The Karen Dictionary, initiated by the Karen National Union (KNU), is a transformative effort to preserve and modernize the Karen language. By leveraging technology, it bridges cultural and generational divides, providing a vital resource for Karen communities and global audiences. It reflects the Karen people's dedication to cultural preservation, education, and community empowerment.

Objectives

• Documenting and preserving the Karen language for future generations.
• Making the language accessible globally through modern technology.
• Supporting language learning and cultural awareness with innovative tools.

Appreciation

The development of The Karen Dictionary has been made possible through the collaboration, dedication, and invaluable contributions of individuals and organizations:

• Karen National Union (KNU) Leaders for their visionary guidance and leadership in supporting this project.
• Karen Education and Culture Department (KECD), Karen Teacher Working Group (KTWG), and Karen Economic Committee Secretariat (KECS) for their ongoing guidance and leadership.
• Special gratitude to the earlier publishers, linguists, and scholars whose foundational works, especially the Anglo-Karen Dictionary, have been instrumental in providing a robust foundation for this initiative.
• IT Teams and Developers for digitizing, modernizing, and enhancing the dictionary.
• Dedicated technical teams and linguists who meticulously cleaned, standardized, and converted the data into Unicode, ensuring compatibility across modern digital platforms.
• Youth Volunteers for their energy, passion, and innovative contributions, bringing modern perspectives to the project.

Key Features

• Supports both English-to-Karen and Karen-to-English translations with contextual accuracy.
• Includes grammar guides, categorized word lists, and pronunciation aids to support self-learners.
• Features custom on-screen keyboards and voice input for ease of use.
• Provides a mechanism for users to suggest updates, ensuring the dictionary evolves with the language.

Available Platforms

The Karen Dictionary is available on:

• Web: A user-friendly website accessible through any browser.
• Mobile: Applications for Android and iOS devices, offering offline access.
• Desktop: Applications for both Windows and Mac, ensuring seamless access on personal computers.

Future Steps

• Expanding the database to include regional dialects, contemporary terminologies, and cultural references.
• Collaborating with schools and universities to integrate the dictionary into curricula and learning programs.
• Partnering with international linguistic and cultural organizations to support preservation efforts.
• Enhancing features with AI-powered translation, gamified learning modules, and multimedia content.
• Optimizing platforms for multilingual users and ensuring accessibility for visually impaired individuals.