Editing Wa people (section)

===Language and script===
[[File:Wa4886.JPG|thumb|Wa writing and cultural symbols on a T-shirt]]
The [[Wa language]] forms a language group belonging to the [[Palaungic languages|Palaungic]] branch of the [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic language family]]. It formerly had no script and the few Wa who were literate used [[Chinese characters]], while others used the [[Shan language]] and its script. [[Christian mission]]ary work among the Wa began at the beginning of the 20th century first in the Burmese and later in the Chinese areas of the Wa territory. It was led by [[William Marcus Young]] of [[Nebraska]]. The first transcription of the Wa language was devised by Young and Sara Yaw Shu Chin in 1931 with the purpose of translating the Bible. This first Wa alphabet was based on the [[Latin script]] and the first publication was a compilation of Wa [[hymn]]s in 1933,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.humancomp.org/wadict/young_family.html |title=The Young Family's Work with the Wa People |access-date=2014-04-15 |archive-date=2014-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416210157/http://www.humancomp.org/wadict/young_family.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the Wa [[New Testament]] being completed in 1938. This transcription, known as "Bible orthography" is known as "{{lang|zh|老佤文}}" ({{zh|labels=no|p=lǎowǎwén |l=old Wa orthography}}) in Chinese, and is now used mainly in the Burmese Wa areas and among the Wa in Thailand. A revised Bible orthography has been adopted as "official Wa spelling" by the authorities of the [[Wa Self-Administered Division]] in Pangkham, which have published a series of primers in order to improve the literacy of the United Wa State Army troops. Also, after 2000 Wa people in social networks such as [[Facebook]] and other online media, as well as Wa songwriters in [[karaoke]] lyrics<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hv57b2WZx4 |title=Wa Song (Lox rhax meung vax) |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2016-12-02 |archive-date=2016-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229220559/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hv57b2WZx4 |url-status=live }}</ref> of Wa songs<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63cU34x25UY |title=Krax moh aux daux ju pa hoik luan mai pa simie sivoe ngai. |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2016-12-02 |archive-date=2016-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229220558/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63cU34x25UY |url-status=live }}</ref> use this Myanmar (revised Bible) "official Wa orthography" in its main variations.<ref>Justin Watkins, ''Wa Dictionary'', 2 vols. Introduction</ref>

In China, a transcription adapted to the new [[pinyin]] [[romanization]], known as "PRC orthography" or "China official orthography", was developed for the Wa people in 1956. However, its publications, mainly propagated through the Yunnan administration, are yet to reach a wider public beyond academics.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.humancomp.org/wadict/wa_orthography.html |title=SOAS – Writing of the Wa Language |access-date=2014-04-15 |archive-date=2014-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416210645/http://www.humancomp.org/wadict/wa_orthography.html |url-status=live }}</ref> This new Wa alphabet is treated as the first formal script of the Wa.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://factsanddetails.com/china/cat5/sub31/item181.html |title=Large Minority Groups in Southern China – Wa Ethnic Group |access-date=2014-04-27 |archive-date=2014-04-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415205118/http://factsanddetails.com/china/cat5/sub31/item181.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Lawa people|Western Lawa]] are officially considered part of the Wa minority in China and are also known as 'tame Wa'.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=15375&rog3=TH |title=Lawa, Western in Thailand |access-date=2014-02-28 |archive-date=2013-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214012326/http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=15375&rog3=TH |url-status=live }}</ref>