Opening a Can of Worms in Burmese Teaching

• In Event: 59. US Classrooms: Contested Arenas for Learning and Teaching Southeast Asian Languages. Sponsored by COTSEAL

Abstract

Can a lesson on Burmese pronouns be the gateway to discuss the practice of slavery in feudal Burma? It could, if the instructor traces the etymology of the first-person pronoun I, Kyun Taw (for male) and Kyun Ma (for female), to the Burmese word for slave, Kyun.

Can a lesson on monastic Burmese lead to the discovery of the inherent patriarchal attitude in Burmese Buddhism? It might, if the instructor points out that the common word for a Burmese abbot, Saya Daw, means “Great Teacher,” whereas the word for a Burmese nun, Saya Lay, means “Junior Teacher.”

What is the Burmese attitude toward homosexuality? It’s reflected in the absence of dignified, respectable terms for gay or lesbian. There is the word Main ma-shah, for men who have adopted feminine attire and mannerism. Similarly, there’s the word Yauk ka-shah, for boyish or manly women. Other informal words include A-chauk, Ji bone, and Gun doo, all of which mean “effeminate man,” all derogatory.

A Burmese instructor can easily sidestep the minefield by sticking to grammar points, vocabulary, pronunciation, and verbal exercises. The politically sensitive climate in academia encourages one to steer clear of controversies. However, an instructor might also meet these controversial aspects of the Burmese language head-on, as an opportunity to nurture students who might reshape the language incrementally and introduce healthier attitudes.

Author

• Kenneth Wong, University of California, Berkeley