Analysis of Myanmar's Language Conflict Issues since Independence
WANG Jiayi
CAI Xiangyang
Abstract：Myanmar,a nation with intricate ethnic dynamics,faces pronounced language conflicts that deeply impact its national fabric.A historical analysis reveals these conflicts center on two key dimensions:symbolic struggles over language status and resource-based disputes in education.Characterized by epoch-specific tensions and cyclical recurrence,these conflicts have created dilemmas in national identity construction,including weakened cohesion in state-building,heightened ethnic antagonisms,and challenges to preserving ethnic cultural heritage.Burman elites advocate for linguistic unification as the cornerstone of national identity,while ethnic minorities assert mother-tongue rights as a vital component of self-determination.This divergence entrenches a persistent divide between the"monolingual"vision of the state and the"multicultural"aspirations of minority groups,highlighting the fragility of balancing unity and diversity in multi-ethnic societies.
Keywords：Myanmarlanguage conflictsstate-buildingcultural rights
Publication Date：2025-05-20
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 118-123 )