John Okell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Okell
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| Born | 1934 Brighton, England
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| Died | (aged 86) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford (B.A., M.A.) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | SOAS (1959–1999) |
John William Alan Okell (1934 – 3 August 2020) was a British expert in languages. He was especially known for his deep knowledge of the Burmese language and culture. He helped many people learn about Myanmar (formerly Burma) through his teaching and books. He was also awarded the OBE for his work.
Contents
John Okell's Life and Work
Okell was born in Brighton, England. He went to University of Oxford, a famous university, where he studied ancient history and languages.
Starting His Journey in Burmese
In 1959, John became interested in learning new languages. He joined the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. Here, he began to train as a teacher of the Burmese language. He once said that he applied because he loved languages.
At SOAS, he learned Burmese from top teachers like Hla Pe. He also studied how sounds are made in language (phonetics) and general linguistics.
Living and Learning in Myanmar
After studying for about 18 months, John traveled to Myanmar (then called Burma). He spent a whole year there from 1960 to 1961. This trip helped him truly understand the country's language and culture. He went back for another year-long visit in 1969.
Later Career and Achievements
John Okell retired from SOAS in 1999. However, he continued to be involved with the university as a research associate. Even after retiring, he kept teaching Burmese. He held short courses in different places, including Chiang Mai and Yangon.
In 2014, John was given a special award called the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This award was for his important work in building good relationships between the UK and Myanmar.
In 2016, SOAS gave him an honorary doctorate. This is a special degree given to people who have achieved great things.
John also created a computer font for Burmese called Avalaser. He was also the chairman of the Britain-Burma Society.
He passed away on 3 August 2020, at the age of 86.
Books by John Okell
John Okell wrote many books to help people learn Burmese. Here are some of his notable works:
- Okell, John (1969). A Reference Grammar of Colloquial Burmese. This book helped people understand everyday Burmese grammar.
- Okell, John (1989). First Steps in Burmese. This book was designed for beginners learning the language.
- Okell, John (1994). Burmese: An Introduction to the Spoken Language: Book 1 and Book 2. These books taught people how to speak Burmese.
- Okell, John (1994). Burmese: An Introduction to the Script. This book focused on learning the Burmese writing system.
- Okell, John (2002). Burmese By Ear/Essential Myanmar. This was an audio course to help people learn Burmese by listening.
