Burmese Creaky Voice - What Does It Sound Like?

[farangnahrak]

I've been learning some basic Burmese . . . I've searched everywhere, but can't seem to find an audio example of creaky voice. This may not be the right place to post, but not sure where else to ask . . .

Supposedly, the Burmese language has two tones: low and high. Except some people say it's mid and high.

And then there are two other 'tones' called creaky voice and checked. Except some say these are not tones, and it's actually called creaky voice and breathy voice.

Supposedly the 'breathy voice' can be combined with the high tone, so it's probably not a real tone as we think of Thai tones.

I tried listening to Burmese videos to hear these creaky, checked, breathy sounds but I just can't recognize it. The written descriptions aren't helping . . .

Anyone can help?

[Richard W]

Have you tried http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Burmese/language.htm ? Enter via the 'text links only' button. It's likely to be quite confusing if you don't install their hack fonts.

[BringMeSunshine]

I never could install their hack fonts - has anyone been able to do it and can share ?

@OP - have you tried the Burmese by Ear course ?

http://www.soas.ac.uk/bbe/

[NewlyMintedThai]

Speaking of Burmese, does anyone know a place that teaches it in Bangkok?

[Richard W]

I never could install their hack fonts - has anyone been able to do it and can share ?

I take it the problem is to extract the TTF files.

On Ubuntu the process is simple enough:

1) Save the file, e.g. to myanmar.suit.hqx

2) Run

uudeview myanmar1.suit.hqx

yielding Myanmar1.suit

3) Run

fondu Myanmar1.suit

yielding Myanmar1.ttf

4) Copy or move the file to ~/.fonts

You will probably have to install the uudeview and fondu packages.

I don't remember any such complications when I downloaded an earlier version of the fonts in 2004 and installed them in Windows XP.