Can We Settle on Whether to Call it Myanmar or Burma?
Jan 11th, 2012, 12:52 PM
#1
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Can We Settle on Whether to Call it Myanmar or Burma?
Well, this would be a good topic for a troll post but inappropriate for the lounge. Anyway, as many of you know, I am not a troll 
However, when posting responses or questions on this I am lost as to what is best. My preference is Myanmar because Burma is a Colonial term created by the Brits (is that a politically correct term?). Myanmar is the traditional name of the country, which unfortunately seems to have been brought back by the military Junta and thus folks tend to resist using it. Your thoughts?
However, when posting responses or questions on this I am lost as to what is best. My preference is Myanmar because Burma is a Colonial term created by the Brits (is that a politically correct term?). Myanmar is the traditional name of the country, which unfortunately seems to have been brought back by the military Junta and thus folks tend to resist using it. Your thoughts?
Jan 11th, 2012, 01:23 PM
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It's complicated. The name Burma was derived from the name of largest ethnic group, so some feel it isn't as inclusive as Myanmar which does not refer to just one of the many ethnic groups in the country. It was also the name that the Brits used, a minus for being a colonial name. But it is also the name that the pro-democracy groups both inside and outside the country use.
While Myanmar derives from one traditional name of the country, its adoption by the junta makes many (myself included) uncomfortable.
So I often find myself using both terms, preferring Burma.
While Myanmar derives from one traditional name of the country, its adoption by the junta makes many (myself included) uncomfortable.
So I often find myself using both terms, preferring Burma.
Jan 11th, 2012, 01:31 PM
#4
According to my 10th ed. Lonely Planet "Britain renamed "Myanma" [sic] as Burma (after the majority Bamar or Burmese, people); the junta restored the original name of Myanmar in 1989."
The Burmese may be the largest ethnic group, but they aren't the only one, and I seem to remember reading that the other ethnic groups would prefer to call the country something other than Burma. And just as I go along with the Indian government and use Kolkata and not Calcutta, I do the same with Myanmar.
The Burmese may be the largest ethnic group, but they aren't the only one, and I seem to remember reading that the other ethnic groups would prefer to call the country something other than Burma. And just as I go along with the Indian government and use Kolkata and not Calcutta, I do the same with Myanmar.
Jan 11th, 2012, 02:16 PM
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who says you are not a troll... its an endearing term is it not?
i like burma, beacuse for most of my life that is the name which has been used... of course it may not be PC, but tides are changing on PCness, thank god..
plus don't you think it is a lovely exotic name?
i'd rather be burmesse than myanmaresse, would't you?
i like burma, beacuse for most of my life that is the name which has been used... of course it may not be PC, but tides are changing on PCness, thank god..
plus don't you think it is a lovely exotic name?
i'd rather be burmesse than myanmaresse, would't you?
Jan 11th, 2012, 03:27 PM
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Sort of like the name Bangkok. No local would call Bangkok - Bangkok in Thai but they don't mind it when foreigners call the city under that name or refer the city to foreigners under that name.
For Thais we still call Burma or Myanmar - "Pah Ma" in conversation but officially it's Myanmar.
For Thais we still call Burma or Myanmar - "Pah Ma" in conversation but officially it's Myanmar.
Jan 11th, 2012, 06:24 PM
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When we visited the border area of Burma on a day trip from Thailand, our Thai guide told us that that the Burmese citizens preferred to call their country "Burma" because of the negative connotation associated with the evil dudes who renamed it "Myanmar."
What does Hillary Clinton call it? It's complicated. Check out this Washington Post piece, which states that the NYT uses Myanmar, Wikipedia prefers Burma, and Lonely Planet covers all bases with "Myanmar (Burma)."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...8rCO_blog.html
What does Hillary Clinton call it? It's complicated. Check out this Washington Post piece, which states that the NYT uses Myanmar, Wikipedia prefers Burma, and Lonely Planet covers all bases with "Myanmar (Burma)."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...8rCO_blog.html
Jan 11th, 2012, 06:45 PM
#9
Long but interesting article here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_Burma
Jan 11th, 2012, 07:24 PM
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I agree with Femi. Burma just has that exotic sound to it. And like Bob, that's what I originally heard it called in school. Ok, that makes me soound as old as Bob----- if not older. And Lucy has a got point. Frankly, Hanuman's Pah Ma might be the easiest, but since I'm not usually speaking with Thais, I don't think anyone would get it.
Craig - are you getting bored? Resorting to trolling? Jan. has a way of being that kind of month.
Craig - are you getting bored? Resorting to trolling? Jan. has a way of being that kind of month.
