Speaking Mon Contest reflects ancient heritage

(By Kun Yekha, Kaowao: January 25, 2006)

Fort Wayne -- The third anniversary of the “Speaking Mon Contest” was held at a Buddhist temple in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA.  The contest tests local Mon youth living in Fort Wayne on their Mon speaking and conversation skills in a bid to preserve and interest second generation Mon youth. 

“I always practice Mon at home. I am concerned that my friends are only speaking in English, they should try to speak Mon as well,” said Saik Chan, a grade 7 student at the Summer Mon Literacy class who won the first prize in the speaking contest. The idea was received strongly by about 70 Mon students from the summer class, (21) of them participated in the contest. “I was excited when they called my name to come and talk in front of so many people,” said Mi Ah Htaw.     

The Mon language, while classified in the Austro-Asiatic language family, is a language developed from some of the world’s oldest languages, Sanskrit and Pali, the languages of Buddhism, culture and philosophy, over 1500 years ago with an independent script that dates back to the 5 century A.D. The language developed in conjunction with the settlement of Mon cities along the rich fertile flood plains of Lower Burma and central Thailand.

Mon culture, religion and language are inseparable, so when the Mon resettled in a third country, like the United States, the very first thing they did was build a Buddhist Temple. The speaking contest required the contestants to give a 3 to 4 minute speech with creative output, spoken with clarity and elegance characteristic of the Mon language. The candidate had to use the right vocabulary and tone according to the social context in front of an audience.

The Mon refugee diaspora is estimated to be roughly about one thousand people living in Europe and North America. The Kaowao website posts information on learning the Mon language for those interested.  The major concern among the Mon refugee community is that second generation Mon will not be able to read, speak, and write in their mother tongue.

The Mon community in Fort Wayne, Indiana State is the biggest in the western world. In the US, the Mons have built three Buddhist temples where they teach Mon literature during the summer time.