Surviving Beyond Political Borders: Communication Challenges of the Akha People in Highlands of Mainland Southeast Asia

Jianhua Ayoe WangPhD Candidate in Anthropology, University of California at Riverside

Akha—a Tibeto-Burman group

Yunnan Province SW China 230,000

Shan, E. Myanmar 220,000

N. Thailand 70,000

N. Laos 100,000

NW Vietnam 2,000

Total population of the Akha: 622,000

In Myanmar

In Thailand

In China

In LaosThe Akha—one of the major highland groups in the Mainland of Southeast Asia)

Communication challenges of the Akha People An oral culture Divided by political borders 7 different writing systems (1 in China, 3 in

Myanmar, and 3 in Thailand) Christian missionaries

Addressing the challenges

Radio broadcasting in Akha language in Xishuangbanna (XSBN), China (1981) in Chiang Mai (1972) and Mae Chan (1987), Thailand

TV program in Akha language in XSBN (1990) Efforts of uniting the writing systems (2000)

An international committee of Akha language is needed A future plan

Creating a unitary Akha writing system Setting up a website and an e-community of Akha people Looking for supports from outside

The wider significance of my project

It is related to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Article 13: right to own languages Article 16: right to media Article 36: right to maintain and develop contacts,

relations and cooperation beyond international borders