII - '=looS<yJ~olo;(:1I No, I don't.
~II JY) ooS<tj8::DeDll What do you want to buy?
'711 -
o C' C' C' '1 C'
<lY.l3dCf) OO)<yJCOICf)o)lI Iwantto b uyanenveope.
1
~II G3TC\jlG(\):S~m GU"Y?G3lo <lY.l:<tj8::DC\YJ:" Do you (Daw Hla Lay Sein) want to eat a hotdog?
Gil - 8<lY.l:<tj8olJ;?:1I No, I don't.
C' ,
'( II JY) <lY.l: <tj C::D (\) II What do you want to eat?
C' '1 C' '1 C'
6)11 - m<fJY)ol <lY.l:<tjCO I Cf)0)1I I want to eat a hamburger.
Do you (Ma I I Khin) want to live in Sangyaung?

No, I don't.
Where do you want to live?
I want to live in Bahan.
Verb sentences, with voiced and exempted suffixes: Addresses

:)11'=l0(C\jl -:noSr,p G<f::DeDll Where do you (Ma Su Hla) live?
C' C' C' C' '1 C'
JII - 3d'jCf) Cf)[)GpI 3dG<f0qCXY)(\)'=l:r,p G<f0ICf)o)lI I live at n° 100, Anawrahta Street.
~II
Gil
'(II Where do you (Thakhin Tin I'u) live?

6) II I live at nO 5, 20th Street.
Verb sentences, with voiced and exempted suffixes: What is it called?

:)11 :03l Cj80~ -:noS~ GOlT::DeDll What's that called in Burmese?
JII - 'i'~om~:Ql:~o GOlTolCf)oSll It's called "monhingar" [soup offish andnoodlesJ.
o C' '1
~II 'i':mc:QI:C\YJ:1I Mo-hingar?
'7" - 8tJ?a5olJ;?:1I 't~om8:Ql:olll No: Monhingar.
What's that called in Burmeo;e?

It's called "paung-moun" [bread].
Paung-moun?
Yes: paung-moun.
Verb sentences, with voiced and exempted suffixes: Are they going to ... ?
:)11 ;;x)Gp~:08:m 070?CD0 OoS8C\YJ:1I Are you (Saya So Win) goinS to buy a Toyota?
JII C',
- U?Cf)0?1I orOYCD0
0 0 C'
00)80)11C' Yes. I' m gomg
. to b uya Toyota.
o C' 0 C' 0 C'
~II rf(::DmGom O(\)<f:mCf) <lY.l: 8 C\YJ: II Are you (Ko Thet Way) goin;s to eat a plain cake?
__ ~ronounce
_________________ D~i_P_ht_h_O_n_gS__in_t_h_e_ro_m~a_n_tr_a_n_sc_r_iP_ti_o~n~:~________.________~1. 173
ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.
L..
o~ 0 ~ 1
- 0(\)9: moo 8<D0:01::r;?:11 No, I'm not going to eat a plain cake.
~ Q 0 ~ ~
(!!CcDmOO <D0:8WII I'm going to eat a fancy cake.
Q 0 ~
~II w(\)m 1'0CJY)(\),~ (\)')8(\)'): II Is Shirley going to come in November?
o c 1
Gil - 1'0CJY)(\),~ 8(\),)01J;(:1I No, she's not going to come in November.
Q ~ ~
3@CJY)(\),~ (\)')8WII She's going to come in December.
QO~ 1~~ ~
'{II 3d(\)9:m GOICEjlcD<DW GO:q8(\)'):1I Are you (Elaine) going to have to pay £80?
C'..... 1 C' (' C' C'
6111 - 0'(000711 GOICEjl0<DW GO:q8WII Yes, I'm going to have to pay £80.
o ~ ~
O(lG@V)oc:m 0G9G9o (\)')8(\)'):11 Are you (Ko Zaw Win) going to come on Saturday?
~ , ~
- 0'(0007 11 0G9G9o (\)')8WII Yes, I'm going to come on Saturday.

~r:::::Q '
2: 'f 00 t?3: m
Q
CYY)OY) (\) 8 (\)'): II Are you (U Hmat Gyi) going to change the tyre?
CYY)OY) 8cDOlJ;(:1I No, I'm not going to change the tyre.
~ , ~
O(\)OO (\)8WII I'm going to change the plugs.
r:::::Q Q 0 ~ Q
::>\>11 <DGpt?3:2:<f:C)lm 00090q~ Is Sayagyi U Po Hla going to come at 1.00?
::><7" - 8(\)')ol J;(: II No, he's not.
C' 0 C' "-
::>~II J.lW3d"tJ9 (\)')8(\) II What time is he going to come?
~ Q ~
::>GII - 9cD90q~ (\)')8WII He's going to come at 2.00.
~ ~ ~ ~
T
G3 OOcoococ:m Ejl090q~
Q
Is Daw Tin Tin Win going to come at 8.00?
- 8(\)')ol J;(:II No, she's not.
C' 0 C' ...
J.lW3d"tJ9 (\)')8(\)11 What time is she going to come?
o Q ~
- 0?:90q~ (\)')8WII She's going to come at 9.00.
Is it all right if I press it?

No, don't. I don't want it pressed.
Is it all right if I blow it?
Yes, please do.
Is it all right if I fish it out?
No, don't. I don't want it fished out.
Is it all right if I make a note of it?
Yes, please do.
Is it all right if I chop it?
No, don't. I don't want it chopped.
Fragment of dialogue
A student (S2) goes to see a teacher in his office.
He knocks at the door.
::>1/ Sl: o~?oll/ Come in.
J II 8'{l'{l(\)'): II Are you Ma Su Su?
\>" S2: 0'(0500l <DGpIl Yes, Teacher.
<711 Sl: 8A(\)')ol 8 '{l'{l II Greetings, Ma Su Suo
~II S2: 8A(\)')ol <DGpIl Greetings, Teacher.
Gil Sl: G9G(Y)')6:~(\),):1/ Are you well?

Lesson 28R
Yes, I am.
How about you: are you well?
Yes, I am.
Do sit down.
Should I sit here?
No, don't sit there.
Where should I sit?
Sit here.
Here?
Yes, there.
Right. Read this letter.
Yes. [SI takes the letter and reads]
What do you think of it?
It's good, Teacher.
I'll be able to join the linguistics course.
That's right.
R II :::D GJY) a;(:::D (\)'): II Do you agree?
$11 S2::::DGJY) a;(0lCf)(.'>s11 Yes, I do.
J~II SI: G0Y)~:olwc0l1 Good.
JGII GO:a>Gp ~:::D(\),):II Do you have any questions?
C', 0 1 C'
J,?II S2 : U?WO?II <jl0IWO)II Yes, I do.
J6111 SI: Go:olil JY) GO:"tJ~:::DcDll Go ahead. What do you want to ask?
C' C' C' ,
J(511 S2 : :::Dew'f: J)o)GOJ? 0,OCD ;;x)GpIl When is the course going to begin, Teacher?
C' C' C'
~Oll S1: O'fOO<.9'f 0,00)11 It's going to begin tomorrow.
~:)II S2: 0'fJ5<.9~ G'f.CDc0(\)'):1I Tomorrow at midday?
C' 1 C' C' C' 1
~J" SI : 0U?WOI~:II O'fOO<.9'f 0'f OOOIIi No. Tomorrow morning.
~~II S2: G~II ~o.?~ Oh. In that case,
C' C' C'
- O'fOO<.9'fO'fOO (\)')6'(0(\)'):11 - should I come here tomorrow morning?
C', C' , 1
~911 SI : U?WO? II O'f m (\)')'r0 III Yes. Come round in the morning.
C' 0 C' , , C' G
~~ II S2 : J)0)3d"tJ'f C\Y.)'r6'(0:::'011 ;;x) 0) 'f06'(C\Y.): II What time should I come? At ten?
~GII S1:;;x)c0'f0~ O(\)')Ol~.li No, don't come at ten.
o G 1 C' C'
0[:'f06'( C\Y.)OIIl 6'(Cy)0) G'f0 II Come at nine. That's all right, isn't it?
~6)11 S2: 6)olwc0 ;;x)GpIl Yes, that's all right.
GOO C' C' C' 0 G
3C\(~ 0'fm<.9~0'foo o[:'P6'(Y:> So I'll come round
C\Y.)~oloc0l1 at 9 tomorrow morning.
90" S1: U?~o?lI Right.
9:)11 S2: 3loC\Y.): ;;x)GpIl Is that all, Teacher?
C;JII SI: 3lolol1 That's all.

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut. 1
More words wi th weakening

As there are many words affected by weakening, we do not attempt to introduce you to every
one of them. Even if we could, you would be hard put to it to remember them all. The only
practical course is for you to learn both the spelling and the pronunciation of each word at
the time you add it to your repertoire.
What we can do here is (a) to familiarize you with the idea of weakening, so that when
you learn words with weakened syllables you will know what is happening and can take
them in your stride, and (b) to alert you, from time to time, to some commonly occurring
words that have irregularities in the match between their spelling and their
pronunciation. With those goals in mind, we present a few more examples of weakening in
this Lesson, and some common words with rare or misleading spellings in the next.

Words in which cl: "fish" is weakened to / c/ male palm
:)11 cl: fish ~II<Xl 1: t.
c 0
palm shoot
JII cl :OrtS8 [kind of fish] Words in which 1[no contemporary meaning] is
~II Cl :(91:
0 C
[kind of fish] weakened to / U
<;:11 cl:~d) [kind of fish] :)11 yo Pagan [town]
C
~II cl:~d) [kind of fish] JII Y(\)C; bottle
C
Gil cl:q. [kind of fish] ~II Y@(D cradle
0
cl:8 fish paste YQ:(: pahso [sarong-like
711 <;:11
Words in which oo~: "sugar palm" is weakened garment worn by men]

to / <Xl / ~II
0
pagoda
YCX?:
C C
:)11 001: sugar palm Gil YG)0 cricket
C C
JII 00 1 :(\) (D palm frond YcD pearl
C
711
~II oo1:~: palm leaf in bud
Words in which c"y'?C\Y.): "Indian, Indic" is weakened to / mm/

The word O(C\Y); "Indian" on its own has its first syllable weakened from (Yr to / (D/, so the
word is pronounced / (D0YJ:/. When 0(0YJ; forms the first element in a compound, its second
syllable is also weakened, from (\)0: to / (\)/, so in that position the word is pronounced
with two weak syllables: / (D(\)/.
:)11 Indian
C
JII O(0YJ:Gmc; [kind of weighing scales]
C
~II 0( 0YJ: G3d0 [variety of chilli pepper: "Indian shriek"]
<J II 0(0YJ:8 Indian woman, girl

Lesson 28.1-2
~II Of C\Y):;;'O Cc Indian looks

ac
Gil Of C\Y): CX( c chair ["Indian sitting"]
f(1I OfC\Y):4 narrow-width cloth ["Indian width"]
6)11 OfC\Y):3fch camel
The word or'1e"king" is weakened to / -:n'1~j
811 king
JII queen
~II Bayinnaung [a king of Burma)
LESSON 28.2 MISLEADING SPELLINGS
Common words with misleading spellings:
(a) ~"a)1I (b) ot~:@3:, ot'r: 1I (c) ~-0Jl:1I

(a) Number phrases with ~<t~ "seven"
The written form of the word 't9~ "seven" makes it look as if it should be pronounced / 't-
9~/ i but it has three unpredictable features:
One is that the first syllable is pronounced not k'u but k'un. The second is that the second
syllable is sometimes pronounced not niq but hniq. K'un-hniq is the purist pronunciation-
what people feel they ought to say: in connected speech you will often hear the syllable
pronounced k'un-niq. And the third is·that in a number phrase ("seven miles" and the like)
the second syllable weakens in the same way as O')~ and 1~' Listen to the examples on the
tape.
spelling pronunciation meaning
c
Example 1 't9()) k'un-hniq (or -niq) seven
cae
Example 2 <N())~C k'un-namain seven miles
c ~
Example 3 't9())() (\)9c k'un-naga-Ian seven gallons
c c
Example 4 't9());;'OW k'un-nas'eh seventy ("seven tens")
Compare
cae
Example 5 O')())~C tamain one mile
cae
Example 6 1())~C hnamain two miles
(b) Monks and Lords: ort:~: and or-r:

In the 19th century, and the early decades of the 20th, many words pronounced with a / (!)/,
and now also written with a (!) , used to be written, anomalously, with ,t 'J). Thus (!)ch- "to
read" and 3dGc0 "companion," for example, although pronounced as they look (/ (!)ch/ and
/ 3dGc0/), used to be written -:na5 - and 3dG~. Happily most of that has changed and the
spelling with (!) is now almost universal.

However there are two important words pronounced with a 1(91 that have not made the
change in spelling from J.l to (9. The first is a word meaning "monk," which is written
:::r;>~:E3: but pronounced 1<f~:~:1 - hence the traditional romanization pongyi. So in this
word the sound 1(9/ retains its old-style spellingoJ') ,
The second word has an additional irregularity. It is written :::r;> 6p: and pronounced
1(90:)'):1. Not only is the J.l pronounced 1(91, as in :::r;>~:E3:, but also the first syllable is
weakened from 1<fl to 1(91. So although the word looks as if you should read it 1:::r;>W0:/, it
is in fact read 1(9 0:)'): I. :::r;> 6p: means "lord," and is also used for Buddha images and
pagodas, and it is an element in the titles of some of the kings, so you are likely to come
across it frequently.
(c) They don't [verbJ;~-[verbJ-~:1I

The commonest case of J.l pronounced 1(91 is cunningly disguised. You have read many
sentences ending in the formula 8- [verb]-ol~: ; for example:
7 withooS- "to buy": 8ooSol~: They don't buy them.
8 with G8:- "to ask": 8G8:ol~: She didn't ask me.
9 with ~- "to exist"; 8~ol~: There isn't any.
10 with 'i~- "to be correct": 8'i~ol~: That's not right.
The suffix -ol shows that you are being polite to your listener, but there are times when you
don't need to use it, and then the verb phrase formula comes out one syllable shorter:
11 80oS~: They don't buy them.
12 She didn't ask me.
13 There isn't any.
14 That's not right.
and so on. It is only when the verb uSE:id in the shortened formula ends in a glottal stop,
thereby suspending the Voicing Rule, that you discover that the J.l in the suffix -~: is a
covert (9 II Examples:
15 88a;~: /88a;~:1 They didn't close it.
16 8~aS~: /8~aS~:! He doesn't take [a photograph].
17 8(J.)aS~: /8(J.)aS~:! You didn't get on.
The practice lists below include some examples of this misleading spelling as well.
(d) Other words

There are a few other words you may meet in which a J.l is to be read as 1(91; for example:
18 J.l0::n or (9l::n I(Hd~1 Paan
[chief town in the Karen State]
19 3'dd?: or 3'd~: 13'd~:! grandfather, old man
20 3'd0(?0: or 3'd~: 13'd~,):! grandmother, old woman
21 cuaSJ.laS or cuaS(!JaS 1CU(9 1 as tea
22 J.laS or (!JaS 1(9 1 as direction
(Normally voiced to 1J.laSl but exempted in 3'dGt')aSJ.laS "west" and G[;paSJ.laS "north.")

Lesson 28.1-2

Number phrases
Rememb er t h at Cf)/J)r:: an d r::
~/J) an d r::
,?~/J) a 11 wea k en; an dh
t at -;;owr:: and r : :VOIce
-Goy)C ·
JII d?:G3TCD') $9 6)11 Cf)d\bp 100

r:: r::
JII ~/J);;os: 2et. ~II cl:G0Y)6 5,000
r:: r:: o
\lll '? ~ /J);;O W 70 JOII O?:CD 9 months
r::
111 GCD:8~/J)
0
4 minutes JJII Cf) /J)r:: CDG oy) 1 litre
r:: r:: r::., r::
::1 11 ;;0 W /J) <J? ~o 10 seconds JJII ,?~/J)() I CD~ 7 gallons
r::or:: r::
Gil ~/J)~c 8 miles J\lll Cf)/J)'? 1 item
r::G
'(II ,?~/J)80y) 7 metres
Monks and Lords

JII ::l(~:E3: monk ["great in glory"]
JII ::l(bp: lord, Buddha, pagoda
~II ~:G(\ )::l(bp: Sule Pagoda
;-.;}
9 11 ::l(bp::~: the Great Pagoda [local name for

the Maha Myat Muni in Mandalay]
r::
::1 11 8WC\:~::l(bp: Melamu Pagoda
()
Gil 8UY)('@W ::l(bp: Maha Wizaya Pagoda
'(II J;?:::l(':P: Bupaya [pagoda in Pagan]
6)11 8<jtUYI::l(bp: Manuha Pagoda [pagoda in Pagan]
r::
~II 3dGC\:)C:::l(bp: Alaungpaya [a Burmese king]
0 r::
JOII ::l(:GClY)::l(bp: Bodawpaya [a Burmese king]
r::
JJII <l(::l("e:CDCf) Supayalat [a Burmese queen]
- some roads in Rangoon
[Shwedagon] Pagoda Road
Sule Pagoda Road
Pongyi Street
They don't (or didn't) [verb]

The following Sf~ntences use the shorter version of the verb-phrase formula, without polite
-olll Be on your guard for glottal stops that suspend the Voicing Rule.
J II ~d\~.')~'fl 8CD')J;?: They don't come at eight 0' .:lock.
JII olo" 8ctJd\J;?: Wa Wa doesn't love him.
~II r::
~8: 8<l(mJ;?: 0 r:: Th ey d on't plant sesame.
9" r:: or::
\fCJ:LY(C ~'):'fl
or::
8CX(C J;?: He wasn't sitting near th e b us stop.
G r::
::1" 3G~. ;;obp G~ 8G\fY)C:J;?: Teacher isn't well today.
o r::
Gil ('J80, '? 8()')Cf)J;?: He doesn't know Burmese.
G r::
'(II 3G'fbp'fl 8~mJ;?: It's not deep at this point.
6)11 ::l(~:E3:CD~:'(l 8G~J;?: They don't live in/ on Pongyi Road.

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as iil Sauerkraut.
LESSON 29
New heads
J \ 9 ~
py- p'y- by- my- hmy-
The "new heads" are in fact all "old heads" with an attached G' pronounced -y-
Example syllables
<:
Gil '=icf
<:
~~ :)\" Y
<:
[Sl or§l
'(II Ocf §~ :)9" ~cf: [Si~: or@l~;
6)11 '=iCD<: ~aS :)~II
0
~: ~oL or [~'l:
O
<:
~~ ~o or[~t
0
~II ~c :)GII ~o
JOII GUl: G@: J'( II Y( W or~ll
:)JII ol ~ :)6) II jjt: ~Il:
:)JII Gol~: G~~:

You have met the new symbol in the words [3: and @~V). It is written clockwise, and after
writing the consonant it encircles: <.9-@
Name
c
in script: "l"l0
pronunciation: / w,w~/ = ya-yiq
meaning: wound-round ya
Notes
G
1. Pronunciation. The sound represented by and -J occupies a very short space between the
consonant and the vowel, so that @~, for example, only sounds like one syllable, not two.
Some learners produce something suggesting English "Me an' Ma" for @~V). A better model
is the -y- sound in English words like "meander" and "piano." For examples, listen to the
tape.

Lesson 29
2. Y and R. G
is a modified form of q, and like q is occasionally used in foreign words to
represent r: [Sd5~ is sometimes pronounced Bri-tein instead of Byi-tein, and ~ in Pali
compounds is pronounced t r I. -J is a modified form of 0) .
3. Modifications: j and -;-. Notice how j is written smaller to fit inside the G: Examples 9
and 18.
4. Modifications: - I ) and -1 . Examples 11 and 12 show that although -') has to be

straightened when combined with 0 (to make the syllables ol and GOl~:)i it is not necessary
to straighten it when it is combined with the head @(to make @0 and G@0~: ).
s. Modifications: Land -l' G

Examples 13 to 18 show how is combined with l and Ii:' Some
writers and printers prefer to squeeze both together under the consonal1t (the first version ill
the right-hand column); others prefer to shift the l or'il to the right (the second version in
the right-hand coluffil1).

Country names Bunnese name elements
:)11 @OC'
~OJ<j> Britain G~
:::>11 unravet solve
§C' OC'.
'=l<j>VJ'fcc Burma [Myanmar] emerald
JII JII §
@C' C'OC'.
OC:::DID'fCC France high, elevated
\lll \lll §9
Note. @C;:::D~ evidently came through §ch excellent, noble
911
Arakanese: listen to the tape for more.
~II ~~ harmonious
Loanword!) Bunnese names
§'=lll<j>lDoO)
g C' municipal
ao~2:G~
:)11
:::>11 Saya U Hpye
JII G<0§llcoo formula UMya
o 0 C' JII 2:§
\lll :)')(\)O)(J) billiards g §C'
\lll 2:'=l9 U Myint
0 C'
9 11 '=l<j>1D minute 2G ::::>Y) §'=l OJC' U Tha Myat
911
~II :)')0 ID OJo CDC' beefsteak
~II rr?~:~~ Ko So Myine
Gil C'B
ao~2:'iCD (J):
G Saya U Hmat Gyi
Bunnese words
:::>11 lawn ["grass-patch"]
JII peanut [" earth-bean"]
\lll museum [" exhibit-building,"]
911 quickly
~II Theinbyu Road
Gil Please say that again.
'{II Why? ["What-happen-because-question "]
6)11 Did it work out all right?
It did.

Bunnese words with irregular spelling (for reading practice only, not dictation)
- words with weakened syllables
0
:)11 ~«: thief
JII ~B: headman
;;'11 cl:~ [kind of fish]
911 Cl :(9(..0 [kind of fish]

G
~II JJC)(: ogre
C' C'
Gil Cj<\,:G(y) Bhamo (Barnaw) [town name]
711 Cl :(9<\':
0 C'
[kind of fish]
6)11 cl:~o [kind of fish]
BII yo Pagan [town]
C'
:)011 YC0C: bottle
0
:):) II yCX(: pagoda
:)JII YcD pearl
:);;' II <17(\)"):8 Indian woman, girl
oC'
:)9 11 <17 (\)"): CX( C chair ["Indian sitting"]
C'
:)~II Y(6)c king
C' C'
:)GII Y(6)<;:G<\,0C Bayinnaung [a king of Burma)
- words with JJ read as / (9 /
:)7 11 ex;(: GC0 y( 6p: Sule Pagoda
C'
:)6)11 (0) C0 'tY(6p: Melamu Pagoda
:)BII Y(~:B: monk ["one whose glory is great"]
o
JOII 8<JY)O@0) y(6p: , Maha Wizaya Pagoda
C'
pll Y(6p:C08: [Shwedagon] Pagoda Road
C'r;:::J<. C'
JJII Y(<\,:t.<23: C08 : Pongyi Street
Counting in pya (100 pya:: 1 kyat)
Remember to enforce or suspend voicing on ;;xx..011
:)11 @
m: <170 :;;0 0)C' 90 pya
JII @0:cl:;;o<...0 50 pya
;;'11
@
m: 'f Q)C' ;;0 0)C' 20 pya
911 @0:GC0:;o<...0 40 pya

@ C'
m: <j> '1> Q);O C'
70 pya
~II 0.)
Verb sentences
with the suffix [verb]-~J)- "manage to [verb]."
Remember to enforce and suspend the Voicing Rule.
:)11 to go up, ascend, mount, attend [meeting, class]
C' C'r;; C'
3& ()') <\' : ()') (Y) l23 ::D (\)"): II
Q) Did you manage to attend the class?
@2;()')<...0 mend
<\,0q @2;~J)::D(\),,): II Did they manage to repair your watch?
G@0()')<...0 to speak, talk, tell, say
Cj(Y)cY G@0~J)::D(\),,): II Did you manage to speak in Burmese?

Lesson 29
olOY) §05§SO)coo:1I Did he manage to cut the wire?

<:' <:'
;;;ommOJ to connect, make phone call
<:' <:'[;:<:'
BII S9~: ;;;om~lDo)coo: II Did you manage to phone them?
<:'
0011 Go:mOJ to give
o <:' 0 [;:<:'
0011 ym;;;o Did you manage to pay the money?
GO:~lDo)COO:1I
Fragment of dialogue
with the suffix [verb]-m05- "know how to [verb]"
011 (j'=Y.Jo? GGPm05 0) coo: II Do you know how to speak Burmese?
JII - U? 05 o?lI H
GGPm05olm0511 Yes. I can speak a little.
\>11 (j'=Y.J1D') 19 05m05O) coo: II Do you know how to read Burmese script?
911 - ~~o '" 19mmmoIGO):mOJIlIcanonyrea
C' (' 1 C' I d a Iitteso
I f ar.
~II 3d0)
o
3dq~:
<:' Q 1 <:'
OOlmOJIl I d
Youraccentisextremeygoo.
Is-sentences with places
Imagine the speakers are looking at a town plan.
Note that @07oS "museum" has a full first syllable: pya-daiq (not pyadaiq)
011 3l 0'Y)c\)1I What's that?
JII 3l Gqj:olll That's a market.
0 ~
\>11 3l U? m 0:: coo: II Is that a hotel?
<:' , o <:' ~
911 U?mC'Q1l 3l U?mOJo II Yes. It's a hotel.
@
~II 3l 0 <:'
°or
mcoo : 1I Is that a museum?
Gil ~U?05olor?:11 3l ::J?q:>:olll No. That's a pagoda.
For reference: meanh:gs of some single 'syllables written with the new characters
@- show G@- become undone, smooth out
@- emerald G§- undo, solve, answer
[Si- do G@:- nm \
[Si05- become detached, fall off G@ earth, soil
lSZ05- detach, pull off 3d@t exterior, 'Jutside
[Sit- compete @t- see
~8- be harmonious, sweet sounding @8: horse
@S river @S;- be tall
@05- be seveted @S;- raise, elevate
§05- sever, C.lt @~- return
@05- be noble, excellent @~ be fast
3d@ always GL
town
GGP8:- changt·, move GP:- be flat
G~8: ditch GP: pya [currency]
GGP- speak, talk, tell, say
~ Diphthongs in the roman transcription: 183

~~.nounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.

some Burma town names
G
The new symbol enables you to read the word @t. "town." @t. is often (but flOt obligatorily)
used after the name of a town:
<: m
~~ GC\):@.." and so on.
G
omc:l5l.."
Sagaing. One town name you haven't yet learned to read involves both weakening and
voicing: in the name aJ,f)J?8:@., "Sagaing,"
(a) the aJ,f) weakens to I aJ/, and
0 <: • 0 <:
(b) th e OJ'c: VOlCes to fl. c: ;
so you end up with I aJ~ 8:1. Often the voicing spreads backwards from the 101 to the I aJ/,
so the word sounds more like I @~ 8:/.
Pegu (revised roman spelling Bago). Another common town name is 0'R:' which is
pronounced not only with weakening and voicing but also with a strange one-off
irregularity:
(a) the 0 weakens to 10/,
(b) the OJ voices to 10 I, and
(c) the Il: is pronounced I~:I;
so you end up with I o~:I. In this name too the voicing often spreads back from the 101 to
the 101, so you often hear people say I::D~:I - hence the recent revised spelling "Bago."

Town names (voiced consonants are in bold; and post-1989 names are in brackets)
:)11 "ltO?tGL Rangoon [Yangon]
J" GJSC\)@8@, Moulmein [Mawlamyine]
\l" G~@. Maymyo [Pyin-oo-lwin]
9" '(o@, Pagan [Bagan]
~" G>,f)a?~:@,. Sagaing
G" ~~ GC\):@, Mandalay
'7" u~:@, Pegu [Bago]
G)" G"ltG<W~:@, Yenangyaung
(311 GO'Y)~6:@, Taunggyi
Sentences containing some town names.

Imagine the speakers are looking at a map of Burma. In the following examples voicing is
not marked, except where you would probably not be able to predict it.
:)" 3l ::Y.Y:l@,GJII What town is that?

Lesson 29
JII - 3l Q)o';o?~:@oOlll That's Sagaing.

~II G3'Yl11
~ .. m
o~:l5l.om
G
3'PC\Y):1I Oh. Is Pegu here?
'7 11 - <Y?~011 u~:@om ~'P0llI Yes. Pegu is here.
~II G~(\)@~[~t ~'Pc\y):1I Is Moulmein here?
Gil 8<y?~ol::Yi(:1I G~(\)@~@o ~'P0llI No. Moulmein is here.
'(II 3l JY)c\)1I Wha t' s that?
6)11 3lm @Jg:olil That's a big town.
~II G~II JY)@oc\)1I Oh. What town is it?
o
::>011 - 8;J.X.r;C:C\Y): II Don't you know?
- 3lm q~O?~@oG(Jloll That's Rangoon of course.
~
::>JII yo o
:::.r:)(.D'P(\)II
...
Where's Pagan?
::>~II - ~'P yo 8~::Yi(:11 It doesn't show Pagan here.
~ r,;: ~ 0 ...
::>'7 11 G3'Yl1l JY)~Q)0.?o(\)1I Oh. Why?
::>~II - 8G@000~ol::Yi(:1I I can't say.
N ames of markets
G G
::>11 m(\)G<!l]: Keighley Market
JII ::DG<!l]: The Iron Market
~ ~
~II Gv:JCJ)CG<!l]: Mawtin Market

GO ,
'7 11 :Dq80(\y)G<!l]: Thiri Mingala Market
~ ~
~II :Y( qC;:G'1'0C G<!l]: Bayin-naung Market
Gil (\)OY) ~~
OCG<!l]: Open Air Market
~ ~
'{II Q)8:G~C:G<!l]: Sangyaung Market
Kings of the Konbaung dynasty (1752-1885).
Remember to voice all voiceable consonants
::>11 Alaungpaya ["Lord Buddha-to-be"]
JII Naungdawgyi ["Royal elder brother"]
~II Sinbyushin ["Lord of the White Elephant"]
9 11 Paunggaza Maung Maung
["Maung Maung Lord of Patmgga"]
o ~
~II :Y( : GO')'):y( "p: Bodawpaya ["The royal grandfather"]
Gil J),[g:GCY:0 Bagyidaw ["the royal uncle"]
G ~
'{II :D')0Y)0(J)8C: Thayawaddy Min ["Lord of Thayawadi"]
o ~
6)11 Y08C: Pagan Min ["Lord of Pagan"]
~ ~ ~
8C:0?'1':8C: Mindon Min ["Lord of Mindon"]
::>3GOl8~: Thibaw Min ["Lord of Thibaw"]
What concern issued the wrapper below, and what town is it in? For the answer see the
answer section in the Reading from Life Supplement, under Lesson 29.1.

y.sccu: rn
en llt,
LESSON 30
New heads
J ~ c; ~
py- p'y- by- my- hmy-
The "new heads" are in fact all "old heads" with an attached --J .
They represent the same sounds as the "new heads" of Lesson 29:
[S ~ is § ~

Lesson 30
Example syllables
<: <:
Gil 00: <=(p: 6)11 ~'f: C:iJl'f: JOII GOl ~
<: <:
<{jC: BII ~: - C:iJll: JJII G'PC
-
_ - - J _ t - -_ _or_ _ _""P--I-_
The first -J shows the schoolroom method. For faster handwriting many people don't lift
the pen for the left-hand stroke: they draw the letter in one stroke as in the second version.
See Appendix 7B.
Name
c
in script: wOS;
pronunciation: c / := ya-pln
/ w,OC: "
meaning: propping-up ya
(Note the mismatch between written 09 and spoken /08:1 )
Notes
1. Pronunciation. The five new heads with wo~ represent the same sounds as the five
heads with qqa'S that you practised earlier. The Arakanese dialect makes a distinction in
E
pronunciation between and -J Oust as it does between q and w ): it pronounces as r and-J E
as y. Hence the saying
eeoc oc
0S;q<D8'fC q,,?CG8:11
"If you can't manage your w09 and qq&; , ask an Arakanese."
2. Modifications. Notice that l and Ii: are shifted to the side by -J (Examples 8 and 9). And
consonants that need the straight -l can revert to -/) when they are with -J (Example 10). J
is slanted when combined with -J (Example 11).
3. Other combinations. -J is occasionally used to represent a -y- with other consonants; for
example: 01j') "tonic note [in the musical scale]," ~\.JIlme3 w') for "nuclear," 80-3 ::qjll for
"Matthew"; but such combinations are rare.

There are several sounds you know now that can be written in two different ways: (j and J) ,
@ and ~, ~ and"lJ, -~ and ~. Remember that when you are listening to words on the tape

and writing them down, you should write both spellings - unless you know which is the
right spelling for the word.
Loanwords Bunnese names

G3TClc'"=0lIl:'9JQ)"
0 G
:)11 C:tJll \j)OJG6[Q) bureaucracy :)11 Daw Khin Myo Chit
0 @"
0
JII C:tJll \j)OJ6[OJ" bureaucrat J" cy('o =lIl: 1:)9 KoMyoMyint
Foreign place names ;;11
G 0
2:'=lIl:I:)c: " U Myo Min
G
:)11 G;;X:Y) 33d') G6[: C:tJ Saudi Arabia G<:y)C" '=0lIl: G3d')C" Maung Myo Aung
<7 11
'=lIlltQ)"
0
JII Munich ~II ;;:O'P'=lIl: OC": Saya Myo Win
Bunnese name elements Gil 0 0
Ko NayMyo
0
CY(Gt'=lll: .
:)11 '=lIl: Myo
'(II "in: ::D t."
" 0
I:) Cl C Ma Khin Myo Thant
Bunnese words
:)11 you [male speaker, restricted]
JII mat
o
;;11 3d~l maiden, young spinster
<7 11 OJSP poetry
o " 0
~II O(OJ~l:G6[: agriculture
o
Gil 3d'=lll: lineage, race, type, sort
o 0
'(II 3d '=lIl:'=lIl: various sorts
1"" 0 0
6)11 GO, C~t. 3d '=lIl:'=lIl: various sorts of bread
(311 flPOJC" 3d '=0lIl:'=lIl:
0
• various sorts of jerkin
o
:)011 3d '=lIl::),)'): national; gentleman; husband
o G
:):)11 3d'=lll:::D0: national; lady; wife
:) JII 3d 'ill: :),)'): 01~ National Party
or,o "
:);; II 3d '=lIl::),)'): 8 07 OJ National Museum
- Shopping: words
o
:)11 ~<:Y)C\(> in Burmese
JII [wordJ-c1. [wordl-quoted
;;11 " "/ 1;;:OW"/
1Q);;:OW twenty, twenty kyats
<7 11 G~: "{P:(y)W " price is high ("much"), be expensive
~II G~:\jt " normal price
What's that called in Burmese?

It's called "glue."
How do you sell it? ["what prire?"]
20K a bottle, Monsieur.

Lesson 30
Earlier you met an example of the word "'~tzp: "you." The same word is also used as
a polite tag with a meaning like "Monsieur" or "Madame," but in that function it
changes its final syllable from high tone to low and is pronounced (and often
written) "'~tzp II
:::JOII t <D<:: ;;x) ())<:: C\YJ: II 20?
<::, <::
:::J:::JII - U?oxy? ",Ctzpll Yes, Monsieur.
..... -.. ., C'
'\''\' G"lPtp:o IOO()) II It's a bit pricey.
- B"{P:ol::Yij>:1I 3l G"lF'r~oll It's isn't. That's the normal price.
- Class begins: words
Q
:::JII 3 G,\,o today
~ <:: 0 ,
JII :::rY) (9 <D C\(O CD why ["what-happen-because-question" ]
<::
;;>11 B,\,m morning
<::
9 11 'tP: 00 ()) to have a fever, be ill
Q 0 0
~II 3C\(~ in that case ["this-way-say"]
<:: <::
Gil GQ)I) <;: 00 ()) wait
- Class begins: dialogue
'(II
o
O'('\'~
0<:: 1
3Q G,\,o BC\YJtC01::Yij>: ;;x)!>pll Ko Nan d a can't come to day, Teacher.
6)11 - <::
G3d011 r,;:c 0 ,
:::rY)~<DC$oCDIl 0 h . Why is tat?
h
BII B,\,~m 'tP:G,\,oloooSll He had a fever this morning.

:::JOII - G3d011 <::
3C\(~
Q 0 0
BGQ)I)<;:GOO?OI::Yij>:1I Oh . I n th at case we won't wait any 1onger.
<:: 1
- In the classroom: words

0<:: <::
:::JII CX(COO()) to sit
<::
JII 3d;;X)C G@OOoS it is OK, convenient, works out all right
<:: <::
;;>11 :::Dcy,\,: blackboard
<:: <::
9 11 GO'Y.)C: GO'Y.)C: well
0<::
~II 0'( C\YJ: CX( C / mCD ci2 U chair
Gil @
<::
G lY)C:OO()) <:: to move, change
'(II 3d't' now
- In the classroom: dialogue
6)11 ~~'P ei2~G[OY.) 3d;;X)~ G@~oC\YJ:1I Are you all right sitting there?
BII - G[oloooS OO!>p1l It's OK, Teacher.
<:: <:: r,: <::
:::JOII :::Dcy,\,: ~c G[:::DC\YJ: II Can you see the blackboard?
:::J:::JII - GO'Y.)~:GoY:l~: B~~G[ol::Yij>:1I I can't see it very well.
:::J JII ~0'(C\YJ:cx?6'P G~6:cx?~olC\YJ:1I Why don't you move and sit in this chair?
<:: ,
- U? 00 If? ;;x) !>p II Yes, Teacher.
3d't' ~8G[C$'):1I Can you see now?
- GO'Y.)C:GoY:lC: ~CG[OIOO())1I I can see we 11 .
r,: <::<::
1 c <::

C'
3d~ share q)CY.l-
C'
ctJ-
C'
fly GllP-
~ID bamboo shoot "lP:-
C'
ctJCY.l- perish, be spoilt
LESSON 30.1 THE CONSONANT G
New head
J
d-
Example syllables
G G') da da
o G
G G di di
du du
This consonant is not found in many words, but two of the words it does occur in are used
early on in BISL, which is the reason for slipping it in here. One is the word meaning
"photograph," and the other is the name of a Rangoon street: "Maha Bandula Street."

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in 'Sauerkraut,
Lesson 30
Notes
1. Modification. When writing G with -') many people straighten the -') and write Gl .
Many others, however, including the compilers of the authoritative Burmese dictionary
(@~003d:J5G0~3d0iJ2:6lJlcS), leave the -0 unmodified and write G0. You may choose the
form that appeals to you.
2. Pronunciation. G is used to represent the same sound as 3 , so if you hear the syllable / G3 /
you won't know whether to write G3 or GG unless you have learned the correct spelling of the
word. Apart from two or three curious exceptions, G is only found in Pali words. In
romanized Pali it is represented by dh.
Name
G in script:
('n< ('
GG3d0OJL"lOJ
pronunciation: (' 0 ( '=/da-auq-c
/ 3,G3d0OJ"lllOJ
1 ' , .
alq
meaning: da with a dent below

Loanwords from Pali
o
:JII 3dGOJ main, major [Pali adhika]
o 0
3dGOO') chancellor [Pali adhipati]
chemistry [Pali dhatubeda]
Well done! [Pali sadhu; ritual call of
approbation made on completion of a work of religious merit by another]
:JY)GOJ • evidence, example [Pali sadhaka]
ascetic practice [Pali dhutanga]
'(II ::DG&
G
conception [Pali sandhe]
6111 body [Pali khandha]
13" ~O')')eJ~-l(\) Maha Bandula [Pali Maha Bandhula; name of a
military leader in the Buddhist scriptures, and conferred as a title on the Burmese
general who fought skilfully in the First Anglo-Burmese War 1824-1826]
In the next two words the first syllable has a high tone not marked in the script:
:JOII :J3G~,) Sindhi [a type of horse]
:J:JII
o
eJG&')
G
[branch of medici~e giving prominence to diet]
The following words are Burmese, not Pali:
:J JII GGC\?cx?:<D custom, tradition
o
G<f [kind of palm tree]
knife

LESSON 31
New rhyme
I
C'
G-C)(D
J
-auq
Example syllables
C'
J" G0'Jm mauq
GC\)')mC'
~"
lauq
911 G@005 pyauq
G3l05
~" dauq

The components are already learned. The order of components in G~d) is:
G-GO-G@-G~-G~m-G~d) .
Notes
1. Modification. As you know from other rhymes, certain heads trigger a change from -J) to
-1 . The -J)
in G-J)d) obeys the same rule: see example 5.
2. Rhymes with final consonants. There is now a further pair to add to the list of rhymes
you know that have final consonants:
rhymes with final - 05 and - ~ rhymes with final -oS, -~ and-rr3
C' C' C' C'
-0) -9 -aq -an -0 -C -iq -i n
0 C' o C' 0 C' oC'
-eiq -ein "L c -aiq -ain
-0) -9
C' C'
"L OJ C' C'
"LO) "L9 -ouq -oun G-'JOJ G-'JC -auq -aun
C'
-OJ -eq *
Note how the paired rhymes share the same vowel (or diphthong).
* In some of the dialects there is, and most probably in earlier stages of Standard Burmese
there was, also a correspondence: -d) -8 -eq -en (or some other matching pair); but in
contemporary Standard Burmese the rhyme -d) -eq has no corresponding nasal.

Lesson 31
3. Increasing reading speed. When you first met the rhyme (;-06 in Lesson 11, you read about
the importance of training your eye not to see the symbols one by one on the line, but to see
whole syllables. The same applies to the rhyme G-005. Learn to read a syllable like
G(;y)ci:J not as four elements:
1 2 3 4
c
G ('()
but as a single unit:

1
c
G(;y)(,()
The disadvantage of reading G0005 as a string of separate elements is that it makes you
read syllables that are not in the text and which you subsequently have to reject and revise:
you have to read and reject G0 and G(;y) before you get to G(;y)ci:J .
4. Combinations of elements. There are two sets of rhymes to which the foregoing
observations particularly apply. This is because their elements can form syllables (a)
singly, (b) in combinations of two, and (c) in combinations of three (all the examples use the
consonant 0 ):
Set 1 Set 2
0
l. G8 me 8 ml
2. 0'J ma ~ mu
0
1+2. G0'J maw ~ mo
c:
3. 8m meq
c:
4. 8C min
c: o c:
1+2+3 G0'Jm mauq ~m maiq
c:
1+2+4 G0'JC maun ~8 main
Notice that the number of combinations is limited. There are, for example, no regular
combinations 1+3 (G0ci:J1 8ci:J), 2+4 (;Y)dl 'l'd), 1+3+4 (G~05d), and so on, nor are there any
combinations that mix elements from both sets.

Foreign place names
c c
:)11 :::D ~ G ('()') ('() Bangkok
c
JII ~O)(:GOYl(,() New York
c
~II ~O)(:G<xy')(,()Go: New South Wales
Loanwords
<::G <::
:)11 G3d0(,() ID <[J C oxygen
<:: 0
JII G3d0(,() 0{ JY) October
<:: G
~II G0YJ ('() ID 0 (YY) loudspeaker
:)11 how much
<:: 0 <::
JII 1))'): G:::D') ('() ;x;> C restaurant ["ea t-drink-shop"]
<::
~II G:::D')(,()Gq drinking water

0
911 WCCW lecturer [Pali kathika]
~II 01 G001f2 professor [Pali pamokkha]
G!! ()1 d3 Gb.-":l 0;;> Patimokkha [name of a Pali text]
,, C'
7" HGC'0')W excuse me ["a little-approxmately"]
6)11 Go1oSc;x3 manapua [type of Chinese dumpling]
~II GEjpoSJ3: pomelo [fruit like a grapefruit]
0011 oy'):OJ~: cl :G()'y')oS five children ["son-daughter-five-person"]
(earlier instalments are in Lessons 26 and 22)
Some of the syllables in the following letter names are weakened. The weakening is shown
here by the symbol over or following the affected syllable; for example: 05J;G6tP~: is to be
v
pronounced /ooG'W8:1 not / ooJ;G'W8:/. Voiced consonants are marked in bold (as in Gfjt.0x3:,
pronounced / Gfjt.~:/, not / GIj[.dl:/), and syllables with the unwritten vowel that are not
weakened are marked off with a "," (as in Gfjt.oo,Go1a3, pronounced iGfjt.o, GtYJa3/, not
/ GIj[. OGtYJa3/). This last device is occasionally used in Burmese printing, but not
regularly, and the other two ( for weakening, and bold for voicing) are totally unknown to
v
Burmese readers. They are introduced here as a temporary aid to learners, and will be
abandoned when you are able to predict weakening and voicing for yourself.
011 GG"VctJ Gfjt. d?:
the symbol ~ ["line-set down, forward thrust"]
JII Gfjt. ox3: the symbol-: ["front-obstruct"]
,?II a5J;G'W8:c8 the symbol [ ["one-Iong-d.rag"]
<;11 ~&;G'W8:c8 the symbol Ii: ["two-Iong-drag"]
~II G3:Y.)a3( w,)§&; the symbol:- ["under(-from)-block"]
Gil G00a3ctJ the symbol-1 ["tall-set down"]
o C'
7" 9 w ctJ the symbol -0 ["circular-set down"]

6)11 G<)ooSo&; / -~&;/ the symbol ~ ["back-throw"]
Gfjt.oo,GolaS the symbol-: [" front-a t-dots"]
0011 o~ ~&;CY:Gola311 the symbol -: ["writing-two-round-dots"]
- in the following names, the first syllable is not weakened, but is pronounced with a full
creaky vowel (not a but a). We omit the "," in order to let you have some practice in reading
words without that learner's aid.
0011 the consonant 6[ ["ya curved"]
v C' C'
o jII WOWCDW the consonant w ["ya on its back"]
O,?II 6[6[0
C'
the symbol G ["ya encircling"]
0<;11 woS: NB irregular tone / 0~:I the symbol -J ["ya supporting"]
C'
OGQY)W the consonant 0 ["pa steep (sides)"]
v C' 0 C'
0cowctJlwil the consonant 0 ["M-top-dented"]
Words with stacked consonants
011 olG00w., professor [Pali pamokkhaj /01 G00a3Ql/
JII release, salvation [Pali mokkha] / G00a3Ql/
,?II lotus [Pali pokkhara] /Gola3Q6[/

Lesson 31
Verb sentences
- with voicing enforced and suspended in verb suffixes -"iJ8- "want ~o" -~:- "ever" -[goS-
"manage to" -~- "back there." In this section voicing and weakening core not marked.
:)11 G'JYJd5oooS to drink
C C , C
JII 'JY) G'JYJm <t] c J.) CD @c t{P II What do you want to drink, Madame?
CQ C C '1 C
\>" - G<JY)(9 G'JYJm<t]coloo()')1I I want to drink coffee.
C , C
'JY) ilY.): <t] c J.) CD @c t{P II . What do you want to eat, Monsieur?
9"
'1 C Q '1 C C
~II - GOlmaD ilY.): <t]c 0 1OO().) II I want to eat pauk-s'L
c c
Gil GGpm CD ().) to reach, get to, to have been to
• c
'I" yo GGpm~: J.)C'00: II Have you ever been to Pagan?
c '1 c c '1 c
6)11 - CD0G@lm GGpm~:oICD()')1I I have been once ["one trip"].
GilY.)~ : GrfY:ld5 curved harp
:)011 @~mGilY.)~:GCY.Y)d5 @~~:J.)C'00:11 Have you ever seen the Burmese harp?
:):) II - 8@~~:ol8f(: II I have never seen one.
:)JII Do you want to walk?
:)\>" I don't.
:)9" I'm going to take the car.
c c
:)~II CD m CD ().) go up, ascend
'T c'
:)GII 3dGO 1 CDm?J.)C'00: II Did you go upstairs (back there)?
c' '1
:)'1 11 - 8CDm?6[OI8f(:II I didn't.
c c
:)6)11 OC CD()') enter, go in
:)(311 3dcD o~[goSJ.)C'00: II Did you manage to get inside?
c, c~ c '1 c
JOII - l1{CDO?II OC~00ICD()')II, Yes, I did.
c C
pll G QY.)m CD ().) to build
JJII Did they manage to build the hotel (back there)?
pll Yes.
J911 They did.
Fragments of dialogue
- with a taxi driver 1: words
c c
:::>11 ::::n ().) GC'00 m how much
JII cl:aDoS fifty, fifty kyats
c
~II ~:CDOJ to be a lot, be too much
c c
9" CDmCDOJ go up, climb on
- with a taxi driver 1: dialogue
c c ,
~II ::::n OJ GC'00m OJ( 8 CD II How much will you charge?
Gil - cl:aDoS Go:olil Give me 50.
'ill ~:OlCDoSll That's too much.
011 - ::::noSGC'00d5 GO:8c0 II How much will you give me?
c c
(dll
v
GCD:aDOJ GO:8OJII 6[8C'00:11 I'll give you 40. Will that be OK?
JOII - 6[OlCDoSll CDd50lll OK. Climb in.

- with a taxi driver 2: words

JII a bit, a little
this much, this amount
o ~ ~
C\(mC0W accompany, escort, take
GOO
3 C\(CX( in that case
G ~
0:C0W ride in, travel by, take [taxi]
- with a taxi driver 2: dialogue
00 (' C' "-
l511 J)WGC\Y)m 0;(0 CD II How much will you charge?
711 - GCD:;;ooS Go:olil Give me 40.
'- " 'I C'
'\''\' ir:OI C0WII That's a bit too much.
C' C' C' "-
- J)WGC\Y)m GO: 'tjC:))CD II How much do you want to pay?
~ ~ ~
10;;00.) GO:0W II q8C\Y): II I'll pay 20. Would that be OK?
- 8q~:11 No.
G C'.... 0 C' 0 ("
J JII - 3GC\Y)m,\,. 0C\(m'fc~:11 I can't take you for that much.
GOO G ')
J:(II 3C\(CX( 00:GC0?01~:1I In that case I won't take [the taxi].
- in a cafe 1: words
~
JII 'fJC0W to order
~
JII GO:CDo.) to give
~
:(11 qC0W get, obtain
<;11 GoldioiS pauq-s'i [Chinese dumpling, manapua]
- in a cafe 1: dialogue
~II JY) 'fJ8cDll What will you order?
Gil - OC\Y)OY) Go:olil Give us a parata.
711 OC\Y)OY) ~'fJ 0qol~:11 You can't get paratas here.
GOO ')~G ')
6111 - 3C\(CX( GOlm;;o GO:OIII In that case give us some pauk-s'i.
ell qo C00S II l OK.
- in a cafe 2: words
JII yCDt: /uCD8:1 bottle
JII
~
1 0 YCDC:
~ / 1'UCDC
~ /
two bottles
- in a cafe 2: dialogue
') ~ 0
:(11 0UlmCDC 11:))C\Y):1I Do you have Sparkling?
o ') ~
- l1u,C0w" Yes.
GOO ~ ~ ')
~II 3C\(CX( 1 0 YCDC: GU:UIII In that case, give us two bottles. [NB weakening]
Gil - qolC0oSll OK.
-- in a cafe 3
o C' ~ (' C'
JII ym;;o 'J)C0WII We'll settle up the money.
~ ~ ,
J)WGc\YJmCD II How much is it?
~ ~ ')
- 1 0 ;;oWUIli 20.
cl:;;ooSC\Y):1I 50?
~ ') ~ ~ ')
- 0U'(C0UI~:1I 10;;oWUIli No. 20.
o ~ . G
ym;;o 3'fJ1I Here's the money.

Lesson 31
c c
G'iP rD - vanish G;xnrD- build
c c
G"'(prD monkey G~rD- arrive, reach
c
G~~- raise up, flatter G3d'JrD below, under
c c
G'(JrD- overturn GJY)rD- drink
GQl~- fold Gol~- be pierced
c c
GCXY:JrD- support G(yy)rD- pick up
c c
G<YJrD- pierce G(\.)')rD- be enough

verb suffix -(9 and verb (9:-
The verb suffix -[S , which means something like "yet" (see the practice lists), although
written with a G
is pronounced as if it weren't: /8/. It is subject to the \Toicing Rule, unless
exempted by a glottal stop.
There is also a verb @:- , meaning "finish, conclude," which, like the suffix -@ , is written
G
with a and pronounced without one: /8:1 .
•
Verb sentences with [verbl-@
Note that verbs with the unwritten vowel don't weaken before -8' Read q@' (\)0: as
/ w,.J5(\.)'):I not yabi-IEL
:)11 oc o c@
<X(C 00) 0(\.)'):11 Has the shop closed yet?
o c ~
- (00)G::D:0 Jij>:11 Not yet.
JII
~II - 8a5ol@1I It has closed.
s: II
G
2: G(\): CO@(\.)'):II Has Uncle got up yet?
~II - 8coG::D:ol Jij>: II Not yet.
'"
:,311 - cool@1I He has got up.
(? II 8&
m
G(\): G<>p~@(\.)'):11 Have we got to Mandalay yet?
6)11 - 8G<>p~G::D:ol Jij>: II Not yet.
~II - G<>p~ol@1I We have got to Mandalay.
<:: <::
:)011 (\) 8: GO'Y)C : <-(J~@(\.)'):II Has the old road collapsed yet?
:):) II 8<-(J~G::D:Ol Jij>: II Not yet.
:)JII - <-(J~ol@11 It has collapsed now.

[ ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, au as in thou h, au as 1.'1. Sauerkraut.
----"----~---'-------"'-'--
oc r;;;
::>\>11 '=l<f:'=l "103(\)'):11 Has he got a wife yet?
::><JII - '=l"1GJ.J:ol:Yi(:1I Not yet.
::>~II - "10llSll He has got a wife.
::>GII 0[?3(\)'):1I Are you full yet?
::>'{II - '=lOGJ.J:ol:Yi(:1I Not yet.
::>6)11 - ool[?311 I am full now.
(?3:[?3(\)'); I Have you finished yet?
- 8rs:GJ.J:ol:Yi(: I Not yet.
- (?3:ol(?311 I have finished.
JJII QY)(?3(\)'):11 Are you hungry yet?
R" - '=lQY)GJ.J:ol:Yi(:1I Not yet.
J<JII - QY)olrsll I am hungry now.
J~II G(YY)t:ol(?311 "It is good now."
[idiomatic phrase used with the effect of: Very well. That's fine. OK.]
LESSON 31.2 MORE MISLEADING SPELLINGS

weakening in syllables written -~-, -~-, -~-
You are already familiar with words w~itten with stacked consonants, like Q~01 1l~<f~1
J.J~'=l and so on (Lesson 16.2). And you have read many words that are written with full
syllables and pronounced with the weak vowel, like mJ;pql tJ;"1d;1 cl :(903 and so on
(Lessons 25.1, 26.1, 27.1, 28.2). There are quite a few words in which the first syllable of a
pair written with stacked consonants is weakened; for example:
written decompressed pronounced meaning
JII m<n
:::>')
m~JYJ / mJYJ/ world
C'
JII 6[~m desire
The lists below give you some practice in reading words with this feature, some of them
important for BISL (notably the name of the "President" Hotel) and other beginners'
language.
Note that not all words written with -1:;-, -~- and -~- are weakened in this way. In the
following, the first syllable is read with full value:
written decompressed pronounced meaning
C' C'
;;>11 :D8&
tlQ
:D8~'fG / :D4J)4 3 / conjmlCtion [in grammar]
C'
<J II m880Y:l6[m / m4 8 ,0Y:l6[m/ object [in grammar]

Lesson 31
You have to learn the pronunciation and spelling of each word a~; you add it to your
vocabulary.

Write the upper consonant before the lower.

011 :),)00) president [Pali sammata]
" o CO
republic [lip resident country"]
JII :).)~O),tCC
0 C
\lll :).) ~ 0) ,<.J? 0) OJ President Hotel
911 oo~olQYJ [ritual Buddhist text] [Pali Kammavaca]
~II 0000
:Y)
world [ef Pali kappa]
Gil OOB')G3d:
:Y)
World Peace
'(II :).)B')
:Y)
accumulated religious merit [Pali sambhara]
6)11 @~Il~ol JambCidTpa [name of the Southern Island
in Buddhist cosmology]
8 11 :).)~Q:)~ right wish [Pali sammachanda]
G
:)011 :).) B') 3d0@0 right livelihood [Pali sa m ma-ajTva]
:):)11
"0 Abhidhamma [name of a Buddhist text]
3dJ)G~
0
:)JII G~<DqOJ Buddhist lecturer [Pali dhammacariya]
c
:)\lll q~oo desire [not Pali]
:)9 11 G0 dharma, law, principle [P<lli dhamma]
"c
:)~II 3d 1)c G ~,G:)') 'f Ashin Damathena [Pali Dhammasena]
0
:)GII G~,oooooo religious preacher [Pali dr ammakathika]
:)'(11 G~,3l'f free gift [made to propagate Buddhism]
[Pali dhammadana]
06)11 G~,03 Dhammapada [name of a Buddhist text]
Other words with irregular spelling (for reading practice only, not dictation)
c c
011 O)(cOJ~c: friend
c
JII 0)( GO'Yl c: QYJ: beggar ["person-beg-eat"]
c
\lll O)('? 'f rebel
9 11 ::D0:Gq leather
G
~II ::D0:2: firstborn child
Gil ::D0:@05 breast
'(II cl :<{j [kind of fish]
6)11 Cl:G@0 [kind of fish]
8 11 cl::)')Gc\y)~ [kind of fish]
:)011 cl:'f~o [crisp fried flakes made with fish]
:)011 «cD pearl
Diphthongs in the roman transcription: ] 199

o
YCX?: pagoda
o
y;;xy: [man's] sarong
oc
J9" O'((\)'):CX?C chair
J~II 0'((\)'):0 [kind of bean]
JGII O'((\)'):@ll White Indian [old name for European]
- words with J) read as / (!)/
monk's funeral
JOlII mWG3d:J?Gp: World Peace Pagoda
- names of towns with irregular spellings
J(311 JY:l:3d Hpa-an
c oc
JOIl 000'(C: Sagaing
pll oj[: Pegu (Bago)
c c
jjll 09: G00 Bhamo (Bamaw)
LESSON 32 MEDIAL -W-
New heads: with medial -w-
.-
()
:)
-w-
Example syllables
, "-
J" ;;:0
~ 6)" <.9l ~
<:: <::
?" G:::D: G~: (3" 6[0) ~0)
G G
<7" co CX(5 :)0" 9°:, '30:
,
~II OC
<::
<JS:
<::
:):) " of ~
Gil GC GS :)J" G'j: G.3':
, "- "- ,
7" ~ 2J :)?" cy ~
:)<7" G1)l G,§

Lesson 32

- .-
Order of strokes:
()
2 1
'U-
Write the circle of 0 as for the consonant 0 or the vowel symbol5! : you start at the bottom of
the circle. For:o start with 0 and extend it to:o .
Name
-o in script: oo{s
pronunciation: /o,o{s/ = wa-s'weh
meaning: wei attached below
Notes
1. Modifications. Predictably,;:; allows -l to revert to -0 (Example 8), and it makes ~ and"\
draw up their tails (Examples 9 and 10). When 0 and T are both present, the T is moved
aside (Examples 11 to 14).

Foreign place names silver
C' G.... 0 C' I
e>(),)'f~C\Y):'fcc Venezue a
0
JII flower
Sweden glossy
Switzerland willowy
Quebec scl1allest
~II Kuala Lumpur gold
(' ~ ~
O(5c@CD'f
\:\11 Queensland Burmese names
G C
English first names 811 2:0)9G~ L' Tint Swe
GG G ~
JII 0(5'f Queenie 2:G~B9 U Shwe Pwint
~ ~ ~ C',
JII O(5coJC Quintin o OJ C0'f:'3. Ma Khin San Nwe
Loanwords 00 C'
G
o(o(:03 c Ko So Lwin
JII 3dG0(5OY:l equator C' •
G0':lC0G03: Ma'ung San Htway
~
JII ~()')0Y:l sweater G OC' C'
GOC
2: 0 'f03 CGCD : U Sein Lwin Lay
0(5 'f C : quinine
\lll
G3To)~G03: Daw Tin Tway
The sound spelled oi" or "oy" in foreign words U C' ,
, db y C(c
oc oc 00)C'3. Ma TinNwe
IS represente or olc : G C' C'
BII 2:O)c03 c UTin Lwin
<711 G coc
3@(),)C(C d'lese 1 01'I G C' C'
JOII 2:0)903 c U Tint Lwip
toy G C'
C 0 c 2:3f'f:G~ U Ohn Shwe
G(Y)')C J2l C cowboy G C'
oc ~ 8JII 2:o)CG~ U Tin Shwe
glC (),) (),) royal C' C
oc J\lll G0':lCG~0)9 Maung Swe Tint
6)11 lD'3lC : Hanoi G C'
C' OC' 8<7 11 2: GS CDC : UNgwe Lin
G0Y:l0 06lc: Tolstoy G C'
8~1I 2:0'f:GS U San Ngwe
JII G~ friend

ronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, a u as in Sauerkraut.

Voiced consonants are marked by bold type, and weakening is shown by shown by a - over the
syllable.
G C'
011 3:nm~: Go this way.
C' 0 C'
JII 0(lOJ3do) shoulder bag
C' " 0 C'
;;>11 C\)m;;X;:S3do) briefcase ["hand-carry-bag"]
o C'
9" (;}o)G;;X;:S friend
C'
~II ilY.)§m sheet of paper ["writing leaf"]
C' C'
Gil ;;:oc ~OJ ivory ["elephant canine"]
o
'7" G;;X;:SiJl: relative
6)11 G~GS gold and silver
See you later ["meet-more-pres/past-of course")
e" G03.G::>.:>:OY:>Gol.
1 C'
J.(30 : 0lJ coo:> OJ
C'
0011 I want to go.
~:o?aSG;;:O: toothpaste ["tooth-polish-medicine"]
OJII (;}~~ol~. Don't open it.
C' 1 C' "-
0;;>11 ~(;}:GGlm;;x;:s Shan noodles
o
09" ~0:'f. milk ["cowbreast"]
o
O~II 3d Cf:3d lP: grandfather and grandmother
OGII four and a half years
Notices
011 No unauthorized entry
("permission-not-have-not-enter-may"]
No U turns ("ga-little-turn-not-turn-may"]
Please ask permission to enter
(" enter-permission-request-please")
Please spit in the receptacle
["sand-container-in-spit-please"]
~II Exit [" exit-opening"]
Gil Way out ["exit"]
Belongings
C'
011 GJY)oc ballpoint pen [from English]
C' C' G
C\)moOJ<j>06[ wrist-watch [" arm-encirc1e-clock"]
o C' G
=il c OJ06[ diary [from English]
scarf [from English " muffler"]
umbrella
o C' •
ym;;:o money
GOO:> ruler [" foot-stick"]
, .
GO:> pencil ["lead -stick"]
C' 0 C' 1
C\)mO(lcool handkerchief ["hand-hold-cloth"]
C' 0 C'
G<.90Co),\, fountain pen [from English]
C' 0
C'
0011 C\)m 3d 0) glove ["hand-bag"]

Lesson 32
o <: • 0 <:
:)JII ymOO3dCf) purse, handbag ["money-bag"]
0 <:
:)~II 003dCf) envelope ["letter-bag"]
<: <:
:)9 11 ~m'j~ spectacles [" eye-glass"]
, <:
:)~II Olt\Jm eraser ["lead-eliminate"]
<: , 0 <:
:)GII (\)m~3dCf) briefcase ["hand-carry-bag"]
<:
:)'(11 ~wCJY) cardigan ["sweater"]
<:
:)6)11 00l8 m sheet of paper ["writing-leaf"]
Names of some hotels in Rangoon
<: <:r,:::;Q, 0 <:
:)11 m~GCY.Y)l223:U?Cf)W Kandawgyi Hotel
1 <: 0 <:
JII OI3CU?Cf)W Garden Hotel
<: 0 <:
~II <DOl~:JY)U?Cf)W Sakhanthar Hotel
<: 0 <:
<Dcoqc:U?Cf)W Strand Hotel
0<: <: G
~II C(C 3d8<DG3d YMCA
<: 0 <:
Gil 3<[ ~U?Cf)W Dagon Hotel
'(II
o <:
:::D'i?Cf),U?Cf)W President Hote 1
6)11
r,;<:G
~c2:06cU?Cf)W
<:0 <:
Pyin-U-Lwin Hote1
(@8e:068 is a new, more elegant, name for the town G8@..)
0iS saw GI8:- choose
~- stir up, arouse village
<:
~
~m cup, glass GO(S:- ponder
oam- <::
go out GO(S. - meet, find, see
18m<::
<::
leaf Gs hot season, summer
O(Sm- calculate GS:- be warm
<::
3d0'6m square, cell G'8:- give birth, be born
, <:
3- split, halve 3<;: permission
<:
~ feast, gathering ~<;:-
<:
open
be hidden <6<;:- be opened
be easy 3d~: grandmother, old lady
gold ~: go
dog ~'): cow, bullock

There is no new material in this Lesson. It is here to provide practice only.

Weakening and voicing are marked only in cases where you may not expect them.
Otherwise apply the rules as you have learned them.
• in a restaurant
, c::
:)11 JY) 'fJ0(\) OlC~1I What would you like to order?
:1 c:: , c:: ,
Bring us two bowls of noodles please.
JII - GOl m~ 1<D~ Go:olil
,
;;>11 JY)3d:),)l): 9. 0)'):00) II What meat will you eat it with?
C;;II - om:),)l):9.0 II
c:: '~ With pork.
c::
~II GOY)~:ol8 OlC~1I 6')ol 0003 II All right, Monsieur. That's fine.
• in a cafe
C' C' " C'
:)11 JY) G:),)I)m<tJc::D(\) OlC~1I What would you like to drink, Madame?
JII - G~~olll Coffee, please.
c:: c::
;;>11 1<D~m(\),):11 Two cups?
C'" C' C'
C;;" - U(OOO?II t<D~mll Yes. Two cups.
~II GOY)~:ol8 0l~~11 Right, Madame.
• asking about children
:) II :),)I):G(\): J)033d~03 ~(0) II • How old is your little son?
JII - G(\):tJ) ~lSll He's four.
G
;;>11 ::D 0: GCY.>0 II And your daughter?
C' C',," 0 1 C'
C;;II - Oi(m OO<D1<D~O 1101 G::D:OOWIl She's only one and a half.
• outside the post office
:)11 O)')o?05 '698(\)'):11 Is the post office open yet?
JII - 0'69 G::D:ol:r;(:11 Not yet.
C' 0 C' C' "-
;;>11 J)W3d<tJ9 '69::DC\) II What time does it open?
c:: G c:: '1 c::
C;;II - <DG9 G9.'fJ ;;oW906')<7 '6901OOWIl On Saturdays it opens only at ten.
• asking the way 1
G c::
:)11 3'fJ l1clI Excuse me, please.
JII - ~II JY)0)1I Yes? What is it?
c:: '1 c::
;;>11 OXi(:GC\)O("p: ~:<tJCOI ()')WII I'd like to go to the Sule Pagoda.
co,
C;;II J)wcy ~:6')0(\)1I Which way should I go?
G c:: ') c::
~II - 3J)m ~:Ol OlC~11 Go this way.
Gil ~J)~c\y):1I This way?
c:: ,
'"(II - U(OOO? II Yes.
• asking the way 2
G c::
:)11 3'fJ OlC~11 Excuse me, please.
c::
JII - 51.C11 Yes?
c:: c:: c:: ') c::
;;>11 O)')~m OW<tJCOIOOWII I want to buy some writing paper.

Lesson 32R
G C ,
'7 11 3 'i'0:'r J)W'r 6['=IC\J II Where can I get some near here?
C
~II QY)Etlm(\)'): II Writing paper?
(' 0 OC c: OC 0 C
\)11 - <YjlGl1.'i'0:'r QX:jlC OO<DQX:jlC l100WIl There's a shop over there.
,G C
'(II - 3d3'r 6['=IWII You'll get some there.
• taking a taxi
C ,
:)11 ::nw ~:'=IC\JII Where are you going to?
E c:
JII - '=I()(\)')GotF ~:'=IWII I'm going to the Mingala Market.
\lll G(Y)')6:0l ~ II ooaSolll Fine. Get in.
c: c: ,
'7" - ::nWG(\)')m GO:6['=IC\J11 How much will I have to pay?
~II '=IA(\)')G<1Jj:cq(\)'):1I To the Mingala Market?
(' C ,
\)11 - <YjlOOO?II Yes.
c: c: 'I C
'(II '?'i'<DOOW GO:OI OIC~II Pay me 70 [kyats].
6)11 - ~:oloooSll cl:oooS <XY.):olll That's a lot. Put it at 50.
e" G(Y)')6:ol~1I 6[oloooSll ooaSolll OK. That's all right. Get in.
• in the taxi
E CR
:) II '=I()(\)')G<1Jj: G-rm~(\)'): II Have we got to Mingala Market yet?
JII - G-raS~1I We have.
G c:
\l" 3~ OOC:6['=I(\)'):1I Should I get out here?
C' " 0 0
'7 11 - <YjlOOO?II Gl1.O;>:C$. '=I6[~:1I Yes. I can't go any further.
C 'I C 0 c:
~II - OCGOlmm <YjlGl1.'r G06.'=IWII You'll find the entrance over there.
(' c: 'IR 0 C • G
$11 G(Y)')C:OI~II ymoo 3'r1l OK. Here's the money.
c: c:
'(II ~:'=IWG'i'011 Goodbye then.
6)11 - G(Y)')6:ol~ OI~~II Goodbye.
LESSON 32.1 INDUCED CREAKY TONE
Induced creaky tone

You may already have learned how to express possession in Burmese. If not, the following
is a brief description,
Possession is shown by the syllable -~, which is suffixed to the possessor (like's in
English):
:) II Ko Tin's house ["Ko Tin-possessive house"]
Alternatively, possession may be shown by adding a creaky tone:
J II 07CD~ ~~
Ko Tin's house ["Ko Tin-possessive house"]
Ch angmg ~CDC to ~CDC;: IS 1 e ch angmg
,or:: l'k ,or:: 0
~CDC to ~CDC~ -
r:: .... b ot h ch anges ma k e "K 0
0 r::,
Tin" into "Ko Tin's," We call this added creaky tone "induced creaky tone," Here are some
more examples:
or::
~ II 'JdG,? 'Jd8 Mother's house ["Mother ( 'Jd G8 ) -possessive house"]
o 0 <:
911 'Jd~. 'Jd8 Brother's house ["Brother ('Jdo?) -possessive house"]

With some vowels, marking creaky tone by adding a dot produces some anomalous
syllables:
normal form with induced creaky tone
~II ;;:oEip Teacher ;;:o~ (not;;:oq) ~~ Teacher's house
GG o~
Gil 44 Ni Ni GG
440
( GO)
not 44 3d8 Ni Ni's house
'(II ::A;{ he/she ~o (notJ?) ~~ his/her house
~
6)11
OiJ G4° OiJG4~ (not OiJG4~) ~~ my house
Gil 86 03 Ma Kywe 860S (not8@J ~~ Ma Kywe's house
You might expect the creaky variant of ~ ~ to be written ~ II It isn't. Instead of replacingt
the low-tone form of the syllable with the creaky-tone form, you keep it as it is and add a
dot. It is a way of showing that the normal form of the name has the low tone, and it has
only taken a creak here temporarily to show "possessive." The same principle of double
tone marking (~ indicates low tone, -: indicates creaky tone) is at work in the other
examples.
In addition to its function of marking "possessive," induced creaky tone is used between the
"columns" of numbers greater than ten, and here too double tone marking is the rule:
column 1 column 2 with induced creaky tone
JO II G~d>;x)oS +::>y: G~d>;x)O;\ ~:
Go + ~ G~
J J II + cl :;x) oS «4J) 6'8 cl: ;x) (JS
'(00 + ~o '(~o
People write;;:o~ (rarely ~), and"p. (not 6[).
You will no doubt have noticed that all the examples of induced creaky tone given so far
have been on words ending in a low tone. You may have wondered what happens when
words ending in other tones need to be creaked. The short answer is that they aren't. You
mark "possession!! either by adding ~, or by leaving the syllable unchanged:
~ C' "- o~ C' o~

J J II 8<6C? Ma Pwint 8<6C?~ 3d8 or8<6C? 3d8 Ma Pwint's house
J ~ II G3T'1jJ) Daw Chit T ~"-
G3 '1jQ)~ 3d8
o~ T ~ o~
orG3 '1jQ)3d8 Daw Chit's house
C' ~ ~
C' "- o~ ~ C' o~
J C;; II Gmcoc: MaungWin Gmcoc:~ 3d8 or Gmcoc: 3d8 Maung Win's house
,
The name in Example 12, 0~q ends in a creaky tone already, which rules out further
creaking; and the stop syllable ouoS in Example 13 has no creaky tone that could match it.
The high tone ot; in Example 14 is a borderline case. You may come across creaked high
tone syllables occasionally. They are written with two tone marks: o~:. There is a word
for "you" used by seniors to juniors, which is notably prone to being creaked:
~
8C: you your house
But you will commit no errors if in your own speech you treat hif,h-tone syllables as
uncreakable.

Lesson 32.1-3
The following examples provide some practice in reading syllables with induced creaky
tone, some with double tone marks.

normal creaked + possession or other meaning
o c o C G
:)11 O?O')C O?O')y @<f: Ko Tin's wife
o
3d
o
07
0
3d
000
07. m0: my brother's car
0CUl 0CUl. 3d~l::JY): Mi Cho's boyfriend
3dG0 3d G'? :::D GJ)') Mother's idea
GOGO GOG9 @OO We We's pencil
0, 0,
O?"i 07 "i. GOO') Ko Yeh' s ruler
c C C
~C W;: GJ)')oc your ballpoint pen
o C C G
m00 Cf)
mw. 3fCDOIDGm000') International Olympic Committee
G3TG3T G3TG3~ CDaSo7tool Auntie's handkerchief
C C
Ji( Ji(. ~m'i<f his/her spectacles
c c C C
~IDGCXYJC ~IDGCXYJ9 GCD:r;p 8,400
C <:
:)JII ~:r;p ~:r;p. <r<fID;;:OW 370
o c o C <:
:)~II O?:;;:OW 07 :;;:0 0;> tID 92
<:
:)<;11 W ~~. ~W(Y)') Mu Mu's cardigan
0<:
:)~II 3d 00 3d ~ G;;:O : CD 0 Ama's cigarettes
c C 0 <: .0<: ,
:)GII ::nW::J.j( ::n W::J.j(. Ym;;:o 3d 0') CD whose handbag?
o 1 <: 0 <:
:)'(11 o7 0l 07 0 I. C$lW3dO') Ko Pa's shoulder bag

more names of towns
The new letters in recent lessons have brought more Burma town names within your range.
Three of them have unpredictable features:
spelling pronunciation traditional unpredictable
English equivalent features
c: c:
:) II tl 'f: G80 IYJG~I Bhamo weakening
c:
JII 0:)'):000 1300Si Tavoy = Dawei voicing + weakening
c
~II m::D')Cf) Im/?;:OY31 Henzada high tone + voicing
+ weakening
You will find these again among the town names in the practice lists.


* against a name is there to warn you of an irregularity (other than voicing). As usual,
voiced consonants are marked in bold type. New English spellings (dating from the 1989
revision) are shown after "=".
o G
:) II 3($11 Dalla JOII 8~C\Y)1I Meiktila
C'
J II G(")'Y,lG::D')c: II Kawthaung pll 8c?;G(\):1I Mandalay
;;11 G8@.1I Maymyo [= Pyin-oo-lwin] JJII ~~II Monywa
<:; II
C'
GId0(\)l5lc II
IRC'
Moulmein = Mawlamyine R"
C'
'f,;)0l8:11
C'
Namkham
C' 0 C' C'
:]11 GId0C$mll Mawlaik J<:;II (9($8:11 Falam
Gil G6):~.1I Yay J:]II * YOII Pagan
• C'
'(II G6)'fG~c: II Yenangyaung JGII 'r(0Y.l~1I Putao
G
G111 CU(\)ll Ngapali J,(II ctr~ Pyabon
(311 * JY):3d1l Paan = Hpa-an Jm ::D02 11 Sandoway
o
:)011 G~J(II Shwebo J(311 ::D6)aS@.1I Tbayetmyo
C'
:):)11 GOY.lC<j(1I Taungoo * U~:II P€gu = Bago
n~.Gnlll =Yangon
C' C'
:)JII Gangaw RZ~1goon
6)'f CY? 1"
:);;11 lYY.l:61l:11 Hakha G0Y.l8@3:11 Taunggyi
:)<:;11 * (j')~OOIl Henzada ;;;;11
C'
0) 0) G06 II Akyab = Sittwe
:):]11 m::D')1I Katha ;;<:;11 * Q:Y.):OuSll Tavol' = Dawei
:)GII c\y):~:1I Lashio ;;:]11 OY.lG~1I Tamv've
C' C'
;;GII ~~E3:1,):1I
.¥
:)'(11 (\)mu OO'f:1I Letpadan Myitkyina

:)G111 8GC16:11 Magwe ;;'(11 * 0)~~8:11 Sagaing
:)(311 * C'
~'f:GId0I1
C'
Bhamo
LESSON 32.3 ENGLISH FINALS
English finals
The phenomenon we call "English finals" is not not strikingly common, but you need if for
one of the words that comes early on in BISL, and it won't impose a serious load on your
memory, so we slip it in at this point rather than later among the rarities.
You have met loans from English in which English final consonants ate matched more or
less closely by Burmese final consonants; for example:
c: c:
J II CD cf 3 cf London
c:
J II C(Jffi Jack

Lesson 32.1-3
Martin
Ingrid
skirt
There are some finals in English which are not so easily matched in Burmese, such as finals
like -s, -ks, -sh, -ch, -1. There are four strategies that people use to represent finals like
these in Burmese script. The examples below all use the word ::ncA()')'): "bus" ["bus-car"],
which needs an S at the end of ::ncA •
1. omit the S altogether: JJ d5 m0 ~
C'
2. write the S as the initial of the next syllable: JJm 0m0~
3. write the S as a killed consonant in brackets: JJd5( J;)ffi0~
4. write the S as a killed consonant without brackets: JJd5J;ffi0~
Early on in BISL you meet the name "Bangladesh": for this name people usually adopt
strategy 4, and write O')f,C\.Y):G::} ~. If you wanted to write "Bangladeshi" you could of course
avoid this awkward form, and use strategy 2 to write 0')f,c\'y):G3~.
The lists below provide some practice in reading examples of strategies 2, 3 and 4.

English finals bus
- written as next intial: <: <:
~00 Swiss
o <:
J II Y.0(),)Cf) postcard 0<:
cheese
~0
<:
J II ::n Cf) 0 ()')'): bus <: <:
3dC<:lG3d M.A.
00<:
~II ~0(),)Cf) cheesecake GJY:l<:lCf)C((\)(9
<: <:<: Th omas W 01 f e
<: <:
<711 3Cf)~<:lC Dutchman o (' (' Q .... C' 1
3dCf)~1 C[JI O(\) H. G. We Is
()')') (9 ()')') Kafka sulphur
Pushkin ~II
G 0 <:
0~C(9Cf)0
<: <:
Sisyphus
Charlie Chaplin JOII
<:
<:lC3W(\)
<: <:
Mendel
- final written in brackets: In the next example read §= TR
JII <: 0(<:)
;;:01:0 1\ san d WIC
.h
(Lesson 29 note)
J II 0') cA CE )()')'): bus
JJII
0<: r::::;::::
~00G~ cheese straw
~II 3cA(~) Dutch Names of countries
<711 ::n(oS) bell JII ~~m~~c Burma [Myanmar]
~II ~(oS) shell C[J°1~cC
<: 0 <:.
Japan
Gil ~~(~)~:(oS) Swiss roll C[J0<:l1
G
Gennany
'711 ()')~~~:[oS] cream roll £ <:0 <:.
3dO(\)1~CC England
6)11 G~()')(\)aSGCD?[rrS] chocolate log OG
O?~:O)'): Korea
~II
G 0
03dCf) ~ 3 <:( <:) G Ph . D . £
Singapore
0(),),))?
0<: <:
- final written without brackets: 3f C O)')(\) 1 Ireland
JII O')f,c\'y):G?~ Bangladesh 6)11
0<: 0 <:.
OC(c:~cc Thailand

o c , o 0 c,
(311 8GC'0:W:t CC Malaysia :::J<JII 3'dG8"1()')t CC America
c 00 o C',
:::JOII "1()')W: Russia 8~1I 3'd~WtCC India
:::J:::JII
Q c C' 0 C'
C:?w()')'f 8 t CC
0
Vietnam oG!!
@ oC'oc,
(:)()')'ft CC Britain
0 cococ. @C' C'OC',
:::JJII (9C'0Q)Y C t CC Philippines 8'(11 OC::DQ)t CC France
E C'O C',
:::J\lll J)OC\Y.l:G? IJ\tCC Bangladesh
The text below is from a paper bag from a copy shop. The shop has taken as its name the
name of a well-known make of copy machines. What is it? The answer is in the answer
section of the Rea,ding from Life Supplement, under Lesson 32.3.
I,'"
,-
mEsfjl,1 .~
~IOll'~Y
3~1~~'
e?~f¥
::>e G'3')G ,S'L<X)')rufi:. ~~C\,)~C()')~ ''l.'('t~ IDu

•
Of.',!(;t,
•
,h
• U('\)6~0)~ 3') §t~t:3(8~e3.
',!,.'II!:H.
(,. ,,:.
210 r--- Diphthongs in the roman transcription:

~:lOunce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.
Lesson 33
LESSON 33
New rhymes
0 (' o
-8 I
8
J
-ein -oun
Example syllables
oc:
~II 8-)8 thein rc II Y poun
oc: 0
~~ nem 6111 soun

C;II
oc:
~
~II 08: sem Gil :A(: thoun
oc:
Gil 3d8 ein 8011 (Si: pyoun

The elements are all familiar.
Notes
1. Pronunciation. You now know two ways of representing each of the following sounds:
sound -an -ein -oun
o c:
spelling with - ~ -~
o c:
spelling with - ~ / ...:. -8
L
Although these pairs of rhymes are pronounced the same, for any given word one spelling is
right and one wrong; for example, the syllable pronounced kan can be written either m ~ or
m , but the k a n that means "lake" is spelled m ~ , and the ka n that means "karma" is
spelled m :
sound meaning right wrong
spelling spelling
c:
kan lake m~ m
c:
kan karma m m~
2. Tone marks. Tones on the new rhymes are marked in the usual way:
low creaky high compare: low creaky
oc: oc: oc: oc: oc:
-8 -~ -8: -~ -~o
c: c:
-L -
L L~ L~o

3. Components. You noted in connection with the rhyme -0 that in certain circumstances it is
abbreviated to ..:. In the new rhymes, the full form -0 is used in the rhyme ~0 , and the
abbreviated form": is used in the rhyme ~ .
Names
O~
-8 the components are:
• r.::J< ~ ~
in script: <\,:c:l:OOC (0)00
pronunciation: /
~ G ~
<\'<f:C(J:OOC 8,0)00~ / =Ioun-JI-tm
' .' . ma-thaq
meaning: a big round set on top, killed rna
the components are: ,

~ ~ ~ ~
in script: OOIl)G<tPC:CC Go):Go):OOC
pronunciation: /OOG<tP6:c6 GO):GOY:ooU =tac'aun-ngin the-dhe-tin
meaning: one line drawn down, a tiny one set on top

Burma place names O~II
.
~
Q)m~ . factory ["machine-youn"]
Bold marks voicing 09 11
. .
3d0)~9\l
~
broadcasting station
Oil 8Ac(Yx( Mingaladon [" sound-scatter-youn"]
[name of the airport for Rangoon] railway station
JII CW~Gt. Pyabon [" station-youn"]
~II G31~ Dawbon hospital
Burmese words and phrases ["medicine-youn"]
Oil house o ~.
rubbish dump
07 11 3d1tmy
JII toilet, lava tory o
06)11 3d1tmy:
~.
rubbish bin
["house-pleasant"] 0(311 Gq~: water bucket
to the toilets
JOII :::D~: iron bucket
homework o •
jOll ~l:G? all sorts
["home-text"] [" type-complete"]
tangerine
JJII @tG@001~:1I Please say that again.
[from Portuguese limaoJ RII 3d':l:<\': all
Gil three
J9 11 cl:<jlo:So:?: chopping board
711 office
["fifh-chop-board"J
6)11 :::D~: embassy o~ •
J~II CX(c~ seat ["sit-stool"]
["envoy o££ice"] JGII CX(: lime
(311 Q)~~~: military tribunal dust
J7 11 <f
[" army-bench-office"] N ames of roads in Rangoon
~ .
0011 o;(:qQ)JY):0'):~: Tourist Burma Office ~ ~
011 3d G<f0qOOJC\)8: Anawya h ta Street
0011 oo"r:~: law court JII m0:<f0:C\)0: Strand Road
oJ II ~ large non-residential ~II J?"r:C\)0: [Shwedagon] Pagoda Rd
building Keighley Street

Lesson 33
~II World Peace G 0 C'

::l::lll 2:0(l)')q,CD0: U Wi sara Roa d
Pagoda Road ::l J II ~:GCD::>(6p:CD0: Sule Pagoda Road
Gil Lanmadaw Road Maha Band ula Street
C' C' C'
'(II CD0:o.:><DCD0: Lanthit Street Shwegondaing Road
6)11 O~:~:OO~: Pansodan Ahlone Road
C' 0 C' C'
~II 3dc:<DcfCD0: Insein Road Theinbyu Street
::lOll ::>(~:@3:CD0: Pongyi Street Sliwebontha Street
Direction sign painted on a wall
o
The sequence [nounl-::A?o
means "To [noun]."
(-~o is a literary-style suffix,
not used in colloquial)
Descriptive letter names (earlier see 22, 26, 29)

As before, we adopt the printers' convention of writing a comma to show that <f, '::X)(}S , for
example, is pronounced na-thaqand not niHhaq.
:)11 3,Gq?: smallest da [name of the consonant 3]
JII O1,G~: curly k'a [name of the consonant 6l]
~II @'03 split za [name of the consonant @]
OC'
911 ;;o,CD0 twisty s'a [name of the consonant OX)]
~II <D,o?: round sa [name of the consonant 0]
Gil o,~ draw down a wa [name of the symbol 0 ]
'(II o?:@3:oot set a big round over [name of the vowel symbol':: ]
Q~ C' C' r::
6)11 C\( :C3:ooc;;o cf 0100 set a big round over, and stamp in a kernel
G
[name of the vowel symbol- ]
stacked ["two-letters-stack"]
big ka stacked [name of the stacked pair m]
m

round sa stacked [name of the stacked pair ~]

pot-bellied ta stacked [name of the stacked pair 'l? ]
deep pa stacked [name of the stacked pair 8 ]
About talking Burmese

-words
:) II (j (Y) (I)(y')I): Burmese language, spoken Burmese
JII G[000aSCDoS to,be able to speak, know how to speak
~II H a bit, a little
S;II (j(Y)Q)t) Burmese writing, script, literature
~ ~ ~
~II (9 CD CD CD CD lD to be able to read
Gil 3d 6[0: very, terrifically, staggeringly
C' C'
7" GOY)C :CDlD to be good
~ '-
6)11 CDOOlDU really, truly
return, go home
OK, that's fine.
You can speak Burmese, can't you?

Yes. I can speak a bit.
How about Burmese script: can you read it?
Yes. I can read a bit.
You speak Burmese extremely well.
Oh. Really?
• Well. I'll go home now: OK?
Fine, Monsieur/Madame.
Voicing is marked in unfamiliar words, but not in the standard verb and noun suffixes.
:)11 ~CD05 be complete, be fully present
JII C\fl' ~~c\y):11 Is everyone here yet?
;;>11 - 8~G:::D:ulJ,?:11 Not yet.
o C' C'
S;II CD8CDlD be shallow
~II G6[ d50~:~C\Y): II Has the water level dropped yet?
o C' 1
GII - 8CD8G:::D:U I J,?: II Not yet.
C' C'OC'. m
'7 11 G(y)CG3d')C~C ifI:~C\Y): II Has Maung Aung Naing lost yet?
6)11 - 8~:G:::D:ulJ,?:1I Not yet.
(311 [Si:~05ul~:11 Smile, then!
:)011 - 8[Si:t6ulJ,?:11 I can't smile.
OC' C'
:):) '·1 :::D 8: CD lD put away, tidy up
o C' 0 C' 1 •
:) JII 1lY):a>",(-, :::D8:0?mUI3jl:1I Put away the food then!
o C' 0 C' 1
:);;>!I - 8:::D8:~CU I J,?: II I can't put it away.
• C'
:))'1 YCDlD to make a pile, heap up
o C' • 0 C' ~ •
:)~ill 3d'i(m Y0?mu 3jl:1I Pile up the rubbish then!
· 0 C' 1
G
:)'1 - 8YifCUIJ,?:1I I can't pile it up.

pronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.
Lesson 33
smear, rub on
Rub in the oinbnent then!
I can't rub it in.
0<:
(Si:- smile ::D'" ordination hall
~:- lose [game or similar] ~:- use
0<:
'r seat, bench 00"'- be shallow
0<:
~0<: dust 1';'-
0<:
below
Q)"'- soak, steep 1'~- suppress
0<:
~- be complete 0J"'- twist
0<: 0<:
Q)"':- be 'green 0J"':- smear
terminate be proof against
large public building be round
office [countworcl for round objects and
believe similar]
house
LESSON 33.1 SOME RARE SPELLINGS
wor d s WIt ~
-I),
Common words with rare spellings:
·h - ')00~ I I -1)0)~ II
You have practised reading and writing the rhymes of words like
<: <: <:
Oil "'00 1 "'1 and "'ill .
There are a few words in Burmese which write these rhymes with a -0 before the killed
consonant:
J II mooC 1 m1candmill. c
The pronunciation remains unaffected:

mooc.IS pronounce dthe same as "'001
C
m~ the same as '" ~ 1 and

moS the same as ",oS .
The reason for having the redundant -0 in the spelling is that there is one there in the
original Pali form of the word. In romanized Pali it is written -8..
This redundant -0 is slipped in here because it features in a couple of words that you need
for BISL: the word meaning "number," and the word meaning "photograph." (The word for
"number," along with one or two others, are in fact exceptional: they come from English, not
Pali; but evidently at the time they were adopted into Burmese they were treated as if
they were Pali words written with -8..)

ron ounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thai/and, au as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.

Words with a in Pali
:)11 story, play [Pali jataka]
<:
JII G00) root, element [Pali dhatu]
~II curative diet
911 holy relic [of Buddha or other revered person]
~II 3d)?G005 heat
0 0 <:
Gil 3dOUlG0o) sweetness
'711 ()l 05 guard, police station
6)11 ~ 0 l 05 number
BII ~olo5 Nipata [name of a Buddhist text]
:)011 ~~ pride, spirit [Pali mana]
:):)11 qp~ meditative trance [Pali jhana]
:)JII 3d::r3G0~ dictionary [Pali abhidha.na]
:)~II t3l~: introduction [Pali nidana]
:)911 if00 name [Pali nama]
:)~II 3dOl 05 realm of punishment [Pali apaya]
:)GII ~(),YX0 nikaya [section of Buddhist scripture]
:)'711 3d~"'PuS danger [Pali antaraya]
Gl 05 is a word with many meanings: element, root, essential nature, and others. It was used
in Burmese to create names for some of the products of foreign technology when they were
first introduced to Burma. The following are a few examples:
:)6)11 Gld.;y • photograph ["Gld.;-picture"]
:)BII Gld.;@ battery ["Gld.;-lump"]
JOII Gld.;;;x'5 petrol ["Glo5-oil"]
pll Glo5GC\jl0?0: escalator ["Gl 05 - stairway"]
JJII Glo5~: electric light ["Glo5-light"]
RII Gld.;~: gramophone record ["Glo5-disk"]
J911 Gld.;~: thermos flask ["Gl 05- container"]
J~II Gl 05 G[CD0: tram [" Gl 05 - carriage"]
1 <: 0 <:
JGII Glo)O?C telegraph pole ["Gld.;-pole"]
More words with weakening

Among the new words now within your range there are some common ones with irregular
spellings. Most of them are cases of weakening, usually with voicing:

Lesson 33

o .
JII G~m<[ J?-r: /G~3<[~ (9o:Y):/ Shwedagon Pagoda
JII m@l: /30l:/ door
;;>11 mO'Yl: /33l:/ bridge
<711 1lY):~ /Q)~/ or /@~/ table
0,
~II «::Did / u-J30/ Bassein [Pathein]
One word ignores a written G:
Gil @m~:Gul~ wir,dow
The practice lists include these and some other words with weak syllables spelled in a
similar way.

C' 0 C'
In the room <7 11 Q)co6[c:U[lmm Strand Hotel
Weaken where necessary o ~ 0 ,
~II 3d'=tJl:JJ0:~O?(y) National Museum
0,
JII 0( CD0; CX( c chair Gil -J3.$E3:G~: Theingyi Market
JII 1lY):~ table Fish names
;;>11 m@l: door Weaken cl: to / c/
<711 @m2::Gul~ window JII cl:~~: [a kind of fish]
Burma towns JII cl:<-iJ [a kind of fish]
[post-1989 romanization given in brackets] ;;>11 cl:::DGCD0~ [a kind of fish]
Weaken where necessary '7 11 cl:Gag [a kind of fish]
«J,.~0 Bassein [Pathein]
~II cl:G~
JII
[a kind of fish]
JII ::r:Y_,::i,) Paan [Hpa-an] Gil cl:~:1d [a kind of fish]
;;>11 oy):omC' Tavoy [Dawei] "Indian"
<: 0<:
<;;11 Q)Q)<,?c: Sagaing Weaken 0(CD0: to / (Y)w/
~II o~~ Pegu [Bago] JII O((\)'):CX?~ chair ["Indian-sitU]
Gil yh Pagan [Bagan] JII 0((\)'):1d Indian woman
,?II m O'Y): (Y) GW : Tada-gale Child/flesh
[ULittlebridge U] Weaken JJ0: to / J.:)/
0<:
Places in Rangoon from BISL JII JJ0:3d1d wome ["child-container"]
G
Weaken where necessary JII JJ0:e: firstbclm ~"child -foremost"]
JII G~d3~ J?-r: Shwedagon Pagoda ;;>11 JJ0:G6[ skin [" flesh-skin"]
JII ~;C:~:GwJ?-r: Sule Pagoda
o ,
;;>11 :)J~mU[lmm President Hotel

LESSON 34
New heads
J ~
c- c'- j-
G
c- c'- j-
Example syllables
<Y.fP- cyp- C(p ca - c'a - ja
•
6 0S
C'
:JO-:J:J II 0iJ0 ciq
GOiJ G6 ce
ctJW = §d;
C'
c'eh
= G~8
C'
GCW C c'aun
C'
:)61-:)(311 C1JC = (68 jin
0
JO- J:)II C1Jl = lSI jo

The components are familiar. E is written after the consonant it encircles: first @ then § .

Lesson 34
Notes
1. Pronunciation. The sound written 0lJ or 6 is not used in English. You hear it in Italian
words like ciao and Botticelli (notice that they write it with a C like we do in the roman-
ization); and it's not far from the ch of English cherry, but it has less aspiration. For more
listen to the tape.
2. Component parts. You learned in Lesson 28 that when you find G

-J and with UI (91 t>1 J)I
<)you read them with a Y sound: YJ or @ is read as PY-, and so on. Evidently there was a
time when 0lJ
and 6were read as ky-, and cu and § were read as k'y-, and so on. However,
as time passed, the earlier ky- and k'y- came to be pronounced c and c'. A similar process has
taken place in Italian. Words like Latin caelum (pronounced with a k) have developed into
Italian cielo (pronounced with a c).
3. Foreign names and words. The Burmese sound represented by and 0lJ 6
doesn't occur in
English. However, the English sounds represented by ky and ty (as in words like kew and
tew) are likewise absent from the Burmese repertoire, so Burmese writers use and 0lJ
as 6
script equiv,)lents for English ky and ty; for example:
English Cuba tuba Tokyo queue tutor
o 0
Burmese OiJllJYJ OiJllJYJ O?OiJl OiJll OiJllO'Y)
If Burmese had not changed its earlier ky to its contemporary c, all these spellings would
yield pronunciations much closer to the English original.
4. The syllable @:II You have been reading this syllable as Irlj:1 ever since you met it.
That was because you always found it in a position that made it subject to voicing. You can
now see that when it occurs on its own. that is: when it is not suffixed, it is to be read with
the new head as c I, not as jI; for example:
B:O)(\)'): II Is it big? UKyiMaung
5. The voiceable consonants. You have now met all the eleven heads that can be voiced.
When they are in a position that makes them subject to voicing -
voiceable consonants: m ill U en 0lJ=6J.)
and: G 0:0 (9 co cu=§

are voiced to: 101 I @I I J)I 131 10]1 I Yfl
No other heads are subject to voicing.
Names
The important components of the new heads are:
" <;
-J In scnpt: wus: in script:
pronunciation: I wu~:1 = ya-p In pronunciation:
(Note irregular tone)
meaning: propping-up ya meaning: wound round ya
The heads in the boxes above are named by naming their components; for example:

I
in script: W~: wo~

~ /
pronunciation: / W,C[J:
G
w,oc: = ka-JI
'.'"
ya-pm
meaning: big ka, propping-up ya
~
in script: @G8: 6[6[0)
pronunciation: / @,G~: w,wM = k'a-gw9 ya-yiq
meaning: curved ka, wound round ya

Syllables: the new alternative spellings Gil 603 rich
:)11 =G'Ww
~
Bunnese names
G ~ ~
JII =<tJ JII 2:GOiPoc: U Kyaw Win
o G ~ ~ ~
\lll =<tJl JII 2: G00C G00C GOiP
<;11 6c'; =C[Jc'; U Maung Maung Kyaw
UA ung Kyaw Sem.
~II lB~ =r1l~ 2:G3d0CGOiPO)'f
G ~ ('o~
Gil 605 =C[Jlo5 ~ ~o('

103l WCY:Y:>GOiPO)'f
D r. Kyaw Sem
.
Syllables: the new sound / CY.tJ=§/ 2:Grr:0G~ U Kyaw Swe
:) II 'W-rt:(p Maung Kyaw Myint
'[p-rt:(p U Kyi
o 0
OiJl-C[Jl 6)11 2:G00c';~: UMaungGyi
o 0
OiJl-<tJl (?II 2:G.§6Il: U Shwe Kyu
<rdJ-~ ~ ~ O~
:)011 G00CG&,o)'f Maung Kyawt Sein
<rdJ - ill JJII
~
0@C::DC:~ll
~ ~
Ma Khin Thin Kyu
Syllables: for practice
JJII 0»6 03 MaPuKywe
JII ~I ~II ('~
J \lll G00C U'5 W G3d:
('
Maung Kywe Aye
JII ~I GOiPrhll Burma place names
\lll 6~1 '(Jilil JII
o ~
OiJlc:Ojl
•
Kenghmg
<;11 [21 Gf1P1I JII ~~~:'f0: Myitkyina
~II E3ll OiJo5l1 \lll GCY:Y:>6§: Taunggyi
Gil ~I G<tJ11 <;11 @6:~ Myingyan
r:::: (' 0 ~
'(II 13wl <tJOJIl Bunnese words
6111 6 rhl rYillll JII G~rh six
r:::: C 0 C ('
~II 19w1 '(J011 JII G'Ww- be dry
:)011 106 1 W:II \l" Grt:(pw
~
stone
C
JJII 8.1CI 108.1: 1 fear
Bunnese name elements: mosquito
:)11 GOiP
('
renowned -<tJc-
~
want to
JII [23: great, senior ~
"iJ'f- leave out

\lll 61l: melodious
~ enclosure
'7 II GE? jaunty ~II §G~ lion
~II 61l fragrant JOII OiJG4'0
('
I [male speaking]

Lesson 34
:):) II <Y.jJ0 I [female speaking] Foods

:)JII rqp:1I 011 Ladies. Gentlemen. :)11 6 05 :JY:l: chicken meat
~
[signs over public conveniences. JII orY):JY:l: pork

o ~
Shortened from Guy)rrW: and ~~:O] ~II ;;:0 0):JY:l: mutton [goat]
0
:)~II O)OUlo some <;111 3dcJ:JY:l: beef
G
:)<;111 0: §QQ)~ matches ~II ::D:JY:l: duck
:)~IIGEb2: cat Gil cl: fish
G(yy)c@() '\'0 G6c
~m')
:)GII 05 6 chicken, fowl '7 11 spring roll
:)'7 11 6 05G§ chicken's foot, cross 6)11 Eb@ vermicelli
:)6) II 605G§~ Red Cross
Phrases
:)11 Let's begin.
JII Let's take a break.
~II Please read loudly.
<;111 I am late.
~II Thank you
Gil How much did it cost?
'7 11 for how long
6)11 Have you been here long?
[" Arrive-be-thing is long-yet-question J /I
~II After you, Monsieur/Madame ["please proceed"]

:)011 No trespassing ["not-cross-pass-may"]
:):)11 No credit today ["today-credit-not-give"]
Foreign words and names
o 0
:) II O? <Y.jJ l Tokyo
JII <Y.jJll J"Y): (or <YjJll J"Y») Cuba; tuba
c
~ II <Y.jJll ~c tuition
<;1 II <Y.jJ Il 0)') tutor
~II <Y.jJll queue
moat Grqpc:
c monastery, school
rqjl:
<Y.jJ- fall, arrive at, come to
c
<YjJ,\, - be omitted
~
<YjJ9- practise B~ cane
B~-
G
<Y.jJ: crow grind
GEb05-
c be afraid 6 05 - like
G<YjJ0rY) stone, rock 6- plan

6 rhinoceros ou m -
~
be wide
6 05 chicken G'W c :
~
stream
G§S- fry G'W- be smooth, beautiful
G~
0
back [of animal or human] OUl- be sweet
G6: brass [51- wrap someone up
~: rope, string G~o5- frighten
6 0 water lily G~o5 six
~- take time § termite
~:- hear @ enclosure, garden
O~
3dOU'f time, weight §~ mosquito

O~
OU'f- fix a time, make a date §~: basket

~ ~
OU ID - love C(JID jeep
~
OU, m - cook C(Jll: [an edible plant]

OU.- widen, make louder
LESSON 34.1 MORE RARE SPELLINGS
Common words with rare spellings: words spelled with ~ ~

You are by now very familiar with the rhyme ~ . You have met it in words like "nine," o?:
03~t "kimono," and many others. There are a few words in the language, among them one
you need for BISL (coming in the next Less,on), where the ~ is followed by a c0 ,making ~c0 .
The c0 (called C\):::Da5 , pronounced / C\),:::Da5/ = la-thaq) makes no difference to the pronun-
ciation: it is there because in Pali the word has an L at the end. Examples:
spelled pronounced meaning
:)11 gC\)<:
1 Igl
1 officer [Pali b a Ia J
JII 0(~oS 10(~1 religious merit [Pali kusala]
\lll ° <:
m<;:R:>YC\) 1mO)O):>y
<: °1 university [Pali takkasTla]
The lists below give you some practice in reading this rare spelling.

Words with redundant-~
~ ~ 0 ~
:)11 q'fot fO')~~C\) Rangoon University
o ~
JII ~~ Gc\):O')~~c\) Mandalay University
o ~
;;'11 G;;o:O')~~c\) Institute of Medicine
G 0 c
<,111 1D:'60:Gq:O')~~C\) Institute of Economics
o c c
~II O? ~ C\) GW0J? liP: The Royal Merit Pagoda
o c
Gil GqO?~C\) water merit
[cry uttered by children offering drinks of water on railway platforms]

Lesson 34
('0 ('
'(II <D<D~(\) army officer
o (' (' (' ('
6)11 ~(\)G3d')CG01P(\)~: Bo Aung Kyaw Street
~II
o
~
C'
(\) CD GCXY:lC J?-r:
('
Botahtaung Pagoda ["1,000 officers"]
- army ranks:
0 o ('
:)011
i
CDW ~(\) second lieutenant
o ('
:):) II i~(\) second lieutenant (shortened form)
o ('
:)JII ~(\) first lieutenant
:)\> II o
~(\)
C'B 0): captain
:)<7 11
o C'
~(\)lit; major
:)~II
o
i CDW~(\)lit:
0 (' B
0): lieutenant colonel
:)GII o C' B
i~(\)lit: 0): lieutenant colonel (shortened form)
:)'(11 o C' B
~(\)lit: 0): colonel
LESSON 35
New rhymes
(' 0(' ('

o -0
J
J ~
-aq -eiq -ouq
Example syllables
c oc c
<;-~-G (\)0 (\)0 C)l0 laq leiq louq
<: 0<: <:
'?-O-B Q)O Q)O 0(0 saq seiq souq
Compare-
<: 0 <: <:
:)O-:):)-:)J Q)OO Q)OO 0(00 saq seiq souq

The components are known. As usual, write the initial consonant first, then vowel symbol
(where there is one), then final consonant (0) then killer (.:) .
Notes
1. Pronunciation. The three new rhymes ending in () are pronounced in exactly the same way
as the three rhymes that end in 00 : see examples 7-8-9 and 10-11-12 above. Evidently,

when Burmese was first written, there was a difference in pronunciation between 0 and 05 ;
but over time they both came to be pronounced as a glottal stop (-q), and the distinction was
lost. The result is that Burmese schoolchildren often lose marks for spelling a 0 word with
a 05 and vice versa.
2. New words. Now that you know 0 several useful words come within your range:
1. ~~ctJlCS / ~«jl~/ General
ii. '3dAcS0 / '3d~:()cS~/ English
iii. cn\l0 (orcn\l~) / cno:c~/ Chinese
iv. CY:fJ0 / CY:fJ~/ kyat
v. cn00Go:h / cn~0G3 T/ Tatmadaw (Defence Services)
i. 9c0~l0 on its own, "The General," normally refers to the man who is widely regarded and
admired as the leader who secured Burma's independence from British colonial rule:
General Aung San, 9c0~l0G3d')8;;:o~:. You will find his picture in offices and public places
in Burma, and his name in -
Bogyoke Aung San Street
Bogyoke Aung San Market
ii. 3dA c8 011 l',otice the unmarked high tone: / 3d8:! - unlike the namE of the country,
3dAC\)~ , which has / 3d8 / not / 3d8:/.
°
iii. 0) ~ II One of the names of races and countries that is not the same as English. It is
thought to come from the same original as our word "Turk," from contact with the Mongols.
The approved spelling of this word has been changed to 0)\105 , but many people still write
0)\10 and you will find it printed this way in material printed before the ~hange.
iv. rY:lJ011 The main unit of Burmese currency. At the time of writing (1991-1992) the
exchange rate was about 10 kyat to the pound officially, and about 100 on the black market.
The corresponding figures for U.S. dollars were around K6 and KBO.
V. 0)08G0:Y511 The name for the army, or defence forces, most favoured by the government
and used in official pronouncements and notices, both in Burmese and in English.
3. Foreign loanwords. Mostly 0 is used in loans where the original ends in a P, like 3050)0
"make-up," though it is also found in words with other endings, as in 3dAc8(s "English."
4. Rhymes with final consonants. We can now add 0 and!J to the list of rhymes with final
consonants that you know:

Lesson 35
C' C' C' ,

-Cf) -0 -aq -oj> = - (-0) -an
o C' 0 C' 0C' oC'
-Cf) -0 -eiq -oj> = -~ -ein
C' C' C'
7Cf) 70 -ouq 7 oj> = L
-oun
rhymes with final-~, -d:Jand -8 are as noted in Lesson 29:
C'
-00 -eq [no corresponding nasal]
C'
-0 -iq -in
o C'
7 00 -aiq -ain
C'
G-0OO -auq -aun
Names
These rhymes are named by naming their components:
~ ~
-0 in script: 0:D00
pronunciation: /o,:DcA/ = pa-thaq
meaning: killed pa
O~ • r;::3( ~ ~
-0 in script: cy:C3:ooC 0:D00
pronunciation: /
~ ~ ~ I ' .' .
cy~:rtJ:ooc 0,:D00 = oun-JI-tm pa-thaq
Q /
meaning: a big round set on top, killed pa
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
-0
l
in script: ooIDG"tPC:CC 0:D00
~ ~
pron uncia tion: / ooG"tPc:cc o,:DcA/ = Uic'aun-ngin pa-thaq
meaning: one line drawn, killed pa

To give you practice in applying the Voicing Rule yourself, voicing is not marked in this
Lesson, except in particularly unpredictable cases.
<: <:
Loanwords ~II ()c:ooo Mindat
Seven-Up Burmese words
o <: ~
JII ()oomo make-up kyat
o ~ 0 ~
~II ~mm\1lDoro microscope JII hot/ spicy
0<:
<7 11 ooOG~ tape ["tape-coil"] ~II Tatmadaw,
0<:
00°61G0')03
lQ <:
tape recorder
~II Defence Services
0 ~ ~
Gil O')0GJY)(\) 0 Carbolic co 0G[0oh?:II Please say that again.
Q
'III circus mo(\)
o
negro, black
0<:
Foreign place names G;;:O:(\)O cigarette and the like
~ ~
::)11 o~rtJ0 Punjab ["tobacco-roll"]
E 0 ~
J II 3'd()(\)0 English 'III
0<:
61 0 :::D') haven, refuge, avenue
00\10 \100 t cc China
<:( <:) 0 <: 0 0<:
~II 6111 :DO very
New towns in Burma
Q 0 <:
ell dolcSolooc0 He slept.
::)11 OY)"lj(\)0 Tachilek ::)011
oc
(\)01D0 address
JII ::D§ll@610 Thanbyu-zayat

o.
::>:)11 :DO
()
science Bogyoke Museum
C' C' ') C'
:) JII 3dCYO CYOOIO')O) He worked. Theingyi Market
C' C'
::>\;>II \lollc film, movie Bogyoke Market
C'
:)1 11 0')3f0 book ~II 0<.JY)~~lC'0C'0~: Maha Bandula Street
::>~II 3d\l0
C'
image, drawing, GII OC'C'C'
t(C'0"'lll0C'00: Bogyo kS
e treet
statue, likeness 711 0<.JY)~~lC'00~:~ Maha Bandula Park
::>GII \l2l§~::D~: television 6)11
o C' C'
t(C'0"'lllOOt:13
C' r.::
Bogyo k e Park
["image-see-sound -hear"] ~II
o C'OC' C'
m<;:RJ:(C'06'[0:D0C'00: U'mverSl'ty A venue
general Military ranks
biodata, account of ::>11 second lieutenant
life and work JII second lieutenant
Counting the kyats (shortened form)
C' C'
::>11 0')0CY.(J0 lK first lieutenant
C' C'
JII <j>0CY.(J0 2K captain
• C'
\;>11 J:(:CY.(J0 3K major
C'
111 GC'0:CY.(J0 4K lieutenant colonel
~II cl :CY.(J0 5K lieutenant colonel
h
GII C'
GL30rD CY.(J
C' C'
°
C'
6K (shortened form)
'(II 1't0<y'()0 7K colonel
())II
C'
110 CY.(J
o
°C'
C'
8K major general
~II or:CY.(JO 9K general
:)011 m~;;:ooS 10 K brigadier general
Some words with redundant-".) senior general
:)11 o C'
3dGV0O) (
3dGOO OC' ~ C')
0)
.
meanmg
[PaE: adhippaya] Burmese words with irregular spelling
JII
o
to'Y)O)
C'
section of the Pali (for reading practice only, not dictation)
scriptures [Pali nikaya]
C' :)11 cl:§c;: [kind of fish]
\;>11 3d&, "pO) danger [Pali antaraya]
C' • JII Cl:~:0 [kind of fish]
111 G')my photograph
C' C' \;> II cl : G~dl dried fish
~II G')mGCD0 holy relic
111 cl:<>x:(2l fish cake
[of Buddha or other revered person]
~II cl:(9~~di [kind of sea creature]
Gil ~ol00 number
C' Gil cl:G§: [kind of fish]
'(II <nt pride, spirit [Pali mana]
711 ::l)(@3: headman
())II ~~ meditative trance
6)11 ::l)( § oS rich .man
[Pali jhana]
dictionary
~II ::l)(~ warriJr
:)011 :D0:G6'[ leather, rubber
[Pali abhidhana] C'
::>::>11 :D0:G6'[06c: elastIc band
introduction [Pali nidana] oC'
::>JII :D0:3d0 womb
Roads and places in Rangoon
[" child-container"]
:)11 3d~l::D0:@07dl National Museum
hair [of head 1

Lesson 35
• C' o C' • 0 C'

8'711 ;;DOC [strand of] hair \l\lll @~QlotC\Y.):cx(c arm chair ["comfort-enjoy-
• C'
8~1I ;;DGQY.)m [kind of hairstyle] chair"]
r,::Q C' 0 C'
8GII ;:;:Oil? tress of hair \l'711 e3~<1?C\Y.):cx(c
cane chair
8,?1I ~bp: pagoda - names of towns with irregular spellings
O. C' OC' m S ·
86)11 G~OOC"[ ~bp: Shwedagon Pagoda \l~1I 00otC:Dl.. agamg
8(311 G&>aSco0~: ~bp: Chauktatkyi \lGIl ~~:G~Gl.. Bhamo (Bamaw)
Pagoda [" six-flo or-great"] \l,?11 ~~ Gro:Gl.. Mandalay
door, gate \l6)11 o~:Gl.. Pegu (Bago)
front door ["house-front- \l(311 8'Y):~Gl.. Hpa-an
door"] '70 II 000:o05Gl.. Tavoy
JJII ~Ac\y')ooQll: Mingala Gate '7 811 ()')~00Gl.. Henzada
'7 J II oC'm
y:::D~Dl..
B '
assem
[a gate in the Mandalay palace wall]
RII @006:GolaS window Kyauk-tada
'7\l1l GCY::(pchooO'Y.):@.
$11 00 000: bridge - words with -::f) read as / (9/
J~II C\jilO'i(:OOQY.): pedestrian bridge '7'711 ~~:~: monk

["person-cross-bridge"] '7~1I ~~:E3:<{J monk's funeral
Ava Bridge '7Gll ~~:~:GCY::(p8: monastery
- verb phrases with -::r;r: voiced & unvoiced
J,?II 0'):~ table
J6)1I 0')G~:IlY.):~ writing table ["letter- '7,?1I 3d0.(0 ~0.(0::l';(:11 They don't have a job.
'76)11 :::DO
OC' ~Grqj,\,O::l';(:1I
C' H e ' s not very pease.
1 d
write-table"]
Indian '7(311 o~:~ ~GO(S.::l';(:1I I didn't notice the garden.
otc\y.):~ Indian woman ~Oll G§0aSrqj0 ~rqj::l';(~ II Tt didn't cost K6.

o C' r,::Q C'
otc\y'):G~ tinsel ["Indian gold"} ~811 ;;D00:::D0: ~~m::>f!:11
<1? c\y.): CX( C

OC'
chair She doesn't like mutton.
~JII 3d:::DaS ~~:::l';(:11 He's not old.
"-(J0 kyat [currency] 3d;;x;:>0 lung
to
o C'
nasal discharge ~0-
0 C'
stop, stand
to- press 3d~0 shadow
r,: C' • k C'
L5t0- sm 3d \1 0 image, doll
C)(0- shake, move 3d0 needle, pin
C' oC'
coo- place one over another 3d0- sleep
oC' oC'
coo pate :::DO very; very much
C' C'
CX(0- wrapup 000 mili tary unit
C' OC'
00- be hot [like chillies] roo- roll up
C' C'
0(0- suck 0.(0- do
OC'
3d;;D0 poison

A n "j :) f I (, !7 ~~
Burmese bank note, showing the words for 45 kyat
LESSON 35R REVIEW LESSON PART 1
Words and sentences from BISL

You are now equipped to read large sections of the material in BISL. 111is Lesson provides
some practice in doing just that. All the material in it is taken from the "Groundwork"
section of BISL.
Practice for Lesson 35R part 1

Looking at a Rangoon street plan
:)11 3l J.Y)cUll What's that?
JII - 3lm GII(J:olll That's a market.
;;>11 3lm J'(Gp:CD0:11 Is that a pagoda?
C , 1
<7 11 - UjlCDO?II J'(Gp:OIIl Yes, it's a pagoda.
~II 3l m @o?a5CD0:11 Is that a museum?
(' C1 0 C1
\.511 - 8UjlCDOI~:1I UjlCD<..DOIIi No, it's a hotel.
711 ~Ot:~ J.Y)0t:~cUll What park is this park?
1 OC CC(:!:1
6)11 - 31m )'C\)O[jl009:~OIIl That's Bogyoke Park.
ell G 0 C
3 GII(J:m ),C\)O[jlOGII(J:CD0: II
C
Is this market Bogyoke Mark,2t?
C'" 0 C' C' 1
:)011 - UjlCDO?II ),C\)O[jlOGII(J:OIIi Yes, it's Bogyoke Market.
G o.
:):)11 3J'(Gp:m G~CD<"1 J'(Gp:CD0:1i Is this pagoda the Shwedagcn Pagoda?
:)JII - 8Ujl05ol~:11 CXj?:GC\)J'(Gp:olll No, it's the Sule Pagoda.
:);;>11 fol05CDJ) J.Y)cUll What is n° I?
:)<711 3lm :J300:GII(J:olll That's the Theingyi Market.

Lesson 35R
Is n° 2 the Bogyoke Museum?

Yes, it's the Bogyoke Museum.
Is n° 3 the President Hotel?
No, it's the Strand Hotel.
What town is, n° 200?

That's Pagan'.
Is n° 7000 Yenangyaung?
Yes, it's Yenangyaung.
Is n° 90 Sandoway?
No, it's Sittwe.
What's the phone number

of the National Museum?
73716.
Is the number of the Strand Hotel 81533?

Yes, it's 81533.
What road is the Bogyoke Museum in/ on?

It's in/on Bogyoke Museum Road.
Is the National Museum in/ on Pansodan?
Yes, it's in/ on Pansodan.
Is the Strand Hotel in/ on Maha Bandula Street?
No, it's in/on Strand Road.
What country is Hanoi in?
It's in Vietnam.
Is Manila in the Philippinet;?
Yes, it's in the Philippines.
Is Kuala Lumpur in Thailand?
No, it's in Malaysia.
Where is New Delhi?
It's here.
Is Peking [Beijing] here?
Yes, it's here.
Is Tokyo here?
No, it's here.
Who is that?
That's Ko Tin Aye.
Is that Ma Than Swe?
Yes, it is Ma Than Swe.

Is that Daw Khin Hla Tint?

No, it's Daw Mya Sein.
Who is n° 4?
That's Ko Thaung Tin.
Is n° 5 Ko Aung Myint?
Yes, it is Ko Aung Myint.
Is n° 6 Mq We We Khaing?
No, it's Ma Khin Aye Ngwe.
JII £1.10p
JII $2.40
\;>11 Kyats 3/50 pya
<7 11 £600
~II $7000
Gil Kyats 80
711 £900
6)11 $1000
LESSON 35R REVIEW LESSON PART 2
Words and sentences from BISL

Further practice with material from the "Gro~.mdwork" section of BISL.
Practice for Lesson 35R part 2
What town does U San Tha Aung live in?

He lives in Myitkyina.
Does Saya Hla Shwe live in/ on Bogyoke Street?
Yes, he lives in/ on Bogyoke Street.
Does U Maung Maung Gyi live in England?
No, he lives in America.
What country does Daw Tin Htway live in?
She lives in America.
Does Ma Saw Mya Than livE in Ireland?
Yes, she lives in Ireland.
Does Ko Tin Maung Win live in Germany?
No, he lives in France.
What country does Dr. Singh come from?

He comes from India.

Lesson 35R
Does Mr. Sukamoto come from Japan?

Yes, he comes from Japan.
Does Mr. Phan Van Diem come from Burma?

No, he comes from Vietnam.
Where does Mr. Rahman come from?
He comes from Bangladesh.
What town did Ko Bo Ni go to?

He went to Mandalay.
pid Saya U Tin Maung go to Sagaing?
Yes, he went to Sagaing.
Did Ma Khin Cho go to Pegu?
No, she went to Moulmein.
What country did Daw Mya Mya Yi go to?
She went to China.
Did Ma Tin Tin Than go to Russia?
Yes, she went to Russia.
Did U Maung Maung Lwin go to Korea?
No, he went to Singapore.
How much did Ko Aung Kyaw have to pay?

He paid 5 kyats.
Did Major Pe Myint pay 7 kyats?
<7" Yes, he paid 7 kyats.
~II Did Ko San Shwe pay one kyat?
Gil No, he paid two kyats.
Which street does U Chit San want to go to?

He wants to go to Anawrahta Street.
Does Daw Maisie 00 want to go to France?
What road does Ko KM Aye want to live in/on?

He wants to live in/on Bo Aung Kyaw Street.
Does Ma Than Than Win
want to live in/on Sule Pagoda Road?
Yes,
she wants to live in/ on Sule Pagoda Road.
Does Ma Sein Yi want to live in/ on Shwebontha St?
No,
she wants to live in/ on [Shwedagon] Pagoda Road.
What town does Ko Ba Than vvant to live in?

He wants to live in Maymyo.

Does Ma Khin Mu want to live in MouImein?
Yes, she wants to live in MouImein.
Does Ko Aung Kyaw Khaing
want to live in Taunggyi?
No, he wants to live in Rangoon.
LESSON 36
New heads
J
J
ny- ny-
Example syllables
f:
~1Ie-?
Q
f:/ f:
~ ~ 22 m 21 m G~C
~ 9 . ~ G 'I
g0 ~ @ ~~ Gg0~
6)
(3 JO JJ JJ
nya nyi nyc hnyeq nyaun
Order of strokes: Write c before C

II

Lesson 36
Notes
1. Pronunciation. Both ~ and ~ represent the same sound ny. It is not far from the ne in the
British English pronunciation of new, but it's closer to the ng in French agneau or Italian
signora. It is a "palatal nasal," pronounced with the tongue-tip pointed down towards the
back of the lower front teeth, not upwards and touching the roof of the mouth as in new.
2. Modifications. Subscript symbols like l and J are hard to fit into the spaces under ~ and
~. With ~ people shrink the J to make [9 , and displace the l to make ~l (Examples 10 and
11). With ~ there are two responses to the problem. Some adopt the same modifications as
for ~ : they shrink the one and displace the other, writing 22 and ~l (the first option in
Examples 5 and 6). Others modify the ~ to ED ' which releases enough space to write the
normal'l and J : ?t and t?1 (the second option in Examples 5 and 6) .- and even 2:il. The
Concise Burmese Dictionary (@~ ~3d:r3G0~ 3d01J2 :otJl0) writes 220 (shrinking the J) but ~
and ~ (modifying the ~), and that is probably the best model to foll01N. You will find,
however, that other writers use other combinations of the options.
Names
the components are:
c
~ in script: ~E3: in script: C G'[G'[0
pronunciation: /~c1J:! = nya-jI pronunciation: / c,ww~/ = nga ya-yiq
meaning: big nya meaning: nga, wound round ya

c c
Burmese name elements JII '::t)w'::t)(Y) left hand
011 [§G: calm, tranquil ~II ~ night, evening
G
JII ~ younger brother [of man] <;;11 ~G'f afternoon
~II 2? ° brown :JII G'f.~ day and night
Burmese names Gil G~~0 ad vertisement
011 a:;:O[§C "':G01J0
I: I:
Ko Nyein Kyaw
711 G~~000 advertisement [written]
01:
JII °
"'O(:~"': Ma So Nyein 61 II G~~0"'(y)C;G'[ No posters to be put up
~II
G
2:~(Y):
GE3 U Nyi Gyi G
G G C
ell ~ younger brother [of man1
<;;11 ~~G3d0C Nyi Nyi Aung G
° brothers [younger and
0011 ~3da:;:
0,
:JII 2?~. Nyo Nwe older]
Gil G °
2:2?"'c:oa c
C C
U Nyo Min Lwin c c
0011 G~CUC banyan tree
711
G o@ UNyoMya c c
2:2?'" OJII G~c~(y) banyan leaf
6111 G~C
cti? OJ 'f.
I: Maung Nyo Thant O~II G~8G(\):u8 I'lyaung-le-bin
G I: 01:
ell 2:G01J0~"': U Kyaw Nyein [town name: "banym-four-tree"]
l C G G
Dr. Nyi Nyi
0011 G3 (Y)(Y)0~~ 0<;;11 G~,OOO C nannavatT
Burmese words [Pali name for the town C?@0052: in Arakan]
c
011 ~'::t)(Y) right hand

Relatives
:)11 3d 1 3d~ a? older brother, older sister
JII G'=Y.l81 ~~ (weaken to / ~~/) younger brother, younger sister (of woman)
<II ~I ~~ (t~) younger brother, younger sister (of man)
(t~ is currently being replaced by ~~ )
<; II 3d'lJl::).)0: 1 3d'lll::),)~: husband, wife (polite)
~II 3dG<.91 3dG~ father, mother (normal, colloquial)
Gil 3d <.9 1 3d8 father, mother (formal, official)
711 <.9,S~ 1 8s8 father, mother (formal, literary)
g
6) II :).)0: 1 :),)~: son, daughter
~II mGC\): (often pron. / ~Gc\):/) little one, child
o
:)011 3d<.f:1 3d~: grandfather, grandmother
o
:):)11 3dJ?:1 3d~: [alternative spellings for pre:"eding]
:) JII e:GC\):1 3dG3T uncle, aunt
:)< II OJ( 1 OJ(~ nephew, niece
- groups of relatives
o
:)<; II ~OJ parents
g c,
:)~II @t:G'=Y.lCt married couple, man and wife
o g 0 C c
:)\.511 ~3dO(G'=Y.)Cto)~ brothers and sisters
g
:) 711 :).)0::),) ~: children
:)6)11 mGC\):G06 (often pron./~Gc\):G3/) children
o
:) ~ II ~ ::>.Y.l: II? family [mother-child-group]
Colours
:)11 3d~ll white
C
JII 3dtm black
g c
<II 3dtGGpc red
oc c
<; II 3do)~:GGpc green
~II 3d@0GGp~ blue
Gil 3dolGGp6 yellow
o c
711 3d??GGpc brown
6)11 ~:~:GGp8 grey [" fire-smoke-colour"]
c c
~II ~"l~:GGpc purple ["aubergine-colour"]
oc C c
:)011 c\)~G'=Y.lGGpc orange ["orange (fruit)-colour"]
C
:J:J II G.§GGpc gold
C
:JJII GSGGpc silver
c c
:)<11 0t:GGpc pink ["flower-colour"]
:)<; II 3d@0"l9 dark blue
:)~II 3d@0<f pale blue
Verb sentences
Voiced suffixes are not marked as voiced: you can practise reading the script as it is
normally written. In words you may not know voicing is marked in the usual way.
:)11 OJ(~O'")c0 to help
C' 0 G ...
JII OJwC$ OJ(~GO:"l~c$1I How can I help you?
< II [S : G«j ,0'") c0 II to be tedious
<;11 [S:G«j,G>Gp G0Y:l6:olO'")c0l1 It was tedious.
o c c c
~II 0)0'") ~O)O'")w II to be distressing ["mind is dirtied"]

Lesson 36
Gil It was distressing.

7" to deny
6)11 They haven't yet denied this news.
to be smelly [from frying onions and similar]
It was very smelly at the back of the house.
to be noisy
It was very noisy outside.
to smell raw
The goat meat smells dreadful.
Are you uncomfortable?
Uncle Aung deceived me.
to be bad, poor quality
The handiwork was of a lc)w standard.
:::JB" peace
JOIl They were trying to secure peace.
pll slip [something] between, inside
jjll They slip it in between two slices of bread.
R" be still, quiet, at rest
$11 The whole town has quietened down.
~- deceive, trick GeP- smell [of cooking]
2:: night G~8:- ache, be stiff
~- be even 2:: <i)- be dirty, stained
e-?- be brown .??- be of poor quality
[S8:- deny [5()- be still, calm
LESSON 37
New rhymes
C' C'
:)
J
-uq -un

C' o
ou- ()
~
-uq -un
Example syllables
~II @mC' @cC' @0C' k'eq k'in k'iq
C' C' C'
Gil 8m 8c 80 k'weq k'win k'wiq
'7" @O)C' = @oC' k'aq

C' C'
6)11 80) =
8° k'uq (k'waq)
(311 @<f
C'
@(@0) k'an
~ (8 0)
C'
:JOII 8<f k'un (k'wan)
Compare English: sat and san

with: swat and swan
low creaky high

:J:JII OJ <,i> @8:
C'
k'an k'an k'an
C'
:JJII 8 8, 88: k'un k'un k'Lln

The components are all familiar. Build up §ch in these stages: @-§-§oo.o.§chll
Notes
1. Pronunciation. ach and 00 represent a rhyme that is close to the u' or uq in London English put
("Pu' i' in the bo"le"). The rhyme represented by at and ~ (.o~) has the same vowel as ach and
00 but ends in nasalisation instead of a glottal stop. You will find examples on the tape.
2. Pronunciation variants 1: literary. When people are are self-conscious about their
pronunciation, or when they are making an effort to be exaggeratedly "correct," they sometimes
use the pronunciation shown in brackets in Examples 8 and 10: k'waq and k'wan. This variant is
t
used more often for the a 0 and ~ (a ~) spellings than for the 0 ch and a spellings; but, either
way, it is rare in everyday speech.
3. Pronunciation variants 2: regional. Some speakers, in some words, use the rhymes 1-061
-0~1 in place of the standard I o~ 1 ochl II Less commonly, people also reverse one of those
two changes and use the rhyme loti in place of standard 1-0[;1. These variants are
particularly common in Middle Burma, in Myingyan for example, but if that is where they

Lesson 37
odginated, they have spread far and wide. Every now and again you hear them in the
speech of Burmese from Rangoon, Mandalay and other places.
Examples:
spelling meaning
<: <:
3doac:0'i' minister
r::: <: <: <:
6-7-8
G~a)§'i'fj10
<: <:
08:::D')()') OJ to be happy
<:
3d 0 ()') 3d ilY): clothes
water well
to be spacious
4. Spelling variants. When you met the rhyme': you learned that it is an abbreviation for
-~, and that in some words (mostly loanwords) the full form -~ is preferred (see Example
9). The same applies to the rhyme -iJ : in some words you will find it written o~ (Example
10).
5. Tone variants. Examples 11 and 12 show that the use of': for the low tone and creaky
tone, but -~: for the high tone, is the same for both.:1 -~: (which you havs met before) and
(the new rhyme) -iJ1 o~: .
6. Rhymes with final consonants. The rhymes of this Lesson complete the set of rhymes
with final consonants:
<: 0 <: 0 <: <: <: c: <: c:
stop final: -0 -()') l"a) -()') G-'Ja) l"0) -()')
0
-0)
0<: <: <: <:
alternative spellings: -0 -0 l"0 -0
0
-iq -eiq -aiq -aq -auq -ouq -uq -eq
<: 0<: 0<: <: <: <: <:

nasal final: -c -'i' l"c -'i' G-'JC l"'i' o'i'
0<:
alternative spellings: -8 l" 0
-i n -ein -ain -an -aun -oun -un
Names
<:
-()')
o
the components are:
, <:
in script: o ox;:s ()') :::D ()')
pronunciation: I o~ CfYJ.:::Dchl = wa-s'weh ta-thaq
meaning: Wcl attached below, killed ta
o'i'<: 00<: 0 8< : .0 are spe 11 e d out m

. th e same way, Wi·th (),):::D(),)<: rep 1aceci b Y'i':::D(),)1
<: c:
O:::D()')I
8:::Dch or G::D:G::D:()')8 as appropriate.

<:
Foreign place names 811 86'i': Bmm
In foreign words Burmese uses the o~1 o~ rhyme <:0
CO':lgo
JII 06'i' C(
for words written with "-on": Lisbon, conference, c: c:
~II C'0a)8')s'i' Lebanon
and others. <: <:
911 C'0°@86'i' Lisbon

CO \l
~II '8<fif. :(\):0)'); Mongolia Bunnese name elements
c
Gil Oll oa ~ Khartoum :)11 caOJ peak, tip, summit
c
'(II :J(G::D Bombay JII ca<f: flourish, burgeon
c c
6)11 G::DgOJ Beirut ~II 06<f: palace
c
English first names (111 t?a<f. top shoot, tip, summit
c
:)11 oa'" Tom BUlfllese names
c
J II 'dJ<f John :)11 Ko Tin Tut
~ II c1l~: James JII Saya U Tet Tut
Loanwords ~II Major Nyi Tut
c
:)11 J'dOJ boot 711 UTunNyein
::i5Q)06~ [sic] biscuit ~II Maung Tun Nyo
c
'dJ<f June (traditionally Gil Saya San Tun
written and pronounced ~~ ) '(II KoTin Tun
oc c
tC'-'a<f nylon 6) II
c
O')')oa9: cartoon ell
c
OX) '-'a <f :0')'): saloon car :)011
c c
069 0 qm congress :):)11
c 0
069 m q concrete
06~~ll<foS communist
c c
:)011 069l9qs: conference Daw Nyunt Nyunt Me
c
:):)11 06<f'iJllOY:l computer Nyunt Win
:) JII 06~[~i~cS Confucius Saya Kun
oc .
:)~II ,?c:9: mine ["mine-bomb"]
Bunnese words
:)11 husband [formal]
wife [formal]
betel nut
aImsfood [offered to monks]
tax, levy
St John's Market
mud
I [man speaking: "honoured slave"]
ell I [woman speaking: "female slave"]
:)011 island
:):)11 teak tree
:)JII mangos teen [a fruit]
:)~II independence
:)7 11 Please excuse me, Teacher.
:)~II No hooting ["hom not-sound-may"J.

Lesson 37
- things in a classroom
Weak syllables are marked ~, and voiced consonants are marked in bold type.
~ ~ 0 <:
o II 0'i)(\.Y.): Of c chair ["foreigner-sit"]
JII 1lY):~ table
\>11 d5~ cupboard [English "bureau"]
bookshelf ["text-cover-shelf"]
blackboard
chalk [" earth-white"]
map
calendar
(311 light, fire
0011 ,fan [Indian English "punkah"]
0011 door
OJ II window
0\>11 cassette player [from English]
09 11 tape ["tape-reel"]
O~II telephone [from English]
OGII typewriter ["hand-press-machine"]
0'(11 computer [from English]
For reference: meanings of some single syllC!bles written with the new characters
Od05- escape, be free ua~: lacquerware
Od~- exceed 'B~.- discard, set aside
0(305 boot og~: [monks'] rice, food
<: <:
aa~:- push 3'd'B~ tax
oa~:
<:
betel nut 66- <:
be brittle
O6cf:- pour oaJcf slave
<: <:
~cn- recite oaJcf: island
§- be repelled, disgusted

LESSON 38
Head 0 with rhymes -05 -8 and -.; -~(..:.)

Example syllables
c c
:)11 00') 00 paq;
c c
JII 'dO') 'do puq [rarely pwaq]
c c
~II 00') 00 [read asg~ gO] wuq [rarely waq]
c
<;11 ocf 0 (o~) pan
c
~II 'dcfc G ('d~) pun [rarely pwan]
Gil ocf =:: 6 (o~) [read asg~ gJ wun [rarely wan]
Compare English: pad, patch, panda, and the like

with: wad, watch, Wanda, and the like
low creaky high

c
re ll o ? 08: wun wun wun
Stroke direction. All components are known.
Notes
1. Pronunciation. You saw in Lesson 35 how the rhyme written -05 or -8 (line 1 above) is
pronounced after a 0 (line 2). The same final consonants after the head (1- are pronounced with
the same rhyme (line 3): read such syllables as if they were written as Ul the "read as" bracket.
The same applies to the the rhyme written -t
or': or -~ if it follows a 0- (lines 4, 5, 6
above).
2. Variants. Variants in pronunciation (wuq, wun vs. waq, wan), spelling (6 vs. o~ ), and tone
(61 9 vs. o~: line 7 above) are the same as for the rhymes 005 and the others. See the ot
notes on the preceding Lesson.

Weakened syllables are marked with a -
c:
Loanwords JII 3d00) cloth, rag
nlot gown c:
011 \' II 3d 00) 3d 11Y.l: clothing
Burmese names 005~Ga:0q qualified barrister
G c:
011 2:0t UWun [" cloak-honoured-acquire "]
Burmese words
c: ~II 0~"P: duty
011 00)- wear [clothes] c:
Gil GC\)')(Y), 0 0) duties of hospitality

Lesson 38
'.
oe
b~rden, load '711 C\j(c Hlaing
e
.crane 6)11 3<['f Dagon
["load -lift-machine"] ~II O'Y)G'g Tamwe
~II 0'Y)0~ responsibility :)011 3d<:\( Ahlone
o e .:1 E •
:)011 i.O'Y)0'f3dG"l:J.?:ol: :):) II idoC\Y)i Mingaladon
Our Three Great Causes :) JII G3ly Dawbon
e
[catchphrase of the SLORC in the early 1990s] :)~II mm~()') Kamayut
e e
:):)11 o~B:
E
minister [of state: :)'111 idOC\Y)GO'Y)Ct?l3'f. Mingala Taungnyunt
(one who bears) responsibility] ["auspicious-mountain-top"]
:) JII 0~B:<tJl0 Prime Minister :)~II n~GO'Y)~ Pazundaung
Police Superintendent ['shrimp hill"]
[" crime-officer"] Lanmadaw
:)'111 o~oo~: official ["the royal high road"]
o e C
["burden-shoulder /bear"] :)'711 C:(CD(),)GOCDC Botahtaung
c
:)~II Oid: stomach, belly, womb ["the thousand officers"]
:)GII 0~:'f0 pain in stomach, :)6)11
.... C' " C'
o'f:J')()')'f: Pabedan
intestines or nearby ["smiths'row"]
be happy :)~II G<I'1.r05ooO'Y): Kyauk Tada
["stomach is pleasant"] ["stone bridge"]
e , e
:)6)11 Oid: 'f()')()J be sad Words with irregular spelling
["stomach is small"] (for reading practice only, not dictation)
e e , - words with weakened syllables
:)~II ()')Q)Oid:oa cousin ["one-womb-apart"]
:)11 Q)'):~ table
JOII °'65l novel
02 e e o~ 1aw an d ord er JII aJOll: door
lSidOOO~:G"l:
~II @(),)~:Gol05 window
["be still-crouch-be pressed down-
'111 J?"P: pagoda
be flattened-matter"]
o·
~II G.§(),)<[ J?"P: Shwedagon Pagoda
wolf
o 0 e
e • \511 ::D'it()') U(()')()J President Hotel
J~II omo bear
e 0 e rR
e e e '7 11 Q)Q)0(C:l5l. Sagaing
$11 environment
o()')0'f: <liJc
Names of Rangoon townships 6)11 yoGj. Pagan
Voicing is not marked in the following: an ~II 0'it:Gj. Pegu (Bago)
opportunity to see if you can predict where it :)0 II OCD:Ot0G{. Tavoy
falls. ":):)11 t)~:G~G{. B':tamo (Bamaw)
:)11 CD,JYJ Latha :) J II o erR
Y::Didl5l. B '
d.ssem
JII JYJGm()') Thakayta :)~II l.f):::0J()')G{. Henzada
c c
~II "l'f mc : Yangin :)'1 11 J')0:~G{. Hpa-an
["free from strife"] - verb phrases with -:::r;r: voiced & unvoiced
c c
'111 Q)id:G'tPC: Sangyaung :) II id~:::r;r: It's nat level.
e
[" spring creek"] JII idO()'):::r;r: I dO':1't wear it.
e 0 c
~II 3dC:Q)'f Insein ~ II idlSicA:::r;r: It d.idn't come off.
e e
Gil t)l.f)'f : Bahan '111 id26'f::::r;r: He didn't refer to it.

c:: c::c::o c::

~II (;l~()')~: They weren't freed. ~II I/? III III <i): ro Swiss roll
oc::
Gil (;l~~: It's not popular. Gil <tJ1ll cheese
c::c:: C::Q
- words with double tone marking '(II ej>mIllG()')0(9 Nescafe
011 G3T(\)') 1-~9? o.?:aoc0 $230 5)11 G(J)')ro III III
c::c::
Horllcks
c:: r::: c:: 'c::
JII Cl :aooy Gl30mCY.tJo K56/- Gil
c::
aoej>: 0<tJ
0 c::
sandwich
'1 c:: c:: c:: c:: c:: c::
~II GOIC 'i>'\>Ill9? (),)lllaoU) £710 00.11 G'WmromGc\y?o chocolate log
QQ Q c:: c:: c::
<;;11 (;lH. 0')1ll06()') Ma Ni Ni's biscuits 0011' G'WmromGoy?o chocolate top
c:: c:: 0 c::, c:: c::
~II oaJej>Goy? O?(\)'):CX?c my chair OJII 3dC(;lG3d M.A.
Gil 'ii'ii. QY.):~ Mu Mu's desk O~II
c:: c::
3dC(;l3dmllllll
C::C::Q
M.5c.
- words with English finals Q 0 c:: c:: Q
Ph.D.
0 c::
0<;;" 03dO<tJ3
GOJ0'Y.)<tJ me:>
011 Y.lllm3 postcard c::c:: Gorbachev
O~II
E c::oc::.
JII 0') 0 (\)'): G? ~'tcc Bangladesh oGIl G«J?<lJ O?~
c:: c::
George Bush
c:: c::
~II 0') ()') III ()')0: bus
c:: c:: c::
<;;11 (;l m ao (9 m CD') Max Factor
Descriptive letter names (earlier see 22, 26, 29, 31)

c::
011 ()'),O(;l:~ pot-bellied ta [name of the consonant Cf)]
c::
JII oo,aocOj?: elephant fetters t'a [name of the consonant CD]
~II 3,Gcg: littlest da [name of the consonant 3 ]
<;;u G,G3d0mc::~
§tmc:: da dented below [name of the consonant G]
c::
~II ej>,cU) small na [name of the consonant 'f ]
c::. c::
Gil 1-1llC\?:;;oS; * stacked ["two-letters-stack"]
c:: c:: c::. c::
'(II ej>,cU) ()'),O(;l:~ 1-1llC\?:;;oS; little na and pot-bellied ta "tacked
[name of the stacked pair O?
& ]
c:: c::. c::
5)11 ej>,cU) 3,Gcg: 1-1llC\?:;;oS; little na and smallest da stacked
[name of the stacked pair ~]
Gil rna and deep pa stacked
[name of the stacked pair '=l]
()
0011 (;l rna and bent-over ba stacked

[name of the stacked pair :::n
8]
* Some speakers voice the ao in 1-~o.?:ao9 , and others don't.
Loan word exercise

For a final fling with loanwords in Burmese script, try writing your Burmese versions of the
following foreign words, then check them against the equivalents in the passage below, which
is an extract from a magazine article about trade names. If the two versions don't correspond
exactly, don't despair: there are few standard equivalents, and many native Burmese might
corne up with different versions too.

Lesson 38
Mercedez-Benz camera ivory Latin

Apple Computer film Akiyo Morita Sunny Boy
George Eastman Kodak Sonus Sony
K Harley Proctor
Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Kabusushiki* Kaisha Tol).yo Telecommunication Engineering Company
* This is the name the Burmese reproduces. The English version in the magazine is Kabushiki.
SONY:
From the magazine §~ ~Q~ nQ 31. Jan 1993 p.70
LESSON 39
New rhyme
C'
:)
-i or -e or -eh
Words written with this rhyme are pronounced 1~I or 1G-I or 1-oS/. Which of the three
alternatives is appropriate is determined by the word; for example:


/~3oS/
C' C'
JII Q)~O)O) to be crowded
C' C' / C' /
\lii ~~O)O) / G~30)/ to be long
C' C'
911 ro~O)O) / rooS3oS/ to revolve
It follows that you can't read a word with the rhyme -~ correctly unless you have learned
to speak the word, and therefore know its pronunciation. However, there are some general
principles you can follow (though they have some exceptions): see below.

The components are known. Write ~ before ~ .
Name
c
in script: ~:).)O)
pronunciation: 1~:).)etSl = nya-thaq

meaning: killed nya
Lesson 39, Part 1: -~ pronounced / ~/

Most Burmese speakers have a feeling that 1:3.1 is the "correct" pronunciation for -~ .
There are some words, for example, that you pronounce 1:3.1 when you are reading a text
aloud (and therefore being purist) but 1-031 when you are talking. So if you have to
pronounce an unknown word written wi¢ the -~ rhyme, I~I is the safesl option to go for.
Practice for Lesson 39, Part 1: -~ pronounced / ~/

Treat the words in these lists as reading practice. They are unsuitable for dictation as you
often won't know whether to write a rhyme as -~ or ~ .

JII 6~ clear, unsullied
Burmese names
JII G3TCXY):6~ Daw Htar Kyi
Q c:;::: C C
JII 2:~~?a4'. U Kyi Nyunt
cc:;::: c C
~II G~C~~OJ9 Maung Kyi Tint
'111 G3T6~@ Daw Kyi Mya
~II 076~liI: Ko Kyi Hmu
GII ee
G<nc~"':"l.~ aung un y'1
e M S
[In reading ~~: the speaker on the tape (a) chooses the swan option instead of sun, and (b)
gives the 0 very little force, so the syllable sounds more like <ll~: than ~~: II ]
'711 G3TG3d0~;;:o~:0?6~ Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Lesson 39
KoTun Kyi
UKyiMaung
UKyiMaung
discipline
meeting
The Do Barna Organization
longyi [sarong-like lower garment]
silk longyi
cotton longyi
one way, alternatively
one pyi [a measure of capacity]
Kemmendine [Kyimyindine]
country, state [sometimes / Gqj/]

state [as in "Karen State," "Texas"]
union [of countries/states]
country
United States of America
Union of Burma
The water is very clear, isn't it?

I'll have a look at it: OK?
Yes. Fine. Do.
Look at the book.
Don't look at the book.
Excuse me [as when an announcer has misread a word].
Lesson 39, Part 2: -~ pronounced /r;;-/

This pronunciation is limited to a few words. Common among them are:

:) II
lS22 /GlS/ (or/[S/) country, state
JII lSt2- /GlS/ be full
~II ~t2- /G~/ fill up

S; II ~22:~22: / G~:G§:1 slow, slowly
~II XJq~
('
/XJGW/ juice
/G~/
C'
Gil €j[~- belong
As you see, they all begin with either @/~ or "1/ ~ .

Practice for Lesson 39, Part 2: -~ pronounced 1G-I

Treat the words irl these lists as reading practice. They are unsuitable for dictation as you
often won't know whether to write a rhyme as -~ or G- .
Slow
Drive slowly [often written G@:G@:]
be full
the moon is full
Prome [Pyay]
tea (leaf) [note weakening]
juice
tea (brewed to drink)
cafe ["tea shop"]
fizzy bottled drink ["Europe juice"]
orange juice
sugar-cane juice
jelly juice [containing pieces of sweet jelly]
drink [of diluted fruit juice]
wild plum drink
tamarind
tamarind drink
all kinds of fruit drinks
drinks of all sorts of fruit juices
The plain tea ["warm water".1 is finished.

Please fill it up again.
Is he tall?
He is.
He isn't.
Lesson 39, Part 3: -~ pronounced / -oS/

Most of the -~ words pronounced with this rhyme begin with 001 001 91 ~I '11 (\)1 C\jll or
Xl .
Practice for Lesson 39, Part 3: -~ pronounced 1-051

often won't know whether to write a rhyme as -~ or -03 .

Lesson 39
Bunnese words
811 trader, merchant, businessman
seller of snacks
water seller
misery, trouble, suffering
refuge~ ,
cart
horse cart
bullock cart
hand trolley ["hand-push-cart"]
garment, cloth [countword for clothes]
two pairs of trousers
8 J II one jerkin
8\l1l three sweaters
8<7 11 finger-nail
8~1I toe-nail
8GII Kyaukse
Do you understand?
Yes, I do.
No, I don't.
Is this mango ripe yet?
Yes, it is.
No, it isn't yet.
Please face this way.
Don't face that way.
Have you just come for a visit?
Will you stay in a hotel? [often written cD]
Or in a friend's house?
I'm going to stay in a friend's house.
Five kyats is too little. [often written ~ ]
Give me seven kyats.
H]
Just give me a little. [often written
I don't want very much.
Who is that? [looking at photos]
Ko Tun Kyi.
And that?
That's Ko Tun Kyi too.

Lesson 39, Part 4:

Practice with sets of words including words in -~
often won't know whether to write a rhyme as -~ or::'/ G-/ -05. The pronunciation of
words with the rhyme -~ is indicated. Voicing is not marked.
RorY) Anawrahta Street

Strand Road
Shwedagon Pagoda Road
'7" Keighley Street
Q C
~II CDWG3d: Gill (Y) C\) '=l: W orId Peace Pagoda Road
C C
Gil C\) '=l: '=l Ga:Y.l Lanmadaw Road
C C <:'
C\) '=l: 0.:> ill C\) '=l: Lanthit Road
C 0 <:'
6)11 u4':oxr:004': Pansodan Street
C 0 C C
e" 3dC:ill4'C\)'=l: Insein Road
o C C C C
0011 )'C\)OOillGOOOC:J?6p:C\)'=l: Botahtaung Pagoda Road
o C C C C
00 II )'C\)G3d0CGOiPC\)'=l: Bo Aung Kyaw Street
o JII :J?~:B:C\)~: Pongyi Street
Q 0 C
0;;' II 2:01D06[C\)'=l: U Wisara Road
C
0'7 11 ~:GC\):J?6p:C\)'=l: Sule Pagoda Road
C
o~ II '=l<.JY)eJ~lC\)C\)'=l: Maha Bandoola Street
(' • oc C
01511 G~<1 o;>cc\)'=l: Shwegondaing Road
• C
:)((11 3dCYC\)'=l: Ahlone Road
ocr,;: e
06)11 o.:>'=lt53llC\)'=l: Theinbyu Street
• C
0e II G~J(OJ')C\)'=l: Shwebontha Street
o co e e
J0 II 00 <J.?:J.? C\) 6[UOJ') C\) '=l : University A venue
o e e c
pil )'C\)"tlluC\)'=l: Bogyoke Street
JJII~~C\)~: (/ GttJI or I ~/) Prome Road [Pyay Road]
RII rY?~0.:>~C\)~: (/ oroSI) Merchant Street
Towns in Burma (from BISL)
Oil Ga:Y.lf:.B: Taunggyi
JII '=lg GC\): Mandalay
• C
;;'11 G6[4'G<trc: Yenangyaung
C C
'7 11 6[4'rY?4' Rangoon [Yangon]
e 0 e
~II <DillrY?C: Sagaing
Gil u~: Pegu [Bago]
'"(II yn Pagan [Bagan]
6)11 G'=l~. Maymyo
e me
ell G<Y.)C\)l5ic Moulmein [Mawlamyine]
0011 :D03 Sandoway
0011 @~6:4''): Myitkyina
o JII OJ')ill~ (/~/) Thazi
0;;'11 ~~ (/ G~I or I ~/) Prome [Pyay]

Lesson 39
J'7 11 GCY.(p030:0~ (/0:005/) Kyaukse

Burma: States and Divisions
JII §~'f05 (I G'iJ1 or 1~/) state
~ c c
JII O')().Y):~~'fw Kayah State
c~ c c
~II O')b).c~~'fw Karen State
o c~ c c
'7 b).crc~~'fw
11 Arakan State [Rakhine]
c~ c c
~II O')6[jC~~'fW Kachin State
o c ~ c c
\511 6[jC:~~'fW Chin State
c ~ c c
'III 'il~:~~'fw Shan State
6)11 '8~@~'f05 Mon State
~II
oc
O?c: d ivision
[administrative unit in the central area, peopled mainly by Burmans]
JOII ~~ G(\):076: Mandalay Division
JJII CD'filiq078: Tenasserim Division [Tanintharyi]
c 0 C 0 C
J JII q)q)O?c:O?c: Sagaing Division
, 0 C
J~II o~:O?c: Pegu Division [Bago]
ceo c
J'7 11 b).'fO?'fO?C: Rangoon Division [Yangon]
oc
J~II ~G06:O?C: Magwe Division
LESSON 39.1 LITERARY SUFFIXES
o:>~ and ~~ in literary style

There are two suffixes in Burmese that 'can be translated "from": -'1 ard - 0 ' ) . They are not
used interchangeably. You use -'1 in formal writing (in newspapers and textbooks and public
notices, for example) and - 0 ' ) for informal writing (as in letters to friends), and for talking.
We call the two types of text "literary style" and "colloquial style" respectively.
Although the great majority of words can be used unchanged in either literary or colloquial,
there is a small set of words, mostly grammatical suffixes, that come in pairs, like -'1 and
- 0 ' ) , with one for literary style and one for colloquial. For more on the literary / colloquial
distinction see my Burmese: An Introduction to the Literary Style.
The difference between the two styles affects us here because there are five words of high
frequency in literary style that are written with -~ pronounced 1':!.I. Three are written
c
JJ~-
literary pronun- colloquial meaning

form ciation equivalent
c c
[verb]-::D ~ I --lSI -0)().) verb suffix: "pres/past"
c
[noun]-::D~ I --lSI -m noun suffix: "subject"
I~I
Q
::D~- [noun] 3 this [noun]

And two are written (;)~

C'
[verb]-~~ verb suffix: 'future"
C'
~~-[noun] which [noilll]
Notice that -
• 8.)~- [noilll] "this [noilll]" is pronoilllced with voicing: / ~/ ;
• the suffix -8.)~ is voiced unless exempted; and
• (;)~ is pronoilllced, not / ~/ as you might expect, but / ~/, with an illlwritten / -/.
The sentences below give you some practice in reading these words.

Sentences with literary suffixes
:)11 :i30~. to the house
JII
G r,:;:::: C'
2:C3~8.)~
C' 0 C' ... $
3d(;)",(. C\Y)8.)~1I
C'
U Kyi came to
th e h ouse.
\lll <>ttO?tBL~. to Rangoon
'111 6~6~8.)~ <>ttO?tBt~. ~:8.)~1I Kyi Kyi went to Rangoon.
~II JJ')Gl~BL0'38 in Thazi
Gil G3TE3~G3d:8.)~ JJ')Gl~Bt.0'38 G~8.)~1I Daw Kyi Aye lives in Thazi.
711 8.)~Gc-qrc:0'3cC' C' C'
in th is schoo1
6)11
C' '1
QY.)8.)CO 18.)~ C'
stu d ies
(311 (;)C»8.)~ 8.)~Gc-qr8:0'38 QY.)8.)8ol8.)~1I Ma Hla attends this school.
:)011 8.)~3d6[J'f0 in this matter
:):)11 G0'Y)8:8.)~ :J?:8.)~ being good and being bad
:) JII 8.)~3d6[J'f0C' C'
GO'Y)c:8.)2 C' 0 C' 0 '1
;;X;>:8.)~ (;)~Olll
In thoIS matter t h
ere·IS no goo d or b a d .
- notice written on house front [humorously intended to deter literate rats]:
r,:;:::: C' C' C'
:)\lll t.:6()') G6[JC:8.)~1I We sell rats.
- from application forms:
C' C' 0 C' ....\(
:)'1 11 (;)~8.)22tcc"'(. to which cOillltry
o C'
:)~II ~:cy8.)~ you wish to go
o C' C' C' C'
:)l:lll 8.)~0(5(),)($0oac in this box
C'i,: C'
:)7 11 G(Y.)tl<>t(;)~1I you must state
C' C' 0 C' ....$ 0 C' 0 C' C' C' C' C'i,: C'
:J6lII bl~8.)22tcc"'(. ~:cy8.)~O? 8.)~0(5()')($0oac G(Y.)tl<>tbl~1I
You must state in this box which country you wish to travel to.
:)(311 bl~::D~ ()'),~: what mixed race
JOII §~G§8: you are
pll bl~::D~ ()'),~: §~G§8: G~@<>tbl~1I
You must state what kind of mixed race you are.
JJII
C' 0 C'
Gc-qrc:Gl<>tO') schoo1expenses
RII
C' 0 C'
bl~~. GO:GQY)C(;)~
C' h ow you WI'11 pay
C' 0 C' C' 0 C' C' C'i,: C'
JCJII Gc-qrc:ID<>tO') bl~~. GO:GQY)C(;)~ G(Y.)tl<>tbl~1I
You must state how you will pay your school expenses.

Lesson 39
Common words with irregular spelling:

~ ~ ~
c;'.)~~ and ooGo:Y.)moo~:
The word <j>0'='~ "name" has two pronunciations. If you are reading a text and being purist
about your pronunciation you pronounce it I <j>0~1 (notice the unwritten I -JI again). In
ordinary conversation, and in friendly letters, you pronounce it I <j>~,=,o3/. As a result of this
discrepancy, people often misspell the word <j>0'='o3 or 4,=,03 or 4'='~ .
The phrase OJo';GW0rhOJ~: "alone, on one's own" is pronounced I OJGW0rh 00 I , with an

unusual I wi for the written OJ. The component parts mean" one-person-only."

" ' wlt
S en t ences contammg h .,')~~t' an d OO~OY.)OOOO~:
t' t'
Have you come on your own?

Who did you go with?
\lll I went alone.
C;II Do you live by yourself?
~II Yes. On my own.
Gil What is your name?
Tun Kyi.
Please say your name again.
Tun Kyi.
Ah. U Tun Kyi, is it?
Yes.
LESSON 40
New rhyme
('
-in

Example syllables
C' C'
- 2 represents the same sound as - C
c: c:
JII w2 wc yin
C' iC'
~II CY{J2, = CY{J~ Cin
C' C'
<;11 02~ = 0C~ Sin
Write e before <: II
Notes
Earlier form. In older texts this final was written -~ , thus adding a further alternative to
the pronunciations for that unpredictable final. One 19th century dictionary took to writing
-e!3,<: to distinguish the -~ pronounced 1-~I from the -~ pronounced /~ G- -031, but
eventually it became customary to distinguish the 1-~ 1 pronunciation by writing -2'
a
shorter version of -~.
Name
<:
in script: effiGru:O)(Y)
pronunciation: 1~,()Gru:0)051 = nya-gale-thaq
meaning: killed little nya
Pyinmana
ironwood [a tree]
culture
daily
weekly
monthly
yearly
regulation

Lesson 40
C' 0
(311 1D2.~: glazed jar
C'
:)011
~2. squirrel
:):)11 ~2. C' C' ~ It's late. ["The night has become black."]
<j>m~:oll
C'
:)JII 3d~2 sour
C' ~ C' C'
:)~II ~2GU egm roselle leaves
C' C'
:)9 ~1D~2
11 sour bamboo shoots
0 C'
:)~II
~l~2 sweet and sour
C' C'
:)GII co~e:'lJ2 sour rice
C' C'
:)'7 11 c>q"':~2 tomato ["sour aubergine"]
:)6111 ::DGOY.J@2 attachment, affection
A final-2 is sometimes stacked over ID or;;:o or @:
:)(311 m~cf gold [Pali kancana]
JOII o~cf cheating [Pali vancana]
J:) II ::::DW pron / ::::D~/ evening [Pali sancha]
G
JJ II 3d~(\) salutation
[hands raised, palms together: Pali anjali]
When a ~ is placed under a 2 its vertical side stroke remains in the same position:
J~ II o~ barren [Pali vanjha]
Descriptive letter names (earlier see 22, 26, 29, 31,35.2)
:) II 1D,0: round sa [name of the consonant 0 ]
OC'
JII ;;:o,(\)~ twisty s'a [name of the consonant;;o]
~II @'03 C' ,
split za [name of the consonant @]
9 11 ~,"tJ2:~ za with a line drawn down
[name of the consonantlItJ]
~II big nya [name of the consonant ~]
Gil stacked ["two-letters-stack"]
'7 11 big ka and bent k'a stacked
[name of the stacked pair m]
Ql
round sa and twisty s'a stacked

[name of the stacked pair £]
pot-bellied ta and elephant-fetter t' a stacked
[name of the stacked pair C(2]
little na and da dented-below stacked
Ordinal numbers
:)11 oco~ first [Pali pathama]
o
JII 10')0) second [Pali dutiya]
o
~ II 0'),0') 0) third [Pali tatiya]
911 ID~~ fourth [Pali catuttha]
The word o~ '" "fifth" has some minor peculiarities: the 2 is stacked over aID, the ID is voiced to @,
and the 0 is pronounced with an unwritten -J : / l(J8@~/:
~II o~'" fifth [Pali pancama]
Some words with redundant -JJ
photograph

j II 4> 0 l a3 number [from English]

\lll 3d:i3 G0 t dictionary [Pali abhidhana]
'711 3d~~l05 meaning [Pali adhippaya]
o - c::
~II o6[<..D0OJ ruse, stratagem [Pali pariyaya]
Gil 3d~ bp05 danger [Pali antaraya]
- redundant-0 also occurs before -2 in the common word <..D02
'(II <..D02 vehicle [Pali yana]
6)11 3d yl :<..D02 for hire, taxi ["hire vehicle"]
c:: c::
~II <..D02 l:l6[o6[ No Parking ["vehicle-not-stop-may"]
Kings of the Konbaung dynasty (1752-1885)
The addition of -2 to your repertoire enables you to read the complete list of kings of the Konbaung
period. Remember to voice all voiceable consonants.
:)11 3dGC\Y.)t:Of"p: Alaungpaya ["Lord Buddha-to-be"]
jll G~0tGcd)~: Naungdawgyi ["Royal elder brother"]
\l" aot~ll~t Sinbyushin ["Lord of the White Elephant"]
'7" Il)~ o;r:l:lt: Singu Min ["Lord of Singu"]
c:: c:: c::
~ II G(y')C : cy.y.): 1l)0: G\:J0 C G\:J0C Paunggaza Maung Maung
["Maung Maung Lord of Paungga"]
o c::
Of : GOY) Of "p: Bodawpaya ["The royal grandfather"]
:n~:Gcd) Bagyidaw ["The royal uncle"]
G c::
::D0<..D00 0) I:l C : Thayawaddy Min ["Lord of Thayawadi"]
• c::
~II Y°l:lc: Pagan Min ["Lord of Pagan"]
c:: c:: c::
:)011 I:lc:O(~:l:lc: Mindon Min ["Lord of Mindon"]
:):)11 ::A3Gol I:lt: Thibaw Min ["Lord of Thibaw"]
Sentences
Voice all voice able consonants.
:)11 to do, in order to do
jll What have you come to do in Burma?
\l" to study culture
'7 11 I have come to study Burmese culture.
~II pot
Gil What is this kind of pot called in Burmese?
'(II It is called "sin-b."
6)11 to come out, be issued
~II Does this journal come out weekly?
:)011 No, it comes once a month.
:):)11 What newspaper is that?
:)jll worker
:)\l" people, the people, the masses
:)9 II That's the Working People's Daily.
O~II sour [like lemon, vinegar, unripe fruit]
OGII Do you like sour rice?
:)'(11 I haven't ever eaten it ("even once").

Lesson 40R

Where voicing and weakening are not easily predictable they are marked in the usual way:
bold type for voicing and the breve for weakenmg. Elsewhere words are printed as you
would find them in authentic texts: without warnings for voicing and weakening.
I ! I .
\ :
"
, What is your telephone number?

71040
, 63295
80416
73209
:::>11 :::>g0: OJ C\Y.): II Did Ko Tun Kyi go to Pyinmana?

JII No, he didn't.
,Where did he, go? ,
'He' went to Thazi.}
,Pid Major Nyi Toot come?
No, he didn't.
• Who did come?
Maung Nyunt Win came.
Does U Kyaw Nyein
, live in Mingala Taung-nyunt?
No, he doesn't.
What township does he live in?
He lives in pazundaung.
Did U Kyi Nyunt
sit at desk n° 7?
No, he didn't.
Which desk did he sit at?
He, sat at desk n° 6.
Did Ma Nyo Nwe tum on the light?
No, she didn't.
Who did tum it on?
Dr. Tun Nyo turned it on.
Did Ko Aung Myint Tun
buy a computer?
'No, he didn't.
What did he buy?

He bought a comic.
Did Ma Su Kyi tum off the radio?
No, she didn't.
Who did tum it off?
Ko Khin Nyunt turned it off.
Does U Khin Maung Kyi'

want to go to the Maha Bandoola Park?
No, he doesn't.
Where does he want to go?
He wants to go
to the General Aung San Museum.
Does Ma Nyunt Nyunt May
want to come at 7.15?
No, she doesn't.
What time does she want to come?
She wants to come
at 6.45.
Does Daw Htar Kyi
want to live in Kyimyindaing?
No, she doesn't.
Which township does she want to live in?
She wants to live in Thingangyun.
Does Ko Ye Htut
want to buy biscuits?
No, he doesn't.
What does he want to buy?
He wants to buy some cakes.
Does Maung Nyo Thant
want to sit outside?
No, he doesn't.
Where does he want to sit?
He wants to sit inside.
Does Saya San Tun
want to tum on the fan?
No, he doesn't.
Does U Wun want to close the door?
No, he doesn't.
Is U Tun Nyein going to go to Lisbon?

No, he isn't. He's going to go to Bonn.
What time is Captain Nyi Nyi Tun
going to come?
He's going to come at 7.30.
Is ambassador U Tet Toot
going to live in the Lebanon?

Lesson 40R
<:, <: <:

Gil 52: lYjlOJO?II G:),)'§OJ~ G<f80.) Yes. He's going to live in Beirut.
0 0<: <:,
'(II 5 1: 80(:~8: O'Y) o 0.) 8CD II What is Ma So Nyein going to buy?
6)11 52: rr;s~m~ 00580511 She's going to buy some concrete.
or;:? <: <: G 0 <:
~II 51: o(lS8:GO':(P G6[3U( ~y8COO:1I Is Ko Nyein Kyaw going to turn on the radio?
<: ') GG <: <:
:)011 52: 8~yOI~:1I OJC6 ~.y80') No, he isn't. He's going to turn on the TV.
:):) II
:rr:::::: <: ~ <:
51 : G3 I t:3~t:3 :)')0')00:<cl~ ar C8CDil
, 0 <: ,
Which desk is Daw Kyi Mya going to sit at?
,. ')
52: 00:<cl<f0IOJ OJID;;oO.) ~ arC 80.)<: II
<:( <: <:) 0 <:
She's going to sit at desk n° 10.
:) JII
<: <: • ') 0 <:
:)\:11 51 : 8~1.OJC OJ@I: OOJ8COO:1I Is Ma Nyunt Tin going to close the door?
0 <:') ~ <: ') <: 0 <: <:
:)111 52: 80OJOI~:1I ~OJc:Golm OOJ80') No, she isn't. She's going to close the window.
Verb sentences: should I ... ?
:)11 51: 0062:207~ ~:6[8COO:1I Should I go to the library?
JII 52: 8~:ol~.II, 00:G:).Y.)M@~: ~:olll No,don't. Go to the canteen.
<: 0 <:,
51 : :)')0')3d~<f COO 6[8 CD II Wh at time shouI d I come?
52: tS<f0~~ coooIII Come at half past two.
<: G <: <:
51: G(Y)0(9j(<f. 00.) 6[8 COO: II Should I buy some instant coffee?
<:'),
52: 800')01<f.1I 0 <:
t.j(<f. <:')
00.)0111 N 0, d on't. Buy some m'ilk powder.
<: 0<:
51 : :)')O.)~ arC 6[8 CD II , Wh
ere do I have to sit?
6)11 52: 3~G 0<: ')
arCOl1i P ease sit h ere.
I
~II 51: @OJ~:Gol~ 8~6[8COO:1I Should I close the window?
0 <: '),
:)011 52: 80OJOI<f.1I • ')
OJ@I: 0 <: ')
OOJOIII N 0, d on't. CI ose the d oor.
:):)11 51: :)')05~0G'8 ~96['=lcDll Which tape should I play?
:)JII 52: ~ol~(;;:o0OJS) ~90ll1 Play n° 11.
Extracts from the final Lessons of BISL Part 1 Lessons 27-46
The numbers below are those of the corresponding Lessons in BISL.
J,(II 51: 2:~~~. :)')05CD0:~ G<f:).)cDll Which road does U Mya Nyunt live in/ on?
52: ~c0~l0CDG:~ G<folOJ0511 He lives in/on Bogyoke Road.
. ') <:( <:)
J6)II 51 : <f0IOJ OJID :),)o')GCOOmCDIl <: <: , H ow much'IS n ° 17.
52: G~crSGol~ GCD:;;o0cl:@0:olll £6.45.
J~II 51: 07dlG~ O(~:)')~CDG:~ G<f:)')COO:1I Does Ko San 5hwe live in/ on Merchant 5treet?
52: 8G<f0l~:11 No, he doesn't.
8()'Y.)Cj~lCDCDG:~ G<folOJ0511 He lives in/ on Maha Bandula Street.
G O<:~<:
\:011 5 1:2:1D<ft:3y <:
:)')O.)~ G<f:)')CDIl
, Wh ere d oes U 5ein Myint live?
<: <: <:
52: 3d1cf0J OJ6'(? fjlID;;oO.) I He lives at n° 180
<:
fjllD;;oo.;> <: <:
GCD:CD8:~ G<f0IOJo')lI
') <:
84th Street.
\::)11 51 : G3l m0J0;;oc:m
<: <: ') <: 0 <: •
olm~OJ<ftccm COO:).) coo: II Does D r. 5ingh come f rom Pakistan?
\::) II
\:JII
° *
52: '=l COO ')I~: II 3d00 0.) t0<:.
51: ~ol~(OJS)m GCD:Oij 0 coo: II
') <:
CCm cooo IOJ 0.) II
h d
No, e doesn't. He comes from In ia.
Is n° 1 K4/-?
52: 8lYjl~ol~:1I ~:0ij80ll1 No, it isn't. It's K3/-.
\:\:11 G ~ <:G
51: 2:t:3y2: Cl :<f06[~
G COO:).) coo: II Dl'd U M yint 0 0 come at 5 .OO?
52: 8coool~:11 No, he didn't.
r.:: <: G
GL50m<f06[~ COOOIOJo')l1
') <:
He came at 6.00.
\:111 0
51 : O(:)'):).)<f: <: •
G6[<fG<Wc <:
: ~::)')COO:II Did Ko Ba Th an go to Yenangyaung?
52: 8~:ol~:11 G0J08~: ~:olOJ0511 No, he didn't. He went to Taunggyi.
\:~II 51: '=l:)')~:G~ :)')05~::)')cDll Where did Ma Than Shwe go?
r;:::::: <: 0 <: ~:OIOJo')lI
5 2: 00t:32:2cy?m ') <: 5he went to th e lb i rary.
r:-
;;>\)11 51 : <f08~<: :)')0.)C)l c 0 T
G@I:)')CDII, Wh at IS
. your name.7

It is U Sein Lwin.
U Sein Lwin?
Yes, U Sein Lwin.
What time did Ma San San HlaiI)g go?
She went at
seve1jl forty-five.
How much' is that?
K45/-.
How much did you pay for that?
I paid K45/-.
What's that called in Burmese?
It's called "sa-eiq."
What did Dr. U Win buy?
He bought some writing paper and envelopes.
Where did he buy them?
He bought them in the Theingyi Market.
Does U Ba want to go to Pagan?
Yes, he does.
Does Daw Khin Khin Gyi want to go to Pagan?
No, she doesn't.
She wants to go to Taunggyi.
Do you want to turn on the light?
No, I don't. I want to turn it off.
Which table is Ko Maung Than going to sit at?
He's going to sit at
table n° 24.
What will you (Ma Thaung Khin) have to buy?
I'm going to have to buy some writing paper
and a ballpoint pen.
Where should I sit?
Please sit here.
Should I sit here?
No, don't. Please sit here.
A sample of literary Burmese: Extracts from the headlines in a newspaper of May 1992
Extract 1
('
:)11 cy 0 0)'): worker
JII ~~~ people
~II cy(0)'):~~~ working people
('
7 11 G'f.G> 2 daily
~II cy(0)'):[g~~. G'f. G>2 Working People's Daily
[name of state newspaper: changed in Apri11993 to @~~3d(\)~:]
Gil a:>~:o~ legal(ly)
'(II a:>~~- to be established
('0 ('
6)11 a:>~~G'f::De2 which is established
o C'.
t CCG '1.: politics

Lesson 40R
:)011 uld5 party

:):)11 political party
:)jll from legally established political parties
:)~II to elect
:)<7 11 to be elected
J~II who are elected
:)GII
:)(7 11 with the elected representatives

:)6)11 to meet
:)ell to consult
JOIl to meet and consult
pll to arrange
jjll it is being arranged
RII Arrangements are in hand
for consultation to take place
with elected representatives
of: legally established political parties.
Extract 2
a
:)11 3d"Ul:::D0: national
g •
jll ~(\),,)Q assembly
C
~II <tl'im- to lay down
o g. C C
<7 11 3d "Ul: ::D0: ~ (\)")Q (Y) <tl 'i m:::D ~ laid down by the National Assembly
~II 3dG§S basic
Gil 'it principle
r.:: . C G
in accordance with basic principles
'(II 3dG~Q'it'tP:9y3d~
a C • C
6)11 tCCGoy) state
ell @0008~:1t law and order
C C
:)011 m ~ G;;x:rJ(Y) G6V es tab lishmen t
J:)II 3d~. council
oc· C f:Qc cor, C C
tCCGoy) lS00UUL'{J:1t m~G;;x:rJ(y)Gq: on the part of the State Law
3d~.3dG'f@~ and Order Restoration Council
C C
:)~II GEj"l.mIDCO Y a further stage
C C C
:)<7 11 C\(UC 'f : 1D 2 programme
C C
:)~II CO (Y) CQ (Y)- to continue
:)GII G6~- to announce
C C
J'(II G;;x:rJC~(y)- to carry out, act
:)6)11 co05CQ05G6~G;;x:rJ~~05~:0~ will further announce and take action
C C C a C C r;:::;:: C C C '1
C\(UC'f:1D2'tP:0( CO(y)CQ(y)G8~G;;x:rJC~(y)~:0~ WI 1 announce further
stages and take appropriate action
JOIl The State Law and Order
__ ~ronounce
_________________ D~i_P_ht_h_O_n_gS__in_t_h_e_r_om~a_n_tr_a_n_sc_r_iP_ti_o~n~:______,____________~I.
ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in thou h, au as in Sauerkraut.
259
L.
From The Working People's Daily newspaper

0(22 May 1992
Source of the reading exercise in Lesson 40R
·t;::
Ii:
(y?~.ErCf.~~

Less common characters: Rare combinations
Part 2
Less common characters and
combinations of characters
Change of format
You have now covered all the widely used characters and combinations of characters in the
Burmese script. The characters that remain are all alternatives to characters you already
know (like the ;final consonants in English fix, tics, tricks). They are also used in fewer
words (like eor Iii in English), though in several cases one or two of those words are useful in
the early stages 'of learning Burmese.
These characteristics make the Lesson format used hitherto inappropriate. In place of the
Lessons you will find "Sections," and in place of the Practice lists you will find lists of
"Examples." Furthermore, since the pronunciation of the Example words can be written in
more familiar characters, we discontinue the readings on the tape. Instead you will find
the pronunciation of the Example words shown in the text between I ... I; for example:
~a3 I ~a3 I kinsman
Weakening is marked in the Examples in the usual way, with a ~ over the weakened
syllable. Voicing is marked by bold type when it is not easy to predict. Where it is
predictable (as in suffixes, such as verb-mc0 =/verb-3c0/) we leave the script the way it
is normally written.
When you are memorizing the new chiracters and combinations, you will probably find it
helpful to read the explanation at the beginning of each Section; then turn to the Examples
and write out the pronunciation in Burmese script - without looking at the version in the
second column. When you have finished a section, compare your version with the text, and
correct it if necessary. In some of your words you may find that you have written one
possibility and we have written another, as in m~ and oJ, or 3l and Gl . As both members of
such pairs are pronounced the same, it is not important that your version and ours correspond
exactly.
SECTION 1
Sections 1-4 present some less common combinations of characters
New head (\)0) lay- or y-
261
Example words
words pronounced with lay- words pronounced with y-
C'
ffiC\{t'J
..., kalaya C\)Jffi~~ yeq-s'a
alaya-Iaiq G~G6~ yaw-je
Some words are pronounced with either lay- or yo. lay- is felt to be more correct and
elevated.
When O-c.9-e::>-:YJ-kl-'j are combined with -J the result is pronounced as a single-consonant

cluster, not as two separate syllables. For example, Burmese speakers recognize a difference
between-
'1r: a
my (one syllable) to be many
and kl()y'): maya (two syllables) wife
However, when you combine (\) (or C\j» with -J the result is read as two separate syllables.
Speakers recognize no difference between -
cqj laya (two syllables) to be slender
and (\)00 laya (two syllables) a moment

The components are known. Write them in this order: 0)-cq)
Name
the components are:
in script:
pronunciation:
(\) moc.C.c /="
I (\) m,oc: ,
la, ya-pm
meaning: hi, and propping-up ya
Examples for Section 1

Words in which cqj is usually pronounced /0)00/
correct equivalent
spelling standard spelling meaning
JII mcqp I m(\)()Y.)1 Kalya [girl's name]
JII 3'dcqp:o?05 I -(\)()Y.):-I lengthwise
\11 J.6t0cqjOOt011 I -(\)OY,?-I It is slender.
<;11 3'dcqj~3'd~~ I -(\)m~-I rapidly
~II ai5Go:i->~ I -(\)Go::h-I appropriateness
Gil Gcqp~:G~1r::Y(~: I -(\)G()Y.)~:-I recumbent Buddha
711 Gcqp05oa5~ I -(\)G()Y.)05-1 appropriateness
6)11 3'do?3'dGcqp05 I -(\)G()Y.)05-1 of its own accord, naturally
- The word meaning "infantry unit" has an unpredictable first syllable:
G~ is pronounced I ~I
~II G~cqj~oo8 I -(\)m~-I infantry unit
262
Words in which "1J is usually pronounced / 00/

JII cqpOO0:aua5 / ()'Y)3l :rua5/ target, objective
JII GcqpG§: / GdGru:! compensation
\11 3dGC\:{j?3dm8: / -GOJ?-/ slackness and tautness
C'
C\:lj m <XY): /wa5-/ electuary [medicinal powder taken by licking]
C'
Gcqpm iGUYJa5/ rafter
C' C' C'
mUC\:ljm 3dQl~: / -wa5/ the ne~ghbouring room
o 0 C' ... C' C' ....
i.3d0~. mUC\:ljmull It's adjacent to our house.
6)11 o C',
::DC\:ljm~. JYJ,?
r,:
0G~0)011
/ -wm-
C' /
Despite knowing, he said nothing.
Exceptional pronunciation /0:;00':"/ -

Phrases used at the end of a letter
J II GCD:Gn:C\:lja5 / -cy wa5 / respectfully
C' C' C'
JII QlC0cC\:ljm affectionately
C' C'
\11 G3d0mG';lC\:ljm remembering you
::D 05 "lC\:lj a5 remembering you
C' _Q C'
~II 3d ill 2 ::D m "lC\:lj m remembering you always
C' 0 C'
Gil CXY.)O «> 2 ::D m"lC\:lj m remembering you for ever
C' C'
GO'i.F)t: m CC\:lj m with gratitude
SECTION 2
New head eyw hlay- or sh-
Example words
words pronounced with h I a y- words pronounced with s h-
c: c: _
Glj000 hlayaq-siq cxpc..zr: sha-bya
c: c: c: c:
C\Y)GljC la-hlayin 3dOOOGcxp00) awuq-shaw-zeq
Some words are pronounced with either hlay- or shoo hlay- is felt to be more correct and
elevated.
263

The components are known. Write them in this order: C'0-C'ij-C'9J II
Name
the components are:
C' 0
in script: C\) W 0 <? O')(X?:
pronunciation: C' 0 /
/ C\) W,OC: (J),CX(>: = la,' ya-pm,
" ,,'
ha-t 0
meaning: la, and propping-up ya, and hci thrust in

Words with ~ pronounced 1"9001
:)11 ~000
C' C' / C'
C\j>woo- /
e 1ectncity
.
C' C'Q
JII ~000'=l: electric light
;;:11 ~60&;~:~ electric cooker, cooking ring
oo&;+ [countwordl+~~ means "per [countwordJ" in literary style
C'
000'r~C
C' /
-C\j>wcC'/ •
per Item, each
C' C' C'
~II 000GUY)m~c per person
Gil OO&;G'f.~~ per day
- [verb]-0:(J8 means "if, when [verb]" in literary style
711 o C'
C\j( 1l0:(J C
/ C'/
- C\j> w C if there is someone there
~C' C'
6)11 ~ '=lCJ(m0:(Jc if he does not like it
Q C' C'
e:GC\):t<? '=lG06.~c if you don't find Uncle
Words with ~ pronounced ~

:)11 GCW- fG<J[?-/ slacken, reduce, bring down [price]
JII Gcwoh?:11 Bring that [price] down a bit!
o C' '1
- '=lGCWtC01Jf?:1I I can't reduce it.
H
G~ol~:11
o C'
Bring that down a bit.
- G~C$. '=l6)Jf?: @Cc:{pil It's impossible to reduce.
31 3dt:;q:G~:UII That's my lowest price.
c::w /W/ tongue
6)11 c::wt. C\:(JaS6~olll (I waSo:\j-/) Lick it with your tongue.
c::w 'f0G'fol 00 oS II Her tongue is sore.
:)011 GC::WaS- / GWaS/ proceed, amble
C' (' (' (" C' "-
:):)11 c$'=l: Gc::wm~:6)c ;:;X)W"'f00 If you walk it'll only take ten minutes.
C' C' C' ... "-
:);;:11 J)'fG()')0m~ J ) 0 C$O<jl:::Dc$ II What did you do when you were in
Bangkok?
We wandered around looking at the big
shops.
You are adorable, little sister.
264
Oh. You're rambling and talking nonsense.

wash [clothes]
What are you going to do?
:)e ll I'm going to wash the clothes.
JOIl Do you have any washing to do?
pll I'll wash it for you.
jjll Do you have a washing machine at home?
R" slide, slip down
$" Take care, won't you. You may slip.
j~1I speak, tell, address [to monk]
jGII Have you told the monk?
II II Yes. I told him this morning.
j6)11 the water spilt over
Words with ~ pronounced / ~ / or / 'Y,./

:)11
o <' <'
~l.9m()')(J.)
1C\jlC\(.-~.
0 01 conceal, hide
o <'
jll ~l.9m Secret [at head of document]
\l" c~Jt905:)')~:~o'6?l 1-x>~-I thriller [novel]
SECTION 3
New head sh-
Another way of writing the sound usually written ~. Rare except in the word [Sd3::;{J "British."

The components are known. Write them in this order: :::D-::AiJ-~
Name
This head is named by naming its components:
<: 0
in script: :::DI 0009 1 mCX{:
<:
pronuncia tion: 0 /
/ :::DI OO,OC:1 m,CX{:
" ,
=; tha, ya-pm, ha-t'o
meaning: tha, supporting ya, ha thrust in

correct equivalent
spelling standard rhyme meaning
Useful words
:) II [S d3 ::;{J British
265
British Embassy
British Prime Minister
British national
British Museum
British Library
Other words
:::lll
JJj~"l / ~03 CD 6'p/ sastra [Sanskrit text]
0
JII JYocf JJj~"l Supinasastra [treatise on dreams]
0
~II JJj~: /~W:! shish a [plant name]
0 C'
<;11 JJj~:oc shisha plant
~II ~~:~: shish a fruit
0 C'
Gil JJj~:gm shisha leaf
/~eDU
Q C'
'(II JJjeDC shilling
6111 Cl :JJjeDC
Q C'
5 shillings
C' Q C'
ell @JwJJjeDC 1 shillings
Q C' C' C'
:::lOll JJjeDC t000W CD~Gol ~ 20 shillings [=] 1 pound
/3d~<5/ lord [less common way of writing 3d ~~ ]
C'
:::l:::lll 3dJJjc
:::lJII tlJJjll: /tl11Jl:/ Malay [obsolete term; now 0GeD: ]
o
[Arakanese yadu poem with the word ~l:
0
/~:!
C'
:::l~1I JJjl:G?m "l0?
in the refrain]
SECTION 4
New head
sh

The components are known. Write W before J II
Name
This head is named by naming its components:
(' (' 0
in script: WOffiCDffil UJCX(:
pronunciation: /
('
W,OCDffil 0 /
UJ,CX(: ' - I eq, ha-t'o
= ya-pa
meaning: supine ya, thrust in ha.
266
Notes
Another way of writing the sound more usually written 1[' In the five-volume dictionary
~~lf.)3dd5G0~3d<I.)J2:CtJl<S there are only two syllables listed that begin with this combin-
ation. However, if you use that dictionary you will see it quite frequently: it is the
combination adopted to represent, in the indication of pronunciation in each entry, the
sound variously written 1[' ~,and~, as well as u.:r. For example, the pronunciation of
c:
G1[:J?<f:G1[:m'" / c: C:/
1S glven as Gu.:r:«<f:Gu.:r:m<f .

:) II u.:r2- / 1[~/ set side by side, compare
JII 3d~:~. 3dG~: u.:r26~11 / -~-/ Compare the bigger with the smaller.
C' '-
\:l,IDOO)<f. u.:re0?
C' 0
\:l6'r:>'ii': II You can't compare her to Ma Sabeh.
7 11 u.:r riJ - / 1[riJ / intertwine
~II (\) mc: u.:r mc: CD 0)c: II They joined hands.
c: c: c c
Gil ::D Il) OJ m u.:r m CD 0) II The branches were intertwined.
Pronunciations represented in the dictionary system
pronunciation spelling meaning
/ u.:r~:G@<foS/ 1[~:@~<foS Shan State
6)11 /u.:r~/ 1[~ squirrel
/ Gon G@:/ Gc::xt?GIl1P reduced price
:)011 0 C c/ oc .
/ OP(\) CD ::D <f ~(\) O::D R-sound ["tongue-roll-sound"]
:):) II / ~03u.:r?/ [S03~ British
:) J II / o?(\)81 ~(\)8 shilling
SECTION 5
Sections 5 to 11 introduce seven new symbols, the "free-standing vowel syllables," which
are alternative ways of writing syllables you already know. The following 21 syllables
display the full set of rhymes in open syllables (that is to say: syllables pronounced with-
out a final consonant - one or other of -q and -n).
tone
*~ "- 0
creaky 3d *~ G3? 3d G3d')
3f. <:
*~
0
low 3d') *3jl *G3d 3dW *G~ 3f0
G "-
high 3d'): 3d: 3[: G3d: 3d *G3d0 3f:
The syllables above are not only pronounced with no final consonant: they are also written
with the consonant 3d, and therefore pronounced with no initial consonant either: a, a, a; I,
i, I; and so on. Seven of these syllables (the ones marked with *) can be written
alternatively with a single character, and it is these characters that you will meet in the
next seven Sections.
267
New character
o
3d
There are no very common Burmese words that are written with this character. The place
where you are most likely to find it is in monks' names. Otherwise it is used for Pali words.
co
Order of strokes: r:4
3 4
Name
in script: 3d(DhYl(y)
6l -[- fY1.
pronunciation: / 3driJQOYJ~/ = eq-k'aya-I

meaning: character f

correct equivalent
spelling standard spelling meaning
Pali words (read ~ as R)
811 the other (Pali itara)
now (Pali idani)
posture (Pali iriya)
Ittivuttaka [title of a Pali Buddhist text]
So ~O')~ = 13d0')
0 ~/
an d ~'1'~ = / 3d0 '1~I
'
~II woman (Pali itthi)
Gil sapphire (Pali indanTla)
Monks' names
'"(II 2:~~oo / 3f?:~t30'Y)/ U Eindaka (Pali Indaka)
6)11 2:~~')())~W /3f?:3dt3l())~U)')/ U Eindasariya (Pali Indacariya)
The one word using this character that has a mild claim to being useful also has an unusual
combination: ~. This is pronounced 1-t3~-1 or 1-t3w-l.
(311 ~G~ / ~~3GW or -G~I dignity, composure (from Pali indriya)
8011 ~G~ ~O')o5 He is dignified.
::>811
r. C'
~G13 <t]ooO')w
~
He lost his composure.
8JII ~G~ ;;o~O')o5 1;;0051 He maintained his composure.
268
Less common characters: Free standing vowel symbols
New character
G
3d
There is only one Burmese word written with this character: the word g)l' pronounced 1~/,
and meaning "this" in literary-style Burmese. Otherwise it is only found in Pali words, and
not in many of those.
4
Name
in script: 3d OJ 6pg)~
pronunciation: / 3ddJ~()YY:!d/ = eq-k'aya-i
meaning: character i

Pali words
:)11 ill1 d3 1d/; d3 1 calamity (Pali It i)
JII g)1~::D 1~g:).Y)/ such-like (Pali Tdisa)
~II g)1"1d3 1d/;"1d31 move, shake (Pali irati)
<;111 g)1::D 1~:).Y)/ lord, ruler (Pali Tsa)
811 g)l::DG"1 1d/;::D G"11 [name of a mountain] (Pali Isadhara)
Gil g)1::D(y) 1~::D (YY)/ little, few (Pali Tsaka)
'(II g)1 o'Y.) 1d/; 1O'Y.) endeavour, exertion (Fali Tha)
Phrases and sentences in literary-style Bunnese
Remember that the literary-style word::D~ is pronounced 1-:1JI, and 8~ is pronounced 1~/.
The question marker ~ ~: has the same rhyme: it is pronounced 1~:! .
())II g)1(2@8 1~ 1 this fable
~II g)l3'dO:U~ this habit
:)011 g)13'd~~ this time
:):) II g)]:)':)(»8 : this information
J JII
S ") C' • C' 0 C' •
g)1,~CC::D~ 8~::D22tcc~~:11
C' C' C' (/jln.~/)
,rJ Th'IS country: w h at country IS
' It.
'7
269
This country: it is Burma.

This person: who is he?
This person: he is JTvaka.
This old man: where does he live?
He lives in Tampawadi, Your Majesty.
SECTION 7
New character
There is one common Burmese word written with this character: the word 2, pronounced
/ ~/, and meaning "egg" or "tuber" (like a potato). Otherwise it is found in words borrowed
from Pali, several of which are quite common.

The shape is known. It is identical with the 2 in the rhyme -2 II
Name
2 in script: 3dO;?~2
pronunciation: / 3ddJC)()Y)~/ = eq-k'aya-u
meaning: characte1.- 11

Bunnese words
:)11 2 /~/ egg, tuber
JII ::1)2 duck egg
~II 60-52 hen's egg
<; II '(:2 quail egg
~II QY.)2 sparrow's egg
oC'
Gil 0<j>:2 arum tuber
The next word has both weakening and voicing:
7 11 C'
m<j>~<j>:2
C' / C'
m~<j>:~
/
sweet potato
Common words borrowed from Pali
6)11 20'='0 / ~tj'='0/ example, for example (Pali upama)
(311 20G3 /~tjG3/ law, act (Pali upadesa)
:)011 2Dt / ~i/ season (Pali ut u)
Other words
:):)11 2G3l6: peacock (also known as G3l6:)
:) J II 20l:)JOY.) lay devotee (Pali upasaka)
C'
:)~II 2~C tunnel, cave (Pali u manga)
270
water (Pali udaka)

:)~II 230,) rise, growth, increase (Pali udaya)
:)GII 23l'i' emotional utterance(Pali udana)
:)'(11 23l~: [naturalized Burmese form of 23l 'i']
:)6)11 20'roo crown prince (Pali uparaja)
When 2 is followed by a final consonant, read it as 3f1l so 203 = 3f0311
:)B" 2<6?'=l /3f03 cDI<n/ highest, noblest (Pali uttama)
JOIl 2<6?6[ /3f030)'r/ northern (Pali uttara)
pll 2~0) / 3f~'i'O'YJ/ high, lofty (Pali un nata)
JJII 2~03 / 3f~'i'031,1 noise (Pali unnada)
pll 2~h /3f03ol31,1 rising, coming into being (Pall uppada)
$11 2~ / 3f~'=l0/ [person's name] (Pali umma)
j~1I 2~<6?Gcyy') 13f~'=ldSo)Gcyy')/ deranged, mad (Pali ummattako)
SECTION 8
New character
G
u
2
This is a rare character as it stands. There are one or two Burmese words - rare ones -
written with it in the five-volume dictionary, and a handful words in the Pali dictionary.
2 comes into its own when it is followed by -: to make 2:'
the word meaning "uncle" and used
as a prefix to men's names. As you already know 2:'
we shall not practise it in this Section.

The components are known. Write 2 before Gil
Name
G • ~ C C C
2 in script: 3do;?6[J2 0?:C3:mc Q09~m
pronunciation:
C C G C C c/ =
/ 3dm~OY)3f 0?9:C(j:mc Q09~m
eq-k'aya-u loun-jl-tin s'an=k'aq

meaning: character u, big round on top, with a kemel set inside

Bunnese words
Q
:)11 2b[~ 13ffb[lA;(1 tenderly, gently
c
22G:)J')c:G:)J')c: also spelled 3[3[G:)J')~:G:)J')~:
Q Q C
jll tumultuous
Pali words
~II wanting, deficient (Pali una)
271
GO
2~ wave (Pali ami)
thigh (Pali ar u)
G
2~
louse (Pali aka)
G
2O'YJ
SECTION 9
New character
G3d e
or less commonly G3d~ e
The high-tone pronunciation of this character is quite unmarked: you learn the tone when
you learn the word. The low-tone pronunciation is far more common than the high tone.
Perhaps the first word with C'l that a learner is likely to meet is the river C'l "l00 ~
"Irrawaddy," or in the 1989 spelling "Ayeyarwady."
Name
in script: 3d~6p<l5
pronunciation: / 3dd:;~oy)G3d/ = eq-k'aya-e
meaning: character e

Words with Gl pronounced / ,.~/
Common words
JII C'l"po~ Irrawaddy [Ayeyarwady]
G~ c
JII C'l"p0C)')~<D Irrawaddy River
G 0 c
~II C'l"p0C)')O?c: Irrawaddy Division
<;11 C'l@ /G3d~/ April (English)
Other words
~II C'l"p~ enormous
Gil C'l"p keel
711 C'lm<§.
()')
surely, without fail (Pali ekanta)
c
6)11 C'l m 9 (naturalized Burmese form of C'lm~ )
G
(311 C'lm::D monk's robe (Pali ekamsa)
272
:)011 (gm acre (English)

0
:):)11 (gq()J') area (English)
:)JII (gqm [a kind of grass] (Pali eraka)
:);;:11 (gm3l at one time (Pali ekada)
0
:)<:;11 (g 0Y:l:::D 9' m one who eats only once a day
(Pali ekasanika)
seeking, longing (Pali esana)
Words with (g pronounced / G'3d:i

@ in names (also written G3d:)
:)GII 2:(g /3f{:G'3d:/ U Aye
07 11 d?G~<SG~<S(g Ko Maung Maung E
05)11 G3Tootl2· Daw Tin E
:)(311 ~(g~ Ma Aye Mar
<:
JOII ao~(gG~C Saya E Maung
Other words
pll egyin [a kind of classical poem]
JJII sing an e-yin [song for monk's funeral]
SECTION 10
New character
[JJ: = G3d') aw
Although this character is composed of graphic elements you already know, :::D and ~, its
pronunciation has nothing to do with the pronunciation of those two shapes. The first time
it comes up in BISL is in the country name §IDG§:~ "Australia."

The components are known. Write:::D before C II
Name
§ in script: 3d"2~§
pronuncia tion: / 3dd:J@()Y)G'3d')/ = eq-k'aya-o
meaning: character aw

Common words
:)11 §'l.o5 / G3d0'l. 05/ August [from English]
JII §@")J3: / G3d0@,,)-/ custard apple [fruit]
273
\>" ~e3- / ~~. G~/ be astonished

The next two words include a § that has to be read as tr-
<;11 e3IDG§:C\iJ / G~IDO')G6[:"iP/ Australia [from English]
~II e3ID§3:<.oo: / G3d?IDO')~:<.oo:/ Austria [from English]
Other words
Gil e3O'YJ applause (Pali obhasa)
7" e3O'YJ:)') light, radiance (Pali obhasa)
6) II e3 ('Y,)I):).) permission (Pali okasa)
e" e3 013 instruction, admonition (Pali ovada)
:::>011 e3@0 influence (PaIi oja)
: :>: :>11 e30Y.)6[ descent, fault (PaIi otara)
:::>JII e3 <f 3 cooked rice (Pali odana)
:::>\>" e3()l~ well [for water] (Pali opana)
:::><;11 e3GC\Y.)Gm03 to look at (Pali oloketi)
:::>~II e3:).)Q medicine (PaIi osadha)
The sequence e3+05 is read as G~+0511
:::>GII e3m~<f / G~05mwr/ entry [Pali okkamana]
~ 0
:::>7" e3O;;>~ / <:0 <:
G~mc)())()')
/
dropped, cast down [Pali okkhitta]
SECTION 11
New character
~(' ('
Ge:?' = G3d0 aw
G~ is the low-tone syllable corresponding to high-tone e3' It is used for only one word,
the word G~ itself, meaning "Oh" - and even that is often written G~II
G~ could be said to have one other function. It plays a role as one of the traditional set of
12 vowels that are a reference point for alphabetical order and are used in the pagination
of palm-leaf manuscripts:
3d 3d') c;:Q ill! 2 2. ~ ~ 8 G~ 3d 3d'):
For more on this set and on alphabetical order, see the section on alphabetical order.

The components are known. Write them in this order: G-G:)')-Ge3-4~~')-G~ II
Name
G§ in script: 3d0JGpG§
pronunciation: / 3ddJcx)'Y)G~/ = eq-k'aya-aw
meaning: character aw
274
Who is this monk?

He's my brother.
~II His title is U Eindaka.
911 Where are you off to now?
~II I'm going to the monastery.
Gil I want to meet U Eindasariya.
When you have read this fable -

answer the questions below.
At this time Ma Pu Kywe-
had not yet gone to bed.
~ , ~
:J:J II OJ) 0'):~C::Dc\) O1C~1I What would you like to eat, M/Mme?
- :n2 q(\)'): II Do you have duck eggs?
Where are you off to?

I'm off to the market.
I want to buy some hen's eggs.
- listening to an explanation
:JGII ~3l 9G<f,j <f0:\:)C\)~ol:r;jl:1I I don't understand that.
:J7 11 20\:10 Go:ol~:(\),):11 Why don't you give us an example?
- looking at a map
:J6)1I 3l OJ)@~c011 What river is that?
:JBII - 3lm ~6f>o0'5@~olll That's the Irrawaddy.
_O~rR ~ O~ ,
JOII Y::D\:)LSl.o :J')wO?C:'PC\) II What Division is Bassein [Pathein] in?
G 0 ~ 1
pll - ~6f>oO')O?C:'P011I It's in Irrawaddy Division.
- asking about months
~ ,
JJII \:),g\:10 G~:G<fo :J')WC\)'PC\) II What month is Ma Aye Ma's birthday in?
pll - ~@C\)'P0llI It's in April.
J911 ~\:10@~ :J') c0G aJ? @~'Pc011 When are you going to go back to Burma?
J~II - §'105C\)'Polll In August.
- names of countries
<;'0 ~
J GII
0 ,
\:) ~ O')0Gu::>? :J') W ~C c m (\)')::D C\) II What country does Mr. Hawke come from?
J711 - §0G[g:01Jmolll From Australia.
J6JII §0~:<..D0:~~c G6f>a5~:::D(\),):1I Have you ever been to Aush'ia?
~, ~1 ~ 1 ~
JBII - lYjlO')O?II 0')0011 G6f>m~:oIO')WII Yes. I have been there once.
275
SECTION 12
Sections 12-15 present characters that are abbreviated forms of commonly used syllables.
They can be compared to the English abbreviation of "and" to "&" - with the difference
that in English the full form is considered more correct and normal, whereas in Burmese it is
the abbreviated form that is normal, and the full form is hardly ever used. All four
abbreviated syllables are restricted to literary-style Burmese.
New character
pronounced /~/
4
This character is an abbreviation of its Old Burmese spelling C3~. As it was abbreviated
before the spelling system was changed there is some uncertainty about how it should be
spelled in the modem system. Sometimes people represent it as C3e:2 ' but normally the need
does not arise: it is always used in its abbreviated form.
(gl~ has two meanings:
1. suffixed to a verb, it means" end of sentence, present or past tense," like the verb suffix
-0')03 in colloquial style;
2. suffixed to a noun, it means "possessive, 's," like the noun suffix -~. in colloquial style.
Name
&1~ in script: 3d'2~&1~
pronunciation: / 3dch~OYJ~/ = eq-k'aya-I
meaning: character i
Maung Shein went to the museum.

Ma Pu Kywe went to Canada.
Tokyo is in Japan.
Bangkok is in Thailand.
U Tin Hlaing comes from Burma.
Mr. Tung comes from China.
276
Less common characters: Abbreviated syllables
Literary-style phrases with noun suffix -QJl)

o C <? c: 0
'7 II rY? J.) m ()') C IZII 3d rY? Ko Thet Tin's brother
6)11 \ol@~\ol,Id,()')~IZI~ 3dGId Ma Khin Ma Ma Tin's mother
r,:c oc. c: coc
ell ~~ld0tCCIZII 3dCDmyc: the upper part of Burma
JO II Id~ Gc\):~. IZI~ 3dG§3dG~ the condition of Mandalay
JJII G3TG3d:G3d:G.§IZI~ 3dJ5G')~ Daw Aye Aye Shwe's dictionary
G Cr;:::Q C c: ,
J JII e:GId0Cl5l.CIZII G:::D?oa U Maung Kyaing's bunch of keys
SECTION 13
New character
~ pronounceJ G0601 ywe
This character is an abbreviation of its Old Burmese spelling ~ 05. If people ever have to
write it in its full form they write GEt). ' but normally the need does not arise: it is always
used in its abbreviated form.
~ is a verb suffix used in literary style. It is used to connect two verbs, or two verb clauses,
and usually corresponds to English words like "as, when, because," and sometimes it
corresponds to "-ing." See the Examples below.
Order of strokes: 1
Name
~ in script: 3d~EiP~
pronunciation: / 3dr:!:;~oy)GCY6/ = eq-k'aya-ywe
meaning: character ywe

Literary-style sentences using verb suffix-~
JII o~~ o?~lZI~ II He came in and sat down.
JII o?~~ 62:21Z1~ II (I -~-/) He sat and watched.
\;>11 :::>3~~ GId:IZI~ II As he wanted to know, he asked.
277
<;11 As he felt stiff, he stood up.

~II As he didn't understand, he asked her to say it again.
Gil As he wanted to take a picture, he asked permission.
SECTION 14
New character
~ pronounced ~ch/ hnaiq
This character is an abbreviated form of ~05. It is used in literary-style Burmese and is a

noun suffix meaning "at, in, on," like the suffix -'f0 in colloquial style.
c:
Order of strokes:
~
(Write the - last)
•
Name
c:
in script: 3do;?6p~
pronunciation: c: 0
/ 3dm@OY)'¥tm C:/ = eq-k '~h'
aya- nalq
meaning: character hnaiq
I met Ko E on the road.

Daw Than Nu lives in Mandalay.
He bought some instant coffee at the general store.
They left a note at the embassy.
278
Less common characters: Abbreviated syllables
SECTION 15
New character
This symbol is only used in one word:

C'
Ci c ~ pronounced lagaun
or l1-gaun
This is an abbreviated form of th~ word c\)~:G(Y.Y.)d:, which means "ditto, also, as well, the
same." In former times c\)~:G(Y.Y.)6: was spelled GC\):G(Y.Y.)6: , and as the word GC\): also means
"four," the figure c.; "4" was used as an abbreviation for it. Subsequently, perhaps to avoid
confusion with the figure c.; , the shape of the c.; in c.;6: was modified to Ci .
Write the components of the wo,d in t h i S ' <;-<;c-<;6-<;8,
Name
The symbol has no name.
in both Rangoon and Mandalay

in the same way
the aforesaid Maung Saw Maung .
SECTION 16
The characters presented in Sections 16 to 25 are only needed for writing Pali words. Most of
them are used in only a few common words, but some of those words are very common. Pali
has some sounds that Burmese doesn't have, so it needs separate characters to represent
them. In pronunciation, Burmese speakers amalgamate the alien Pali sounds with familiar
Burmese ones, but in writing they retain the correct Pali spelling.
279
New head
ny-
This consonant has two forms: you may choose to write either. The first is identical in
shape to the free-standing vowel syllable 2 pronounced / Xf./. The second form has become
more popular in recent years precisely because it it avoids this ambiguity. As an initial
consonant 2/2... is only used in writing Pali words. As a final, however, it is used for quite a
few Burmese words: see Lesson 40.
Name
2 or ~ in script: 2mGCD ;
pronunciation: / ~,()GCD:! = nya-gale
meaning: little nya

0
:::JII 2?()) /~d5/ kinsman
JII 2?OJ /~0W/ method, system
,?II 2?())0'Y) /~0())m0/ relative
0
):11 2<6? /~a5d5/ announcement, declaration
Descriptive letter names (earlier see 22, 26, 29, 31, 35.2, 37, 48)
~II 2,OOGCD: / ~-OGCD:/ little nya [name of the consonant 2]
('
l:lll
~c.
tlDC\(:OOS;
C
"two round th ings stacke d "
[term for a pair of stacked consonants]
little nya and round sa stacked
little nya and split za stacked
little nya and za with a line drawn down
stacked [name of the stacked pair~]
:::Jail 3drr;?6'(J character, letter
:::J:::JII 3d rr;? 6'(J IZ1~ the character 1Z1~
3d rr;? 6'(J ~ the character ~
C C
3d rr;? 6'(J ~ the character ~
280
Less common characters: In Pali words only
SECTION 17
A disguised stack
When a syllable ending in -2is followed by one beginning with C the two are stacked; but
instead of being written one above the other in the usual way, they are merged into one
character, like this:
<:
-2 + C = -~-
As you will have noticed immediately, the new stacked pair has precisely the same shape
as the familiar initial consonant ~ , and this creates an ambiguity that can only be
surmounted by learning individual words. The classic case is:
spelli~g composition 'pronunciation meaning
:)11 3d~ 3d + ~ / 3d~/ upstream
JII 3d~ 3d2 + 2? / 3d~~/ perfect knowledge [Pali anna]
If you encounter 3d~ in a text you are reading, there is no way of determining whether to
read it / 3d~/ or / 3d~~/ unless you can deduce from the context which meaning it has.
The Examples lists contain words in which all the occurrences of ~ are of the type in
Example 2 above: a stacked pair in disguise.

The shape is known. It is identical to the initial consonant ~ II
Name
in script: ~~:
pronunciation: / ~'c1J:! = nya-ji
meaning: big nya

:)11 ::D~ /::D~~/ distinguishing mark [Pali sanna]
JII 3d~,,,,~ /3d~~,,,,~~/ reciprocal [Pali anna manna]
~II mCY)~lCY) / mCY)~~lCY)/ gratitude [Pali katinnuta]
'111 3d~,CY)6[ / 3d~~,CY)~/ humble, undistinguished
[Pali annatara]
<:
~II 3d6[~mc /3d6[~~m~/ forest living [for recluse monks:
Pali arannaka-anga]
Perhaps the most commonly encountered example of this stacked pair is a word that has
another quirk in it: an unwritten -J :
spelling composition pronunciation meaning
Gil u~ u2 + 2? / <iJ~~/ understanding, learning [Pali panna]
Here are some examples with u~ :
281
02!JGGF education
o2!JGq:o~.~: Minister for Education
o c:
~II o 2!JG q: OJ 'J5l ::A( CD Institute of Education
JOII G<;O:02!J ':rp.edical study
- monks' names
JJII U Pyinnyasekka [Pali pannacakka]
U Pyinnyathami [Pali pannasami]
U Pyinnyathara [Pali pannasara]
SECTION 18
DoubleY
-Oij- - 0 ) - -y-
Some Pali words are written with a double Y; for example, peyyala "mark of omission."
The Burmese equivalent of Pali -yy- is 01J ' which is pronounced in the same way as w :
spelling pronunciation
GO UirXD / GO()J)ro /

The components are known. Write w before.-J II
Name
c: c:
in script: WOffiroffi wos:c:
pronunciation: / w,odJrodJ w,08:1 = ya-paleq, ya-pin
meaning: ya on its back, supporting ya

JII /G@oy)/ Zeya [name: Pali Jeyya]
JII / G'3d08 G@oy)/ Aung Zeya [name of King Alaungpaya
before ascending throne]
;;'11 20G()01J /3felG()oy)/ the subject of a comparison
<;;11 GolA:l.P0~ / GoOY)oJ;QY)/ minor duties
~II 2GlA:l.P@2 /3fGOY)@U incitement, instigation
Gil 2:G2...01JJ3~ / 3[:G2::w,J3~/ U NeyyasTri [monk's name]
"(II G2...01JG / G2::W3~/ five principles
- one common word has a redundant -0 : read 0iP2 as w2
6)11 2lA:l.P2 /3fw8/ garden, park [Pali uyyana]
~II @~~.2OW2 / ~~.3fwU People's Park
282
SECTION 19
New head
() g-
Order of strokes: 123

Name
in script: wE3: G / ' .'
pronunciation: / n,(lF = ga-JI
meaning: big ga

There is only one common word that needs this head:
:)11 ::DUX) 1::D()l 1 the community of Buddhist monks [Pali sangha]
A few more examples (Remember that these' are Pali words, so pronounce 6'( -:1S / r I):
JII w<f0 1()~01 milk rice [Pali ghana]
~II w6'( 1()6'(1 house [Pali ghara]
<;11 3d0ux)OJ 13d0()l OJI ill-will [Pali aghata]
~II ~w IG3d0() 1 flood [Pali ogha]
Gil ~U):::D l~n:::DI rubbing, chafing [Pali nighamsa]
711 @W~ / @M/ loins, buttocks [Pali jaghana]
6)11 Gux):::D 1Gol:::D1 voice [Pali ghosa]
DTghanikaya [name of a set of Pali texts]
SECTION 20
New head
(\) 1-
283
Name
in script: ~B:
pronunciation: / C\J,f(j:
G / = I'"
a-JI
meaning: big hi

One conunon word:
:)11 ol~ 101031 Pali [Pali P a Ii]
- some compounds
JII o:l ~0 0) <J? ::A?0 CDc 10l030)a5m~1 Pali University
~II o:l ~rY:(Jk):
0 C
10 l 03 rY:(J .$ :I Pali text
711 ol ~::YY:l:)'y') 10l03::YY:l:).Y.)1 Pali language
Other Examples:
~II ()~l I()~I garuda [mythical bird: Pali Garu!a]
C
Gil GO~l°'f 1GoC\(otl Vel uvana [name of a park in Buddhist scripture]
0
711 'f0~Gmq 1'f003Gm ql coconut [Pali na!ikera]
Iilll G3lU)~ 1G3lu)CDI strong desire [Pali doha!a]
0
I~()CDI
~II 'f()~
OQ
;0'fOOCD'f
CQ 1 • elephant foot chain [Pali niga!a]
:)011
'f~~'f squeezing, pressure [Pali nippTlana]
The retroflex consonants
The consonants in Sections 21 to 25 form a set: they constitute the third row of the consonant
chart as set out in Appendix 1. They are:
~~~()m
Pali, and other languages of India, have consonants known as "retroflex": they sound a bit
like Burmese 0 ) , CD, 3, and 'f ' but they are made with the tip of the tongue curled back to
touch the roof of the mouth (hence the name: retroflex = "bent back"). You may have
studied a language that uses these sounds, in which case you will be familiar with them. If
not you will probably have heard them in spoken English: many speakers from India and
Pakistan use their familiar retroflex sounds in place of English Ts, Ds and Ns. Although
Burmese doesn't have these sounds, its alphabet does have the characters for them, so
when you write in Burmese script words that have been borrowed from Pali, you use these
characters where they are used in the Pali.
284
Burmese speakers read the alien characters using sounds from their repertoire that are
closest to the Pali ones, namely the sounds represented by:
CD CO 3 3 cf
There are parallels in English. English doesn't have the sound represented in German by
CH, so when English speakers pronounce a German word written with CH, in place of the
German CH sound they often use an English sound that is close to it; for example, they will
pronounce the name "Bach" with a K sound (so that the name sounds like "Bark"). The
Burmese treatment of Pali retroflex characters is closely parallel.
The retroflex set in stacked pairs

Like their commoner counterparts, the consonants of the retroflex set also occur in stacked
pairs. In some cases the two characters, instead of being placed one above the other, are
modified to make a more compact stack. The modified stacks are marked with an asterisk
in the list below.
Pali characters corresponding commoner characters
C" C"
-c'1. + c-
'1.
-c-
CJ.
-CD + CD- -CD-
CD
C" C"
-c'1. + S- -c-*
C:l
-CD + co- -CD-
CD
C" C"
-~ + ~- -~- -3 + 3- -3-
3
C" <:
-~ + ()- -9>-* -3 + G- -3-
G
C" C"
-(1)') + c-
'1.
-(1)')- -cf + CD- -&
CD
-
C" " C"
-(1)') + S- -(1)')-*
c.n -cf + CO- -&
CD
-
C" C"
-(1)') + ~- -(1)')-*
or -cf + 3- -&-
3
C"
-(1)')C" + ()- -(1)')-
u -cf + G- -&-
G
-(1)')<: + (1)')- = -(1)')-

C"
-cf + cf-
-&-
=
Sections 21 to 25 introduce these characters and some common words that use them.
&
SECTION 21
New head
aD n-
Order of strokes:
123
ao
285
Name
in script: mB:
pronunciation: / 'f,~:! == na-ji
meaning: bigna

Cornmon words
0?~C1D
.. 10?~0~1 company [business: English]
. ..
G"'[90?~C1D 1G"'[~O?~o~1 oil company
E
::D G:Y.YJO? ~ C1D
..
I ::Dc:G:Y.YJ0?909"I
CC
shipping company
c ..
oa 9 <-tJllO'Y)O? ~ C1D 1oa~<-tJllO'Y)O?~o~1 computer company
0>C1D 10>9 1 moment, instant [Pali kharJa]
QC1D,GCD: 10>9,GCD:! brief moment
0> C1D , 0> C1D 10>9,0>9 1 frequently
8EPQC1D 18crw0>91 frequently
~II QC1D,8EP 10>9,8crw l frequently
:)011 3d0C1D0 13;)0901 power [Pali aoa]
c
:):)11 3d0C1D')~C 13d090~~1 dictator
Monks' names
:)jll
..
2:'1C1D,0~ le:'19,Ot ml U Gunawunta [Pali Guoavanta]
C
:)\lll ~CG::D0C1D 1~~G::D091 Shin Thawna [Pali Sooa]
Other examples
C
OC1D9: 109~:! figure, number [Pali gaoana]
1CDd5 0> 901 mark, indication [Pali lakkhaoa]
::D08GC1D 1::D08G91 novice monk [Pali samarJera]
o
3mC1D') ., hd5Z 901 right hand [Pali dakkhirJa]
o
Q)~08C1D:::Y( 6"(-l: IQ)~318~(9W0:1 Sandamani Pagoda [Pali Candamaoi]
o C
:)~II 8C1D "'[00 900ij8 : 18~OJ3 900ijt:! Maniyadana Treatise [Pali Maoiratana]
o
JOIl 8C1D<,("'[ 18~ <,("'[1 Manipur
pll 0C1D')8 109081 opening, introduction [Pali parJama]
jjll 080C1D 1080 91 size [Pali pamaoa]
RII 8"'[C1D 18"'[9 1 death [Pali maraoa]
J<111 3d09001 C1D 13d0900191 inhaled and exhaled breath [Pali anaparJa]
j~1I m~C1D0 1mo:r901 compassion [Pali karuoa]
.. 0
JGII 19"'[C1D0om 1l9"'[90BdSl intense joy [Pali phararJapTti]
J7 11 ::D"'[C1D~ 1::D"'[9'1~1 taking refuge [Pali saraoagamana]
The consonant C1D also occurs at the end of the syllable, either with': (-C10 ) or stacked (such
as -m-). In both cases it is read as -~ .
Cornmon words
c
j6111 Y.JC1D IY.J~I bank [Pali bhaOQa]
j~11 Y.JC1D c~ m c 1 co
Y.J9:r m
c 1 bank ["bank building"]
\lOll @ C
0~J)(.Y.JC1D
C
1~:::l-j(Y.J~1 People's Bank
IY.J~Q)OJ~:!
C C
\l:)11 Y.J C1D Q)')"'[ C : bank account
286
C' C'
\lJII 2? 00 or ~ 00 intelligence [written with redundant -0]
Names
G C'
\l\lll 2:~OO U Nyan
G C'O
\l9 11 2:2?OOO;>: U Nyan Soe
G C' 0 C'
\l~1I 2:~OO1C U Nyan Naing
G C' C'
\lGIl 2:~OO(\)C: U Nyan Lin
G C'OC'G
\l'(11 2:~OO1C2: U Nyan Naing 00
Other words
\l6111 300C' /3~/ penalty, fine [Pali dal)Qa]
/Cl.~/
C'
\l(311 Cl.OO honour [Pali gUl)a]
/ m'f05m3~/
C'
9°11 m'fCJ?3OO royal umbrella [Pali kanakadal)Qa]
/ 3d8.moy~:!
0 C'
9JII 3dGm\lOO: dispute, riot [Pali adhikaral)a]
/'3d0OY~ /
C'
9\l1l 3d0\lOO concentration [Pali arammal)a]
99 11 23lCD \l00 / :Jt 3l CDOY ~ / example [Pali udaharal)a]
/o03~~m/
0
9~1I omoom en
miscellaneous [Pali pakil)l)aka]
9 GII 3d 'f000 C0 00C' / 3d'f0008~/ Anathapil)Qika [person's name]
9'(11 ::A? ° 'J.? ' :).)0 ~ / ::A? °~ 'f':).)0~ / Suval)l)asama [name of a character in the
Pali scriptures]
0
96)11 ::A? ° 'J.?,:-;(~ Suval)l)abhGmi [a country in the Pali
scriptures, probably Lower Burma and Malaysia]
In the next word read 6J. as / r /:
'1:) II 0 l6J.&m~ / 0 l6J.&m~ / Parajikal)Qa [name of a Pali text]
Remember that 2 followed by a final consonant is read as :Jt
'1(311 2'J.?o? /:JthC\(~/ hair between the eyebrows
[Pali ul)l)aloma]
SECTION 22
New head
c-
L
(J)- t-
This consonant sometimes occurs as a final:
(' ('
-cL -(J)
It may also be stacked under itself:
(' ('
-c-
c;:L
-CC-
LL
read as -(J)(J)-
Or stacked under-a6
(' ('
-OD-
e;.
-ODC- read as -cf(J)-
L
287
C~~_,or_~:1--
O,de, of stwkes In han::::!tgm~st people wdte the sec nd fonn, all
letter is one of the few examples in the script of an anti-clockwise (counter-clockwise) part-
m one stwke. The
circle. For - C-
<;\.
and - ClD -
c;
write the upper character first.
Name
C' C' 0 C'
in script: ~ J.) cf CDC: '1jOJ
pronunciation: / OJ,OJCDC:f[JOJ
C' 0 C'/ , v IIn-jelq
== ta-ta '"
meaning: bier-hook ta [from its resemblance to the hooks

that are used to for gripping a funeral bier]

Common words
00
JII oooqro lo38ooml Tipitaka
[liThe three baskets": the Theravada Buddhist scriptures]
o 0
JII oqo~ loo3odJo31 practice [Pali patipatti]
Other examples
Q
~II qm0 103()11 commentary [a type of text: Pali tik11]
911 'fC\Y)q I 'fC\Y)ool forehead [Pali nalata]
~II
o
'froq
Q 0
It roool neighbourhood [Pali nikata]
Gil 2:@qro 13f{:@o3ro/ U Jatila [monk's name]
'7 11 o~O)ro 10000)ml wreath for the head [Pali vatamsaka]
6111 0&031 10030311 line of conduct [Pali patipada]
o
(311 oqoo;? 1003orfJ@1 dispute [Pali patipakkha]
o c
JOII ocV-Y)oo
'1.
1003()dJl irreconcilable hatred [NB redundant-0;
Pali patighata]
1 0 C
JJII olqroyoo 10100cSydJi Pataliputta [name of town]
Examples with -~- :
o 1 C
JJII oqolq 10d5odJl [NB redundant -0] order, succession [Pali patipati]
J~II
C
0q 10dJi evil consequence of a deed [Pali vatta]
C
J911 Grooq hmodJl Kevatta [person's name]
Examples with -~- :
J~II o~ 10dJooi silk cloth, bandage [Pali patta]
JGII A\C
T<1.
I 'fdJool dance, play [Pali naHal
o
J'711 oo~ (Y.)0 loodJo3m01 small mat [Pali taqika]
J6l11 3'dC<1. 13'ddJool lawsuit [Pali aHa]
o
J(311 3'd~w'f 13'ddJo3w'fl dislike, loathing [Pali attiyana]
JOII o~'f lochOO'f1 turning, revolving [Pali vattana]
Examples with -en:?- :
jJll 0en:? stalk [Pali val)ta]
JJ II men:? ro thorn, bone [Pali kal)taka]
288
SECTION 23
New head
~- CD- t'-
This consonant sometimes occurs as a final:
(' ('
-~ -CD
..
It may also be stacked under c (note modified form):
(' ('
, C'
-c-
C:J I'
-~~- read as -CDCD-
Or stacked under -C1T) (form slightly modified):
(' ('
-(1D- -(1D~- read as -~CD-
c..n
Note the small but crucial differences between:

S Pali character read as CO
~ modified character for -~ + s-

<; combined characters C + J
-"'l..:c-t-_ _ _ _ and• stacked pair ----.--""-9--
Order of strokes:
2
For - CJ? - write the upper character first.
Name
C' ,
in script: S08:J)
pronunciation: /
C'
co'0cf:J)'/
= t'a-wun-beh
" ,
meaning: duck fa [from its resemblance to a duck seen from the side]

Common words
:) II ~')'f / 000'f / department, station
JII q~')'f / WOO0'f/ police station
\lll o~E3:~')'f / O~r1J:000'f/ Ministry ["minister's department"]
<;;11
~')'f' "nu~
/OO0'f,rm01 headquarters
Burmese naIlles
~II G~: !Goo:! rich [common as a name element]
289
<: <:
Gil G('y)CG~:Cldc I G(,Y)8Goo:Cld81 Maung Htay Lwin
7" G3TG~:G~: I G3TGoo:Goo:I Daw Htay Htay
6)11 o <:A
c((\)8:G~: ~ <:
~().) 1C(0 C"lJG : GOO: 06J ().)<:1 Major Htay Kywe
0 <:
~II O(G~:oc: I J?Goo:08:/ I • , Ko Htay Win
:)011 G3l ~O'Y)G~:~~ I G3l~O'Y)Goo:~U. Dr. Htay Myint
G 0<:
:):)11 2:G~:CIj(c 12:Goo:~81 U Htay Hlaing
G
:)JII 2:CYG~: le:CYGoo:I U Hla Htay
Other words
:)\l" ~00'f0 enshrine [Pali thapana]
:)<;11 3l~,)GlO? tooth relic of Buddha
[Pali dathadhatu]
- words with-~
:)~II ol~ Pali text [Pali path a]
:)GII 3d~ eight [Pali aHha]
- words with C ~
;;:Q£tOl sixth [Pali chaHhama]

3dStOl eighth [Pali aHhama]
<:
:)(311 llc tOl ()Y.)"lli ' OY) 6[ Shin Maha Ratthathara [Pali Ratthasara]
OG
Jail 3dS'OY)(\)'i' AHhasalini [a Pali text]
pll 3dS ,mCXY:> commentary on a text [Pali aHhakatha]
<: r,: <: 0
JJII "tJm~c3S eye-witness [Pali dittha]
o <:
R" 3dGS0'i' resolve, vow [Pali adhiHhana]
o <:
j<;11 ::>JtS0 'i' conclusion, decision [Pali sannitthana]
- the following words are pronounced with weakening as marked

J~II o:3~S0~: I mtOloot:1 subjectfor meditation
[Pali kammatthana]
application of mindfulness
[Pali satipatthana]
J7" looot: 1 PaHhana [name of a Pali text]
- words with CID U)
I ::>Jtd3oo1 settled, established [Pali saothita]

It( t d3oo1 wrapped up [Pali guothita]
\lOll lotd31 or I o~81 knot, difficulty [Pali gaothi]
mCID@
U)
Imtoo@1 (sound) produced in the throat
[Pali kaothaja]
- the following is a relatively common word in which the syllable before 'J? is weakened,
and the ~ is voiced:
<:
\lJ" ::>J~'i' appearance, shape [Pali saot hana]
Ordinal numbers
:)11 OOOtOl first [Pali pathama]
o
JII i oo ()') second [Pali dutiya]
290
\>11 Cf)Cf)W
0
/Cf)cJ5w/ third [Pali tatiya]
<7 11 ~"1~ / ~icAoo/ fourth [Pali catuttha]
~II O~0 (NB unwritten -J ) /<iJ~@0/ fifth [Pali pancama]
Gil QX)~0 / QX)cAoo0/ sixth [Pali chaHha mal
'(II ::D<6?0 / ::DcAoo0/ seventh [Pali satthama]
6)11 3d~0 /3dcAoo0/ eighth [Pali aHhama]
~II ~00 /~00/ ninth [Pali navama]
JOII 3,::D0 h,::D0/ tenth [Pali dasama]
SECTION 24
New head
~- 3- d-
This consonant can occur as a final:
C' C'
-~ -00
It may also be stacked under itself (very rare):
C' C'
-i1- -~~- read as -003-
Or stacked under -errS (form slightly modified):
C' C'
-OD-
or
-OD~- read as -tf 3 -
~
In the stacked pairs, write the upper character first.
Name
<: <:
in script: ~qcG(YY)m
pronuncia tion: /3,w6Gnlrr;/ =da-yin-gauq

meaning: da with a rounded chest
291

:::lll o?~l\:Y)CX: 1(Yri \:Y)(\) 1 an opening bud [Pali ku<;lumalaj
JII
° ('
3d0G~~CD 13d0G~gr::/:;1 exclamation [Pali amet)<;lita]
- words with -00-
or
Person names
U Pandi [Pali Pat)<;lita]
Shin Pandita [Pali PaQ<;lita]
Ledi Pandita [Pali PaQ<;litaj
Common words
Gil 1J)~3lGo):! financial affairs [Pali b hat) <;l a]
moo
or Im~31 chapter, area, sector, role [Pali kaQ<;la]
some say 1n~31 or I n~:31
6)11 0WCD I o~g CDI sage, wise man [Pali paQ<;lita]
- the following word has an unmarked high tone before the stack:
(311 ~W0 1~~:3r::/:;1 pavilion, marquee [Pali maQ<;lapaj
Other words for reading practice
:::lOll ° or°
000 1°('°1
04'3 lump [Pali piQ<;li]
:::l:::lll CDWl(\) 1CD~1(\)1 rice grain [Pali tat)tulaj
:::lJII 300
or 13~31 stick [Pali daQ<;la]
:::l~1I or°
ooooC\Y) I oo~8C\Y)1 mound [Pali thaQ<;lila]
:::lyll cy(W ICY(~31 beak, snout [Pali tUQQa]
:::l~1I 3d00@
or
I 3d~3@1 born of an egg [Pali aQ<;lajaj
:::lGII noo
nr
In~31 boil, excrescence [Pali gaQQa]
:::l71i ~OOC\Y)
nr
I ~~3C\Y)1 circle, ring [Pali maQQala]
SECTION 25
New head ()- 3- d-

This consonant could in principle occur as a final:
C' C'
-() -0)
It may also be stacked under ~ (note modified form):

C' C'
- Cf - = - ~ () - read as -0)3-
And theoretically stacked under - ~ , though examples are hard to find:

C'
-GD- -GD()- read as
()
292
For cursive shortcuts see Appendix 7B. In the stacked pair -?f- write the u first, and in
-ClT)-
v
write the -ClT)- first.
Name
c:
in script: UGq'i{()')
pronunciation: 13 ,GOJ'i{cAl = da-ye-hmouq
meaning: water ladle da [from its resemblance to a ladle used for scooping
water out of a storage jar]
This consonant is very rare in Pali, and few words containing it are borrowed into Burmese.
It is used in a few words with non-standard sequences of characters: see Non-standard
rhymes below. Below are some descriptive letter names for reading practice.
Descriptive letter names (earlier see 22, 26, 29, 31, 35.2, 37, 48, 49)
:)11 m,E3: big ka [name of the consonant m]
JII @,G~: curved k/a [name of the consonant@]
~ II o,coS little ga [name of the consonant 0]
911 ill,~: big ga [name of the consonant ill]
~II ~,E3: big la [name of the consonant ~]
Gil ctr),~: big na [name of the consonant (10]
- in the following name the syllable:J.)~ is weakened and changed to /00/
'(II ~,:J.)~(\)~:~a5 bier-hook ta [name of the consonant~]
6)11 ~,o~:o duck t'a [name of the consonant ~]
(311 ~,q8G()'Y.)05 round chested da [name oHh2 consonant~]
:)0 II 1),Gq~a5 water scoop da [name of the consonant 1)]
:):) II 1~c\':Q;)9 stacked ["two-Ietters-stack"]
:) JII ctr),~: ~,o~:o 1~c\':OO9 big na and duck t/a stacked
[name of the stacked pair CJ? ]
:)~II ctr),E3: ~,q8G()'Y.)05 1~c\':OO9 big na and round chested da stacked
[name of the stacked pair W ]
:)911
C' coC'
~,:J.)9(\)C:<tJOO ("
~,00:0 (,,, C'
1°<=1:00<;: b ier-h ook ta an dd uc k t/a stacke d
[name of the stacked pair ~ ]
293
Sections 26 to 33: Non-standard rhymes

The standard rhymes
You are now famiiiar with the following rhymes:
G c: 0 c:
no finals G- -(),) -0 G-0 -L IL -~
roman -i -e -eh -a -aw -0 -u -a -i/e/eh
c: 0 c: 0 c: c: c: c: c: c:
stop finals -0) -0') L"CY) -0') G-0CY) L"O') cO') -CY)
oc: c: c: c:
alternatives -0 -0 L"0 '00
c: c: c: c:
alternatives -C -C -C -C
'1. '1. L'1. 0'1.
roman -iq -eiq -aiq -aq -auq -ouq -uq -eq
c: oc: oc: c: c: c: c:
nasal finals -c -9 "L C -9c: G-0C
"L9c: 09c:
c: oc:
alternatives -2 -8 -8 -8
L 08
alternatives
L 0
c: c: c: c:
alternatives -00 -00 -00 AM
L
roman -in -ein -ain -an -aun -oun -un
Note that a rhyme written with a stacked pair (such as -1l2- ) is equivalent to a rhyme
written with the "killer stroke" (-as).
These are all the rhymes you need to know to read the great majority of common words -
~ .
and (with -~ and -cu5 ) some less common ones as well. For this reason the rhymes listed
above are usually regarded as "the standard rhymes."
N on-standard rhymes
There are some less commonly used rhymes that fall outside the above set. They do so
because either (a) they are written with a combination of vowel and final that is not
included in the standard set (as in words like 038 and GOlaS ), or (b) they are written with a
final consonant that is not used as a final at all in the standard set (as in C\)j or 'i'~). We
refer to spellings like these as "non-standard rhymes." You will find a full list of non-
standard rhymes and a key to them in Appendix 1. The next few Sections introduce them
one by one and offer some practice in reading them.
The finals in non-standard rhymes, like those in the standard rhymes, are found not only
with the killer stroke 2. but also in stacked pairs, as follows:
294
Less common characters: Non-standard rhymes
unstacked = stacked unstacked = stacked

<: <:
-0 0- -o-n
-0 (D- -o-
m
<: <:
-@ @-
t
-@-
@
-@ ~-
<:
-~- *
-~ ~- -~ ()- -9>- *
<: <:
-3 3- -3- -3 G- -3-
3 G
<: <:
-0 0- -0 J)- -0-
J)
<:
-CD CD- - CD -
ru
<:
-:::D :::D - - :::D.) - *
* marks stacked pairs with modified shape
Reading non-standard rhymes
The pronunciation of any syllable written with a non-standard rhyme is determined by the
"class" of its final consonant: Stop-class, Nasal-class, or the class here called Others. On
the whole, Stop-class consonants are consonants that block the passage of air through the
throat, like K, 0, B and the like (though there are some that don't match this
characterisation comfortably); and the Nasals are consonants made with your mouth closed
allowing the air to come out through your nose. The Others don't fit into either category.
Here is the chart of all the consonants in the Burmese alphabet, set out in their traditional
order. (For notes on the significance of the arrangement into rows and columns see Appen-
dix 3: Transliteration.) All the consonants in the two boxes are Stop-class consonants; the
unboxed consonants in column 5 are the Nasals; and the remainder, in the last two lines
(apart from ::D , which is Stop-class), are the Others.
1 2 3 4 5
K m 0> 0 (D C
S 0) ~ @
~ ~/2
T cL ~ ~
() C1D
T en 3 G
CD 'f
p u (9 0 J) (:)
CD q CD 0 :::D
J
lJ)
~ 3d
After determining the class of the final consonant in your non-standard rhyme, you look at
the vowel. In the following Sections each non-standard rhyme is equated to its standard
equivalent. The asterisk * stands for a consonant.
295
SECTION 26
Vowel ~ with stop-class finals

0(' o (' (' o ('
** = *0') -eiq and ~* 3d0') eiq

Common words
JII business, affair [Pali kicca]
jll It doesn't matter, it's not important
~II What brought you to Burma?
<7 11 arts [Pali vijja]
~II B.A. degree
Gil arts and sciences [Pali sippam]
'7 11 viss [unit of weight = approx. 3.75lb]
6111 §chJ.YJ; ()')&;8:::u:n A viss of chicken
~ ~ 0 ,
~ II JJ 0) l' ID o:::u:n Oi( \:l CD II How many viss will you have?
JOII
o
tl??t
~ 10t()')t>t
~ ~I
nirvana [Pali nibbana]
o ~ ~
JJII tl??tott religious goods [images, beads, and the like]
In the following word read 6[ as R:
J jll o ~
m6[om 1m6[0()')
0 ~I
[mythical being, half bird half human; Pali
karavTka; name of a restaurant in Rangoon, romanized Karaweik]
1OJ' C3d') 30 ()') ID , 0)• J..)GI

~ ~
Shin Adeissayanthi [Pali AcliccaramsT]
13[:Ot 3 ()')1D,J.YJ6['1"
~o ~ U Pandeiksathara [Pali Paf.1c;liccasara]
t
1 as@\:l/ renunciation [of worldly life; Pali nikkhama]
l03aS@l/ provisions
1o~aS@0)0/ requisites [for monk]
1t0 ()')~ 0 0 ~I
0) ()') the Pali nasal consonant m(written": in
Burmese script; Pali niggahTta)
J~II
00
30()'Y)
ro
1gas J3 ()'Y)1 ditch [Pali digghika]
0
JOIl 3dt~ 13dtaSlDl impermanence [Pali anicca]
pll
0
\:lID') 1fJ as OIY) 1 wrong [Pali micchaj
1~ as OIY) J..) 1
;0
jjll (Y) ID') J..) 0) 0) gaining the heart's desire [Pali icchasaya]
"'-;0
0
RII @i(->3,J..)m 1ZaS3 h ,J..)ml girl aged between 11 and 20
[Pali khic;lc;ladasaka]
0
$11 til I t aS31 nest, resting place [Pali nic;lc;la]
o 0 ~
j~1I mCDS 1dScSaSl impure, unclean [Pali kilittha]
JGII J..)3(),)
0
"00
1J3aS3 as col Siddhattha [name of the Buddha when he was
still a prince]
0
3cg, lD otl 130 ()')t>,lDm<p
C" ~ 1 divine sight [Pali di bbacakkh u]
J'7 11
j6l11
0
t:).).)O) 1t J..) J..) 0) =t ()') J..) 0) 1
0 ~ 0 ~
nissaya [word-by-word translation from Pali;
Pali nissaya]
296
SECTION 27
, ,
Vowel L with stop-class finals

C' C' C' , C'
t* = tOO -ouq and 2* 3fOO ouq

Common words
:) II measure; countword for songs and poems
[Pali pad a]
<:
y38 paragraph, section
yjG:i3: [name of the symbol II ]
<:
Y3ffiGC\); [name of the symbol I ]
:)J~5 rip ocean [Pali samudda, Skt. samudra]
00 <:
UID(9cn:)J~5 rip Pacific ocean
o <:
3'd~C\)~ cn:)J~~ rip Atlantic ocean
n Buddha [Pali Buddha]
BII nun>:G'1'. Wednesday
:)011 ~~ ~05'1P::y(rip; The noble Lord Buddha
:):) II ~~ JY):)J') Buddhism
:)JII 2<J1~ chairman [Pali ukkaHha]
:)~ II U<P<J1ll Pakokku [name of town]
o <:
:)<JII CY?<J1lUC [a kind of tree]
0<:
:)~II CY?<J1lC: Kokkaing [area in Rangoon]
:)GII in;? misery, suffering [Pali dukkha; used as
expletive, like "Oh hell!"]
in;?,:)J~ (I --:x;oS/) refugee
in;? 8Gu:<tJ8ul)';(: II I don't want to give you any trouble.
0<: ,
:)BII i n;? :)J U "l.P: O'Y) UII It's a very irksome, laborious activity.
JOII 2~ object, thing, possession [Pali uccaya]
o
pll u(2~ thin gummy, whatsitsname
G <: ,
JJII 32 ~ J)().):J-i(.lYY)C\) II Whose is this thing?
RII 2<J1(\)')u Okkalapa [district of Rangoon]
J<J II GO'Y)C<: 2<J1 (\)')U South Okkalapa
J~II G[0 05 2<J1(\)')u North Okkalapa
Other examples
o <:
JGII :)J¥Y3 precept, religious rule [Pali sikkhapada]
J'7 11 3'dt\1~0 Anuruddha [name of a monk
o <:
JIilIi <P5 ffi '1'rD0()') Khuddakanikaya [a collection of Pali texts]
o <:
JBII n~cy?~ Gijjhakuta [name of a mountain]
~Oll 2~ meteor [Pali ukka]
297
~:)II / 'Jf. et3 (Y) et3 / leader [Pali ukkaHha]

~JII / '1 et3 (Y) et3 / evil deed [Pali d ukkata]
~~II / (\jet3Q&:/ tree spirit [Pali rukkh a]
~911 / ~et3Q,~t)3/ botany [Pali rukkha+veda]
~~II /:::>:(et3/ semen [Pali sukka]
~GII /1c(et3/ gateway [Pali mukha]
~'(II / 0:[et3 / aeon [Pali yuga]
~(i)1I /:::>:)ly0:[dJ/ bond, association [Pali samyoga]
~~II / GTcJ (y) C( et3 / singular [Pali ekavacana]
9°11 / t)o?C(et3/ plural [Pali bahuvacana]
/ y. et3 OIY)/ question, problem, puzzle [Pali puccha]
/ TcJ G[ OY)y. en
00 c/ posture [Pali iriyapatha]
/ 'Jf.':.:J{et3 / sabbath day, day of observance
[Pali uposatha]
99 11 2:::>..X>~().Y.): / 'Jf.:0:::>:)~0Y):='Jf.et3:::>:)~0Y):/ [a gemstone]
9~1I ~'t:ri5()) / ~'tet3:::>3())/ man-lion [mythical sphinx-like creature]
[Pali manussiha]
growth, prosperity [Pali vuc;lc;lhi]
period of famine [Pali
dubbhikkhantarakappa]
SECTION 28
Vowel G- with stop-class finals

C' C' C'
= *Q) -iq and <Z: * 3dQ) iq

correct equivalent
Common words
JII G@CDC period, time, era [Pali khetta]
C
JII TcJ<pG@CD the present
o OG C
~II O?C$'1'G@CD the colonial period
911 ~;;:o($ G@CDc the Burma Socialist Programme Party period
C
011 '1',O,CD G@CD the SLORC period
Gil G@CD en
tern porary [Pali k he It a 1
'(II G:::>:)~ box, chest, trunk [some say / CD~oy)/]
(i)1I ::DG:::>:)~ iron box, tin trunk
~II GG[QG:::>:)~ refrigerator ["wa tel-solidified -chest" 1
298
Other examples
:JOII 2:G:::D~(\) /~::::Di)CE(\)/ U Thittila [monk's name: Pali SeHhila]
:J:JII G@fj /@i;oo/ elder, supreme, foremost [Pali jeHha]
:J JII G:::DOJ / :::Di;@/ leamer, trainee [Pali sekkha]
:J~II G3'fl:J') /3i;i:J')/ watersnake [Pali dec;lc;lhubha]
- with the rhyme / -i;/, P-row consonants are pronounced with an unwritten / -J1:
:J<711 G8tgJ / '=l.]i;()')0/ compassion, affection [Pali metta]
:J:)II 2Go<g') /:Jt'iJ&;@l/ equanimity [Pali upekkhana]
SECTION 29
Vowel ~ with stop-class finals

oC'
t* -aiq

No word with this spelling is particularly common.
correct equivalent
:J II y~
0<:.
/ Yr0 / measure; countword for verses [Pali pad a]
JII «3il(6[0? yadu poem with the full set of three verses
~II 0')~~ paragraph
<711 8~~ crown [Pali makuta]
o <:
:)11 6[OJl:::D demon [Pali rakkhasa]
00<:
GII o6[~@ wandering religious mendicant [Pali paribbaja]
SECTION 30
Vowel G- ') with stop-class finals

With K-row finals (-~ -A -uS):
(~i
C' C' C'
G* 0* G* 0ffi -auq and G3d0ffi auq
With other-row finals:
C' C'
G*0* = ~O) -uq uq
299

No word with these spellings is particularly common.
correct equivalent
K-row consonants
JII G80R(\)t 1G80~o(\)~1 Moggalana [name of a monk]
JII GJY)R 1GJY)~ol fit to be enjoyed or possessed [Pali bhogga]
For words with G-0'M refer back to Lesson 31; and for the sequence §'M see Section 10.
Other-row consonants
~II GOY)'i'f aa
1 05 oo'f 1 pounding [Pali konana]
yll Gol)5oh 1~05ooohl PoHhapada [name of a month]
~II GOY))5m 1aa0500ml stronghold [Pali koHhakaj
Gil §'M~ 138 0500050 / sense of shame [Pali ottappa]
"(II Goloo(Y,)
1g05oo1 clan [Pali gotta]
6)11 G()'y')'M loa 05oo1 string [Pali yotta]
ell
0
Goy') '&? GJ.) 'f 1~05cx3GJ.)'f1 Sotthisena [monk's name]
Jail Goy')~ 1~05cx31 wellbeing [Pali sotthi]
JJII Gol,&?m 1~05ooml book [Pali potthaka]
JJII Gol,&?o'f 1005ooo'fl definition [Pali yotthapana]
J~II Golgm Ig0500ml cluster [Pali gocchaka]
Jyll GJY)@
G
/oa 05 @1 edible thing, fit to be eaten [Pali bhojja]
J~II Gol~m /g05(jml ankle [Pali gopphaka]
JGII G()'y')~'f loa 05 (j'f1 youth [pali yobbanec]
J"{II GOY.)(j
:n
1~05'J)/ pit, pool [Pali sobbha]
SECTION 31
Vowel- (unwritten vowel) with stop-class finals

If you come across a syllable with a stop-class consonant after the unwritten vowel, you
have to check the consonant before you can go ahead:
C' C'
With K-row finals (-~
c
-0 -uS): ** *m -eq
C' C'
With S-row finals (-~ -@
c
-~): ** *0) -iq
C' C'
With other-row finals:
** *0) -aq
300

In this Section, the commoner words are marked with *
correct equivalent
spelling standard rhyme meaning.
K-row finals (examples other than words in -f; are hard to find)
:)11 of> locY51 row, column [Pali vagga]
jII !df> 1!dcY51 path [Pali magga]
c
\lll J)on IJ)ocY51 top of the world [Pali bhavagga]
11
0
o::>y~!dn
0 c 100::>y0)3!dm
co ci Visuddhimagga [a Pali text]
'7
~II !dlJY)onn 1!dlJY)ocY5nl Mahavagga [a Pali text]
0
Gil 3dQG)O) C
13d cY5 fi o:x/5 1 alchemy [Pali aggiratana]
'711 3dQ!dGlY.J::J3 13dcY5n, !dGlY.J::J31 chief queen [Pali agga mah es T]
6)11 EJt83dQG~ loyt3dcY5n,3!d1 Shin Eggadhamma [Pali Aggadhamma]
ell 3dtQ, 13dtcY5nl priceless [Pali anaggha]
S-row finals (examples other than words in -<i are hard to find)
:)011 ()J~ 1()J~I sacrifice [Pali yajana]
:):)11 ~:))~ 1~:))~I giving up [Pali nisajja]
:) JII* :))<J.?Gp~ 1:))cY5n()J~1 era [Pali sakkaraja]
:)\lll (JmGp~ 1G3dn()J~1 universal monarch [Pali ekaraja]
:)'7 11 OG3:))Gp@
C
1OG3:))()J~1 feudal lord [Pali padesaraja]
:)~II n~t0 1n~@t0/ roaring [Pali gajJana]
G
:)GII 3d,CD~ 1:Jd?CD~31 shameless [Pali alajfT]
0
:)'7 11 !d~!d (I'iJM) 1'iJ~g!d1 middle [Pali majjhi ma]
:)6)11 3d~Ot 13d~@00t/ teaching [Pali ajjhapana]
:)ell O~GJ)G)
0
1O~@0GJ)~V the execution drum [Pali vajjhabheri]
JOII 3d G~ ('(Y):)) 1 3d~G@0('(Y):))/ • open air [Pali ajjhokasa]
Other-row finals
pll 203
C
1~J)aSl misfortune, distress [Pali upadava]
JJII CD3
C
ICDaSl result [Pali laddha]
;;oaS3~1
C
RII ;;o~t 1 Chaddanta [name of a race of elephants]
J<.1 II :))2 'J ,G(¥.)d5o l CD 1 ::DaS3 !d,G(¥.)d5o l CDI Saddhamajotipala [monk's name]
o 0
J~II :))~~,m<65 1::DaS3!d,r!5aSd51 Saddhamakitti [monk's name]
C
JGII EJtC20C1D,:))~~ 1EJt8t0t,::DaS3!d1 Nal)asaddhamma [monk's name]
o 0
J'7 11 ::D~~,m<65 1::DaS3!d,r!5aSd51 Saddhammakitti [monk's name]
J6)11 (Y)§oH ld?;aS§oaSl psychic power [Pali iddhipada]
0'1. "
Jell ::D,€ t>l ~ 1::DlcfaSoaSl origin, arising, genesis [Pali samuppada]
o
\lOll OCQ)::D,€O ~ C
3 1 0 C
(30)Q) C
::DIcfO)OO)ci chain of causation
--"<0 U
(Pali paticcasamuppada]
\l:)11 G<YJCOJ"(j 1~aSooaS(j1 touch (Pali phoHhabba]
\ljll ::Dc;??to) (I-~t-/) 1::DaS~t?tO)I omniscient (Pali sabbann uta]
\l\lll C\Y)J) C
as 1 CD 1 gain, greed [Pali labha]
\l'7 11 ;;oitt 1;;oa53 t l throwing away, rejection [Pali char;Jr;Jana]
\l~11 mlft Ima53tl pulling, dragging (Pali kar;Jr;Jana]
\lGIl 3d If !d0:)) 13daS3!d0::DI fortnight [Pali ar;Jr;Jhamasa]
\l'7 11 3d If 13da531 opulent, wealthy [Pali ar;Jr;Jhal
301
~6)1I 3d<f.,(<f 13do53. ,(0531 three and a half [PaU af~9hamu99ha]

~BII 0<fej> IOch3ej>1 growth, enlargement [Pali va99hana]
c
9°11 I8m3OJ 1G3dm3051 eleven (PaE ekadasa]
S;01l 8hoS 18ho51 twelve [Pali dvadasa]
S;JII* @:ll)cj>0 1qjo5 OJ ej>01 problem [Skt. pra~na]
o
S;~II* OO:ll)cj>0 18oo5OJej>01 insight Pali vipassana]
S;S;II
C
l1C:),)')6[ 3 :ll)
G
I 11C :),)') 6[ 3 0) OJGI
CC
Saradassi [monk's name]
S;~II m:ll)O 1mo5OJol Kassapa [monk's name]
S;GII 3d ::A)J') OJ 13d 05 :),)') OJ 1 inhalation [Pali assasa]
S; '7 II O::A)J') OJ 1005 :),)') OJ 1 exhalation [Pali passasa]
S; 6) II @::A)J')5 1qjo5OJo51 spire [Pali pasada]
SECTION 32
Non-standard nasal finals

There are only five non-standard nasal finals so they are all treated together in this one
Section.
0(' 0(' (' 0('
** *~ -ein and M*
0l.. 3d~ ein
(' (' (' ('
1* ('
1~
('
-oun and
2* ('
3f~
('
oun
G** *2 -i n and ~* 3d2 in
[~i
(' (' ('
G*0* t;~ -un and

3S~ un
0(' o ('
1* 1C -ain

In this Section the commoner words are marked with *
correct equivalent
- syllables equivalent to ~ ~
011* c32: 1c3~1 gender, sex [Pali linga]
JII 03~ <656[ 103~ <656[1 Singuttara [Pali name]
~II G@OiJ,03~~ 1G@W,03~Ol~/ Jeyyasinkhasu [Pali title of honour]
S;" OJ~m
00 1OJ4'0m
0 cOl
waterer, sprin kl er [Pa Ii sincika
- ]
~II 8G~ 18~G@0/ Vinjho [Pali: name of a mountain]
In the next word -~- is a disguised stack, equivalent to 2- -2
Gil o~~2 1uB~~U acknowledgment, promise [Pali patinnat}a]
- syllables equivalent to L~
'7"* ::A(~ 1::A(~~I zero [Pali sunna]
302
6111 J.?2:- IJ.?~:! waste away, perish [Pali sunna]

~II ::>(2: GO:- I ~~: Go:-I consume, eat [Pali bhojana]
~Oll ~i' 1~~m,1 releasing, giving up [Pali muncana]
~~II y~, I y~aD,1 cloth, towel [Pali punchana]
~jll y~ ly~@1 heap, pile, mass [Pali punja]
- syllables equivalent to -2
~~II G3W~
o I 323~
<.' 0 I ; I
kettle drum [Pali deQc;Ji mal
- syllables equivalent to o~
~<JII GJY)G~,) I J6~GOY)I o monk [Pali bhonto]
~~II GJY)\t 1'Yd~rdl gentle agreeable [Pali so m mal
~GII G(YY)W2:: I 06~3~2::1 KOQc;Janna [monk's name]
~,?II GJY)w.? I 'Yd~,1 gold [Pali sOQQa]
~6lII 3dG~2:: I 3d~ea~2::1 mutually [Pali annonna]
- the next word has an unwritten high tone in the syllable before the stack:
~~II GUYJ~l I oa~:o/ may they be [Pali hontu]
- syllables equivalent to 7~
JOIl or
o OD
<.' I 0<.'1orc tunnel [Pali leQa]
j~1I
o <.'
mJ.?OD: I 0 <.' I
mJ.?c: aid to meditation [Pali kasiQa]
jJli* ~~: 1~f;:1 sect, group [Pali gaQa]
SECTION 33
Other non-standard finals (non-nasal, non-stop)

0(' o
With vowel ~
1:* 1: -0
C'
With other vowels: -cf -an, -ein, -oun, and the rest

In this Section the commoner words are marked with *
correct equiva len t
Syllables with vowel -1
~II* a?05 1a?1 body, self [Pali kaya]
jll @.uS I~I planet [Skt. graha]
~II [2uSot l[2il artificial satellite
The following word has an unmarked high tone before the stack:
9 11 :X>[?;l uS I:x>~ :[21 compendium [Pali sangaha]
~II* YR'lc0 I y05~ I person [Pali puggala]
GII* "7o.?c0 I CY?o.?l religious merit [Pali kusala]
303
'(11* ° C'
)K'0 I~I officer [Pali bala]
6l1l* °
OO<J?J..(>CU C'
I Cr.></5 m ~ I university [Pali takkas'ila]
C'O C'
(311 ~0<fCU I ~r!5~1 religious path and fruition [Pali magga-phala]
G OC'
JOII* :A)O'(~ 1-f5 0. I Sri Lanka, Ceylon [Pali STha!a]
OC'
JJII 'U?O~l6[ I U?Ot91 Yughandhara
[Pali: name of mythical mountain]
0C'
JJII 00'(6[ 100.1 [obsolete unit of time]
J\lll ° °
°9'~:96[
C' C' lOG 01
°9':9 monk who has mastered the Vinaya texts
[Pali vinayadhara]
J<JII 9'~~ 19'~1 city [Pali nagara]
J~II J3~l6: IJ3t:~(1 SanjTva [name of one of the hells]
JGII ~g<f6: I ~r!5o~:1 Magghadeva [Pali name]
1,<'
Syllables with other vowels
J'(II (9c0 I <'!tl crystal, quartz [Pali phalika]
J6l11 ~c0 I ~tl garland, flowers [Pali mala]
J(311 ~~ I ~tl Mara [character in Buddha's life story]
JOII 3d'J:::>.Y)~ 13d'J:A)~1 Asa!ha[nameofamonth]
pll G()'l.):A)~ I G()'l.):A)tcul proficiency [Pali kosalla]
JJII :A)W00'3 I :A)tC\Y.)0cJ51 SaliavatT [Pali name for Monywa]
pll 3dWO 13dtC\Y.)01 conversation [Pali allapa]
J<JII :A)WO I :A)tC\Y.)ol friendly talk [Pali sallapa]
J 6I11
v "Q.~
-AI-
l
I"Q.~I -AI, splendour, glory [Pali sirl-]
JGII J3uS /:)5tl Leo [in the zodiac: Pali sTha]
J,(II 8W 18 t C\Y.)1 faeces [Pali mT!ha]
J6l11 2:Goy~ 13[:GoYtcul Vepulla [monk's nall'e]
- the next two words have an unwritten hi~h tone in the syllable before the stack
J(311 y<e§~ I Yt:03tl masculine [Pali pullinga]
\lOll 9'y<e§~ I 9'Yt:03~1 neuter [Pali napullingaj
°
\lJII ~<J5lcuc ° C' 10C' °
3doooocu9'° C' I f ' emmine [P ali 'Itthillnga
. ]
- in the following the nasal realization of the Other-class final is lost through weakening:
\lJ" §~ IJ.iJ~1 Brahma
\l\l" o~~ 10cu~1 throne [Pali pallankal
- exception (Other-class final is ignored):
\l<J11 Goo~ hool elder, monk [Pali thera]
304
Review Section for letters and spellings found in Pali words

The names of the volumes of the Pitaka
The Three Pitaka ("Three Baskets") are three collections of texts containing the principal
teachings and legends of TheravadaBuddhism, the branch of Buddhism to which the
Burmese belong. The Three Pit aka are written in Pali, and have been studied, translated
and expounded by the Burmese for about nine centuries. The list below gives the names of
the different volumes and sections of the texts, in Burmese script and roman script, and their
pronunciation in more familiar Burmese letters. Over time the Burmese names of some texts
have diverged a little from the original Pali; for example, for Pali Vi nay a you would
expect Burmese 8<fw , but the Burmese refer to this text as 8<f~:' This list is taken from
the @t<:n9.SoS~0:(j~: vol. 6,p. 305.
The Vinaya
:)11
o C'
0<f~:o~mm
° C'
l o<f:
OG °
ommm C'I
Vinaya Pitaka
JII ol6)0&mol~ lol6)0&m olc31 Par,ajika Pap
\>11 olS'65wol~ lolSoSmw olc31 Pacittaya Pa!i
<711 ~lJY.)o~ol~ I ~lJY.)oaSo olc31 Mahavagga Pa!i
~II q(~o~ol~ I q(\) oaSo olc31 Cu!avaggC( Pa!i
Gil oqol6[ol~ loqol6[ olc31 Parivara Pa!i
The Abhidhamma
:)11 13;yjh<:n 8mmoSi Abhidhamrna Pitaka
JII 13~ :.))~o~ olc31 DhammasangaQi Pali
\>11 18::n60 ol031 Vibhanga Pa!i
<7
11 13lcy?mCCYJ' ol031 Dhatukatha Pa!i
C' °
~II I ymo(\)
C'
'iJc~mm ol031
C'
P uggaJ apaririatti P ali
Gil I mCXYJooSCX( ol031 Kathavatthu Pa!i
'? II Iw~m ol031 Yamaka Pap
6)11 looSCXYJ<f ol031 Patthana Pa!i
The Sutta
:)11 Sutta Pitaka
G °
3ill<f0Y)WC'
30 <fmw
I G ° C'I Dighanikaya
G ')0 C' C' C'
:.))(\)m6>.OOO 1(:
Ol Q n e I :.))(\)mOl<f3
G
omo olc31 SiJakkhandhavagga Pa!i
~lJY.)o~ol~ 1~lJY.)oaSo olc31 Mahavagga Pa!i
olc8mo~ol~ lolc8m oaSo ol031 Pathikavagga Pa!i
Gil Majjhi manikaya

'? II MuJapar:1I~asa Pap
6)11 Majjhi mapal)Qasa Pa!i
~II UparipaQQasa Pa!i
:)011 Samyutta Nikaya
305
:JJO1<XYJOR:.Uu('6501 ~ Sagathavagga Samyutta Pa!i

OJII ~31tOR:.Uu('6501 ~ Nidanavagga Samyutta Pa!i
O~II 6l~oR:.Uu('6501 ~ Khandhavagga Samyutta Pa!i
0'1 11 :JJ ~') OJ tOR :.u U( '65 01~ Sa!ayanavagga Samyutta Pap
O~II (;>(JY)°R:'uu('65°1~ Mahavagga Samyutta Pa!i
3d <tE '65 ").t°0Yl OJ~ 13dC~ <t (Y)(Y)").

~
t°mOJ~I Ariguttara Nikaya
Illm~ol (Y)ol ~ IG3dm ~01(Y) 01031 Ekanipata Pa!i
1m~01(Y)01~ 11m ~ol (Y) 01031 Dukanipata Pa!i
O~II ° ° 1 1
(Y)mtOI(y)ol~ ° ld5m ~01(Y) 01031 Tikanipata Pa!i
JOII il)0?,&?~01 (Y)ol ~ 1il) 1c::h00 ~01(Y) 01031 Catutthanipata Pali
pll o~m~ol(Y)ol~ 1<iJ~@m ~01(Y) 01031 Pancakanipata Pap
JJII ;;nm~ol (Y)ol ~ 1;;nr/5m ~01(Y) 01031 Chakkanipata Pali
RII :JJ'65m~ol (Y)ol ~ 1:JJc::h(Y)m ~ol (Y) 01031 Sattakanipata Pa!i
J<711 3dl:im~ol (Y)ol ~ 13dc::hoom ~01(Y) 01031 AHhakanipata Pap
J~II tom~ol(Y)ol~ 1tom ~01(Y) 01031 Navakanipata Pap
jC511 3:JJm~01 (Y)ol ~ h,:JJm ~01(Y) 01031 Dasakanipata Pap
J'III 1ll0Yl3 :JJm~ 01 (Y)O1~ IG3d0Yl3,:JJm ~01(Y) 01031 Ekadasakanipata Pa!i
J6)1I ~
1<p(y)3m ° ~I
tmOJ Khuddaka Nikaya
J~II 1<pc::h3m 0100 01031 Khuddakapa1ha Pa!i
~Oll 13(;> 03 01031 Dhammapada Pa!i
?Oll 13f31t 01031 Udana Pa!i
?JII °° ~
13d(Y)«(Y)(Y)m 01I(\)°1 Itivuttaka Pa!i
??II IJ:(c::h(Y) ~01(Y) 01031 Suttanipata Pap
?'111 18~t oc::ho;( 01031 Vimanavatthu Pa!i
?~II 1GO(y) oc::hCX( 01031 Petavatthu Pa!i
?GII 1GOO"). 01<XYJ 01031 Theragatha Pap
?'111 iGoo~ 01<XYJ 01031 TherTgatha Pa!i
?6)1I 1@')(Y)m 01031 Jataka Pa!i
?~II 1(;>(JY)~c::hG3:JJ 01031 Mahaniddesa Pa!i
'1011 1W(\)~c::hG3:JJ 01031 Cu!aniddesa Pa!i
<;011 ° ~ ° 1(;>mo
10(y):JJt::D3 ~ 1 °1
Ol(\) Pa1isambhidamagga Pa!i
<;JII iGoo.-p031t 01031 Therapadana Pa!i
'1~11 iGoo~ 3d031t 01031 TherT-apadana Pa!i
<;'1 11 19c::h3 0~:JJ 01031 Buddhavamsa Pa!i
'1~1I 1il)~().J') 8(Y)m 01031 Cariyapi1aka Pa!i
'1 GII ItoSd5 01031 Netti Pa!i
'1'111 iGo(y)GOYl OG3:JJ 01031 Petakopadesa Pa!i
'16) I 0 ° ~ 3 <iJC2jYJ
1(;>(\)t ~ 1 01
Ol(\) Milindapanha Pa!i
306
Less common characters: Mismatches
SECTION 34
Symbols for Sanskrit "

Burmese script has all th~ characters needed to write Pali with complete accuracy of
spelling - witness the vast body of Pall Buddhist texts copied or composed and preserved
in Burmese script. When it comes to writing Sanskrit words, however, or words from other
Indic languages, in Burmese script, some additional characters are needed. Sanskrit plays a
very small part in the Burmese scholarly tradition, so the extra characters are not widely
known, and some of the rarer members of this rare set don't even have a fixed form: they are
written differently by different scholars.
The best known are two consonants:
nagari script roman Burmese name
s ga-sha "the sh- written with a ga"
pa-sha "the sh- written with a pa"
There are also four vowels:

(a) attached vowel form (b) free-standing vowel syllable form
nagari script rom nagari script rom
(with consonant m =k ) 1 2 3
~ en:, kr
~ :J ~ r-
g=i
c:.
m....5 kr
=fL j 5 r-
B
lfi (T)
e k!
~ c C[J
G !-
~L
(Y)
~ ~ k!
~
c., §
5
!-
Burmese script equivalents for the letters of other languages are made up ad hoc; for
example:
for Hindi r for English v
for Hindi rh for English
These made-up symbols may vary between one writer and another, and are only understood
by readers with specialized knowledge.
307
MISMATCHES

There are some words that show a unique mismatch between spelling and pronunciation.
The word meaning "to laugh," for example, is written 6)05- and pronounced I ~/: I know of
no other mismatch to parallel this. For some examples of mismatch, however, you can find
parallels in other words. In some cases there may be only three or four examples of the
type; in others sometimes as many as ten or twenty.
Types of mismatch that have so few exemplars are not worth learning as rules. Instead, it
is more practical to learn the spelling and pronunciation of individual words as you acquire
them. The following lists illustrate some of the types of mismatch you will encounter.
Mismatch in initial consonant

Consonant written plain or aspirate, pronounced voiced
:)11 ~: I «p:1 between
JII E3:G~ 1r1j:G3TI aunt
~II G@l6: lGol6:1 head
~ I AI stone
~II Igl awkwardness
Gil I r1j:/ dirt
IG«p~1 cranny, out-of-the-way corner
011 1r1ja51 hook
Irlil~1 pothole
:)011 I~I together
:):)11 1°1
~o we
Iii thickness
<:
G<XY)C 1G3l~1 stature
<:
:)1 II G<XY)m 1G3laSi prop, support
:)~II @~ I@U simultaneously
:)GII [Sa5 1[Sa51 abruptness
Yi ll <f I:::J?I intractability
Consonant written plain, pronounced aspirate

:)11 mGCD: I@GCD:/ or I mGCD:I child
<: <: <:
O')Q)G<.D0mO')~: I O')~G<.D0aSool one person only, alone
<: <: ,
9-Q)OiJoo I 9- &; CY:lJ<S M just 2 kyats
- these two suffixes are frequently subject to voicing, as in-
111 O')&;G~O')~: IO')G~31 only one reel [oftapel
<: 1 <:,
9-Q)GOI CO
I 9-Q)GOI
<: 1 <: 'I
c:n . two pounds
Just
Consonant written voiced, pronounced aspirate: only applies to a few words with the head :n
:)11 :::J?~:E3: I <f~:r1j:l monk
JII ::rrsr: 10<.D0:/ pagoda
308
\>11 JY)::il 1t93d~1 Pa-an

<;11 3d~:3dJ6-l: 13d~:3d<tJ:I grandfather and grandmother
~II :J?2:Gu:- 1<f~:Gu:l eat [of monks]
Gil cud)'::nr:iJ 1cut9r:iJ1 tea leaves
'7 11 -J;(: 1-~:I verb suffix: "negative"
The preceding pronunciation is only heard after verbs ending in a glottal stop; for example:
6)11 ~~r:iJ:Ji(: 1~aijtr:iJ~:I I don't like it.
otherwise the initial consonant is voiced; for example:
(311 ~~:Ji(: 1~~)(:I I don't need it.
Nasal consonant written plain, pronounced aspirate

:JII ~G6[:t:S I~G6[:~1 before writing
JII ~::DUJ'fc0?o
~o~o 1~::DUJ'l!c0?o
~o~ol
because I couldn't carry it
\>11 ~: I~:I arrow
Mismatch in medial consonant

Consonant pronounced with unwritten-J
This mismatch is normal in syllables with anyone of u t9 (j ~ as head,
an d anyone 0 f -0~ -@~ -2~ -~~ as r h yme.
:J II ue:;:> 1YJ6 e:;:>1 learning, wisdom [Pali panna]
JII u~~:
~ 1YJ00:
~ G 1
object, possession [Pali paccaya]
uS- 1YJSI throw
u~~ IYJ6@~/ fifth [Pali pancama]
~II 3d~~ 13d~1 name
Gil u~l~t
~ 1YJ00(UUt
~ ~ ~I
the present [Pali paccuppana]
ul~ IYJS,~I rain [Pali pajjunna]
6)11
o
~<g]~
/ o~o
~00~
1 middle [Pali pajjh i mal
- two common suffixes used in literary style
(311 ~~-[noun] 1~-I which
:JOII [verb]-~~ 1-~I will [verb]
- in loanwords the rule is not always applied
:J:JII ~~CY.Y.) 1~S0CY.Y.)1 or 1~S0CY.Y.)1 Mister
:J JII ~~m
~ 1~00m
~ ~I
or 1~00m
~ ~I Mrs.
:J\lll
o
3fCU~U0
~ 0 13fCU~'iJ0
0 ~I
or 13fCU~U0
0 0 0 ~I
Olympic
Medial consonant written but often not pronounced

The medial consonants in the following examples are pronounced in careful, reading-style speech,
but omitted in everyday contexts.
:JII ~:- 1 tlJ:-.
8:-1 to finish
JII -~ 1 -tlJ.
-81 verb suffix: "yet"
\>11 -Gaa 1-Gaa. -Gool noun suffix: "plural"
<;11 -066 1-066, -ooU noun suffix: "in"
~II G~ 1G'aj. G~I snake
Gil ~~- 1'aj~. ~~I speak
309
Mismatch in rhyme
Vowel writtenQ- pronounced/!/
1()')8~:/
t'
:::>11 ()') 0 GOiJ : scissors
JII G§G<XYJaS 141G31aSl foot, leg
:(11 G~: 141: 1 faeces
<;;11 3'dG<p 13'dS/ or 13'dG<p1 seed
~II G6:~ / ~:~I or !G0iJ:~1 copper
Gil GQ):- IS:I be sticky
'7" GIi[- 10'31 count
6)11 G<p- lSI close together
Gil G§: 14]:1 grandchild
Syllables written with stacked consonant, pronounced with unwritten high tone
011 O)'l'AGg /O)'l't:OGg/ Sunday
JII O)'l'drJ 10)'l'6:(\)')1 Monday
E Q I O)'l'c::::D01i[
~ QI T '
0)'l':::D01i[ enasserun
())oY.:,O) I ()) 6::::>.j> 31/ Henzada
~II 3'dAcSfJ 13'dt:ocSM English
Gil 3'dAGo) 13'dt:OG31 building plaster
'7" :)')GdY.> I :).)8:G~1 steamer, ship
6)11 3A1: 13t:01:1 coin
3'd6 13'd8:01/orl3'doJl Ava
E
0011 -::no(\)'): I -::n8:0(\)'):1 Bengal
0011 Q)*0Y.l: / Q)~:30Y.l:I piano
OJ II ~& Gro:CY.)
I ~~:3Gro:1 Mandalay
0:(11 Ii[())~') I (X)())t:31 I arahant, spiritually advanced person
~
0<;11 o~(Y.) I ttJ8:~051 prescribe
0
O~II :)')Gg.') I :::>3t:GG')1 Sindhi [a type of horse]
0
OGII ~G&0 g
ISt:GG')1 [branch of medicine giving prominence to
diet]
Unwritten final consonant
Words in this class contain syllables that are written with no final consonant but are
pronounced as if there were one, usually one that matches the initial consonant of the next
syllable.
spelling meaning
o ~
011 3'd -::n G') 'l' dictionary
o ~
JII oli[:).)O) audience
o 0
:( II -::n:).) ()');;:o 6p
~
Master of Ceremonies
S§
o ~
the constellation Citra
~II o'?'l' summer
o ~
Gil ~~<» vehicle, mansion
o
o~:)')Gg. conception
6)11 2G§ ~
cuckoo
2~Q) [a tree]
Q c-
0011 2:0(0 hat
310
head
hairstyle, crown
brain
will [verb] again
[often spelled :q:\:loS as pronounced]
:J~II ::A(::D0~ / ::A(a5'XJ~/ cemetery
:JGII 't"tJ / 'ta5"tJ/ certainly
:J'(II 't~: / 'tchd?:/ hunter
:J6)1I ot't80 / CY?'ta53~/ lotus
:Jell G::D0§:> / G::D0rhCY:lJ0/ Friday
JOII ol a:u /orhcY:fJi or /orhOiJ/ sentence
pll J)G@) /J)a53G~/ august, auspicious
In Pall words a short vowel (~, L or the unwritten vowel -) followed by cy or ~ or 9 is read in a
similar way:
JJII «C\jla3 / «~C\jla3/ float, drift
pll 3G~.!f /3~GC\jl"f/ firm
In the following word there is also an unwritten creaky tone:
JC;II
o
@<p /oe
@"f.<p / tongue
Final consonant acts as initial of next syllable

A rare phenomenon, but the two exemplars are common words.
:JII GOY.lo:tP: / GOY.lrhCY:lJ0:/ man, husband
JII nalt 6 - / naI~t8/ I
Some' unmatched mismatches

Examples of irreducible irregularities, which are rarely paralleled in other words.
:JII 'loS- /03/ laugh
JII 18~ / ~/ visitor [in compounds]
~II G:TI0a?: / G-::r.ha?:/ ball, football
C;II ~till / ~a)<it/ [mythical flower]
~II co
o~cOf?'lOY) /oQ)@cOf?'lOY)
eeo / the f ive classes 0 f musicaI instruments
Gil ::is: /-:l.J~:! wheel
'(II
o
0')~0.!f
c / o e
0') '10') 00 "fe/ anima I
6)11 -:l.J02l / -:l.Ja5~/ monk [Pall bhikkhu]
ell o
:Y.>02l"fG / e G/
J)0')~"f
0
nun [ PaI i bhikkhunl-]
:JOII 'rta) / ~~ta)/ seven
:J:JII ~S~: / 3&~:/ seven
:JJII ~cil /3~/ spy
:J~II ~'l~:90: / Q)wf:.:90:/ hired labourer
:JC;II y;;x3~ /o;;x3~/ or/Golrh;;x3~/ axe
,I
311
SUPPLEMENT
READING FROM LIFE
This Supplement contains pieces of text taken from different kinds of written material -
mainly material that contains many Burmese names of people and places, and foreign
names of people and places and things. Its purpose is to introduce you to authentic samples
of written Burmese, and to let you read words in different type styles.
The texts are preceded by a set of questions that require you to read some of the words in the
texts. You won't be able to read the words until you have completed the Lesson indicated at
the beginning of each question. The texts also contain words written with letters you
haven't yet learned to read, but you can ignore those words and will still be able to answer
the question. The answers are listed in the Answer Section at the end of the Supplement.
The texts are -

A. The captions to a set of pictures of racial types, from a school atlas
B. A list of countries that won medals in the 1984 Olympics (the three columns show the
number of gold, silver and bronze medals won), from an encyclopedia
C. A set of maps: 1. USA; 2. the Horn of Africa; 3. South America; 4. South East Asia; 5.
Burma in about 1800; 6. Burma today
D. A list of Burmese towns, showing therdistance from Rangoon in miles (column I), from a
post office leaflet
E. A list of names and addresses of committee members of a religious association, from the
programme for a function
F. A list of names of committee members of a Parent Teacher Association, from its annual
report
G. A collection of address cards and letterheads
H. A wedding invitation
I. Merit records (permanent notices of an act of merit, typically a contribution to building
or renovationg a pagoda, giving the names of the donors: for details see the questions
for Lesson 29)
J. Commercial publicity material, from paper bags, wrappers, labels, signs, cards, and
the like
K. A list of cakes, from a paper bag from Aung Gyi cakes shop
L. A set of newspaper cuttings (the samples used here are magnified x141%)
312
Supplement: Reading from Life
Questions
The number at the beginning of each question tells you which Lesson you need to have
completed before you can answer the question, and the letter and number (such as "C-2")
refer you to the relevant Section and Item. For example, "I C-2" means: tackle this
question after Lesson 1: look at Section C, Item 2, and there find the answer to the question.
1 C-2. How does this map write Lima in Burmese script?

3 J-3 is a soap wrapper (~8@0 = soap): what is the name of the maker? (foreign name in top
line; untypically Y) = foreign V)
4 C-2. How does this map write Titicaca in Burmese script?
5 A-8. What race is the person in the picture?
5 C-2. How does this map write Quito in Burmese script?
7 H. Wedding invitation: the name of the bride's father is on the line above the bride's name
(Id (J) Ii (J) Ii 0 Ii: B.5c. Bot.). What is his name?
8 B. How many silver medals were won by Poland?

8 E. What number in the list is U Par?
9 J-4 is a video tape label: what is the series name (on top line) in English?
10 G-4. Address card. This lawyer lists three formal qualifications. What is the third?
(J'YXXY) = language)
11 D. How many miles is it to Taunggyi?

11 G-1I. What is the person's name?
12 C-l. How does this map write Geor~ia in Burmese script?
12 C-l. How does this map write Indiana in Burmese script?
12 C-l. How does this map write Utah in Burmese script?
12 C-2. How does this map write Argentina in Burmese script?
12 C-3. How does this map write Ethiopia in Burmese script?
12 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for "Burmese empire"?
12 E. What number in the list is Daw Aye May?
12 E. What number in the list is U E Maung Lay?
12 G-4. Address card. This lawyer lists three formal qualifications. What is the first?
12 J-1I. A cassette tape wrapper. How do you write "Yinn Mar" in Burmese script?
12 L-I. Newspaper cutting. What country does the headline refer to?
13 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Yunnan? ('1'05 means "region")
13 E. What is the number of the person who lives in/on Campbell Road?
13 G-1I. What are the sender's degrees?
13 H. Wedding invitation: the name of the bride's father is on the line above the bride's name
("'O')~O')~o~: B.Sc. Bot.). His occupation is shown in brackets after his name. What is he?
14 A-3. What race is the person in picture?
14 B. How many gold medals were won by Italy?
313
14 B. How many silver medals were won by Japan?

14 C-l. How does this map write Canada in Burmese script?
14 C-l. How does this map write Dakota in Burmese script?
14 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Dalla (close to Rangoon)?
14 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Thailand?
14 D. How many miles is it to Kalaw?
14 D. How many miles is it to Tammu?
14 K-5. What is this in English?
15 B. How many gold medals were won by Bulgaria?
15 B. How many gold medals were won by Turkey?
15 B. How many silver medals were won by Romania?
15 C-l. How does this map write Carolina in Burmese script?
15 C-l. How does this map write Colorado in Burmese script?
15 C-l. How does this map write Maryland in Burmese script?
15 C-2. How does this map write Guyana in Burmese script?
15 C-2. How does this map write Orinoco in Burmese script?
15 C-2. How does this map write Peru in Burmese script?
15 C-3. How does this map write Tanganyika in Burmese script?
15 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Amarapura (in central Burma)?
15 D. How many miles is it to Yay?
15 D. How many miles is it to Ye-U?
15 J-7. An advertisement. On which line is the Burmese for "radio"?
15 J-lO. A receipt. How do you write "camera" in Burmese script?
15.1 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of Tenasserim (Tanin-
tharyi) Division?
15.1 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Tenasserim (Tanintharyi) coastal
region?
16 C-2. How does this map write Caracas in Burmese script?
16 J-4. Video tape label: item 6 is about a new kind of retail outlet. What is it called?
16 L-2. Newspaper cutting. What US political party does this item refer to?
17 B. How many gold medals were won by Surinam?
17 C-l. How does this map write Alaska in Burmese script?
17 C-l. How does this map write Arkansas in Burmese script?
17 C-l. How does this map write Massachusetts in Burmese script?
17 C-l. How does this map write Minnesota in Burmese script?
17 C-l. How does this map write New Jersey in Burmese script?
17 C-l. How does this map write Tennessee in Burmese script?
314
17 C-I. How does this map write Texas in Bunnese script?

17 C-2. How does this map write Santiago in Burmese script?
17 C-3. How does this map write Somaliland in Burmese script?
17 C-3. How does this map write Sudan in Bunnese script?
17 F. What number in the list is U So Maung?
17 G-7. What British organization does this person work for?
17 G-9. How do you write "democracy" in Bunnese script?
17 J-2. A label on a pair of sandals. How do you write "city" in Burmese script?
17 J-7. An advertisement. On which line is the Burmese for "cassette"?
17 J-4. Video tape label: item 17 is about a commodity in the shops. What is it?
17.1 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Mogaung (in northern Burma)?
18 C-I. How does this map write Ohio in Burmese script?
18 C-3. How does this map write Egypt in Burmese script?
18 E. What is the number of the person who lives in/ on Masjid Road?
18 G-6. What is the lady's name?
18 G-7. This person has an English first name. What is it?
18 G-8. What is the person's name? (,,"~aY) == Mr.)
18 H. Wedding invitation: the groom's mother's name is on line 2. What is it?
19 B. How many silver medals were won by Finland?
19 C-I. How does this map write California in Bunnese script?
19 C-l. How does this map write Florida in Burmese script?
19 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Arakan (Rakhine) coastal
region?
19 E. What is the number of the person who lives in/on Maung Htaw Lay Road?
19 E. What is the number of the person who lives in/on Maung Khaing Road?
19 E. What number in the list is Daw Khin Saw?
19 E. What number in the list is Daw Yi Yi Khin?
19 H. Wedding invitation: the bride's mother's name is on the line above the bride's name
(,,"oo2oo202: B.sc. Bot.). What is it?
19 J-I. A label. How do you write "strawberry toffee" in Bunnese script?
19 J-7. An advertisement. On which line is the Burmese for "transformer"?
19 J-5. A paper bag. What is the name of the product in the oval? ('il~o == 'ff~o == powder)
19 L-3. Newspaper cutting. What Arab organization and leader does the headline refer to?
And what country is named in line 5 of the cutting?
19 L-15. Newspaper cutting. What organization, leader, town and country are mentioned in
lines 2-5?
19.1 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of Sagaing Division?
19.1 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Chittagong? (beware voicing)
315
19.1 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. What is t~e Burmese for Rangoon (Yangon)? (beware
voicing)
20 B. Hoy'! ma..n~y silver medals vv-ere vvon by Belgium?
20 C-S. Map of Burma arollnd 1800. What· is the Burmese for Assam?
20 E. What is the number of the person who lives in/on Say a San Road?
20 E. What number in the list is U Aung San Aye?
20 G-2. Address card. What is this lawyer's address? (i 030)000 = second floor, (\)0: = road)
20 G-3. Address card. At what address does this doctor practise? «(\)0: = road)
20 G-3. This person has three foreign degrees. What are they?
20 G-4. At what number in Barr Street does this lawyer practise?
20 G-S. Address card. What road «(\)0:) is this doctor's clinic in/on?
20 G-6. Address card. The address of this lawyer's office (~:) is on the left. What road «(\)0:)
is it in/on?
20 G-7. What road «(\)0:) is this person's office in/on?
20 G-lO. How do you write U Chan in Burmese script?
20 J-4. Video tape label: item 18 is about a sporting competition held in Burma. What is it
called?
20.1 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of Mandalay Division?
20.2 C-4. SEA map: What is the Burmese for Laos?
20.2 C-4. SEA map: What is the Burmese for Thailand (in captions top and bottom)?
20.2 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Taunggoo (between Amarapura
and Rangoon)?
20.2 D. How many miles is it to Taungoo? •
21 B. How many gold medals were won by Hungary?
21 C-l. How does this map write Idaho in Burmese script?
21 C-l. How does this map write Oklahoma in Burmese script?
21 C-2. How does this map write Chile in Burmese script?
21 D. How many miles is it to Yenangyaung?
21 J-7. An advertisement. On which line is the Burmese for "charger"?
21 J-6. Hardware shop. The proprietor's name is in large type on line 6. What is it?
21 L-3. Newspaper cutting. This news report came from Czechoslovakia. What town was it
sent from?
22 A-ll. What race is the person in picture?
22 B. How many gold medals were won by Norway?
22 C-l. How does this map write Delaware in Burmese script?
22 C-l. How does this map write Iowa in Burmese script?
22 C-l. How does this map write Michigan in Burmese script?
22 C-l. How does this map write Washington in Burmese script?
316
22 C-1. How does this map write Wyoming in Burmese script?

22 C-4. SEA map: What is the Burmese for Indonesia?
22 C-4. SEA map: What is the Burmese for Malaysia?
22 C-S. Map of Burma around IS00. What is the Burmese for Ava (In-wa) (near Amarapura)?
22 D. How many miles is it to Kalewa?
22 D. How many miles is it to Lashio?
22 D. How many miles is it to Tharrawaddy?
22 E. What is the number of the person who lives in/on Sandwich Road?
22 E. What number in the list is Daw Khin Win?
22 F. What number in the list is U Win Than?
22 G-1. What is the person's name? (G3l chOY) = Dr.)
22 G-2. What is the person's name?
22 G-S. This person works in a foreign embassy (::D~:) in Burma. Which embassy is it?
22 L-2. Newspaper cutting. What town does the report come from (line 3)?
22 L-ll. Newspaper cutting. Lines Sand 6 mention a country and a province within the
country. What are they, and where was the report sent from?
23 C-1. How does this map write Maine in Burmese script?
23 E. What is the number of the person who lives in/on Rangoon-Insein Road?
23 E. What number in the list is Daw Khin Sein?
23 F. What number in the list is Daw Sein Sein Than?
23 F. What number in the list is U Sein Oo?
23 G-1. How do you write "Tower Lane" in Burmese script?
23 G-4. What is the person's name?
23 J-9. From a shop selling monks' requirements. What is the proprietor's name?
23 L-13. Newspaper cutting. Whose diplomat (:D0')8~) has been recalled from what town
(line I), where was the report sent from, and on what service was the announcement made
(line 9)?
24 A-IS. What race is the person in picture?
24 A-IS. What race is the person in picture?
24 B. How many gold medals were won by the Soviet Union?
24 B. How many gold medals were won by Yugoslavia?
24 B. How many silver medals were won by Czechoslovakia?
24 C-l. How does this map write Alabama in Burmese script?
24 C-l. How does this map write Arizona in Burmese script?
24 C-1. How does this map write Bahamas in Burmese script?
317
24 C-l. How does this map write Nebraska in Burmese script?

24 C-l. How does this map write Nevada in Burmese script?
24 C-l. How does this map v{rite Pennsylvru,ia in Burmese script?
24 C-l. How does this map write Virginia 'in Burmese script?
24 C-2. How does this map write Bogota in Burmese script?
24 C-2. How does this map write Bolivia in Burmese script?
24 C-2. How does this map write Brazil in Burmese script?
24 C-4. SEA map: What is the Burmese for Cambodia?
24 C-4. SEA map: What is the Burmese for Vietnam?
24 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Chiengmai (Zin-meh) (a region
in northern Thailand)?
24 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Linzin (a region in northern
Thailand)?
24 G-5. Whose card is this? (G3lcrSOYl = Dr.)
24 G-6. Address card. The address of this lawyer's home (~0) is on the left. What road
«\)0:) is it in/ on?
24 J-8. From a receipt. How do you write "motor service" in Burmese script?
24 L-3. Newspaper cutting. The report is about a statement made on television
( 6J 8~ 8~ §:>: ).
Whose television was it?
24 L-4. Newspaper cutting. Lines 4 and 5 of this cutting mention four SE Asian countries. One
of them is GC\Y) = Laos. What are the other two?
25 F. What number in the list is U Hla Win?
25 G-3. Whose card is this? (G3lcrSOYl =.Dr.)
25 H. Wedding invitation. What are the names of the bride and groom (in larger type,
following the first and the second paragraphs)?
25 H. Wedding invitation: the groom's father's name is on line 2. What is it?
26 C-2. How does this map write Amazon in Burmese script?
26 c-s.Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Martaban (Mottama) (east of
Rangoon)?
26 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of Rangoon (Yangon)
Division?
26 L-10. Newspaper cutting. What country expelled (~8CX(05) whose diplomats (~CD(:l~)?
Where was the report sent from?
27 C-l. How does this map write New York in Burmese script?
27 C-2. How does this map write Georgetown in Burmese script?
27 G-13. This card is issued by two doctors. What is the name of the doctor on the right?
(G3l crSOYl = Doctor).
28 C-l. How does this map write Missouri in Burmese script?
28 C-4. SEA map: What is the Burmese for the Philippines?
318
28 E. What number in the list is Daw Su Su?

28 J-8. From a receipt. How do you write "U Wisara Road" in Burmese script?
28 L-9. Newspaper cutting. What country is this report about, and where was it sent from?
Can you work out the Burmese for South Africa?
28.1 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Bassein (Bathein) (in the delta)?
(beware weakening)
28.1 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Tavoy (Dawe) (in Tenasserim)?
(beware weakening and voicing)
28.2 E. What number in the list is the person who lives in/on Pongyi Road?
28.2 J-S. From a paper bag. What road ((\)0:) is the shop in/ on ?
29 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. River (@~) narr:es: w~,?-t is the BUrJ,!lese for the Menam
River (in Thailand)?
29 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. River (@~) names: what is the Burmese for the Mu River
(in central Burma)?
29 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. River (@~) names: what is the Burmese for the Sittang
River (reaches the sea near Rangoon)?
29 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Mergui (Myeik/Beik) (in
Tenasserim)?
29 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Moulmein (Mawlamyine) (in
Tenasserim)?
29 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Myedu (in central Burma)?
29 D. How many miles is it to Mawlamyaing (formerly Moulmein)?
29 D. How many miles is it to Myitkyina?
29 E. What number in the list is the person who lives in/on Myothit (1) Road?
29 E. What number in the list is Daw Myint Myint Than?
29 E. What number in the list is Daw Yin Yin Mya?
29 E. What number in the list is Dr. Myint Than?
29 F. What number in the list is U Hla Myint?
29 F. What number in the list is U Ye Myint?
29 G-12. What are the names of the couple?
29 G-13. This card is issued by two doctors. What is the name of the doctor on the left?
(G3la50'Y.) = Doctor).
29 H. Wedding invitation: the groom's sister's name is on the line above LL.B. What is it?
29 J-6. What is the address of this hardware shop? ((\)0: = road)
29 L-S. Newspaper cutting. Lines 4 and 5 of this cutting mention a country and a town. What
are they?
29 1-1. Whose act of merit does this notice record?
Merit records. Either when you are sightseeing on your own, or when you are going out with
Burmese friends, you are likely to visit pagodas. On many of the numerous pagoda
buildings you will see "merit records," notices stating who donated this Buddha image,
319
who renovated that shrine, who retiled that walkway, and so on; and now you have
reached this point in learning the script you will find that you can read many of the words
1..."'1 merit records. The miilimal form of a merit record contains just the name of the donor and
the word G(YY)8:)t , which means "work of merit" or "meritorious deed." For example:
<: <:
T
G3 :::D<f:5>C
. <:
GO'Y)c:)t
"The work of merit of Daw Than Khin"
Frequently the name is preceded by the address; for example:
~~ G(\):Gt ~ J-(\)~:
<: <:
T
G3 :::D<f:5>C
<:
GO'Y)c:)t
"The work of merit of Daw Than Khin of 32nd Street, Mandalay"
This is the most common format for a merit record.
Variations and extensions
1. In place of, or in addition to, the address, a record may contain other identification
preceding the donor's name, such as "Tharapu Mosquito Net Company or "Donor of a II
monastery" and variants.

2. In the name position there are often several names, some of them preceded by a kin term;
for example:
G 0 <:
2:0(:G~C G3
T' , Q)Q)
<:
JY):G~CG@')(\)m
<: <:
"U So Maung, Daw San San, and their son Maung Zaw Lat"
3. In place of the single word G(YY)8:)t you may see one of the following -
[names] ~JY):O( G(YY)~:)t act of merit of [names] and family
[~ = mother, JY): = child, 0( = group (here voiced to / er/)]
[names] ~JY):mO( GO'Y)~:)t ditto
[mO( or m~O( = one group (/ mer/)]
[names] JY)::::D~:G§:mO( G0'Y)8:)t ditto
[JY): = son, :::D~: = daughter, G§: = grandchild (pronounced / ~:I);
in these notices the word :::D~: is often written~: to save space]
[names] O?O G(YY)~:)t act of merit of [names]
[the suffix -o?o indicates more than one; for example, J-i( = he/she; J-i(07o = they]
4. Some merit records contain additional information, such as a phrase saying -
"for the benefit of [name)" [name]-3d'); q~<f(:~
or a mention of the details of the deed -
"donated the glass mosaic"
<:
But the two elements name(s) and G(YY)c:)t are present in all, and the address is present in
many.
Script variants. In some of the notices you will see :::D ~: written ::0: to save space; and
<:.
G(YY)c:)t wntten
<:
G(YY)c:~lll
'"
320
29 1-2. Whose act of merit does this notice record, and where do they live? Beware of 'T{
written <illl
29 1-3. Whose act of merit does this notice record, and where are they from?
29.1 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of Pegu (Bago) Division?
29.1 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Pegu? (beware weakening and
voicing)
29.1 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Sagaing (across the river from
Amarapura)? (beware weakening and voicing)
30 J-1. A label. How do you write Lwin Lwin Naing in Burmese script?
30 L-l. Newspaper cutting. What town does the report come from (line 3)?
31 L-5. Newspaper cutting. From what town and on what date was this report sent?
31.2 J-9. The name of the monks' goods shop is enclosed in quotation marks. What is it?
31.2 L-16. Newspaper cutting. What republic (::D~(),) ~6c) is referred to on lines 6 and 7, what
group of republics did it belong to at the time (line 5), and where was the report sent from?
32 C-2. How does this map write Buenos Aires in Burmese script?
32 C-2. How does this map write Ecuador in Burmese script?
32 C-2. How does this map write equator in Burmese script?
32 C-2. How does this map write Paraguay in Burmese script?
32 C-2. How does this map write Uruguay in Burmese script?
32 C-2. How does this map write Venezuela in Burmese script?
32 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. River (@0'5) names: what is the Burmese for the Chindwin
River (in northern Burma)?
32 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. River (@&;) names: what is the Burmese for the Salween
(Thanlwin) River (flows through the Shan State)?
32 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Shwebo (near Amarapura)?
32 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of Magwe Division?
32 D. How many miles is it to Pyawbwe?
32 D. How many miles is it to Shwebo?
32 D. How many miles is it to Taungdwingyi?
32 E. What number in the list is U Shwe Hmi?
32 F. What number in the list is U Thein Lwin?
32 F. What number in the list is U Thwin?
32 G-13. Address card. The road in the address has two names: the old English name first,
then the new (post 89) name in brackets. What is the old name?
32 H. Wedding invitation: the groom's brother's name is on the line above LL.B. What is it?
32 J-8. Receipt. How do you write "Shwe Lin Yone" in Burmese script?
32 L-6. Newspaper cutting. What countries are mentioned in lines 4 and 5 of this cutting, and
what town was the report sent from?
321
32 L-12. Newspaper cutting reporting a meeting of a Buddhist council. What country was it
held in, and in what town? What are the council's initial letters, and where was the
report sent from?
32 1-4. Whose act of merit does this notice record? (The initial·consonant of the third syllable
looks suspiciously like a 6[11 Don't be misled: it's a @ )
32 1-5. Whose act of merit does this notice record?
32.2 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Bamaw (in northern Burma)?
(first syllable is weakened)
32.3 G-4. Address card. This lawyer lists three formal qualifications. What is the second?
32.3 K-10. What is this in English?
32.3 K-11. What is this in English?
33 C-2. How does this map write Colombia in Burmese script?
33 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Ahlone (near Amarapura)?
33 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Badon (near Amarapura)?
33 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Three Pagodas (in Tenasserim)?
33 D. How many miles is it to Thaton?
33 G-12. Where does the couple live (~0 = home)?
33 G-12. Where does the couple work (~: = office)?
34 C-l. How does this map write Cuba in Burmese script?
34 D. How many miles is it to Myingyan?
34 D. How many miles is it to Shwegyin?
34 E. What number in the list is Daw Kyin Hmi?
34 E. What number in the list is U Kyaw Thein?
34 F. What number in the list is U Kyaw Hlaing?
34 L-7. Newspaper cutting. This is a report about closer relations between two countries.
What countries are they, and where was the report sent from?
35 C-l. How does this map write Kansas in Burmese script?
35 C-1. How does this map write Kentucky in Burmese script?
35 D. How many miles is it to Thanbyuzayat?
35 G-13. Address card. The road in the address has two names: the old English name first,
then the new (post 89) name in brackets. What is the new name?
35 J-3 is a soap wrapper (;:;o0~ = soap): what is the name of the soap (foreign name in middle
line)?
35 J-7. Advertisement. On which line is the Burmese for "step-up"?
35 J-12. Receipt. A-49 B@@8G6[: means "A and B repairs." What As and Bs does this firm
repair?
35 L-3. Newspaper cutting. Line 3 of this cutting mentions two opposed peoples. Who are
they?
35 L-13. Newspaper cutting. What two regions, and whose army ((Y)cS0G~), are mentioned
in lines 4 and 5?
322
35 1-6. Whose act of merit does this notice record, and where did they live? Read o.:u as W II
The word q8 (pronounced / wc:A/) means "neighbourhood, quarter."

35 1-7. Whose act of merit does this notice record, and where did she live? (Gcqp~ :3d8 =
"monastery sister" = donor of a monastery)
36 C-3. How does this map write Kenya in Burmese script?
36 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Mohnyin (in northern Burma)?
36 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for the Shan states?
36 E. What number in the list is U Nyo?
36 J-lO. What town was this receipt issued in G. = town)?
36 J-12. Receipt. X-t~ ~o?'W: means "X and brothers." Who is X?
36.1 E. What number in the list is Daw Myint Myint Kyi?
37 C-1. How does this map write Montana in Burmese script?
37 C-2. How does this map write Montevideo in Burmese script?
37 C-3. How does this map write Congo in Burmese script?
37 E. What number in the list is U Aung Nyunt?
37 E. What number in the list is U Myo Myint Tun ?
37 F. What number in the list is U Kyaw Nyunt?
37 F. What number in the list is U Myat Tun?
37 F. What number in the list is U Thaung Nyunt?
37 J-4. Video tape label: item 14 is about a new development in Burmese life. What is it?
37 J-7. Advertisement. How do you wtite "electronic" in Burmese script?
37 J-7. Advertisement. On which line is the Burmese for "converter"?
37 L-8. Newspaper cutting. News about a political party. What party, and where was the
report sent from?
39 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Koshanpyi (on the Yunnan
border)?
39 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Prome (Pyay) (above the delta)?
39 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of Arakan (Rakhine)
State?
39 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of Chin State?
39 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of Kachin State?
39 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of Karen (Kayin) State?
39 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of Kaya State?
39 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of Shan State?
39 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you find the map of the Mon State?
39 1-11. Whose act of merit does this notice record? (Omit the second and third lines)
323
39 1-12. Whose act of merit does this notice record, and where did they live? [Place] G'l' =
resident of [place].
39 pt 1 L-4. Newspaper cutti.ng. The last full line of this cutting mentions, in quotes, an English-
language newspaper, published in Thailand. What is its name?
40 D. How many miles is it to Pyinmana?
41 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. What is the Burmese for Syriam (Than-Iyin) (across the
river from Rangoon)?
The following questions concern words written with letters presented in Part 2: Less Common
Characters. S-9 refers to Section 9.
S-9 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. River (~dj) names: what is the Burmese for the Irrawaddy
(Ayeyarwadi) River?
S-9 C-6. Map of Burma today. On what page would you. find the map of Irrawaddy
(Ayeyarwadi) Division?
S-10 C-l. How does this map write Oregon in Burmese script?
S-10 L-14. Newspaper cutting. What country is mentioned in the headline?
S-14 1-13. Whose act of merit does this notice record, where are they from, and who is it for?
[Name]-3d0: q~<J?:ril (pron / 03~:GEi:l/) means "for [name]"; that is to say: the merit is
for the benefit of [name]. Suffix -3d0: = to, q~<J?:- = direct towards, refer to, suffix -~ =
-ing: "referring to [name]." @~: = wife.
S-14 1-14. Whose act of merit does this notice record, where is she from, and who is it for? 3d:)')
o
= father, 3d~ = mother
S-21 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Wh~t is the Burmese for Manipur?
S-23 F. What number in the list is U Htay Myint?
324
Texts
A. Racial types, p. 1
\
-.- :~
C' 0
9 O')\10 3d 'lJl:::D0:
325
A. Racial types, p. 2
.. VC:f..
; ~/:-,
9 0 c: 0
~ ::DO(~ 3d~l:::D0:
326
B. Countries that won m,edals in the Olympics

Column 1 shows the total of gold medals, column 2 silver, and column 3 bronze.
, I, I ' , '~ '.! o! •

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327
Burmese'. A n Introduction to th e Scnpt
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C. Map 2: South America

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C. Map 3: The Hom of Africa
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C. Map 4: Countries neighbouring Thailand

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c. Map 5: Burma in about 1800
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c. Map 6: Burma, with a list of States and Divisions
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D. Burma towns, showing distance from Rangoon
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F. Nalnes of members of the committee

of a Parent Teacher Association
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336
G. Address cards and letterheads, p. 1
GO 1 ~an ;j)~G(J?~o~: M.B.B.S(Mand)

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ADVOCATE
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flARRISTER-AT-LAW 62, Pansodan Street.
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339
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340
H. Wedding invitation
I. Merit records
I-Ion a pillar in a building in the grounds of a pagoda
341
I. Merit records, continued
1-2 on a wall
1-3 over a covered walkway
342
1-4 entrance to a building
I-5 on a pillar
343
1-6 on a pillar I
1-7 high on the wall of a wooden building
344
Supplement: Reading from Ufe
1. Merit records, continued
1-8 written in the plaster of a wall
1-9 written in the plaster of a wall over a doorway
1-10 on a tiled wall in a covered walkway
345
I-V ona pillar
1-12 under a statue of a mythical animal
346
1-13 one of a sequence of panels in a surrounding wall
1-14 high on a whitewashed wall
347
J. Commercial publicity, p.l

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J-2 label on a air of sandals
J-4 label on a video tape
J-3 label on a cake of soap
348
r - - - - -_ _ _-:t.. J_,_C..::..o_ID_ID_e..::..:f:.. :;cial publicity, p, 2
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J-7 advert L-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ~
349
J. Commercial publicity, p. 3
,
C : 0 C' 0 (' C'. e r C'f,~
3~17()) JOJI c~:04)'Xf~:1 o~o)~1J~C~3:)r:1 9f'rtte:'
SHWE LIN YONE MOTOR SERVICE

.. AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE STATION
No. 212, U S7isa.ra Road, Rangoon Phone-3168G
J-8 from a receipt
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,
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J-9 an address card
Dnty Receir,t (5/Kyats) for Camera,

SiHWF ZlGC:1 PAClODA. NYAUNGOO-~,
PJ""rlse {"ltD This Label To yout' Camera..
J-10 a receipt
350
J. Commercial publicity, p. 4
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J-ll the wraper on an audio cassette
J-12 from a receipt
351
K. Cake list
Note that [oS] and [0] represent final Land P in English, and likewise for other finals
,
"j,
352
1. Newspaper cuttings
The cuttings below are magnified x141%
L-l
L-2
L-3
353
L. Newspaper cuttings, continued
L-4
L-5
354
L. Newspaper cuttings,continued
L-6
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356
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L-15 L-16
357
Answers
Al C-2. LLT!la = c3'=:}") .

A3 J-3 soap wrapper: name of the maker is 0'5::)')1): = Lever.
·. G G .
A4 C-.2 TIhcaca = 0) O)O'Y): O'Y): II
A4.l In the Lesson: extract from a book. The suffix~: is used six times.
AS A-8. Race = Burmese.
AS C-2. Quito = dS0711
AS.l In the Lesson: page from an encyclopedia. §~~ occurs 11 times.
A6 In the Lesson: from a children's comic. May Mee Lay =G~~Gc\): II
A7 In the Lesson: wedding invitation: 2.: occurs once in line 3, once in line 8; G3T occurs twice in
07 occurs once in line 4; ~ occurs once in line 4, once in line 9.
line 3, once in line 8; There are
two other instances of 07 ' in lines 4 and 6, but they are not prefixes to names.
A7 H. Bride's father is U Ko Ko Gyi = 2.:o?o?~:11
A8 B. Poland won 2 silver medals.
A8 E. UPar=2.:ul N° 9.
A9 J-4. Video tape series name: G~~oy) = Monitor.
AlO In the Lesson (publicity card): u ~ 3l = Panda.
AlO G-4. Address card. Third qualification is C(JU~:)')I)JY) ~ u~~ = Diploma in Japanese.
All D. Taunggyi = G0Y)6~:, which is 457 miles distant.
G <:
All G-ll. Letterhead: sender: 2:G~CGc\): = U Maung Lay.
A12 C-I. Georgia = G<1PrlJ:oy):11
A12 C-I. Indiana = 3d6 ~ :OY): 4'0: II
A12 C-I. Utah = o;c:OY): II
A12 C-2. Argentina = 3d0C(J6 dbp: II
A12 3 E th ·
C -.
· G GOG
lOpIa = 3d::D:T.jl:U:OY):11
A12 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. "Burmese empire" = §~~3d6ul OY)II
A12 E. Daw Aye May = G3T G3d:G~ N° 16.
G <:
A12 E. U E Maung Lay = 2:G3d:G~CGc\): N° 3.
Al2 G-4. Address card. First qualification is ~G3d = B.A.
A12 J-l1. Tape wrapper: Yinn Mar = w6:~11
A12 L-I. Newspaper cutting. Headline refers to 3d0C(J6cA:,p: = Argentina.
A13 In the Lesson: newspaper cutting. The Deputy Foreign Minister was from 3duSG:::D:~:oy): ==
Albania, and he went to 8m6: = Peking.
<: C'
A13 c-s. Map of Burma around 1800. Yunnan == ~999wll
A13 , G
G-ll. Letterhead: sender s degrees: :::DG3d G (' <:
I :::D3dWC\)::: BA
. ., BL
..
A13 H. The bride's father is is an editor: 3duS~oy)ll
. . <: ,,<: <:
A13 E. N° 5 hves m/ on Campbell Road == mC;:::Dc\)c\)~: II
A14 A-3. Race == Japan.

A14 B. Italy won 2 gold medals.
358
SI.ipplement: Reading from Life
A14 B. Japan won 2 silver medals.

A14 C-1. Canada == mG<plll
o
A14 C-l. Dakota == 30?:0'Y):1I
A14 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. Dalla = 3 CD II
A14 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. Thailand == o?: 3 OY): II
A14 D. Kalaw = mGC0'), which is 413 miles distant.
A14 D. Tammu == (f)'ii:' which is 725 miles distant.
A14 K-5. ~:mc0oy): == eclair.
A15 B. Bulgaria won 3 gold medals.
A15 B. Romania won 2 silver medals.
A15 B. Turkey won 1. gold medal.
A15 C-l. Carolina == m03~c\5:cp: II
coo
A15 C-l. Colorado == Gm0C)l6p::pl
G C
A15 C-l. Maryland == GOqCD"f II
G
A15 C-2. Guyana == ()0Y.):"f0: II
. C GO 0
A15 C-2. Ormoco ==G3d0q1-:O?"
G
A15 C-2. Peru == 01;1:11
A15 3 T anganYI'k a == oo"f()"fO):m
C -. C C G
II
A15 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. Amarapura == 3dOq,)?qll
A15 D. Yay = Gq:, which is 284 miles distant.
A15 D. Ye-U G~2:' which is 528 miles distant.
=
A15 J-7. Radio == Gq~; o?

on line 7.
A15 J-lO. Camera receipt: camera == m~~6p1l
A15 co [ (\_)C·] == Cream Roll.
K-9. mqc6J:
A15.1 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. Tenasserim (Tanintharyi) == oo"f~£1n
A15.1 C-6. Map of Burma today. Tenasserim (Tanintharyi) Division == oocf::0')£107~:11 P.6.
A16 A-9. Race == Red Indian.
C
A16 C-2. Caracas:= m0:6p:mooll
A16 J-4. Video tape label: item 6 retail outlet: ~ ~ 00: m 05 == minimarket.
A16 .
L-2. N ewspaper cuttmg. Item re f ers to qooo::J)CDmc
G C G C
== Rbi'
epu lcans.
A17 A-13. Race == Eskimo.
A17 B. Surinam won 1 gold medals.
A17 C-l. Alaska = 3dC0')0()')') II
A17 C-1. Arkansas == 3d0m~G;;X:Y)11
C C
A17 C-l. Massachusetts == om;oCUll:;omll
· CG 0
A17 C-1. M mnesota == OCcf~O'Y)II
G
A17 C-l. New Jeroey == "f0j{:c"(p011
C C G
A17 C-l. Tennessee == ooc "fm;o II
A17 C-l. Texas == ooo5;odj II
· C G 0
A17 C-2. Santlago == ;O"fOOOY)rt. II
359
A17 C-3. Somaliland = J?<:n03(\)~11

A17 C-3. Sudan =;;x;(3 ~ II
A17 F. U So Maung = 3:S:G<:n8
~ l
is n° 11.
L.,
A17 G-7. d5d5as = BBC.

Q 0 Q
A17 G-9. Letter: democracy == 3~mGqo)lI
A17 In the Lesson: paper bag: "Ministore" == ~~0)cJ?: II
A17 J-2. Sandal label: City == as d5: II
A17 J-4. Video tape label: item 17 commodity in the shops: d5:mqaS = cigarettes.
A17 J-7. Cassette == maS~aS on line 7.
o C'
A17.1 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Mogaung = ~:Goy)c: II
A18 A-16. Race == Pigmy.
. 0 0 C' 0
A18 C-1. OhIO == 3fOj>c :3f: II
Q C'
A18 C-3. Egypt = 3d'[j0) II
A18 E. N° 2 lives in/on Masjid Road= 8'[jJ;(\)~:1I
A18 G-6. Address card: name = G3T G3d: ~ J; = Daw Aye Chit.
A18 G-7. 3" qO)C' = Derek.
C' C' C' C' ') 0
A18 G-8. Address card: name = 8~0'Y.)3d130)m00')10')1:~OI~ = Mr. Andhika Bambang
Supeno (Indonesian Embassy).
A18 H. Bridegroom's mother is Daw Aye Chit = G3T G3d:~J; II
C' C' 0 C' 0
A18 In the Lesson: car parts card: G<:nGCYJ0 + ~c1~ = motors and dynamos.
A19 B. Finland won 1 silver medal.
A19 C-1. California = (})003~:~:()Y): II
A19 C-1. Florida = (9G~~3lll
A19 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Arakan (Rakhine) = q~811
A19 E. Daw Khin Saw == G3T O18GO)I) N° 15.
A19 E. Daw Yi Yi Khin == G3T~~016 N° 19.
A19 E. N° 3 lives in/on Maung Htaw Lay Road = G<:n~Gc::oSG(\):(\)0:11
A19 E. N° 18 lives in/ on Maung Khaing Road == G<:n~~~(\)0: II
A19 H. Bride's mother is Daw Khin Yi = G3T 016 ~II
C' C' C' Q Q
A19 J-1. Label: "strawberry toffee" = o)GCYJ0O')wqGCYJ0(911
C' Q C' C' C' Q C' Q
A19 J-S. Bag: product: GOY)(9 = coffee (GOY)(9~l'i'o = GOY)(9'ir'i'o == ground coffee).
A19 J-7. Advertisement. Transformer == (X)q~o)l90<:n on line 6.
. . Q C' 0 C'
A19 L-3. Newspaper cuttIng. HeadlIne refers to 03dw3f == PLO, and 3d0E>'p(9Cf) = Arafat.
Country in line S is ol (\)aSO)cJ?8: = Palestine.
Q C' 0
A19 L-1S. Newspaper cutting. Organization, leader, town and country are 0 3dW ~ I
3d0~(9051 O;(:'i'J;1 ol(\)aSO)cJ?8: = PLO, Arafat, Tunis, Palestine.

A19.1 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Chittagong = 0)J;Cf)G0Y)8: II
C' C'
A19.1 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Rangoon (Yangon) = q'i'''7'i' II
A19.1 C-6. Map of Burma today. Sagaing Division == 0)J;a?8:cJ?8: II P. S.
A20 In the Lesson. Studio name is O)CYJ0:o?aS == Starlight.
360
A20 B. Belgium won no silver medals.

A20 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. Assam == 3d0:::D1I
A20 E. N° 14 lives in/on Saya San Road == ;::;OE>p0(\)~:1I
G C' 0
A20 E. U Aung San Aye == 2:G3d0CcDG3d: N° 4.

A20 G-2. Address card. Address is 3d~a5 JJ~ I =( ~<..Dco01 ~J
Floor, 31st Street.
A20 G-3. Address card. Doctor's address is J~(j)-JY.):(\)~: == 238 Barr Street.
A20 C' G
G-3.3dG::::D1 G
::::D'JdWC'( C')
cD I C'
3dG'JdW
C'( C')G
cD cD (0 G)
3f-<lj == MB, BS, MSc (OG).
A20 G-4. Barr Street == JY.):(\)~: II N° 55.
A20 G-5. Address card. Clinic is in/on ;::;O~G~:(\)~: == Sinmin Road.
A20 G-6. Address card. The lawyer's office (~:) is in U4:J?:Q)4:(\)~: == Pansodan Street.
C' C'
A20 G-7. WG:<f0:(\)G: == Strand Road.
G C'
A20 G-10. Letterhead: U Chan == 2:OUG:1I
A20 J-4. Video tape label: item 18 sporting competition: ~ cDuJ;~41d0 == Olympic Burma.
A20.1 C-6. Map of Burma today. Mandalay Division == G~ G(\):076: II P.9.
C'G C'
A20.1 In the Lesson. Bunny Balm == ::::D<f<f::::DG: II
o C' 0
A20.2 C-4. SEA map: Laos == GCD0~C C II

o 0 C' 0
A20.2 C-4. SEA map: Thailand == 0.(: 3 <..D0:~ C C II

C'
A20.2 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. Taunggoo == GQ)0C ~ II
A20.2 D. Taungoo == GQ)0~~ is 175 miles from Rangoon.
A21 B. Hungary won 3 gold medals.
A21 In the Lesson. The Burmese for "lake" is W~ II
o C' 0
A21 C-1.Idaho==3fW3lY.(:11
o 0
A21 C-l. Oklahoma == 3fWCD0lY.(:Id0:11
A21 C-2. Chile == ~ 0311
A21 D. Yenangyaung == Gq+G"tP6: is 363 miles from Rangoon.
A21 J-7. Charger == "tPrtP on line 6.
A21 J-6. Hardware shop. Proprietor's name is G6:m4 == Min Han.
A21 L-3. Newspaper cutting. News sent from uE>pm0 == Praha == Prague.
A22 A-II. Race == Hawaiian.
A22 A-17. Race == Melanesia.
A22 A-20. Race == Indonesia.
A22 B. Norway won 1 gold medal.
A22 C-l. Delaware == 3 (\)oo.:n: II
o C' 0 'I
A22 C-l. Iowa == 3fC0.(:OI:1I
A22 · h'Igan
C-1. M IC == GcD~n'f II
C'G C'
A22 C-l. Washington==ol~tQ)4"

. 0 C' 0 C'
A22 C-l. Wyommg ==C(C3f:GC:11
A22 C-4. SEA map: Indonesia == 3dt ~ ~: W: II
A22 C-4. SEA map: Malaysia == GG(\):W:II
"
361
c:
A22 C-5. Map of Burma around lS00. Ava (In-wa) = 3dC:O II
A22 D. Kalewa = WG(\):O, which is 632 miles distant.

A22 D. Lashio = (\)0: ~l: ((\)0: TI:), which is 60S·25 miles distant.
A22 D. Tharrawaddy == ::)Y)0Y:)003 is 7S miles from Rangoon.
A22 E. Daw Khin Win == G3T 0>808: N° 14.
A22 E. N° 9 lives in/on Sandwich Road == ;;o8:30~(\)0:11
A22 F. U Win Than = 2:08::D~: is n° 5.
A22 G-1. Address card: name: G3l ciJCfYJ0>8G1d0808: == Dr. Khin Maung Win.
c: c: c: .
An G-2. Address card: name: 2:GId0CGld0coc:
G
= U Maung Maung Wm.
C:OG 00 •
A22 G-S. 3dCi't':W::DEj1: == IndoneSIan Embassy.

A22 " c: = Shell.
K-6. \jt(\) .
A22 L-2. Newspaper cutting. Report comes from ol \jt8C)')~ == Washington.
An L-ll. Newspaper cutting. Country and province in lines 5 and 6 are 3d8~~:\jt0:~8cl
~(\)0God5 = Indonesia, Sulawesi. Report was sent from C(J()')0CfYJ =Jakarta.
A23 C-1. Maine == ~~: II
A23 E. Daw Khin Sein = G3T 0>8S~ N° 13.
A23 E. N° 11 lives in/on Rangoon-Insein Road == ~~C1(~-3d8:S~(\)0:11
A23 F. Daw Sein Sein Than = G3TS~S~:)J~: is n° 10.
A23 ' 0 0 == 2:
F. US em G OC:G .
0 't' 2: IS n °1 .
oc:
A23 G-1. Address card: Tower Lane = CfYJO'1I (\)'t': II
G 0 c: 0 .
A23 G-4. Address card: name =2: 0 't' i: = U Sem Do.
A23 J-9. Monks' goods shop. Proprietor's name is 07:S~ :~~ = Ko Thein Naing.
o c: 0 c: .
A23 K-1. O(\)'t':wC)') = Plam Cake.
c: G 0 c:
A23 K-2. <.9C0WC)') == Fancy Cake.
A23 K-3. <.9Ej103c:r5 = Fruit Cake.
A23 K-4.Id0J)oS03c:r5 == Marble Cake.
A23 L-13. Newspaper cutting. G
3d~'t' :DC)')8't'c:
C:. .
= Iraman d'Ip 1omat, reca II e d f rom ,,0 ('
J)()~C)')
Be Igra d e. R eport sent f rom 't'G C1(:

0
W: = N"ICOSIa, announcemen t rna d e on C)')G O'JG ~ 't'c: G~ 3G U?0
Teheran Radio.
A24 In the Lesson: shop name = Jf?@") = Thuza.
A24 A-IS. Race = Bantu Negro.
A24 A-IS. Race = Vietnam.
A24 B. Czechoslovakia won 1 silver medal.
A24 B. The Soviet Union won S gold medals.
A24 B. Yugoslavia won 2 gold medals.
A24 C-1. Alabama == 3d 05 (\) 00: 80: II
' ('GO
A24 CIA
-. nzona == 3dW~cr:'t'0: II
A24 C -1. Bahamas == (j 0'J0: 80: II
G c:
A24 C-1. Nebraska == 't'(j~W0WII
G
A24 C-1. Nevada == 't'00:311
362
A24 C-l. Pennsylvania = O~;;x3(\)Gt):~:W0:11

A24 C-l. Virginia = tY)(lJ~:~ :W0: II
00
A24 C-2. Bogota = ~rt :CYY): II
" 0 (' G
A24 C-2. B0 1IVIa = ~(\)<Dt):W0:11
A24 C-2. Brazil = t) 6p~: II
A24 C-4. SEA map: Cambodia = mG~@~~C II
A24 C-4. SEA map: Vietnam =t'5())(rS1~1I
A24 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Chiengmai (Zin-meh) =@8:8c011
A24 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Linzin=(\)8:@8:11
'I (' (' (' (' .
A24 G-S. Address card: name = G31 mCY.Y:lCDCG@0G80C = Dr. Tm Zaw Maung.
A24 G-6. Address card. The lawyer's home (i3~) is in/ on \j'):m6p(\)~: = Bagaya Road.
. . (' (' ('
A24 J-.
8 ReceIpt: motor serVIce = G80GCY.Y:l;:;x:)"): t)<D II
A24 . (' 0 0 (' ('~ (' r;::;:::
L-3. N ewspaper cuttmg. oumO(<DOYt)m \1O~C::D~: = zechos ova TV.
C I k
0
A24 L4N . SEA' . 0('0C'0 G C' C' C'

-. ewspaper cuttmg. .. SIan countnes: CX?c:tCcl GC\Y)I t)mw181 m8S?:ctr: =
Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Kampuchea.
A2S F. U Hla Win = 2:0.fo8: is n° 8.
A2S G-3. Address card: name =G3laSCY.Y:lt8:qG3d: = Dr. Hnin YiAye.
A2S H. Bridegroom's father is U Hla Maung = 0.f G808 II 2:
A2S H . N ames: G80COC:C){C
C' C' 0 C'
+ 8CDCCDCOC:
C' (' ('
= M aung W'm HI'
amg + M a T'm T'm W'm.
C'O 0 C'G 0 C' 0 G
A26 In the Lesson. Five countries = aumCY(<DC\:[t)mm:w0:1 (':(\)11 ~G8:1:W0:1
C' GOG C' 0 C' 0
~ (\) GO: q: <..D0: I QX:( t) W m t C C = Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Soviet
Russia.
C'
A26 C-2. Amazon = 3dG8cr111
A26 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Martaban (Mottama) = ~~811
A26 C-6. Map of Burma today. Rangoon (Yangon) Division = q~0(~078'11 P.12.
A26 L-10. Newspaper cutting. Expelled diplomats: GoT a;{~ ::0CD8~ = Portuguese diplomats,
o C' (' C' ( ' . 0
and ~@8J)<D tCCX?CD = MozambIque expels. The report was from 80S?cy( = Maputo.
A27 C-1. New York = 1 0..;(: GW? II
C'
A27 C-2. Georgetown = G'U?GCY.Y:lC: II
A27 G-13. Address card: doctor on right is G3l aSCY.Y:l::D~o@808: = Dr. Thant Zin Win.
A27 K-7. Gctrm(\)aSGCD'A 0] = Chocolate Top.
· . 0 G
A28 C-1. M Issoun = 8)t:qll
A28 C-4. SEA map: the Philippines = 8(\)J)~811
A28 E. Daw Su Su = G3T 0(0( N° 17.
A28 J-8. Receipt. U Wisara Road = :8QY)q(\)~: II2
A28 .
L-9. N ewspaper cuttmg. Report IS
. a b out 18:::n:W0:
G G
= N aml'b'la, sent f rom OC:U{CD
C' C
Windhoek. South Africa is GCD083d0C9qm II

A28.1 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Bassein (Bathein) = <.(::3~ II
C'
A28.1 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Tavoy (Dawe) = 000:0W II
A28.2 E. N° 7 lives in/ on Pongyi Road = J?~ :E3:(\)~: II
363
A2S.2 J-S. The shop is in/on;;x;{:Gc\)Y(Gp:C\)~: == Sule Pagoda Road.

A29 C-S. Map of Burma around IS00. Mergui (Myeik/Beik) == ~a511
A29 C-S. Map of Bunna around lS00. Moulmei..."", (Ma,vlamyiIlc) == G~c\)Gt.~ II
A29 C-S. Map of Burma around.lS00. Myedu == G~~: 1.1
A29 C-S. Map of Burma around IS00. River names: Menam River == 8cf~§~ II
A29 C-S. Map of Bunna around IS00. River names: Mu River == ~:§~ II
A29 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. River names: Sittang River == O)J;GCJY)~::~~II
A29 D. Formerly Moulmein == G~c\)~~ is 187 miles from Rangoon.
A29 D. Myitkyina == ~J;rs:cf0: is 920 miles from Rangoon.
A29 E. Daw Myint Myint Than == G3T~~§~::D~: N° 7.
A29 E. Daw Yin Yin Mya == G3T G[~G[~~ N° 20.
A29 E. Dr. Myint Than == G3l ~CJY)~~::D~: N° 6.
A29 E. N° 1 lives in/on Myothit (1) Road ==Gt::DJ;(:))c\)~:1I
A29 F. U Hla Myint == 2:CY~~ is n° 4.
A29 F. U Ye Myint == 2:~~~ is n° 1.
G r, C' C' C' .
A29 G-12. Man's name == 2:~m::DC:G3;Y.)c == U Myat Thm Aung.
Woman's name == G3T @~~~~~ == Daw Khin Myint Myint.
A29 G-13. Address card: doctor on left is G3l ~CJY)~~S~ == Dr. Myint Sein.
A29 H. Wedding invitation: the groom's sister's name is \:j~~~~G3d:1I
A29 J-6. Hardware shop is at 3d1cfa5 '7:)1 (G3d) J'7-c\)~:1 G[~O?~rn. == 71A 27th Street,
Rangoon.
A29 L-S. Newspaper cutting. Country and town are m~)(:qr: and rum0CJY)rn. == Kampuchea
and Jakarta.
A29 I-l. Act of merit of 2:o~:m~ G3T m~G~ ~::D0:0( == U Win Tin, Daw Tint Maw, and
family.
A29
C'
1-2.ActofmeritofG[cfO?cfL.,~.1
C'(',9
3d~m-:)
C' GI C' C'
3dC:OJ0:C\)\:j:1I
T C'
G3 mcmclSlC;;1
C'r;: C'
G3T @~@~~II == Daw Tin Tin Myint and Daw Khin Khin Mu of 16 Inya Road, Rangoon. The
last line shows the year of the act of merit, which is written :)GG'7<t> II <t> (or <t>'f~) is the
standard suffix for year numbers.
A29 I-3. Act of merit of \:j~ GC\):rn. 2 :<i:>rs: G3T m~ ::D0:::D~:mO( == U San Gyi and Daw Tin
of Mandalay, and their family. The extra words at the end say that they donated the gold
and glass decoration.
A29.1 In the Lesson. Wrapper issued by Mandalay Hotel == \:j~ GC\):07moS II In Mandalay.
A29.1 C-S. Map of Burma around lS00. Pegu == u'!?: II
A29.1 C-S. Map of Burma around lS00. Sagaing == 0)J;07~:1I
A29.1 C-6. Map of Burma today. Pegu (Bago) Division == U,!?:07~:11 P.7.
A30 J-1. Label. Lwin Lwin Naing == 06~06~¥~ II
A30 K-S. ~~~:[G5J == Swiss Roll.
A30 L-1. Newspaper cutting. Report comes from ~.JIl¥G3dq == Buenos Aires.
364
A31 L-S. Newspaper cutting. Town is rum0CD0 = Jakarta, date is G3d')r0~ JY) J~ = 21
October.
A31.2 J-9. Name of shop is ::D~(),) (pronounced / ::D~31 /), meaning "President."
A31.2 L-16. Newspaper cutting. Republic on line? 6-7: GC(J~c1JOJ0::D~CD~~C = Republic of
Georgia. At the time it was a ~25OJr0::D~CD~~C ~ a Soviet republic. N~ws from GvS<D07
=Moscow.
A32 C-2. Buenos Aires = G~9@qQ;1I
A32 C-2. Ecuador =3ddSCWG3lll
G
A32 C-2. equator = 3dG03CD011
A32 C-2. Paraguay = 0 l qG~: II
A32 C-2. Uruguay = 3f?~G~:11
C' G G
A32 C-2. Venezuela = elC9 :~:C\Y): II
A32 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. River names: Chindwin River = ~~ :06~ :~Q; II
A32 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. River names: Salween (Thanlwin) River = ::Doa~~Q; II
o
A32 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Shwebo =G~ J? II
A32 C-6. Map of Burma today. Magwe Division = ~G03:07~:1I P.8.
A32 D. Pyawbwe = Gqp::Y(SoS is 312 miles from Rangoon.
A32 D. Shwebo = G~:i? is 504 miles from Rangoon.
A32 D. Taungdwingyi = GCD0~06~:E3: is 280 miles from Rangoon.
A32 E. U Shwe Hmi = 2:G~~ N° 2.
' L' G OC' C'. 07
A32 FUTh
. em wm = 2:::D'i':oac IS n .
A32 F. U Thwin = 2:~~ is n° 3.
A32 G-13. Address card. Old road name is oa~(\)~: = Lewis Road.
A32 H. Wedding invitation: the groom's brother's name is ~G3d:G~ II
A32 J-8. Shwe Lin Yone = G~(\)~:OY~ II
A32 L-6. Newspaper cutting. Countries are ~ OJ rr5 'i' Sand m S Sf.: "{p: = Vietnam and
Kampuchea. Town is If)~l~ = Hanoi. Note the non-alignment of ~ and -lll This sometimes
happens when the printer is short of a particular combination of characters.
A32 L-12. Newspaper cutting. Buddhist council. Country and town are ~ OJ r0 9 Sand
079J~~:~, = Vietnam and Ho Chi Min City. Council is ~~~ = VBC (Vietnam Buddhist
Council), and the report came from If)~l~ = Hanoi.
A32 1-4. Act of merit of G3T G<6 @~ = Daw Ngwe Zin (The @ in this style of lettering looks
misleadingly like a q).
A32 1-5. Act of merit of 2:0ij&;G~ G3T Cl~G3d: ~::D0:il( = U Chit Swe and Daw Khin Aye and
their family. The two lines at the top of the inscription say that U Chit Swe was a
reporter on the Kyemon newspaper, and the donor of a Buddha image.
C' C'
A32.2 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Bamaw = el9:G~1I
A32.3 C'
9
C' [C' ]
In the Lesson. Name of copy shop. mCG'i'0 = Canon.
A32.3 G-4. Address card. Second qualification is ~3doS( oS) = BL.
A32.3
o C' c:::: = Cheese Straw.
K-I0. Oij<D<DGe30
365
A32.3 K-11. G<wO)C'Ori)GC'0'?kf;] = Chocolate Log.

A33 C-2. Colombia = o?~:~:OY): II
A33 c-s. Map of BUlTIla arou...rtd 1800 . .(Aul-tlorle = 3d~1I
A33 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. Badon = el~ II
A33 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. Three Pagodas = ~bp:~:~ II
A33 D. Thaton =:::Do? is 145 miles from Rangoon.
A33 G-12. Home address: 16 Campbell Road.
A33 G-12. Office address: 130, 35th Street.
A34 C-l. Cuba= CYtJll:OO: II
A34 D. Myingyan = §~:~ is 456 miles from Rangoon.
A34 D. Shwegyin = G~CYtJ~ is 617 miles from Rangoon.
A34 F. U Kyaw Hlaing = 2:GCYtP~~ is n° 12.
A34 E. Daw Kyin Hmi = G3T CYtJ~~ N° 12.
. Q ~ 0 ~
A34 E. U Kyaw Them = 2:GrYiP:::Dcf: N° 5.
A34 L7 .
-. N ewspaper cuttmg. Th e two countnes Q Q ~ rrJo<f
. are 3dO)C'09y ~ = I ta Iy an dJ apan. R eport
o 0
was sent from O(CYtJl = Tokyo.
~ ~
A35 C-l. Kansas = mcf:<;ooil
~ ~ Q
A35 C-l. Kentucky =mcO)om:1I
A35 D. Thanbyuzayat = ::D~ll@q0 is 227 miles from Rangoon.
A35 G-13. Address card. New road name is J50m0:JY)CD0: = Seikkantha Road.
A35 In the Lesson. K45/- is GCD:<;oo?cl :CYtJ011
A35 J-3 soap wrapper: name of the soap is O'Y)G~030 = Carbolic.
A35 J-7. Step-up =o 0)ri)3d 0 on line 6. •
A35 J-12. Firm repairs: :::D~oSJlF = brake shoes, O)C'00 003 oS = clutch plates.
A35 L-3. Newspaper cutting. Opposing peoples are 3d~Gq: = Israelis, and 3d')q0 = Arabs.
A35 .
L -13 . N ewspaper cuttmg. R '
eglOns: G::J.Y?0<f:0Y):
Q
= B ' (JY)@OL
osma, el:cf'): = H erzegovma,
Q 0 Q .
o ~ ~ ~
and 0i?1l <;OC'Oo 0)08GO)') = Yugoslav army.
A35 1-6. Act of ment of
. 8~
m
GCD:L,"{o 8lD,)G@UiJ~
o~ ~
q006mGcf Q
2::::DG~ G3TT
G3 GO)')~
:::D,)::::D~:G@:O)<l( = U Ba Swe and Daw Daw Taw, of Maha Zeyyabon ("Great victory
ground") Quarter, Mandalay, and their children and grandchildren. The brackets round U
Ba Swe's name are there to show that he died before the record was made.
A35
. m ~ ~
1-7. Act of ment of 8~ GC'O:l5{o cfcf:GO)')G~o GO)')c~ GC'00c:qo GrYiPC:3d8~: G3
~ l ~ ~ ~ CJ? Tocr
= Daw Zon, Donor of a monastery, of Nan-daw-she ("East of the palace") Taung-dwa-laun
Quarter, Mandalay. The brackets round her name show that she died before the work was
completed. The date:J~ JJ-cr9Q; is in the Burmese Era. It corresponds to AD. 1960.
~
A36 C-3. Kenya = mC2:?1I
A36 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. Mohnyin =~:2Y~: II
~ r;-: ~
A36 C-5. Map of Burma around 1800. the Shan states = ~8:8~"tP:11
Q 0
A36 E. U Nyo = 2:?? N° 1.
A36 J-10. The recipt was issued in G2:?~2:GL = Nyaungoo.
366
8Jpplement: Reading from Life
A36 J-12. X is e>8Gm8§9 = Khin Maung Myint.

A36 . C'0 m
I-S. Act of ment of G~c2:l5t, Gqj:OJ~:qo 2:l5tc G3 ~: :))8: 8<fC:G8
C' C' 0 m C' T' G C'
= U Myaing
and Daw Mon, and their daughter Ma Hnin Me, of Zay-dan ("Market Row") Quarter,
Nyaungoo (near Pagan).
A36 ·
I -9. Act 0 f ment C'Gm C' C' 0 C' C' T C'1 ('
OfG~C2:l5t, Gqj:OJ~:qo 2:G<J:{p@C G3 '6-': JY): G(y)CGOI;o'f: =
U Kyaw Zin and Daw Pwa, and their son Maung Paw San, of Zay-dan Quarter, Nyaungoo
(near Pagan).
A36.1 E. Daw Myint Myint Kyi =G3T@9@96~ N° S.
C'
A37 C-l. Montana = '3~0'Y):~0:11
. C' G G 0 0
A37 C-2. MontevIdeo = '3'fOJe>33f II
('0
A37 C-3. Congo = rld'ft( II
G (' ('
A37 E. U Aung Nyunt = 2:G3d0c2b'f, N° 10.
. G 0 r, C' C'
A37 E. U Myo Mymt Tun =2:'={Jl:lS3<;(qs~: N° 11.
A37 F. U Kyaw Nyunt = 2:G~2b~, is n° 2.
A37 F. U Myat Tun = 21@a5qs~: is n° 9.
A37 F. U Thaung Nyunt =2:GJY)~:2b~, is n° 6.
A37 J-4. Video tape label: item 14 new development: rld~l(jllO'Y)@~(Y) = computer Burmese.
A37 J-7. Converter = rld~JY)OYJ on line 6.
. G C' (' C'
A37 J-7. ElectrOnIc = 3dC0mOJEtl~:'f011
A37 K-12. ::I50rlda5 = Biscuit (3d~l:~Jtl = assorted, a wide range).
A37 L-S. Newspaper cutting. Political party is ~m0.5~~ 06~@!I'foS ola3 = Vietnam
Communist Party. News was sent from O')~l~ = Hanoi.
A37 .
1-10. Act of ment of 88,GC0:G"t" Jrc-C08: <fc:;ol5qo 2:J)cxa~: G3 qCG8
m C' C' 0~ C' 0 C' T C'
JY)::))~:G@:OJO( = U Ba Tun and Daw Yin May, and their children and grandchildren, of
17th Street, Hnin-zi-gyan ("Rose garden") Quarter, Mandalay.
A39 C-S. Map of Burma around lS00. Koshanpyi =07:~~:@~1I
A39 C-S. Map of Burma around lS00. Prome (Pyay) = @~II
. 0 C'r, C' C'
A39 C-6. Map of Burma today. Arakan (Rakhme) State = q<tc~2:::~w II P.1I.
A39 C-6. Map of Burma today. Chin State = ctJ~:@~~0.511 P.4.
A39 C-6. Map of Burma today. Kachin State =mctJ~@~~0.511 P. I.
A39 C-6. Map of Burma today. Karen (Kay in) State = mq~@~~oSllll P.3.
A39 C-6. Map of Burma today. Kaya State = mU)'):@~'foSllll P.2.
C' r, C' C'
A39 C-6. Map of Burma today. Shan State = ~8:l2:l2:::'fWII P.13.
('r, C' C'
A39 C-6. Map of Burma today. the Mon State = '3'fl2:l2:::~w II P.lO.
A39 1-11. Act of merit of 2:G3d:E3~ G3T Ol~Ol~q ... ~JY):O( =U Aye Kyi and Daw Khin
Khin Yi and family. The words after the names say that U Aye Kyi held a post in the
Myanma Timber Project.
A39 1-12. Act of merit of e>0')~:Gq0J0~2:::C08:G0')0C:
(' C' C' C' ()
J~~
G 0
A G'f 2:c(C0~ G3 C32:::C32:::
C' 0 Tc:::::. C'c:::: C'
o ""
:))8: 8~,~, OC:~
(' G
+ 0(lS3<;(cy?:
or, C' 0
::D0:
l C'
G3 m0J0G@00C:~ G<J:{pOC:~cy?, 8JY):0(
C' C' G C' C' GOO
== the
family of U 80 Ni and Daw Kyi Kyi, their daughter Ma Nwe Nwe Win Ni and [her
367
husband] Ko Myint To, and their sons Dr. Zaw Win Ni and Kyaw Win Ni, of 133A Bahan
Yedashay Road. The final sentences says that the restoration work was done in 1349
Burmese Era, A.D. 1987.
A39 pt 1 L-4. Newspaper cutting. English-language newspaper is ::D~Gcf: EJl8: ::: The Nation,
A40 D. Pyinmana = C(j2:8cf0: is 244 miles from Rangoon.
A41 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800, Syriam (Than-lyin) = :::Dcqj811
AS-7 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. River names: Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwadi) River
Gr, C'
~bpomt=l1D11
AS-7 C-6. Map of Burma today. Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwadi) Division = ~bpoJ5078:1I P.14,
AS-8 C-l. Oregon =e3qn~11
AS-10 L-14. Newspaper cutting. Country is e3IDG6:cqj = Australia.
,
AS-14 I-B. Ment record IDID00C:L5l.,
C' 0 C' m C' 0 C' C' G C' C' "'~ G C'
6[cf'tc6[o 2: mcG «;3d0: 6[2:::q(:~ @cf: 8QCG8 ::D8:
G
G;;X;:S G;;X;:S 0 8: J.Y): G8080707 = For U Tin Ngwe, of Yan-naing ("Triumph over the enemy")
Quarter, Sagaing, by his wife Ma Khin Me, his daughter Swe Swe Win, and his son Maung
KoKo.
AS-14 1-14.
m C'r, C ' . . . . C' C' () C' G
Merit record: 8~ GCD:L5l., 3&Gcf0meC YCDG«;GbpC6[o J8 CD8: 3&:D 2:::Dm
C'
3&~ 3&G8~07,3d0: 6[~q(:~ ::D~: G3T88GCD: = ForherfatherUThetandherrnother

Arne Lon, by their daughter Daw Ma Ma Lay, of 21st Street, Anauk-pyin ("the western
expanse") Pale-ngwe-yaung ("Silver glint of pearls") Quarter, Mandalay.
AS-19 C-S. Map of Burma around 1800. Manipur::: 8 ci3)? 6[11
AS-21 F. U Htay Myint = 2:G~:~~ is n° 13.
....,_.... ----_.•
368
Appendix 1: Conspectus of characters and combinations
APPENDICES
APPENDIX lA CONSPECTUS
CHARACTERS AND CHARACTER COMBINATIONS

WITH TRANSCRIPTION EQUIVALENTS
References are to Lessons (L1 and so on) and to Sections (Sl and so on)
1. Free-standing characters
1.1 Consonants
m 0> () CD C
Q) ~ @
~ 2::
cL ~ ~
() C1D
OJ CD 3 G 'f
0 (9 t) J) Id
OJ Ei[ (\) 0 :D
3d
CD
~
k- k'- g- g- ng-
s- s'- z- z- ny- ny-
t- t' - d- d- n-
t- t' - d- d- n-
p- p'- b- b- m-
y- y- or r- 1- w- th-
h- I-
1.2 Free-standing vowel syllables

3d (Y)
"'- 2G
3d) 81 2
a u e aw
a u e aw
369
1.3 Abbreviated syllables

(gI~
C'
<1 C :
ywe hnaiq lagaun
1.4 Figures
J G o
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 o
2. Attached symbols
2. 1 Attached consonants
E -
o
-J
-y- -y- -w- h-
The following combinations of consonant and attached consonant have modified pronunciations:
c- c'- j- ny- sh- sh- y-
2.2 Attached vowel symbols

G C' C' 0 C'
low tone -0 - G- -U) G-0 - -~
IL L
G 0 C'
high tone -0: -
IL
G-: " G-0 -
L
-~:
0 0 C'
creaky tone - G- " G-0 -
Lo -~
L
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
low tone -a -i -u -e -eh -aw -0 -i/e/eh
high tone -a -I -u -e -eh -aw -0 -I/e/eh
creaky tone -a -I -u -e -eh -aw -0 -i/e/eh
2.3 Other attached symbols:

C'
[killer) -i n -n [creaky tone) [high tone)
370
3. Combinations of characters
3.1 Final consonants
pronounce ei as in vein, ai as in Thailand, ou as in though, au as in Sauerkraut.
c: o c: c: c: c:
stop finals -0 -00 -00 G-0m -m
o c: c:
al ternatives -0 -0
roman -i q -eiq -aiq -aq -auq -ouq -uq -eq
c: oc: oc: c: c: c: c:
nasal finals -C -'f -'f G-0C
c: oc:
"L C c:
"L'c:f o'fc:
alternatives -2 -~ -~ "L~ o~
alternatives -L -0
roman -i n -ein -ain -an -aun -oun -un
3.2 Stacked consonants (see Lessons 15.1, 16.3)

In any pair of stacked consonants (such as - m - ), the upper consonant is equivalent to a Q)
consonant written with the "killer stroke" (-05), and the lower consonant (~-) begins a new
syllable. Example: 'f 02 ~ = 'f cYS + ~ ~ II The list below includes all the stacked pairs
in use.
e e e e
m
()')
m Q
()
n
()
ill
m ~ () m
0Q) 0
=
@
@ ~* ~ ~ ~ ~* ~
C
c;t
c*
C:J il. q>* GOc;. GO*
CJ)
GO*
Or"
GO
1.)
GO
C1T)
00 00 3 3 &. &. &. &. &.

CD = 3 G CD = 3 G &.
0
u
0(9 e>
e>
e> ~
u
~
(9
~
e>
~ ~
CD CD \,\
CD
CD
:::DJ *
* Note modified shapes
Unstacked equivalents of the above
<: <: <: <: <: <: <: <:
-mm- -m@- -00- -ow- -cm- -c@- -co- -cw-
<: <: <: <: <: <: <: <: <:
-(IJ(IJ- -(IJ<:;O- -@@- -@ilfj- -2(IJ- -2<:;0- -2@- -2ilfj- -22-
<: <: <: <: C' C' C' C' C'
-cc-
'1.'1. -l:i.~- -~~- -~()- -ooc-
'1.
..,.oo~- -oo~- -oo()- -0000-
C' C' C' C' C' C' C' C' C'
-0000- -0000- -33- -3G- -~oo- -~oo- -~3- -~G- -H-
C' C' C' C' C' C' C' C' C'
-00- -0(9- -(j(j- -(jJ)- -\:)0- -\:)(9- -\:)(j- -\:)J)- -\:)\:)-
C' C'
-(\)(\)- -:)J:)J-
371
3.3 The Voicing Rule (see Lesson 13.1 and subsequent Lessons)
The sounds that are affected by the Voicing Rule are:
1m en ()
I@ CD
They are changed by the Voicing Rule to: In @ 3 :x; I

Transcription equivalents:
before voicing: k s p c th
k' s' t' p' c'
after voicing: g z d b dh
3.4 Non-standard rhymes (see Sections 26 to 33)

"Non-standard rhymes" are rhymes that are either (a) written with a combination of
vowel and final consonant that is not included in the standard set above (as in words like
o C' C'
CD C and GOJ en ), or (b) written with a final consonant that is not used as a final at all in
C' C'
the standard set (as in CD 3 or ~ OJ ).
The pronunciation of any syllable written with a non-standard rhyme can also be
represented by a syllable written with a standard rhyme; so the key to reading a non-
standard rhyme is to know which standard rhyme to replace it with.
The first step in interpreting a syllable. with a non-standard rhyme is to establish the
"class" of the final consonant you are looking at. It may be a (1) Stop-class consonant, or a
(2) Nasal-class consonant, or (3) in the class called Others. On the whole, Stop-class
consonants are consonants that block the passage of air through the throat, like K, 0, B and
similar (though there are some that don't match this characterisation comfortably); and
the Nasals are consonants made with your mouth closed allowing the air to come out
through your nose. The Others don't fit into either category.
Below is the chart of all the consonants in the Burmese alphabet, set out in their
traditional order. (For notes on the significance of the arrangement into rows and columns
see Appendix 3: Transliteration.) All the consonants in the two boxes are Stop-class
consonants; the unboxed consonants in column 5 are the Nasals; and the unboxed consonants
in the last two lines are the Others.
372
1 2 3 4 5
K m 0> () W C
S <D ~ @
~ ~/2
T c'1. S ~
() ClD
T CD CD 3 G
'9
P 0 (9 eJ J) (:)
OJ q CD 0 :::D I
3d
~
(J)
When you have established which class the final consonant belongs to, follow the
instructions below.
(1) STOP-CLASS FINALS:

m~()W-0~)@iIlJ
if vowel is: read lhyme as: example: read as:

0 I) <: 0 <:
-00 mqom /mq8aS/
/yo~/
<: <:
-
l LOO y3
/~s/
<: <:
G- -0 G~OO
0 <: 0<:
0
l Lm y3 /yc/;/
G-0 see below
see below
Pronunciation of vowel G-0 with non-standard finals depends on the final:

if final is: read rhyme as: example: read as:
from K row G-0c/; G0')RC\Y)~ / G0')c/;()C\Y)~/
from other rows oaS GJY)~G:D'f / 'YdcJXhG:D'f/
Pronunciation of vowel- (the unwritten vowel) also depends on the final:

If final is: read rhyme as: example: read as:
from K row -m Idf-> / Idc/;/
from S row -S O)~ / O)~/
<: <:
from other rows -00 (\)3
373
(2) NASAL-CLASS FINALS: C ~ 2 00 ef ~

if vowel is: read rhyme as: example: read as:
o
103~1
oC' oC'
-ef CDC
/ J:(~:/
C'
-
l lefC'
G- -2 /32g~/
o
l
oC'
lC / c!!r~ /
/ J.6~~/
C'
G-0 oef G:::D0~
C' C'
all rhymes are standard (Read -00 as -ef)
(3) OTHER FINALS: ()) q CD 0 lJ) ~ (3d is not used as a final)

if vowel is: read rhyme as: example: read as:
o 0 0 C'
l l t(CD
any other treat final as -~ 8W
374
APPENDIX IB INDEX
INDEX TO CHARACTERS AND CHARACTER COMBINATIONS
References are to Lessons (Ll and so on) and to Sections (51 and so on)
1.1 Consonants
m k- L4 :::D th- L8
@ k'- Ll9 m h- L21
g- Ll5 1- 520
~
()
m g- 519 3d Ll2
C ng- L20.2 1.2 Free-standing vowel syllables
0 s- Ll7 3d a Ll2
;;D s'- Ll7 3d'J a Ll2
@ z- L24 (Y) 55
0L
at] z- L24.1 ~d 56
ny- L36,SI7 u 57
~ 2
G
ny- L36,516 u 58
2 2
C t- 522 (g e/e 59
L
~ t'- 523 § aw 510
~ d- 524 G§S aw S11

() d- 525 1.3 Abbreviated syllables
CID n- 521 C51~ 512
en t- L4 ~c: YW9 513

t'- Ll9 hnaiq 514
CO ~
c:
3 d- LlO Sc: lagaun 515
G d- L30.1 1.4 Figures

n- L2 :) tiq Ll.l
'f
u p- L8 hniq Ll.l
J
Ll9 thoun Ll.l
(9 p'- ~
0 b- L24 c; Ie L2.1
L2 nga L2.1
J) b- ~
8 m- Ll G c'auq L2.1
y- Ll2 k'un-hniq L3.1
OJ rc
shiq L3.1
q y-Ir- Ll5 6)
CD I- Ll (3 ko 13.1
0 w- L22 0 thoun-nya L3.1
375
2. Attached symbols
2. 1 Attached consonants . " .high, tone
.,
-J -y- L30 -0: -a L3
G
E -y- L29 -I L3
0
-w- L32 low and high tone
-
J
h- L25 -/
IL
-"
IL
-u/- U Lll
G-/ G-: -e/-e L6
r::
-U) /"
- -eh/-eh U3
Cumbinations of consonant and attached
consonant with modified pronunciations G~/G-0 -aw/-aw L9
c- L34 ~/~: -01-0 L5
ffiJ L l
r::/ r::
§ c- L34 -~ ~: -i lei e hi-II el e h L39
~
c'- L21 creaky tone
~ c'- L34 -a Ll4,28

0
rcJ j- LlO -I L28
[6 j. L34 -l -u L28
@ ny- L36 G- -e L27
y- 518 " -eh L27
0iJ
Ojl sh- 54 G-0 -aw L27
0
~ y- 51 - -0 L27
L"
r::
c:;;(J sh- 52 -?? -f/e/eh L39
11 sh- L22
~ sh- 53 2.3 Other attached symbols:
r::
[killer] L5
2.2 Attached vowel symbols -i n US.1

low tone -n L20
-0 -a U [creaky tone] L27
G
-i L1 [high tone] L3
376
3. Combinations of characters
3.1 Final consonants
stop finals nasal finals

c:: c::
-0 -iq U8 -c -in L6
0 c:: oc::
-00 -eiq L23 -cf -ei n L23
0 c:: oc::
-m
l
-aiq L20 -c -ain U8
L
c:: c::
-00 -aq U6 -cf -an L5
c:: c::
G-'Jm -auq L31 G-'JC -aun Ul
c:: c::
-00 -ouq L26 -oun L26
L
c::
-Ccfc::
0 00c:: -uq L37 -un L37
ocf
-m -eq U6 alternatives
c::
-2
oc::
-in L40
alternatives -0 -ein L33
oc:: c::
-0 -eiq L35 -0 -an L20
c:: c::
-0 -aq L35 -0 -oun L33
L
c:: c::
-CO -ouq L35 -0
0
-un L37
c::
-0 -uq L37 -an L20
0
- -oun L33
L
-0 -un D7
3.2 Stacked consonants L 15.1, 16.3

e e e e
m
m
m ~
()
n ro
() m @ () ()..)
0
<D
0
:;0
@
@ ~* ~ g, ~ ~* ~
C
c:t
C*
2J ~ cr* 00c;. 00*
en
00*
nI
OJ)
v
00
em
0) 0) 3 3 &. &. &. &. &.
co co
00 3 G
0
00
0 0
3
0Cj
G
0
'"
0
°
0
°
c.9
0Cj :::J)
CD
0
J..).)
c.9
*
:::J) ~
CD
* Note modified shapes
3.3 The Voicing Rule: see Lesson 13.1 and subsequent Lessons
3.4 Non-standard rhymes: see Sections 26 to 33
377
APPENDIX 2 TRANSCRIPTION
THE TRANSCRIPTION SYSTEM

This Appendix provides descriptions of the sounds represented by the symbols of the
transcription system used in this book. Remember that there is no universally accepted
method of representing Burmese sounds in the roman alphabet: other books and courses use
many different conventions.
1. Initial consonants
rom script description m ':l as in English more
b (j as in English bore n 1 as in English nor; see also under
c 01J as in Italian ciao, or 'cello; Final consonants below
something like ch in English ng c like ng in English long oar
chore, but made with the flat of ny ~
like gn in Italian gnocchi;
the tongue (not the tip) against something like n i in English
the palate; and made without senior, but made with the flat of
aspiration: see under Aspirates the tongue (not the tip) against
below the palate
c' see under Aspirates below p 0 as in French port: see under
9J
d 3 as in English door Aspirates below
dh [~] like th in English this, there p' (') as in English pore: see under
9 () as in English gore Aspirates below
h lJ) as in English hoar q [05] see under Final consonants below
hi C\f see under Aspirates below 6[ as in English raw (mostly in
hm '1 foreign words)
hn s [) as in English soar: see under
l'
hng s: Aspirates below
hny s' OD see under Aspirates below
21
hw sh Ujl as in English shore
9
like gi in Italian Giorgio; as in French tort: see under
ru 0)
something like j in English jaw, Aspirates below

but made with the flat of the t' 00 as in English tore: see under
tongue (not the tip) against the Aspirates below
pala te th J.) as in English thaw
k m like c in French corps: see w 0 as in English war; and see under
under Aspirates below Medial consonants below
k' 6l like c in English core: see under y ().) as in English your; and see under
Aspirates below Medial consonants below
(\) as in English law z @ as in English zone
378
Appendix 2: The transcription system
Aspirate consonants
Burmese has two groups of corresponding pairs of consonants. These are the sounds in one
group:
sounds represented the same sounds
by roman letters represented by Burmese letters
set 1 k' t' p' c' s' ~
set 2 k pes CD Cf) 0 If'1J en
The sounds in set 1 are known as "aspirate" consonants, and those in set 2 are known as the
corresponding "plain" or "unaspirated" consonants. The difference between the two sets is
that the aspirate consonants have a short puff of breath expelled after the consonant is
pronounced and before the vowel begins; while after a plain consonant there is no audible
breath: the vowel begins immediately the consonant has been pronounced.
Put this way, this distinction may sound unfamiliar, but you have probably heard
examples of both aspirate and plain consonants, perhaps without being aware of the
difference. Most speakers of English use aspirate consonants in words like kill, till, pill.
To a Burmese ear these words sound like k'ill, t'ill, p'ill. Plain consonants on the other hand
are used in French and Italian: think of French words like casse, tasse, passe. French and
Italian speakers (and Indians and Pakistanis even more noticeably) often use these plain
consonants when they speak English - a habit that helps to make their English sound
"foreign." They say kill, till, pill instead of k'ill, t'ill, p'ill. Burmese uses both sets, treating
an aspirate as one consonant and the corresponding plain sound as an entirely different
consonant (as in k'a "to shake" and ka "to defend"). Careful listening to the tapes will help
you recognize and pronoUnce the two sets differently.
The paired aspirate and plain consonallts in the other group are these:
sounds represented
by roman letters
I
the same sounds
represented by Burmese letters
set 1 hn9 h n h m h ny hi hw '1 l' If 2Y 0? 9
set 2 ng n m ny w c of ~ ~ CD 0
The sounds in set 1 are sometimes called breathed or voiceless consonants. They are
pronounced like the plain set, but with breath expelled quietly through the nose (through
the mouth for hi hw) before voicing begins.
h m is like English hmm in "Hmm - let me see"
hi is like Welsh II in Llandudno
hw is like English wh in "breathy" pronunciations of what, where, and the like.
The remaining consonants in this set - hng, hn, hny - are produced by the same
mechanism as h m.
2. Medial consonants
Some consonants may be followed by a "medial" consonant: y or w; examples:
y in Daw Mya Mya Daw Mya Mya G3~@
w in mwe-ne birthday G'8:G1o
379
3. Vowels (for descriptions of -q and -n see under Final consonants below)
roman script description

a [3d ] like a in English about
a (except in aq and an) ,,3d') like a in English car,
but closer to a in French car
~ ~
a in aq and an 3d en 1 3dq> like a in English cat and can
o ~
O~
ai in aiq and ain 3f ml 3fc like i in English site and sine
~ ~
au in auq and aun G3d0ml G3d0C like au in English lout and lounge
e (except in eh and eq) G3d like e in French elcve
~
e in eh 3dW like e in English sell
~
e in eq 3dm like e in English set
o o
~ ~
ei in eiq and ein 3d en 1 3dq> like a in English late and lane
Q
i (except in iq and in) 3d like i in English ravine
i in iq and in 3d 0) 1 3d2~/ 3dC~
~
like i in English sit and sin
~
aw G3d0 like aw in English saw
0
0
3f like eau in French peau
~ ~
ou in ouq and oun 3f enl 3fq> like a in English tote and tone
u (except in uq and un) 3ff like u in English Susan
~ ~
u in uq and un 38 en 1 38q> like 00 in English foot and full
4. Final consonants
roman script description
~ ~ ~ ~
-n -c -2 -q> -I:) represents nasalization, as in French un, bon, vin, Jean
~ ~ ~ ~
-q -m -0) -en -0 represents a glottal stop,
as in "Cc1ckney" English "The ca' sa' on the rna' ,"
or (in our transcription) "The caq saq on the maq."
5. Tones
Tones are marked in the transcription by accents (or absence of accent) placed over the
vowel. They occur with all vowels, but they are illustrated here with the vowel a.
a low pitch, called "low" tone (marked here by having no printed accent)
high pitch spoken with normal or relaxed throat: "plain high tone"
a high pitch spoken with a tightened throat: "creaky high tone"
There are two other kinds of syllable in Burmese. Though they don't have a place in the
three-way contrast just described, they are often referred to as tones, and are listed here for
completeness.
380
Appendb( 2: The transcription system
aq 3daS high pitch, followed by a glottal stop, called a "stopped" syllable

(may be pronounced with low pitch when followed by a high tone)
a [3d] low pitch, only on the vowel a,

called a "weak" syllable (may be pronounced with high pitch if sandwiched
between two high tones). Also called "reduced" or "unstressed" syllable.
Schematically, the tones can be arranged like this:

plain creaky stopped weak
C'
high pitch a 3d'): aq 3dro
low pitch a 3d')
It should be understood that "low pitch" and "high pitch" are relative terms:
" i 0 w" means lower than neighbouring highs, and
"h i g h " means higher than neighbouring lows.
A syllable spoken in isolation can't readily be identified as having either high or low
pitch (though it may be distinguished by features other than pitch, namely creakiness,
glottal stop. or weak vowel).

tone transcription meaning script
low sa-ba-deh compares Q:nolroc0
high plain sa-ba-deh eats llY):o,'1 rowC'
high creaky sa-ba-deh begins <l)ulroe0
high 5top saq-pa-deh is hot to taste <l)0olO?c0
weak (low) sane-nan Saturday name <l)Gtt
low da paun-ba that's a pound 3l Gol8ol

high plain da zei-ba that's a market 3l Gil{J:ol
high creaky da s'fn-ba that's a cent 3l QQ9 0l
high stop da eiq-pa that's a bag 3l ~aSol
weak (low) da Bama-ba that's a Burman 3l ~mol
381
APPENDIX 3 TRANSLITERA TION
THE ALPHABET WITH TRANSLITERATION EQUIVALENTS

[after Library of Congress and Bechert]
Transliteration is a system of romanizing a foreign script which allocates a roman letter (or
cluster of letters) to each character in the foreign script, regardless of pronunciation. It is
used where the romanizer wishes to indicate the precise spelling of the foreign word.
Transcription, by contrast, attempts to show the pronunciation of the foreign word,
regardless of the spelling. Example:
o0
script G.§OJrt J?6p~

transliteration (=spelling) Rhwe-ti-gum bhu-ra:
transcription (=pronunciation) Shwe-dagoun p'aya
1.1 Consonants (for the significance of the column numbers and row names, see the note below)
SCRIPT 1 5
Krow m c
Crow 0 ~ or2
Trow C
L
ClD
Trow 0)
Prow 0
CD
TRANSLITERA TION 1 5
Krow k n
Crow c n
Trow I)
Trow t n
Prow p m
y s
382
Appendix 3: Transliteration
1.2 Free-standing vowel syllables

SCRIPT
2
G
2
TRANSLITERATION a u o
T e 0'
1.3 Abbreviated syllables

SCRIPT
TRANSLITERATION *ey' *rwe. *nhuik' *4ri':
1.4 Figures
SCRIPT ::)
J G o
TRANSLIT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 o
2. Attached symbols
2.1 Attached consonants
SCRIPT (; -o -J
--------------------------------------------
•
TRANSLITERATION -y- -r- -v- -h-
2.2 Attached vowel symbols

G c: c: 0
SCRIPT -0
IL
G- -0) G-0 -L
G "- 0
lCo G-: G-0 -L
o "- 0
-L G-;;- G--0 -
Lo
TRANSL -a -I -u -e -ay -0' -ui
-a: -T: -u: -e: -ai -0 -ui:
-a -i -u -e. -a i. -0. -ui.
2.3 Other attached symbols

SCRIPT
TRANSLITERA TION -n
383
3. Stacked consonants
c c c c
SCRIPT m
m
m ()
n
()
OJ
m @ () m
'"
CD
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
CD @
CD 00 @
£ c2:J it Cf OD OD
en
OD
Or'
OD
v
OD
CO':)
en en 3 3
"
&. &. &. &. &.
OJ = 3 G OJ = 3 G &
0 0 0 0 8 8(9 8 8 8
0 (9 e>
= 0 e>
= ~
CD :::D)
CD
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSLIT kk kkh gg ggh nk nkh ng ngh

ce eeh II jjh fie fieh fij fijh fifi
tt tth dd ddh nt nth nd ndh nn
tt tth 99 99h I)t I)th 1)9 1)9 h 1)1)

pp pph bb bbh mp mph mb mbh mm
II ss
4. Arrangement of consonants in the alphabet

The first five rows of initial consonants above are arranged on phonetic principles. The
arrangement was devised in ancient India, and came to Burma with the alphabet.
The rows:
K row: velars (consonants made with the back of your tongue touching the roof of your mouth)
C row: palatals (consonants made with the front part of your tongue touching the roof of your
mouth). In Burmese they have changed to sibilants (pronounced like English sand z).
T row: retroflex (consonants made with the tip of your tongue curled backwards and touching
the roof of your mouth). In Burmese they are pronounced as alveolars (the same as the T
row), but the letters are retained for spelling Pali words correctly.
Trow: dentals (made with the tip of the tongue touching the backs of your front teeth). In
Burmese these consonants are used for alveolars (made with the tip of your tongue touching
the roof of your mouth behind the front teeth).
Prow: labials (made with your lips closed)
The columns:
column 1: not voiced, not aspirated
column 2: not voiced, aspirated
column 3: voiced, not aspirated
column 4: voiced, aspirated (in Burmese they are pronounced the same as column 3)
column 5: nasals
384
Appendix 4: Names of the characters
APPENDIX 4 CHARACTER NAMES
THE BURMESE NAMES OF THE CHARACTERS AND SYMBOLS

1. The consonants
letter name pronunciation meaning of name
m mE3: <J'Y?-(1F
G
big ka
OlG~: or OlG06: OlJ-Gg: (:urved k'a
C'
n ocw nl. -cOj little ga
w wE3: oJ-c1j: big ga
c c cl
C'
Q)<\>: <D?-0ll'l': round sa
oC' oC'
OOCD0 ;;0)- CD 'l' twisty s'a
@02 C' ,
&;J-g
c: ,
split za
1llJ"tj2:QX(S &;J-"tjc:<g za with a line attached below
~E3:
G
2::?-C[j: big nya
2mGCD : 2!?-OGCD: little nya
• C' 0 C' C' 0 C'
~ ::D C\i.] 2:"tl Cf) aY? - Cf) CD c: C[j Cf) bier-hook ta
C' , C' ,
~00:0 <xy?-00::J) duck t'a
c:
3J -w~Gol d;
C'
~6[cG(YY)m da with a curved chest
C'
() ()G6[)tCf) 3J -Gw)tch water-ladle da
G
ClD ClDE3: 'l'?-C[j: • bigna
C' C'
Cf) Cf)00:'J( aY?-0'l':Cj? pot-bellied ta
C' C'
CD CDOOCOj(: <xy?-ooc~: elephant fetter t'a
3 3G08: 3J -Gl3: little da
C' 0 C'
G l -G3'Y.)m"tllm
3. da with a dent below
C'
'l'?-CW little na
o OG<lY)m
C'
oj -G@')d) steep pa
G C' C' C'
o 02:0:;>0 0? - ~ Cf)0:;> Cf) p'a with a hat
C' 0 C' C'jo 0 C'
e1CDm"tllm eI?- 3
"tll m -CD"tllm ba with a dent on top
C' C'
:J)0?'l': :n?-t[ 'l': humpback ba
o 0?
C' C' C' C'
womCDm OY)-omCDm ya on its back
C'
6[G(YY)m OY)-Goldj curved ya
CD sometimes CDC OJ C\Y) (0J?C oS ) - (little la)
o ol
°
::D
OJ
~E3: big la
~
385
2. The vowels and other attached symbols

letter name pronunciation meaning of name
o
G- 0) GO CX(: as written draw a spiral?
---0/ -1 G6"FOU (1) as written a line set down
o ~
~:B:O)~
• G
C\(: «J:ooc big round on top
~:B:O)~ ;;ot Ol05
• G ~ ~ ~
C\(: «J : 00 C ;;0 cj> Ol 00 big round on top-
with a kernel set inside
as written one line drawn
~ ~
1' G'W c :cc two lines drawn

,Il ~ ~
Gcj>0m'-lJQ) back-throw
as written tiny thing on top
~ G
mc:@: forehead -rider
~ (2) as written killer
~ c:
woe;: <..D?0e;: propping up ya
~ c:
6)6)Q) <..D?WQ) wound round ya
o~ 01.~ wa attached below
o o
mCX(: ~CX(: ha thrust in
G3d0rr5(m)@~ stop underneath

G~.mGo1rr5 dots in front
G
or: G~.;;o: front block
c:. 1 c:
or: O~1'Q)C\(:GO I m two dots
~ o
---0 G6):OUG~. CX(: a line set down
and a forward thrust
(1) The two forms of G6):OU can be differentiat~d as follows:
---0 9rr5OU as written set down a curve
-1 G~rr5OU as written set down an upright
(2) A consonant together with "the killer stroke" (~) is called "consonant-::D05 "; for example:
-rr5 is called mO)0511 -~ is called Q)0)05 and so on.
3. Other characters
The free-standing vowel syllables c;::::{ g)] 2 <ll § 2
G~ are called: 3dO;?"'Pc;::::{1 3dO;?"'Pg)] and so
on.
The abbreviated syllables <lll~ ~ ~ are called: 3dO;?"'P<lll~ 1 3do;?"'P~ and 3dO;?"'P~1I
Two consonants written one above the other are called 1'~~:OD911 ("two-rounds-stacked") or 01~ ;;0911
("text-stacked"); for example:
-02- is called mS:-OlG'8: 't~~:OD9
" 11 d o-J)rY(t:
-~- IS ca e
~ c:.
'tQ)C\(:;;oy ~
Other pairs of stacked consonants follow the same pattern.

When the two stacked consonants are the same, its name is only mentioned once; for
example:
-<J?- is called mS: 1'~~:;;o9
" ca11e d 0000:<,(
-<;S?- IS ~ ~. ~
1'Q)C\(:;;oe;: an d so on.
386
Appendix 5: identification chart
APPENDIX 5 IDENTIFICATION CHART
Use this list if you find a character you can't identify. The roman equivalents show
pronunciation.
Single circle o o c ()
w- p- ng- g- -a
Single circle with arc

0> G G-
k'- d- b- p'- m- s- e -e 8
Single circle with extension @ U G

-----------------
z- d- 6
C
'1. ~ qj 2 ~
------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------~---------------
r- i- t- t'- d- z- ny- 3 4 7 5 9
Double circle m
t- t'- y- k- i- b- th-
Double circle with arc Double circle with extension
s'- n- g- ny-
Other shapes
o
3 G -l -T L 2
G
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
d- n- -y- -y- (-aw) -0 -a (-aw) [tone] T u
J
aw aw yW9 hnaiq 2 iagaun
Above the line Below the line

G <:
-o -J -IL
-i -n [killer'] -i n -w- -h- -u [tone]
387
APPENDIX 6 ALPHABETICAL ORDER
The purpose of this Appendix isto help you learn how to use dictionaries and other alpha-
betically arranged lists. Reference is made in the following notes to the parts of a syllable.
The terms used are illustrated below.
HEAD RHYME
initial medial vowel final tone

consonant consonant consonant mark
oC' 0 C'
O(J 4' : @
-J 4'
C'
~9 8
E C
C' C'
G<">iP C : m -J G--0 C
il) -
0( L
CD CD
C\Y) CD --0
GCD CD G-
GCD: CD G-
CD
0? J
C' C'
CDm CD m
0 0
3f: 3d L
Consonant order (initial and final): read line 1 left to right, then line 2 and so on.
m @ n ill C
il) ;x) @
~ ~ (2)1
~ ~ C1D
C (J
-..
CD CC 3 G
4'
0 (9 ~ J) 8
W 6[ CD 0 ::D
3d 2
~
(J)
Variants:
1. ~ and 2 are listed in this order in some works, reversed in others, and intermingled in
others.
388
Appendix 6: Alphabetical order
2. is made the first consonant in "Pali order" dictionaries, but the last in "spelling book
3d
order" lists. For the two traditions, see below under Final vowels and tones.
Medial consonant order:

Variants:
G -o
Clusters of two or three medials (G5 .oJ and the rest) are ordered differently by different
authors. Generally there are so few entries with medial clusters that it is not difficult to
locate a word whatever the order used.
G
V owel order: 3d G3d
It is useful to memorize this sequence as a guide to locating an entry in a dictionary. The

waters are muddied, however, by the order qf tones. ~ci v<;:lwel can be written, or
pronounced, without one of the three tones of Burmese; and the ordering of the tones within
each vowel is not uniform. See the following.
Tone order:
"Spelling order" (from fewer symbols to more)
"Recitation order" (to match m ('{Y) ('(Y): I d5 rf5 rf5:)
Vowels and tones: the full set (read left to right ):
Spelling order Recitation order
00 mC! OYJ: 00 mC! OYJ:
0 G G 0 G G
00 00 00: 00 00 00:
0':( rr;r a;r: 0':( a;r a;r:

GOO G0? GOO: G0? GOO GOO:
en o? (m03?) o? (m03?) en
<: <:
GOYJ GC'fY? GOYJ GC'fY? GOYJ GOYJ
0 0 0 0 0 0
0':( 0':(. 0(: 0(. 0':( (1(:
Vowels with finals and tones

There are two main schools of thought in the matter of ordering rhymes with finals: I call
them "Pali order" and "Spelling book order" (for the names see the Historical note below).
Each uses the elements of the syllable in a slightly different order:
Pali order spelling book order
1. vowel final consonant
2. final consonant vowel
3. tone tone
Pali order is used in the dictionaries of Judson, U Hoke Sein, and Annemarie Esche.
Spelling book order has many more supporters, including the dictionaries of Denise Bernot,
Minina, Chen Yi-Sein, Masaharu, §to')<lYX3d~. and all alphabetical lists (encyclopedias,
street names, town names, author names and the like) compiled in contemporary Burma.
The result of the difference in priorities is shown in the following.
389
The standard rhymes in alphabetical order (read top to bottom)

Pali order: Spelling book order:
col. 1 col. 2 col.3 col. 1 col. 2 col. 3
*- *0
*G- *- *-r!j *-~
c: 0 e: c: o c:
-m -0') G-; -0 G-0m -0')
c: oc: 0 c: <:
-c -'\' G-: -0: l"m 70')
c: o e: 0 c:
-9
c:
-'\'.
oe:
*' - *-9 *-~.
-c: G <: e:
-'\': -c -'\'
c: oe: G <: e:
-0 -0 *G-0 -c: -'\':
c: oe: <: <: oe:
-2c: -(:) G-0m
I:" G-09 -'\'.
0<: e: <: oe:
-Ii: -'7 G-0C
IL
G-0C -'\'
c: oe: e: <:
-2: -(:): G-0C il: G-0C:
0<:
-'\':
c: G <: oc: c:
-~ G-0C: G-; -c
L· 7'\'.c:
c: G oe:
-22c: G-,?
<:
G-
7oc:c 7'\'<:
-~: *-
L
G-0 G-: 7c : 7'\':
c: e:
-0') 70') *~ *-OS *-0
L
c: e: 0 e: <: oe:
-'\' I:"'\' 70<:m -OJ 1 *-~ -0
c: <: c: <:
-'\'. I:"'\'. 7oe:C -~ 7°
c: <: c:
-'\': 7'\': -C
L· G-,? -~: *.:
c: c: oc: c: c:
-0 1:"0 t C: G-0 -Ii ':2
0 c:
7 L·
0
G-0 -2
0 <:
L· t· L· -2:
0
t· 70
IL 7:
il' L'
.: 2
L
* In Pali order colurrms: the asterisk marks the beginning of a series with a new vowel.
* In Spelling book order colurrms: the asterisk marks the beginning of a series with a new
final. Colurrm 1 lists rhymes with no final consonant.
For variants see below.
Variants:
1. Some dictionaries class - 03 as a rhyme with a final consonant (favouring spelling over
pronunciation), others class it as a rhyme with no final (favouring pronunciation over spelling).
i
2. Some dictionaries list:" as a rhyme with no final, but as a rhyme with a final. Others list both
as syllables with finals. See the Historical note below.
3. Some dictionaries treat the 3d 07, 6[0 vowels (the free-standing vowel syllables
c;::::{-g)1-2-2-<ll-§-G~) in a separate section (usually after all the words beginning with
3d); others intermingle them with the 3d vowels (-:!J - c;: : { - ~ - g)1- ~ - 2 - ~L - 2 -
G
3j?:-2:-G3d-<ll and so on).
4. Some dictionaries group the stacked consonants (-06- -£ - and so on) in a separate section
(usually after all the rhymes ending the corresponding unstacked final: -cYj -~ and so on);
others intermingle them with the unstacked spellings (-06- is listed as if it were -r!j 0)-, -£-
as -~ 0')-, and so on).
390
Learning to use alphabetical order
Steps to follow (take one step a day, to make the load manageable)
1. Read the notes on the parts of the syllable above.
2. Memorize consonant order m OJ () ill C \I il) ;;:0 @ i1lJ 2:::
3. Memorize consonant order Cf) CC 3 G ,\,11 0 (9 t? :y) 811
4. Memorize consonant order w q (\) 0 :J.) tn ~ 3d
5. Memorize order of medials, vowels and tones
6. Do Ex. 1 and 2
7. Read notes on vowels and tones, and on vowels with finals and tones
8. DoEx.3and4
9. DoEx.5and6
10. Use dictionary to find words picked from BIS or BISL text.
Exercises
Rewrite the following lists so that the words are in alphabetical order
There is a key to this Exercise at the end of this Appendix.
Ex. 1: Initials Ex. 2: Initials Ex. 3: Vowels Ex. 4: Vowels

and medials and vowels & finals & tone & finals & tone
(Pali order) (spelling book order)
oC' oC'
Cf)0)C' G~ ::D() ::D()
C' o"
bl ::D')(.D') ::D')(.D')
~O)
o" oC' G oC' G
4: q ::D 'f: CD ::D 'f: CD
GCD: Gbl
~~ ~~
0 0
cl : ~ ~: 8.:(:
C' C'
G~aS 0)0 G::D')C: G::D')C:
C'
C('f0) ~ ~ ~oC'
C' oC'
~O) G0') ::D 'f: ::D 'f:
0 0 C' C'
O?:
C'
0(
G
::DO) ::DO)
C'
§'f bl
~ 8.:( 'f:
C' C'
C( 0J ::DC ::DC
C' 0 0 0
<;:ow ~ ::D ::D
0 oC'
~ C'
GO) ~.
C'
4 cC'
GOY)C bl ::DC ::DC:
391
Ex. 5. Cover up the column of figures on the right, and then use the attached index of
encyclopedia entries (which uses Spelling book order) to find the first page reference to
each of the following entries. When you have found the answers check them against the
answers in the right-hand column.
From the index to the 1958 supplement to @~00<B05~(Y.()'~: pp. 308-309.
English page ref

Japan
<7\,
Thailand
<7e
Netherlands ~G
Nigeria
~'(
Denmark Go
The Nobel Prize '(61
protein 6le
penicillin
e\'
Djibouti :::>\,<7
Senegal :::>\,<7
Somalia :::>\,<7
Writers' Day :::>~:::>
the Chin state :::>~'(
Siberia :::>GG
Desmond Tutu :::>610
U Sein Lwin
Jesse Jackson
Ex. 6. As for Exercise 2: cover up the column of references on the right, and then use the Index
•
of authors' names (also in Spelling book order) to find the following entries. If you have
difficulty finding any entry, the reference column will tell you its column and line number .
•
Authors' mdex to r,:C' C' ° C' C' C' d0r,:C'o
L::l'f00:::rYXAy)~(y'y): 00Q(006[C: by 2:G00CG00C?6'f. an 2:L::l0')Q(:1I
Published :::>e 61 <7 I 6[~Ot+ 00GOg00~1I pp. 71-76.
C'
:::rX))'f D3
C'
:::D')OOC E20
C' C'
GOiPoc: A9
G3d:G~ F13
C'
:))0')9 C26
C'
CYO')c E14
C' C' C'
G00C: G<XY.l C 20 bpGCJY) D23
C'
0')9 GOX(5 B22
o •
3d6[()'y)0::D F7
Optional supplementary question for Ex. 3 (only to be undertaken by the exceptionally keen
and leisured). A set of three adjacent names in the above list of authors' names has been put
in the wrong place: can you see which names they are? Clue: the first syllable is correctly
ordered. It is the second that is misplaced. For the answer see the end of the Appendix.
392
Index of encyclopedia entries for Ex. 5
J<t JI J~el JGOI

fiJI
OI2e '
J'2rl
OjO.
'lJ4<iIOr GM
J<tJI J~:
Gill
o c
393
Index of encyclopedia entries for Ex. 5, continued
~u
ooGu
q~fmH8c
anSmJ, <;(,,)~
:J~mJ~rnJnn·)·)('tf:uJU:>?§ u
0001
JjOIJje a
JPOI JGon
J'lG.
co
J'lP'
J9JH
009"
<tel j'll GOI
JOjIJeolJepu
:>t?JU
o
394
A B c >-<
::;
P-
ro
X
c: o
-.
G OCt)(D3JYQ)
GCD,)XC , 2; Pl
° oc a5 C " 'T' o;;,,:G11 I
c: c. - )
" ( (J)tlJ:l~U)~
2: C
c: c: OG~03J(\)1 G31
CDC00GCD')tlI vUJ - tlU)
L L 0
C C
o;;,,:GOI tc
oc: s:-
O
C ) C ('" c~ GCGs18:t;;;
Gm')C~, 2: \mc:01'Yc:~~-
Q /'
oc
~ \ ~ c
A l¥t C'
0;;1'::))1':1
0('
't c '"'
{fl,
CDJ::))GCJ;':G'-':;:::~GQ)') G~Yp: c C C G ::;

2:
c:
Gmpl ::;o;;r;
"c:
0Q)tlC::;OC
c: O;::1':GSJ,)CGCDpl
"
301 c: c:
Gy')cqc
S
ro
G(J)J;GC',)I
c: C
2;
G
" c: GOJ - G3J
0m:OOI
1'UC'UJ
o c: '
{fl
-.
0'
G(J)J')(:X;;:f~1 2; • C
0:;lJ01 2: "
c
3,,~1 0 - 3t)(DJ
"
It '"'tri
G(J)Jxl~1 2~
c c .;; · 2:"
0CD,):1
Gnf: 1
c: "
2:
?<
CJ'.
G
G(J)poc:: 2~
c: C • c: "
0:)),)G3J,)CI 2: 00 \ C \ c
~tlGm?tll 3J 1' 3J1'
c
o C " C k: c-
C
G(J)PGSJ,)C0CD,)~
c.
::;O'f>GQ)')
c: (
OCO" -;
\ ~:OC:I 2: ue')l
9
1 Q)e:t:j°Xl;? 2:
Co c: c: (0 _ C 2:
01':G~1 "(3tpJC)
-'
o cac c ("~
G(J)pGSJ,)C0CO,): ::;O'f>GQ)') qQ);)) - j ()~CDmO;:CDGCDJ')C:~1':~:
c: c:
G(J)pG3d,)C0CO,):
c
c: ( Q)Q)UJ-
::;OcpGQ)')
c
0 ')
c~
0
c:
::;Ot:O?c~0')Q)~3J~
c: c "
c,
<-{I e:
'1'''
(GUJ')y8:~: -
c,
)
(J)Je:(J)tllc~: ::;01'~O;::r:1 2: GOI 2:o')me:3JSR

o c: c: c:
l~:1
-0
2: " ( C
0'1' 0 ')G9:-
)
GC'lDJt cfo YQ) uC:::;O~Gm')
• c c: 0(' c 0 C' C C . c
~::;O'PGQ)') Gc')l ::;o~ 01': C cq0O;:CD:))0G(J)PC: ::;O'PGo),)
c c: t;;; c: c: c: "
2:
1o 1 2:
"
~~I ::;O~I Q)e:;:t:jQ)~ G(!JGY,)COXI
o oc
c:~ 'C ( c: c: c: \ c: 0 61
;:)c :GOI'):
'_ \, GQ)')CQ)C~;;CQ~Q)')
a _ -I' Q)(DQ):
L
tt: 0 fl2:
C C C G
2' C:"C'c CC) °~:comlc "2:
;:)CGY,)CCg:;SI Q)CI 2: l(0ofGCO')(T.XK:-,
c"
QJOI 2:
(I~-
i~~0')Q)')'P -
) c C " o oc:
tt:o,rCI 2:
" (
GUJ')3Ja:?c:o,,-
C c: )
Q)cO;::t: I 2:
C G / cr;: C ) c: C
;:)J0G~1 2' ',')')GQ)')t1r- c:oc " (::;O'P-)
mC~tl 2: (!JC3GCOI 3J')9 - G3J
C C
QJ0Q)CI C,{;') C "
mCOj'I2:
G§I
C"( cc
e:C)
8 cI " 2: Ge')C(J)y::;O'PGQ)')-
;;JJt 2: C
m<:G~1 2:
" t(31
, >
"0
C C 'I c: "
~rQY:GQ ICI 2' r;:;:::c ~ t(~:))'):))1' ,)3J~ "0
CO')~e:Je:;1 G31 (1)
c: (
c:x;;: r:l::;O'P <Xl<J?::qco
0 C
-)
:DI 2:" ::::l
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x'
c: fRC
Y1 "
:DOJY:I
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2:
"
m
C:X;;:1':tJ : 2: c: " >
CO"2: C~c::::Dcwc:t::J:
C' C C~) :Dm<:1 2: -6
C:X;;:r:e;?1 - c: c :J"
c ~c g
:O:))CDI GY')C Pl
2:
C:X;;:":tl<:1 c: 0
t(C'0;£:
C 0-
~
COCQ(')
o;;r:~'1" 2: ~ -
:DG:))') C:I
0'
oc: " (
JXDr:1 2: ;rxp- ) ~
W o
'-0
CJl
a.
(1)
~
Index of authors' names for Ex. 6, continued
396
Historical note
Why is there no universal standard alphabetical order for Burmese? The following
notes describe how some of the divergences came about.
Burmese script was not originally designed for Burmese. It is descended from a script
designed for Indic languages (Pali, Sanskrit and others) that was subsequently adapted in
several ways to suit the different sound system of the Mon language, and then had to be
further adapted for Burmese. One conspicuous difference in sound systems is that neither
Mon nor the Indic languages have tones as Burmese does. With some vowels (a, i, u)
Burmese was able to mark one of the tones by using symbols that in the original languages
marked a long vowel. Forthe third to~e, and for the other vowe'ls, other indicators had to
be devised. Another difference is that the Indic languages have no vowel that corresponds
to the Burmese vowel that came to be written ~ II It is not surprising then that the
sequencing of consonants and vowels intended for words in the Indic languages turned out to
have a less than perfect fit for Burmese words.
The traditional set of vowels, learned from the Indic treatises, taught in monasteries
and subsequently in schools, and accepted by all, is this:
o G " C :
3d 3d') 3d 3d 3:f 3ff G 3d 3d G3d') G3d') 3d 3d') "
This set is familiar from the method of paginating the leaves of the palm-leaf manuscripts
that were used in Burma for books before the use of paper became widespread. Instead of
marking the first page with the number 1, the scribes marked it with a syllable consisting
of the first consonant and the first vowel. The next page was marked with the same
consonant and the second vowel, and so. on till all 12 vowels in the set had oeen used. Then
you started again with the second consonant. So successive pages were marked-
0 G c:
m (Y.)') m m Gm m" G(Y.)') G(Y.)') m (Y.)'):
O? Of?
0 G
d dl d 0> C( ~ Gd d" Gdl GdT d dl:
0 G
n nl n n <t (""It Gn n" Gnl GnT n nl:
ill ()J)
and so on .. It is this set of syllables that is taken as the starting point for alphabetical
order in Burmese.
As a system for alphabetizing Burmese rhymes this set has several shortcomings.
Burmese uses 21 combinations of vowel and tone, but the list includes only 12 (thus omitting,
for example, ~: I 3ff: I G3? I G3d:). It omits the vowel ~ altogether. It offers no guidance
on syllables with a final consonant It includes as a vowel without final the symbol ~,
which has a good claim to be classified as a final consonant (equivalent to -~), and it
perversely places 3d'): at the opposite end of the scale from 3d and 3d') .
The divergences found in contemporary alphabetizing methods almost all relate to the
parts of the writing system that are not covered, or inadequately covered, by the
traditional set of 12 vowels. Different groups of people devised different solutions to the
unanswered questions. Some of them are listed below.
397
1. Order of vowels with tones. When adding the missing combinations of vowels and
tone to the set of 12, some adopt the principle of "nothing before something": in English you
order mad before made; beca\lse, the fi(st i.s "ll1fld t nothing" and the second is "mad +
something." If you apply this principle to Burme,se syllables, you place G0 before'G~ and t;l
before ~ and so on. This is what I called "spelling order" under the heading "Vowels and
tones"above. Another school of thought follows the method of reciting syllables in the
classroom. When children are learning to read they recite the vowel-tone series so that
each set of three has the same rhythm, as in the list set out above under "Recitation order."
As you can see there, the choice puts some of the rhymes in a different sequence from the
"spelling order."
2. The classification of the rhyme -oS Some (favouring written form over
pronunciation) treat this rhyme as a final consonant, on the grounds of its similarity to -c!:J I
-~ I -~ and the rest. Others (favouring pronunciation over written form) place it with oJ
and Ii? among the rhymes without final consonant. Hence the question marks in the columns
above.
3. The classification of the rhyme ~. As you saw above, this rhyme is included in the
traditional set of 12 vowels. On these grounds some place it among the rhymes without a
final. Others, on the grounds that it is an abbreviation for -0 , classify it as a rhyme with
a final. Others compromise by treating ~ as a vowel with no final, and ~ as a vowel with
a final. If you look at the lists of standard rhymes above, you will see that in the Pali
order the decision has no great effect, but in spelling book order the effect is to place ~ in
column 3 or in column 1, which puts it a long way from -011
4. Pali order and Spelling book ord~r. At the time when Burmese scholars first turned
to compiling word-lists and dictionaries there were two distinct models to follow. On the
one hand there were well-studied dictionaries of Pali words, dating from ancient times,
which used an alphabetical order appropriate to Pali words. On the other hand there
were the spelling books called ::Dd:;y "manner of killing," that is to say books that told you
which final ("killed") consonant to use for spelling a given word. The need for these
spelling books had arisen because although words written with final -d:; and -0 had once
had different pronunciations, in the course of time their pronunciations had merged, so
people sometimes wrote - d:; where they should have written - 0 , or vice versa (and
likewise with other finals). Because the primary concern of the spelling books was the
final consonant, the words they listed were ordered by final consonant, and it is this order
that was adopted by some of the makers of dictionaries and other alphabetized
compilations. Hence the two competing systems described above under "Vowels with finals
and tones."
Mandalay palace from the east
398
KEYS TO THE EXERCISES
Key to Exercise 1.
1: Initials 2: Initials 3: Vowels 4: Vowels
and medials and vowels & finals & tone & finals & tone
(Pali order) (spelling book order)
0 c
O{: QY) :::DC :::D')()Y)
0 c 0
'? c 0 :::DC:
c
J,.~
'?t o G0 :::D0
::A:(2::
G~05
0
:::D')()Y)
c
9 0
Ji(
0
\3'\' 8 :::D ::A:(:
cl: 8
G oc
:::D,\,: :::DC
c
c oc G C
;;:0 CD
c
'it :::D<f :00
oc
:::DC:
c
Cf)0 G8 :::DO G:::vJC:
c oc
Gccy')C (:) ::A:(C:
::A:(
c c
<j>0 G8'J :::D0
::A:(2::
0 oc
"r
c
'i' Ji(
c
:::D,\, :
OC G
0 G::D')C: :::D,\,: 00
11 "r
0 c
G(\):
~ J?0
J?'\':
oc
~: G"r J?: :),)0
Answer to Ex. 3: The three misplaced names are :J):::D~I :J)G:::D')~:I :J)J3~:1I They should be listed
after :J)q~1 :J)11~ not before. Consonant order is CD-'l-(\)-O-~-l.f)11
APPENDIX 7 HANDWRITING
A. SCHOOLROOM FORMS:
STROKE DIRECTION AND ORDER
Write each stroke in the order shown, starting at the blob and ending at the arrowhead.
The tables in Part A below show the "schoolroom method": the stroke direction and order
taught to young children. Many people continue to use the schoolroom method into
adulthood, but others develop cursive shortcuts that are faster and easier to write, though
often it is not easy to write the cursive form with as pleasing a shape as the schoolroom
form. Part B illustrates some common cursive shortcuts.
399
Table 1: Consonants
ffi@ Qro~
OLSA) @ ~ Pee
~5~<JQD
Q)CD3G~
o
•
(90;:UB
mE;1CDQ~
l
m~3d
400
Appendix 7: Handwriting
Table 2: Attached symbols

Attached vowels
o G
- - - - -
c It
Attached consonants
Other attached symbols
o
o
- - -
o
401
Table 3: Other characters

Free-standing vowel syllables
Abbreviated syllables
c:
~~--~~--~~--~~
Stacked consonant pairs with modified forms
~
~
Punctuation
?f arJ
c:.n W
1 11
Figures
402
Appendix 7: Handwriting
B. CURSIVE FORMS:
EXAMPLES OF SHORTCUTS THAT SOME WRITERS USE
1. One stroke instead of two or more, normal direction -
m C1D -J
~1l)
2. One stroke instead of two or more, part or all anti-clockwise -
w
w ( \ f-.)
~ "--i
o
U
Note that <i is always written with two strokes, and in fast writing they often become separated:
or or
3. Combinations of consonant and:: are written without lifting the pen -
C' C' C'

m C o
r!) S
403
4. Pen is barely lifted between strokes -
3d
r") -"'.
(---""j
5. Curl omitted -
q o
C. HANDWRITING SAMPLES:
TO II LUSTRATE CURSIVE FORMS
.
Thf samples below are taken from handwritten letters - except the last, which is an
example of typewritten text. The wording of each sample is set out in print under the
original. If you study the samples you will see the cursive shortcuts that some writers
make, and the modifications of letter shape that are introduced in faster handwriting.
404
Sample 1
~Et¥~~.q8~f: ~~~nYJ~~\~a
~<: 0 <: <: 0 0 <: ,0 0
&) ~<f8eyo eyUOjl<f: O(?? Gt;pmC'0'JOY)<fol O(??
cY)~~: JSO~ ~ 6f~~~ d},i3\.f.o;tfri(

<: <: <:, 0 0 0, r;:::;::
m(\)~: <§<<DUO)::n G<f'P ~GCJ.Y? O(??<fo C)(eit
o
6tt ~~'18 cO'J~ch en CX)-;§. ~oS OYX::IXP)
<: <: 0 <: <: 0 <: <:
Gu:eymqc &)Ojlmm CD~eymoy)CDm
~8~ ~~. oaoSaOO')~. i ~OYJC9f~ o~ <:

Y~<f'PCYo
0 <: 0
OCS m8 0y)GeY<;:
~ <:
'r'i
~
&)~<f0Y)0(
<: 0
BE.')3oSJl4 ~:Of Jlo-:xS .;xxl? l\

<: <: '1 0 <: <: '1 <:
§<;:06O)UI eyo GOY)C:U<fUIOXD ;;:Ot;pll
A well-rounded hand. Note the two-stroke (schoolroom) (\) in ~o and eyeS and C'0'J on line I, and elsewhere; two-stroke
U in U~ on line 4; <D slightly deformed in &) on lines 3.and 4; &) there but <D1 on line1; one-stroke 2:. in q2:. on line 3.
Sample 2 ~i.9 CBf6h &> -= 6; cnf en rh':)-'1 ~> ""1'::0 05,j<S 'C5t..ly:)'"F; (fSn::f,)""';::'
§cor@",-)- Qy&\D~ (l) OcJY)M"~ 9f'Y105 ~jf 6(g)~

::r{ cr"\\J0 ::>2>8/ cD?; -nf""oS '6lf f. 20YJ.Jj3Cc '1 ()Y) ::Dey(
6$jf) Q\l~.
G <: n<: <: <: <: G <: <: <: <: . , .
3<§<<D l3<f8')&) ::Dcen<f: enmJ[( 2:Gq :::Dw'f<DG()J)mGC'0'Jm A beautIfully rounded and pleasmg hand. Note the three-stroke :t>
o R ' 8'f<DmGCJ.Y?
~G<f~($11 <:
7 G()J)mcyo
() <:0 <: <: <:
3d<fmw9J<f ~'
Ge=>~ (sch 00 1room) W m::nw
. <:
and GW0m<:.mime. .
1; the redlrected
""<t>
::l
k f·· a.
<: G <: <: <: <:,
:::r;?:enwlI ::D8:(\)~: 3d<fmwgJ<f<fo 3d::D~c:qOY) ::Den
0 <: 0 <: . <: <:
mner stro eo <D m&) on lme 1; and the one-stroke c in::DC on x·
-.,J
<:
GllP enwlI <: 1·me 1.
I
III
::l
a.
~
J+:>.
o
a-:
::l
01 (Q
;j::>.
o
0\
Sample 3 ;) ft·- J') 1.5 (V'): d C' ~ ') I CO Q)'J d C.8,) ~J f" ?n O'J c;': £> &'(( j ) OJ
c
3
!j" 0(') ~ (XY)~ o~(l)? J7 6c::n: tcJUS'1l CiJ,) 6?r[>cr('([8L ,"?o:J~ "V''): h6'1 f: CD
(/)
~
»
r.
:::l
9td~ ,r". ()) (Y6~!J era (1) ') : oo.S'f...UJL8,. 90f'1'-- ( )) I ~; f3Len J.)eAO'
~
(3
0..
C
S.
cr1r{~J'): (y)6t c93[ ~ ((i?u') ClCt:JJ'J; JI <SrnJ:t:t:OJ<5'U)OJWII
0'
:::l
o
G c: c: r:::::::. c: oc: c: CJ:C:() :r-
CD
@q::::D~'=/.P: @cC::(P' 0~@C3d<tJ93d03c: 0t.<239 :J (f)
~ c: c: 1 c: C:eJ!. 0 , ()
'P 8~qCXY): OCCD')U 1 GCD?0WII CD')GGpm8;;XYJi('=/.P:3dG99, ~
"S.
CJ:C: c: c: c: ~ CJ:C:() GeJ!. c:
0t.<239CDm'jm'=/.P: OW0j(8: 0t.<239:J @q:8m9,:::Dm
c:
'
G9~'=/.P:mG9 6~6ul @6C::(p:II G0iJ:)f:m6ulmuSII
A beautifully formed and rounded hand. Nq.te the skewed inner strokes of ° (lines 1 and 3) and ~ (also
lines 1 and 3); and the cursive one-stroke;;x) and ul in line 2, and uS in 0uS also on line 2 and elsewhere;
but a two-stroke CD in CD') on line 2. The two strokes of 0 in '=/.P: on line 3 are slightly separated.
~
Sample 4
ogo! ~ ~ OO:f9~f
~':.
C ~ ~~P.i
(9rv:r:£: ~,,?C~ ~ 0:>\0
~
Usi>l')'~" ~~ oi~O: 'r'%€ 6~rgp·. OOOn:aJ~' ~f~ Ic9 o.Y.)~ og'O:q

.:>Oq?~t:Qe~~~c::t.:)O:lOl:>"
\,. l: G
e~e~~c:
... "" \OJ
(O:)~eo'~~
c::--c ~
o c:: c: c: c: c: c: c: c:
G~Fx(, ~:l3C::::D~ 3d069G(}y)C:G:::D'J C\{uc9:mqu
Cc: 1 c: 0 c: ~ " oc: c:
8 0UI :::D~II G~:O? ~:q')C3C G()J')O'W::::D'JOXjC 09:0:::D')(XjC ~:q
c: 'c:: c: 0
:::D~O( 0'B~:cxy):GUII 0~Ji(0;;XY
oc: 1 c:
~:CD')'fCUI :::D~II
An exceptionally clear and attractive hand. Note the shortened Cin ~ 6: on line 1 and ~ J; on line 2;
the two-stroke (schoolroom) CD in CB~ and C\{0 on line 1. The two strokes of 0 are joined, but the inner
stroke of ° and ~ is much reduced,
Sample 5
J~~J£: §':l; cf(Y)u1.:>.J~ GJf; ~ OO~, rQ1~[O[ f r:::;:::er:::;:::

3dG~c:~:cymOI::D~
oel e e
gj~1I
•
WG~.~~mo;;coc
e e e
() l~-:00 dB l..) ellu0£' (\.:? 1>'""(,9: 6)') en ~)[ 3 ~ uJ~ :U.

e • 0 e. e e~ eo, 1 e
gj~CX)::A(. r.yCDYCf)C CYOlS: oy)CDGoy)C y.'~)O 1::D~ II
0.11 .L. V" l ~l:i '1.. . c.-
t ~ r1 f G\l" Cl@i>u1(3)~ 3'J clsJnE': cz: ~ Wy g]~OY)O? CD(9~ G"l:"l~~oll8l~ II 3dG&2::Oj(:~
w 0') <.9
~eoL'J~ @~ol::D~1I
A good clear hand. Note the': above and not touching the consonant except in ~ \I Also the three-stroke
(schoolroom) w in WC( in line 3, and the two-stroke 0 in o~ on line 1 and ol on line 4.
Sample 6
~~'~. blb\..J..Q5'Oo.fhy ~;:ocp~oS :D~:07. bibliography 07 ;;:o~ 005
btb-OJuS~ci: ~~·.6on--~~cr:£JO~-'O:;~S\
~ <:
8~CDW
<: 0
~C$.
0
:D",: G
GOiJ:)t:CD
...
CDC I
<: c:...
O",:CD :::D00 I
'I
0'") d) I b\\::li Q~ro...ph '::J @"~'4cQ -~S~-. CD oS II bibliography~:~:q~c0 005[9:
3J~;~aa. c;.o:ncS~6(Y'&3?~:,G~ .<iD.q?_

<:r,: 'I <: <:
3d'{J:G06 GCXYJm~Go:OI.3f'f:G'f0;;:O~
An orthodox schoolroom hand, apart fnm a siight leftward slope and a triangular 0 unusual in
handwriting. -6'
-0
(!)
::J
a.
x'
:-:J
I
OJ
::J
a.
H:>-
o
~
S·
'-l (Q
Sample 7
fl::>.
o
(X)
().:) a9 'L ~,.., '0-> q: c8.....,cvrU\ en ci I
o
:::Dmq~
0
QY.)Gq:cymol mW11
C' l C'
OJ
c
o 0 C' ~ l C'
3CD
~ (~ ofl-9o.:n: ~ ~'. cq; ~ ~e: & dmo5l
0
0:fJ'YO(o 'Y::D'):O( 3d0:CY: G<fG0Y)c:l223olmwl (J)

~
o
»
d:) C'(l 0£- tR oJ'J'. {i(,c"o ~~
0 C' C' o~ C' ::J
;;X::H,PO(o 'Y::D'): 0( ($ 2:: : 0:fJ <f : '=Y) ~
~-r: (~%'":)38'-~ ~l223 'Y W
il
(3
o C' C' l C' Q.
~. ~-l00~ <0\.0') c'5'\

C
CYo G~(\)S:0lmwll
sa.
o·
::J
Note: Reduced shape of cD in ~ and QY.) in line 1; three-stroke (schoolroom) W in moS line 1 and 2; clear 0-
g
two-stroke (schoolroom) (\) in ~o and (\)9 on line 4; the two strokes of'Y not joined in 0:fJ'Y and E on line 2, CD
en
and its inner stroke shortened. ~
-SO
Sample 8
~ J\ -e>-,';;<O>-f'"U: ~l:~L~·· ~~.,... """'" =

c% 0\. O? W &.€ ):9 r:' " ., -T ("'r) .a ~: '6;, (':) U lI7-P: CS l-6 ~ '"2:P~ c:nn ~
\..C'n<.J ~ ~ U
Clr"Y]
l U ' \j ,
.~::;> G'o-l? ~ cr6 J\ en t.:S ., 1\ 6\) I ~ - C).&[ O?L~ In"W ~ en 00":> : ~ ; a
"l
3d3
0 C'
m;;om ~~
G0:fJ:)t:Di8: C' C'
G;;x:}')C§illGO:GcD
o l C' C' r,::x (' 0(' (' 0
cyolmw OlCqp:1I 2~S~: 3dCY 0 "lP:(\)';;''Yw ~OYJGoy?
lC'l
:::DG:::D0 GOlillOlmWII
C' lGO';;'
3
" C' (' ('
q<fO(<f'YW 3dGill CXY):8:
0 ~
A more flowing hand than the preceding samples, but with most letters well formed. Note the one-stroke
o in GO: on line Land;;o in d5 03 and G;;x:}')~ on line 1; also one-stroke 0 l on line 2, and Cand ~ in one
stroke in~: on line l. The two strokes of'Y in "lP: and 'YoS on line 2 are slightly apart but linked by a
stroke made when the pen was not lifted.
Sample 9
~t ~~~:n":Glhi:~IY). :U~VJlO1~~~
"'bY 1:~~ttC>v:~)~~:~ ~:~~fur
!.nr, A:.9 Wf ~T.PJ---G b'C..,Jl:t91,b""f? ~1>S':o-n-L
~~~~ O~:HJ6'rLC'Jl ..
o c: c: c: c:
06J 'f GaY) 0(0 8:::00: or 3d.): 0:( : m J.) CD q G'f °I CD W II 06J 'f GaY?
c:oo 0 0 1
;D q? 0( An attractive hand with a decorative effect contributed by
, T T (G2:G(\):~'G)
G8G,=,'fo G3 G3
0 c: ~ , l c:::::c: c: c:
@'f: 0(0 ~mGt..:6:O? C :~Ge:rl ~2q2
0
the long ~ and l . Note the cursive 8 in ~ in line I, with
c:
mc I
lO c:,
C :oq~'fo
0 0
O(o<D6flG06o( ;D6fl 01 :0:(001 :GC\Y)C
1 C:1 c:
GCS:~:aY)O(
0
the two strokes apart but linked; cursive single-stroke 03
c: c: c: c:
0
06J'fGaY)O(om 08::::OOG'f0('f: OIII
1
in CD 05 in line 1; tall G- in G03: in line 3, and G'f in line 4
and elsewhere; one-stroke ~ in o~: in line 4.
Q Q Q \ ~
Sample 10 .! ~ b~~~['~j) ~£'N ~()I ¢-~~J:>:I':Y
...fv,: 40 ~,,~J) ~ ~ '3l f6'~oG "t~ I I '" no w: ~"'c" 't-

~c.r.J\ .,\~. a, 0\-';, c.rq <s ~ __ ~ 0" ..", &I{ 6'.., \0 'l9 s.f.;
a <:YJ ~ ~ ~cr-;J1 :r
()~ c: c: c:, c:
in 3d0: on line 2, and 3d~ on line 4; <£
0 0 1
3L:lC ;D6fl Cy~CaY) ~qC(\) «J0I OlCSf):1I JY)~ Note the unorthodox 3d
c: c:o c:o ~
'=' cy ° I I
01 0 0
3d.): 'f0<D 6fl ;D 6fl0(0 06J 'f GaY)O(o ~ O"YJ I CD m O? 8:::00: or written in one stroke in Sa:=; on line 3;;D written in one stroke in "0
"0
o c: 1 c:, c: c: C:::::' c: c: 0 c: c: c: (I)
;D6fl on line 1 and elsewhere; oversized G- in G~ on line 2 and
G
:::l
<DCDGICD'fo ;Dm~WG'f80? 2qC3d<D0( G00CqC:<j><D8 a.
, c: x·
G060 8U?CDC\Y); II G06 on line 4; florid upward curves on the tails of q and l ~
I
throughout. III
:::l
a.
::E
>-f::>.
o a.:
:::l
'-0 to
~ OJ
~ ~ C#, ~ 6LYJ D~ 1 Ql C'( S~: ~: I} F\r

>--' c
o Sample 11 (CQ D 3
(1)
(f)
~ tJ f ~: ~ L?~ @. ~ , ~ ~_ 2 ~ l'L ~ at U) :)D~.

!!!
(V) S >-
::::l
'(0 r Q
9L c:(--=> '"
~ 6J
~
',tl
~ _\\
: '-.J L ~ "l tJ
r
CV'I J
Q
l t-.> ~Q CC'o(y)
c~: ~SJ\ ::l
3
n.
c
'J~ RS ' Q.
o·
::::l
r,;: ('
r, ('R G (' o
0'":(J03dG'f ~<? J?GOO::D'f l)-lC\?UlS:0 :6['f :;
0(' G (' lR 0 ~ (' 0 (' r,;: (' (1)
3dctJ'f 'f:mUG'fullS" CX(oG~<? 0OO)(G'f6[::D~<? en
Go (' 1 (' G (' (' 1 (' o
;:;:06[J 0;[2:::~00:GU: U16['f 3d0;[3d2::: GCD0C:3dUU 1::D2::: II ...,
.:g:
Note: 0 split in two in 0'":(J0 on line 1; cursive 'f in G'f on line 1 and t: on line 2; 0 in one stroke in C)'0 on
line 1, and m0 on line 2. The pen is not lifted for @~ in line 2 except for the tone mark.
Sample 12 C'o~ : \h:U V& '. Tl?.g"'l l' ~ ~...VS N:JJ C;;'J~ C\J~ ut~ 0\ Q-,w.. ~~ ;;
6-\€'CYn~" JlQ->vS~ 0~E·, J?~ GJ'rS)~-ri, 1>l~6"<\." @QJ\~<nvS" ~e..
(\.l ~0\~ ~j"')""
f
(' (' 0 0(' (' 0 (' (' or::::: (' 1 (' (' ('"'
0'":(J'f:~ctJ0:::D')~ ~CD~0mC)'0 G~CD<;O?C32:::U Ioom II 06J'fGCD0CD
(' 1
G'fGCJY)C:Uloomll
('
3dG~c:m~
r::::: (' 0 T
GUI C\Y)'jJ)
"' r,;:(' 1 ('
0')G6[:~0UIGo:Y?oomll 'B<?
('
(' 1 ('
0;;'O)U I OlCc:zr: II
Note: Pen not lifted between -l and ~ in C\~

- 1
on line 1; CDl written for
0
CD') and all in one stroke. A clear
one-stroke 05 in 0005 on lines 1 and 2,
Sample 13 ~CP~ 00 ~r") M ~f 0')zS'~ ~ ~E' J) or> J ~ ~ .... oaC'Yi~:
<tP 0 lf~ ~19J) O'>..sIt MJ .. 0£. ~ Uoo,- ~"~" ~ G'2fO ()~~ ({;Pi) ~ "'oaC'-i
"bf ~ t1 (){"'1M~ cur tt J1~~. ~l'll') ~ ~01'"'_~ ~ EN"1I~ ~iL: Q")~ 4"j Jl one;S'"
o 0 <: <: <: 00<: 1 <: 0, <:
;;:o~o?ocx) G~CDc::;(jC OJ2:::cr"tCOIOJW ~O?3d06CD ~:
<: 0 1 G <: 0 0 ~ <: G
C<:' <:
'l? 08::).)')80IOJWII 0iJ80?'P Ocx)82:~:G:).)') 8~0 cyq: ~Q)O?3d06CD
<: 0<: <:1 <: ,0<:'10 <: 1 <:
Cl?'i''l? Q)OJ3dJ:CWqOIOJWII ;;:o~~ t9OJGCYI1tO? GOiJ:~:OJCC\j'OIOJWII
Note: ~ in two strokes instead of one in OJ~: and [9~ ;;;:0 written without lifting pen in d? and
~:on lines 1 and 2; the strokes of 8 separated in ~ on line 2.
(' r 0 f\ r ~ (;).
Sample 14 C"2:J 1 6' <hi 'h 'f. 1'::>.?G ~ 0(. \ ~ b\ '!. 'h 6 J-:> J tn \ ~ 4 'h --r;- 1'1') It:> ~:: "i: 0
('..........
l:1 .... : -r:. 0:.... 1.!? c-.
c. c '1
0
00:> tool ~ ~
' r
<6 cpG'Y'> ~-: ern~!D 4,- z., <l:> u
r 0
O?Cd
(' _
~? ~?4"\? 'h~ G~ 6'0Z:>.
\$'- -hO[,G>1ry'I~cS1{£f. ...,~; ~~e1! (~\41.~~..s(
<: <: 0 G <: 0<: ~
OdJ'i' Gc:YY?3dCf. ~::D20?' 3d Q)0: 3d G:).)')CD I 3dG'i'3dCX(CCDQ)8: 0.(:0
h ,0<:. 0 • <: C<: 0 <: ,
L~:'i'0:0? ~CCO? Ocx)8~: G6pCD~:O'Y.) ~Q)(\-?8;)Q)()CO!dY) 3dCYCD3dCYG06 Goa.
~ 0 c: <: 0<:0 '~(!; 1 <:
8: 3dOCG3dJC G'i'''tcCf. 3dO)jl:O t?JI.:Q)0:~: GcFlolOJWII }>
\J
\J
CD
~
A flattened hand, needing a fine point pen. c..
x'
:-:J
I
III
~
c..
~
~
::+
r-' 5'
r-' to
ft::..
Sample 15 AJ-f..3f cr;1:~ lS"-J: lLJ}ouAf'. 6~:~ 'h~: ~ OlEJlO'1u.J, OJ
>-l
c o I. t
c
N
~ So ~~, EOi O'h "1.." "t..I £ ¥" ot.:.. 'Q'1~: ov. 0,
~E;<n: GIOtt] ~ 'cW AI 2!: 3CD
(J)
o e _9r~__
~th <u2f.§") 5-J ~~ ~ 0"~: 0'Yl U . ~:ce.- UOO~ a'l::,.,~~! ~cH:tb ut..ut: ~ CYlvr·
r ~
»
::J
:a.
(' (' r, 0(' 'I (' ~ (' 'I (' oa.
(\)'P4> LS0234>G(\): <i0IOXDIl GO':(J:~: 3d~:~: CDCOICDWII c
(' 0 (' (' 0 , "(' Q.
0( 3dC$u~:G4>OY)o( (9 CD <iG cyy? O':(JG4>00(o Gm~:OY)oll ;;:OGp<:l G~ ($2::: o·
r,(' ('0 (' ,0 00 ('(' ('
::J
(:)m~2::'j0 3dC$00( ~U~:oy)OIl <:l::D'J:il( OCD<:lQ)<i: ~Gcyy? ~oQ)~ UCU4>:C\j>CDWIl o

g.
CD
(J)
Note: ($ written in one stroke in (\)~ and G(\): on line 1; oS likewise in CD oS on line 1 and elsewhere. n
...,
-g:
Sample 16 iii? &'J" 1'M" ""1' 1M: .()lYv\ , ... J 6W>o JI 0/>1" ' l' M 1'1-'" -;; II)
om : a:, 0"> 6'~""1', 0P" ~: <>-1""1' o.s"", 'C ". 6 "', <J' '"'\..; ,
,0 (' 0 'I 0 (' ,Q
3d30') <:lGGpffiJ;(:CD0:GCD? <:lJJGcyy?OIJ;(:1I 30')<i<iC 3d3
o (' , (' (' 'I ('
G;;:O:CDCDG~C:4>o G;;:O:J;(:CDJ;(: OWCD2iGO:O I G4>011
Note the split <:l in <:lGGp05 in line 1; the split ~ in CD~ in line 2.
Sample 17
z,~ ~-?! t: €d(§?:.::::t/.?":. Cb:P'~ a>? 6'V P'CY-'y~ ~;: ;;o~o?o.?o t~c§':>::JJ:): @t8')QY.)GO oCJll~'W:
~~~ "?!./cP0 7 .::vf @c. "l/J"S7C?!9~~.?§' ~/VaS:. V:~ g]1o?~o J.?Gm::D1' (SlC$cSG;;XY:)~G1'::D~o?($~: "tp:~
(?}??- 0?~8~ ~ ~v{J~# 3d'):m051.cu3Oi(~ol::D~1I
An unusual sloping hand.

Sample 18
fi~l h ~ ~:n', :>.n '. - s--E- ~ t--'1~ 0") ~- n-C Q:n!-
G
3
,
0') 'fo 3d Of? ::)Y): ::D'J:
c:r;-::
EjlClSi. O? :m
0 0 c:
\1 m CXY):
~,J\-~ ~ ~.
tt &:.3, - ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ i. ~-eJ:. ~ <o'T ~ cD GlcA y my c:x?c1cilolmoSll 8~0')G~ cO
,,~ ~ tSl\ 't) ....,.c cq - G. \} ~ c.,,\l.... ? . "",,(0 (\j: - \.)"y)
1
OlmWIl
c:
~mC\jl:
c:o r;-::r;-::'
~ll:~ll:'fo mG(\):UY)
c: C. c:
~ lt1@ ~~('l~ (1,~ 1,;11-~~ . c: c:
G80CG@0(\)m 8Q)OlmWIl
'I c:
Note unclosed Q) in ~ 0') on line 1; cursive 3d in 3d Of? on line 1; split 0 in G80~ on line 4; one-stroke OS in
mOS on lines 2 and 4.
Sample 19
?D cr 6Y\j-. Ie I,.., ~ f (\-to ~ -'
<.-,., ~ G"~ J'\ ~ if ~, ~'"") 0-- tf - D.:l}1 ~ -U C Ie ~ r;,.., 4'r< 1-. .f ~ ~"~
'M ~ I).,cS G) o--...r..... ~ h'., "=>-. ~1. ~
Q--. v?':n'( ~..., &:) F. ~ -, <:r.\of ~-:' tv'I
~\ ~, 0- £1tS' ~ f\J~: /.r\~".::SA. ~<!."c:S ~ 1~-!·. a-g eve 1 "'"" ~w ~~_

G
;;X)~G(\):080C\Y)qmGCD?
c: ~ 1 c: 0 r;-:: c: c: c: G~ c:
3d;;DC G~O I mwC\jlo Gtpmwil ~m OC0 3dGc;:(Y)m3d2~:G'f')()')
c: c: c: c: c: 0 c: ,
m @qomG;:;o-Jc'P G'fmwil ~0:GCD? GOiPc:m )loGo:mwO?"
o c: c: C:G c: c: c: c: c: c: r;-::1 c:
~o(o @q0'P(\)~: mC::::D:mc:§mmc: m~m ~mmw Gtp0l mw II
»
Note: ~o detached from consonant in c10 line 2; cursive 3d in 3dGc;:(Y)cil3d2 on line 2; cursive 'f in G'f0cil -0
-0
<1>
line 2; cursive 00 in mOS line 2, and in mGc;:(Y)~ line 3; cursive one-stroke ~lo in R
10
line 3; -,-1U and -0 in one ::l
0..
x'
stroke in GCY.(p~: line 3. -....J
I
OJ
::l
0..
~
f--l
~
::l
VJ (Q
Sample 20 ~;, tr ~ -- (70""--1,' v co IJ <t.. ~ <>-,~ ~ '1 "'c..O c:>.J'-' ~~~
fl:::.. aJ
f-'
fl:::.. "7~ co.., ; 0--. ~ J (ro. . . . -" ~. h - ~""""1/0-0--: v ~" 9- '1.J' '"' Jl o..~ 0- ~cf',..,?) M""~ c
3CD
~o '6J ~'"'"' ~ N ~ J o-C.J'~ ~ w~ "':r1 t>rv: cc:.o .\~ '"' ":;5" ~ J1,.J\ 6"'~ hi:
(: I.
rJ)
~
»:::l
r,r, C::R
G:::D <tr OY:lm Goy? °CO 8 CX( CD O? c::
lSi l:3 c l:3 :
,
0')3f °O?
c:: 0
CO 8 °
c:: 0
;a
(3
c::,'
° r;:::::::.c::, 0 c::,' 0 c::
G6J.:CXY); 0Y:l 3d'f4' I:::D II JY)GIT9 CD ~Goy? OC080')3f 0 'P 01 O? CD1Jlo 3d ctFD G06
0..
C
Q.
O?o 06J4'GOY:l0)
c:: c:: 'C::R C::O c:: 'l
~CD4':tj: 'f CD8G 4'CDWII 3d3 GCD:G06
'Jf[8
" 'P 801 C\)')GOY?:::r;?:1I o·
:::l
0-
g.
A fast cursive hand. Note the single stroke for the syllable ~ and for @~ in line 1. CD
(j)
()
Sample 21
'r;-:,(' ('
fr'1 ~ ~ ~ F'~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~
G (' (' ~
3 qm3do;;'c:l(lo t::)C :::D<D;;:o-r 8 t::3:
"" @;' 'j,) 'if' 'b
tV) ~ \) !" ~ W' II Nf) err,,..., 'l "'<' o£ o.? ~ ~ ~\) G' ~ C\Y) G:::D: 0) OJ II
('
C\Y)CfY)m
('
qm O? O? GCD:
0 0 0
ax:c GO:>"?
@- §' ~ 9' 6' <Y') -r- 6."' ~ ...r ~ V'. 1~ P' \. ~ L U) r,;('r,;(' r;-:, (' r;-:, (' ('0(' (' 1
'-? V(} .. ~<D~<DG~mG~m CY0'i'ClD4' 80ijlO I Yfll: II
~ l' \i' ~ .,. ~ V ~ J) (\',...') M' ~ ~~. ~ f'-(' '1.. \J') 0--. W'I.,
('
06J4'GCfY)4'.CD
(", (' 1 (',
~<DClIGC\Y)mo Go;;'.cymqolO)wlI
0 (' 1 ('
Note: cursive'f0 in line 1; @ written in one stroke in @~:::DJ; ; cursive 8 in;;o EiP8 in line 1; @in one
stroke in GGPd; in line 3; cursive 'f in 'f J; in line 4.
Sample 22
'5J ~~~ 0" C'

;;:O~G~
"1J 0C'r,:::
13 CC' :
') ~ NJ. ~ "'lI' @
~C$ J.)O)J.)om J)i'~:
II tyl vJ' ryl 0 (Y) ').) V<rY1 -. e: §~~c0" J?~~ O)oaO)~:

~ ')
8Gcf
o
'd . 7J. (\J , ,/ 'PO ') ?lI 1en u('1' oY1 Gh ' ;;'I
OV· 0 cYJ', ~
G
fX
C' • .... 0 C' 0 C'
(\.J W EilG3d'JC G;;:O:\1m GO:O? 3d8 C\(m
rt cryYl G 6'0). I(.). (Y)
61 C0' ~ O'tYYl. \'J 'Y7 .0'" 'd

I (YY' hC' .... OC' h C'
Gcf8cfGCD?C$ 3d8 @C1O@C1O Gtrc:
r 0
[0' (0') '0 (l7"? <:, hC'
. GcfEil8cfJ.)
G
;;:O~Gqll
611 «i '\f l' 4 - ry)@ 'J)
Note: one stroke;;:o in;;:o~ on line 1 and elsewhere; one-stroke cursive ~ on line 2; cursive ~ in "1J~ on
line 2; one-stroke ~ on line 3; split 8 in 8~cf on line 3; cursive 3d in:8tiJ on line 4; cursive cf in Gcf and
@~ on line 5 and elsewhere.
Sample 23
coo '1
~)-S'. "'l\ ~'f"~nr 1-6'C~--. ~S-"1fJ~. ~\.,-.J}
C C CIlC C C
GOiPc::J.j?t0G<J.Y.)m 3t0 G6f>mC\YJO)O) ~'\'. O~::)'y)OI
C C C 0 C C r,:c ,
oo-.-S', ~f~tJt~, V'I~",,"",",cX '3- ~ @'t~~ r..... ~~'i 0)0)11 02l1GOYJcy? (J)~::Y.)O)'PGoy? L'310wm WG~:~
~ r;;" ~,'" "'" l of i.,? ~l '"'~ ~'1 "';""Yl, \\~J. ~ ~~

0, <:0 C 0 C
# ~O? :Y.)0:::0') "''-),{o)CY. OJ(<tJcJ.ji> ~~~:tt1" GC\YJGC\YJ;;x:)O)

»
~ -a '1 'L ~Q{"'..,~ ~ ,;:::._ ~cJ\ ....1\ ~ ,.J-~ ~
0-, rYJI GaY? t)0j>J.?0)3d~0
r,:C' C'"
::DCG10? GOiPc:J.ji>O)GOYJmo
C' (" 0
~0)0)1I
C' "'0
"'0
CD
::l
0..
x·
Letters much run together and hard to recognize. -.J
I
p)
::l
0..
~
;:;:
Jol::>. S·
.......
CJl to
Sample 24
&('V)1 ~ \?:
r,<: ~ <:w
~
........ 0:N 80 1.: ; 2:J C3: c
OJ
0'\ 3CD
b1 .-..1v·· CS) ~ c-G'"ll: '81 ""J ~ ~~; JIll rp,:)~c. lit....,
('\J'
<:
'(lCD~:
r,r, <: r, <: , •W 1 G
lSlt.<:)CGt:rC:CD1tG06 mYC3:UIIi Gp::D20?m (/)
~
~~, - UtlGl':n~- tV" r;r; ~pr' ~~: ~V)~" m

1Dt.<:): -
r,<:
~t.<:)c:C'8'fC$m
<:0<: Ow 0<: 00<:1,
- '[l:C3:§0C\(m - G"\O?:C\(mu IJ ) II »
:::J
.,.. C- ~: J\ rrl ~. - Nrl ~ ~I J ~~ ~r' /Vil E;"~ ~ ~ tf':

v, Ir
1 C'
3dG3d:GICDGCD? C'8'f m 1t "11<?Jr?:11
C'" 0 "-
;:;.
(3
0.
C
A hard hand to read. 51
o·
:::J
0-
g.
CD
en
Sample 25. An example of typewritten text. ()
-s:'"
~ q::> El 0) -5 E) ~: El ~. ~ 3J q{ en ~ en ~ G: E)O) 5 f!} : m C ~. q ::> 3 m J 3 m J --
~ E)OJm~.r ~: ~ 1 ~~~: ElOJI ~l6sl 0OJt!3cr; e' E)~mcr)(J)OJmJ 0C E)uTy J~CQ)J:

.
010) c.£ 11 ~.§~. sm ') c: ~ en 0) ') ~ q J q to II OJ 2? E)($ J en 'i J: 0) J OJ ~ m Q1~ EO~ ~: E)OJ :
0) c.£ II d3 d) ~~: J - ~ m m ~ d( C; - El U UC£ (\) ~ E)(\) ') en ~ Q d) n
C' " C' 0 C' C' C'~ C' 0

;06pGCD') G~:G'fo83dO;:?C)") 'fffi~8:GCD')t3: ())C::Jjlo6p 3(D')3(D')
o 0 0 C' G C' C' 0 " c C' I' r,C'
8GO(lffi ~.':IJl:O(I :::D0:::D:GO(lI ~8: 0:::D2:::0( 2::: G'fffimffi :::DW'J0CGUI icj0 ~CCXY'):
1 C' o~ 0 C' 0 C' C' C' C' C' 1"
U I()) 0 ) II 3? e3::Jjlo G(D')C : G? ffi CD');;x) 6p q0) II :::D 2::: GC\Y)ffi ~: CD'):::D 2::: ()) C> IJ ) GO(l J'f? :G:::D : 0
C' 0 C'o~ 0 C' C' C' 0 C'

())0)1I ffim~oC3: - J-<Pffi ())<PO( <;-GUUmCD2::: Gc\y)ffi 1j[(0)1I
Note: Space left before -0 in;;x) 6p and Ga:h ; before G- in 2:::;G'f and 06 GuT; after: in:iS: and G(D')6: ;
so a double space between: and G in ~0:Ga:h and G~:G'fo II These unwanted spaces can be eliminated by
backspacing, but backspacing slows down typing speed and readers are used to the spaces.
Appendix 8: Ornate lettering
APPENDIX 8 ORNATE LETTERING
Display types are a conspicuous 'feature of th~ Burmese scene, but they are hard to read
without practice. This Appendix is included as a step in that direction. It contains samples
taken from advertisements and from the titles of articles in magazines. Each sample is
followed by a transciption of the text (which often includes the designer's name) into
normal print. They are arranged in four style groups:
1. the letters are thickened, or compressed horizontally, or both
2. the letters are formed on squares instead of circles
3. lettering based on ornate handwriting
4. other modifications to the standard printed shape
Group 1. Letters thickened, or compressed, or both
J
,<
417
418
419
Group 2. Squared letters
420
C' C' G G
:)Y): G (yy) C / G00 C 2::: 2:::
421
Group 3. Lettering based on handwriting
422
Group 4. Miscellaneous modifications
...
('r, 0 / 0 0(' (' ('
O>C~3d ~:0)8mC:0C
423
APPENDIX 9 ABBREVIA TIONS
This Appendix is not an exhaustive list of abbreviations. It sets out examples illustrating
the different types of abbreviation in use in written Burmese. In the notes, "mss." refers to
palm-leaf and parabaik manuscripts (most of which date from the 19th and 18th cent-
uries), and "older printing" refers to printed texts up to about the 1920s.
For comprehensive treatment, see Pruitt 1991, pp. 350-376. See also Bechert 1979, p. 25 ff;
and Hla Pe 1964 pp. 385-396.
Abbreviations for units of measure (traditional units)

(mostly confined to mss. and older printing, except the abbreviations for currency, which
are in current use)
• length • weight
:)
== 0)c: J..)' Q)c:
:) - C\) G8: == :)-G§:
0 0 c:
:) :)-,,(0) "
:) :)-0
""-
8l
E
:)-qp
c:
:)Il :)-'ri:
c:
:) :)-GOYJC :) :)-(;)Cf)
c:
:)l :)-OYJ (:))8 ::.J - ;;0 OJ :::D0:
0 c:
• area :) ::.J-<Y.(JO
" c: 0
:) :)-OOJ :)l :)-O::D.YJ
• capacity
c: c:
:)JO) = :)-C\)~O) • manuscript leaves
c: c:
:)OJ :)-C\)(;)OJ bl :)-3dAl (a set of 12 leaves)
c:
"
:) :)-0C\)OJ :) == :)-~cS (a single leaf)
c: c:
80) :)-'20)
c:
:)
:)-8~ • currency (abbreviations in current use)
o c:
:)Cf)c:
0 0 c:
:)-0Cf)
:) :)-<Y.(Jo
c: c: :)l: :)-~:
8Cf) :)-0§Cf)
:)/~o :)-<Y.(J0 ~o-~:

8"c :)-'2"
c:
:) :)-Cf)C:
Abbreviations for single syllables

• final-~ is written ~ (mss.); for example:
c: c: c: c:
~ J..)'~ ~ (;)~
c: c: c: c:
1>-: = <f~: C)': == C\)~: and so on
• final-<:Y5 is written":" (mss. and older printing); for example:

c: c:
= Goy)o) 3d<f0) and so on
424
Appendix 9: Abbreviations
• vowel G-6 is written':.. (mss.); for example:

<: <:
Cf) = GCfY) G~ and soon
• centre of syllable is omitted in certain words (mss.); for example:

GC:
<: c:::. <:
= G~c: G9
<: c:::. <:
= G~9
• "attributive" is written with figure 6, so G = G::D0; for example:

Nil(G(Y.W~: = Nil(G::D0 CY:(J~:
Abbreviations for pairs of syllables

• initial of second syllable is written as subscript to preceding initial (older printing and
occasionally on notices). Note the difference between these false stacked pairs and the true
stacked pairs: in the latter the pair consists of a final consonant and the following initial
written beneath it (like the final m and initial @in 'fo:?03 == 'frrS@03); in the false pairs
they are an initial consonant and a second initial written beneath (like the initial:::D and
initial 0 in::>3: == :::D~: not :JS~:).
<: " <: G G
ooc: OOblC: :::D : :::D bl:
" "
:::DC
<:
:::DOlC
<:
u.?l<: CDC(
<:
0>
<: <:
~cf: (\);;:0 cf: ~Cf) (\)CX(Cf) and so on
• initial ()) or"l in second syllable is written as medial with preceding consonant
GUY:lo1r: GUY:lr:YSUY:l (the abbreviated form is the current spelling)
(\)o1r (\)r:YSUY:l (mss. and common in print till about 1980)
~J.:tJ ~J.)JCD. (mss. and older printing)
§ ;;:o~ (mss. and lacquer work)
§: Cf)~: (mss.)
• initial of second syllable is superimposed on an identical preceding consonant

~ r:YS ~ cf r:YS (still used in some printing)
<: <: <: <:
~~o ~cf~o (still used in some printing)
<: <:
C$ C C\( ($ C (mss. and older printing)
(mss. and older printing)
• rhyme of second syllable is superimposed on an identical preceding rhyme

(mss. and older printing)
<: <: <:
(\)(1) (\)(1)J)(1)
:n
nl
co
nl CXY)
<: <:
(\)
co
= (\)00 = (\)(1)00(1)
425
• identical second syllable is written as raised figure 2 (in handwriting)
C\fJ C\fC\f G80tJ G80tG80t
• two syllables are superimposed

e3ll: = ~B:: (mss. and older printing)
Acronyms (current in both writing and speech)

• initial consonant stands for the word
Security and Administration Committee

~C' 0 C' C' C' C'
~4'80 ~ll())(\)eD (\)8:eD2 Burma Socialist Programme
o C' C' C'
3dil(:q 3doom (Y) 4': Gcy:{pc: State High School
h C' C' C'
Gl3C\:(jc(Y)oqc: regiment
o C' C'
(Y)<;2::A:((\)Gcy:{pC::::D')::::D8Q University Students' Union
8(yj J3 0
@ 0
Arts and Science
(\)d:JGo:yxi:; Assistant
C' C' C' C' ~ C' C' C' C' 0
<.9m;;OeD ;;04'0 otic Gq: t:l2:::~ 0C'I6(Y)(\)OGq: 3d eD 2:::: 3d E\1:

Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League
C'
4'eD 4'080'): pronoun (used in dictionaries)
( 0> ) GO> T also known as
example: G3To>t6~ (0)) G3To>tG(\):
G3To>t6~ (Go>T) G3To>tG(\): Daw Khin Kyi (alias) Daw Khin Lay
and so on
• first syllable stands for the word

Q)') page (for page numbers in references)
E3 verb (in dictionary)

E38 adverb (")
~~ Burmese (")
ol Pali (")
o C'
C)( C- «-Gcy:{p C' G C'
2: c:xcs 4' :G3d0C Gcy:{p
C' C'
names of leaders of a political party
• last syllable stands for the word

C'
GO)') CY:{p: men (on notices over sexually segregated facilities)
oC'
84':8 women (ditto)
C'
o~2:::: particle (in dictionary)
E 0 C'
3d()(\)O English (in dictionary)
426
Appendix 9: Abbreviations
o r::
3dG~qmcf American (in dictionary and headlines)
GC\Y)J.) I G3l:::D I G(:Y)m greed, anger, folly (a set of vices)
r:: r:: r::
:::Do)C:QY)1 C(?cfWI ~Q@c:
• I the press ("newspapers, journals, magazines")
Ab breviations for ordinal numbers

In current use, for volume numbers in book lists, for example. Note the mix of methods.
o = OCD~ first (first syllable)
0
i = iO)w second (first syllable)
0
0) o)o)w third (first syllable)
ID IDo(<6? fourth (first syllable)
~ o~~ fifth (last syllable)
~ ~~~ sixth (first consonant)
Abbreviations for days of the week (mss.)

t
JG~ = O)cfnG~ Sun ~Go): §:::DOGO): Thurs
t
JC\Y) O)cfC\Y) Moo G§ G:)y')§ Fri
~nl = 3dAl Tues ,(Gcf IDGcf Sa t
<J Of(: = C:C~0f(: Weds
Illustration by the artist U

Win Maung for an article
about a love letter written
in the reign of King
Bodawpaya (1782-1819)
427
APPENDIX 10 BIBLIOGRAPHY
The script system

An Introduction to the Burmese Writing System: by H. O. Roop. New Haven, Yale University
Press,1972. A programmed teach-yourself course, which assumes you are already familiar
with the pronunciation.
Burmese: Exercises in the Writing System: by United States Army Language School. Monterey CA,
Dept of Defense, 1957. 97 pp.
The Burmese Writing System: by Robert B. Jones and U Khin. Washington D.C, A.CL.S., 1953.
(A.CL.S. Program in Oriental Languages, Series B, Aids, n° 1). 37 pp. A concise account,
without exercises, settmg out the relationship between sound and symbol.
Sections in spoken language courses:

Beginning Burmese: by W. S. Cornyn and H. D. Roop. New Haven, Yale University Press,
1968, reprinted 1987. 501 pp. Reprint available from the Center/for Southeast Asian
Studies, University of Hawaii, Moore 416, 1890 East-West Road, ,Honolulu, HI 96822.
Lessons in Spoken Burmese: by Emily Ballard. Rangoon, Burma Baptist Convention, 1961.
Related issues
A Guide to the Romanization of Burmese: by John Okell. London, Luzac for the Royal Asiatic
Society, 1971. 69 pp. Explores the merits and shortcomings of different romanization systems.
Alphabetical Order in Burmese: by John Okell. Journal of the Burma Research Society 51, 145-171,
1968. Describes the alternative systems in use and discusses the pros and cons of each.
Some Adapted Pali Loanwords in Burmese: by Hla Pe. Burma Research Society Fiftieth
Anniversary Publications voLl pp. 71-99, Jan 1960. Analyses the changes made to Pali words
when they were borrowed into Burmese.
Etude linguistique de nissaya birmans (traductions commentees de textes bouddhiques): by William
Pruitt. Paris, These de doctorat nouveau regime, Institut Nationale des Langues et
Civilisations Orientales, Etudes Extreme-Orientales, Asie Pacifique, OptiOD Asie du Sud-Est
(Birman), 1991. Manuscript abbreviations are listed on pp. 350-376.
"Abbreviations, Cryptograms and Chronograms in Burmese": by Dr. Hla Pc. Journal of the
Burma Research Society 47 (2) 385-396, 1964.
Burmese Manuscripts (Verzeichnis der orientalischen Handschriften in Deuf:;chland XXII), by Dr.
H. Bechert and others. Wiesbaden, Franz Steiner Verlag GmbH, 1979. Has informative
sections on transliteration and abbreviations.
00 0
cf~O)
428

Okell John Burmese An Introduction To The Script

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Okell John Burmese An Introduction To The Script

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BURMESE

with assistance from

Series Editor: Grant A. Olson

Copy Editor: David A. Mullikin

© 1994 Northern Illinois University

with assistance from

Parallel with this course:

Burmese: An Introduction to the Spoken Language, Book 1

PART 1: STANDARD CHARACTERS

PART 2: LESS COMMON CHARACTERS

SUPPLEMENT: READING FROM LIFE

5. Identification chart: key to the characters by shape 396

Tape Side a Side b Tape Side a Side b

Traditionally, script courses have relied on a romanization as a way of indicating to the

Lines from a Burmese inscription dated AD. 1274

Lines from a palm-leaf manuscript copied in 1871

Burmese pronunciation of Pali words

BURMESE IN ROMAN LETTERS

A further deficiency is that traditional romanization often offers two, or

SELECTING VOCABULARY FOR SCRIPT PRACTICE

Linking script learning with learning the spoken language

Irregular spellings in everyday vocabulary

written form pronunciation in script pronunciation in roman meaning

Words suitable for script practice

DETAILED CONTENTS (For use as a finder list)

7. prefixese: G3T \;) (07) [Name]

15.1 I stacked cons: :...

18.1 voicing ::D

19.1 voicing m-Ol

31 reading aid: weak syllable written with ~

35R1 REVIEW: BISL runthrough part 1

Part 2: Less common characters and combinations of characters

• Free-standing vowel syllables Section 25 u u 1f C1D

Types of mismatch between spelling and pronunciation

Lady in the costume of the Burmese royal court holding a parabaik,

"Heads" and "rhymes"

Diphthongs in the roman transcription: 1

2 Diphthongs in the roman transcription:

(\) no descriptive name: referred to as (\) , pronounced / (\)/ = la

Diphthongs in the roman transcription: 3

G o~ C' C' C'

-') in script: Gq:ou

At this point, switch on the tape.

Reading practice for Lesson 1

Burmese speaker on the tape: C\Y)

:)0 = 10 00- be tough, hard

:)~ = 13 00C\Y) flower [also girl's name]

:)G = 16 C\Y)00 Lama

4 Diphthongs in the roman transcription:

Forming the characters

Diphthongs in the roman transcription: 5

Stages in writing m (1) 0 (2) 00

Writing practice for Lesson 1

KEY TO LESSON 1 DICTATION

LESSON 1.1 FIGlJRES I, 2, 3

6 Diphthongs in the roman transcription:

Forming the characters

Reading practice for Lesson 1.1

Writing practice for Lesson 1.1

Diphthongs in the roman transcription: 7

8 Diphthongs in the roman transcription:

Reading practice for Lesson 2

Forming the characters