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Mon

The Mon are an Austroasiatic ethnic group indigenous to mainland Southeast Asia, with principal concentrations in the coastal regions of southern Myanmar—particularly Mon State and the Irrawaddy Delta—and smaller communities in west-central and border areas of Thailand. ^[1] ^[2] Numbering roughly 800,000 to 1 million in Myanmar and several hundred thousand in Thailand, they speak the Mon language, a member of the Monic branch of the Austroasiatic family, which features an ancient script derived from Brahmic origins. ^[1] ^[3] Historically, the Mon established some of the region's earliest urban civilizations, including the Dvaravati polity (circa 6th–11th centuries CE) in the Chao Phraya basin of modern Thailand, and later kingdoms like Thaton and the powerful Hanthawaddy (Pegu) realm (1287–1539 CE), which exerted influence over trade routes and cultural exchanges. ^[4] ^[5] The Mon's defining legacy lies in their transmission of Theravada Buddhism from Indian and Sri Lankan sources to Burma and Thailand, fostering monastic centers that shaped religious practices, art, and governance across Southeast Asia beginning around the 3rd–5th centuries CE. ^[6] ^[3] Their societies blended indigenous animist traditions with Indian-derived elements, evident in sophisticated bronze casting, stucco architecture, and wet-rice agriculture, though repeated conquests by Burman, Thai, and later colonial powers eroded their political autonomy. ^[3] In contemporary times, the Mon maintain distinct cultural identities amid ongoing ethnic tensions in Myanmar, where groups like the New Mon State Party have pursued autonomy through armed resistance since the mid-20th century, reflecting persistent struggles over resource control and self-determination. ^[6]

Mon People and Culture

Historical Origins and Kingdoms

The Mon people, speakers of an Austroasiatic language from the Monic branch, represent one of the earliest documented ethnic groups in mainland Southeast Asia, with migrations from the northern Asian mainland leading to settlements along the coasts of present-day Myanmar and in Thailand's Chao Phraya valley by the 7th century CE.^[7] These early communities controlled key ports in the Irrawaddy Delta, Gulf of Martaban, and Salween River areas, facilitating trade with India and adopting elements of Hindu-Buddhist culture, including Theravada Buddhism, which they later disseminated regionally.^[7] Archaeological evidence, such as inscriptions and artifacts, indicates Mon polities formed loose confederations of city-states rather than centralized empires in their formative phases.^[8] The Dvaravati polity, closely tied to Mon culture, arose in north-central Thailand around the 6th–7th century CE and endured until the 11th century, with major centers at Nakhon Pathom and Si Thep along the Pasak River.^[8] ^[4] Characterized by urban settlements featuring moats, stupas, and viharas, Dvaravati produced distinctive terracotta votive tablets and stucco reliefs depicting Jataka tales, reflecting Indian artistic influences via maritime trade routes while developing localized Theravada Buddhist iconography.^[8] The polity's decline accelerated in the 10th–12th centuries due to Khmer incursions under Suryavarman II, leading to absorption into emerging Tai kingdoms.^[8] In lower Myanmar, the Thaton kingdom (also called Suvannabhumi or "Golden Land") emerged as a prominent Mon state by the 9th century CE, serving as a thriving port for Indian Ocean commerce until its sack by Pagan's King Anawrahta in 1057 CE.^[4] This conquest resulted in the relocation of approximately 30,000 Mon captives, including monks and artisans, to Pagan, where they catalyzed the entrenchment of Mon script, literature, and Theravada orthodoxy in Burmese society during the 11th–13th centuries.^[4] ^[7] Similarly, the Haripunjaya kingdom, founded circa 661 CE by Mon settlers from Lopburi under Queen Camadevi, controlled the Ping River valley in northern Thailand until its conquest by King Mangrai of Lan Na in 1292 CE, preserving Mon linguistic and religious traditions amid regional power shifts.^[9] After the Mongol sack of Pagan in 1287 CE, Mon leaders reestablished sovereignty in lower Myanmar as Ramannadesa, evolving into the Hanthawaddy kingdom by the 14th century, which unified territories and projected power until its fall to the Toungoo dynasty in 1539 CE.^[7] These kingdoms underscore the Mon's role in bridging Indian Ocean trade networks and Buddhist transmission, though their polities often fragmented due to invasions and internal rivalries.^[8]

Religion and Influence on Southeast Asia

The Mon people have historically practiced Theravada Buddhism, which became the dominant religion among them by the 6th century CE, following its transmission from Sri Lanka via maritime routes.^[10] This adoption predated its widespread establishment in neighboring regions, positioning the Mon as key propagators in mainland Southeast Asia.^[11] Archaeological evidence from Mon sites, including inscribed votive tablets and stupa architecture, confirms the prevalence of Theravada doctrines emphasizing monastic discipline and Pali canonical texts.^[8] In the Dvaravati kingdom (circa 6th–11th centuries CE), centered in present-day central Thailand, Mon rulers fostered Buddhist institutions that integrated Indian cultural elements, such as temple complexes and iconography blending local animist spirits with Theravada iconoclasm.^[8] This period marked the kingdom's role as a conduit for Theravada dissemination northward and eastward, influencing Khmer and early Thai polities through trade and missionary activities; artifacts like wheel-of-law motifs on stelae underscore doctrinal continuity from Sri Lankan models.^[4] Similarly, the Thaton kingdom in lower Burma (pre-11th century) served as a Theravada hub, maintaining scriptural ties with Ceylon and exporting monks who reformed local practices, as evidenced by chronicles recording royal patronage of ordinations and relic veneration.^[11] The Mon's religious influence extended causally to Burma and Thailand via conquest and cultural assimilation. In 1057 CE, King Anawrahta of Pagan conquered Thaton, repatriating Mon monks, scriptures, and artisans, which standardized Theravada orthodoxy across Burmese territories and supplanted earlier Mahayana and animist syncretisms.^[10] This transfer included Pali orthographic adaptations that shaped Burmese script derivation from Mon models.^[4] In Thailand, Dvaravati's legacy persisted in Sukhothai (13th century onward), where Mon Buddhist terminology and ritual frameworks informed royal chronicles and temple designs, fostering a shared monastic tradition that emphasized merit-making and forest meditation lineages.^[8] Today, Mon communities in Myanmar and Thailand maintain these practices, with monks mediating spirit appeasement alongside canonical observance, reflecting enduring hybrid influences.^[12]

Society, Language, and Traditions

The Mon people traditionally organize society around nuclear family units, residing in villages characterized by rectangular houses with thatched roofs, granaries, cattle sheds, monasteries that double as schools, pagodas, and communal meeting houses.^[10] This structure reflects a community-oriented lifestyle integrated with agricultural practices and Buddhist institutions, where monasteries serve as centers for education and social gatherings.^[10] The Mon language, an Austroasiatic tongue with approximately 2 million speakers—less than one-third of the estimated 1–5 million Mon population—remains integral to cultural transmission, though many also use Burmese or Thai in daily interactions.^[13]^[10] It underpins oral traditions, folklore, and rituals, with revitalization efforts including its introduction into Mon State schools in Myanmar since 2014, despite challenges like teacher shortages.^[13] Cultural traditions emphasize Theravada Buddhist influences blended with animist elements, evident in festivals such as Mon National Day, commemorating the founding of the Hongsavatoi Kingdom in 573 CE, and the Mon version of Songkran (known as Paj Aht Ta or Mon Thingyan), a lunar New Year celebration featuring water rituals, music, dance, and specialized dishes like khao chae—rice soaked in jasmine-scented water.^[13]^[14] Traditional attire includes the red longyi sarong, symbolizing bravery, while performing arts incorporate instruments like the kyam crocodile xylophone, la gyan hsaing gong chime, and saung harp, often performed during communal events.^[13] Cuisine staples such as htamané (a glutinous rice dish) and khanom chin (fermented rice noodles) feature in rituals and daily life, reinforcing ethnic identity amid assimilation pressures.^[13]

Modern Political Status and Conflicts

The Mon people in Myanmar primarily reside in Mon State and adjacent areas in southeastern Myanmar, where they maintain a degree of cultural and administrative autonomy under the framework of the New Mon State Party (NMSP), which governs through civilian and military structures in controlled territories.^[15] The NMSP, founded in 1958, signed a bilateral ceasefire with the Myanmar military in 1995 and joined the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in 2015, positioning it as one of the few ethnic armed organizations adhering to the truce amid the post-2021 military coup civil war.^[16] ^[15] This adherence has allowed the NMSP to maintain neutrality in some operations, avoiding full-scale confrontation with the State Administration Council (SAC) junta, though it has faced internal pressures and territorial encroachments by junta forces and allied militias.^[17] Post-coup divisions have fractured Mon resistance efforts, with a faction breaking away in 2024 to form the New Mon State Party (Anti-Military Dictatorship) (NMSP-AD), which rejects the ceasefire and pursues active armed opposition against the junta, citing the NMSP's neutrality as insufficient amid escalating SAC atrocities.^[18] ^[17] By August 2025, the NMSP-AD had absorbed defectors from NMSP units, such as the No. 5 Battalion in October 2024, and collaborated with other Mon groups like the Mon Liberation Front and Rāmañña Mon Army to form unified fronts aimed at self-determination and anti-junta coordination.^[18] ^[19] These splinter movements reflect broader Mon frustrations with stalled political negotiations and junta violations of ceasefires elsewhere, contributing to localized clashes in Mon-inhabited border areas.^[20] In Thailand, where an estimated tens of thousands of Mon refugees and migrants reside due to decades of cross-border flight from Myanmar conflicts, the community lacks formal political recognition but has benefited from pragmatic Thai government policies.^[21] Long-term Mon refugees in border camps, numbering over 100,000 Burmese ethnic minorities including Mon as of recent assessments, gained legal work rights in August 2025 under a Thai-UNHCR agreement, marking a shift from prior restrictions on asylum and employment.^[22] ^[23] However, Thailand's non-recognition of refugee status persists, exposing Mon migrants to deportation risks and labor exploitation, with ongoing tensions tied to Myanmar's instability driving intermittent refugee inflows.^[24] Mon conflicts remain intertwined with Myanmar's nationwide civil war, where NMSP territories in southeastern Myanmar have seen indirect impacts from junta offensives and alliances with groups like the Karen National Union, fostering tentative regional pacts against divide-and-conquer tactics by the SAC.^[25] As of September 2025, unity initiatives among Mon factions prioritize armed resurgence over ceasefires, amid reports of junta scorched-earth tactics displacing civilians in Mon areas.^[26] ^[19]

Mon Language

Linguistic Classification and Features

The Mon language belongs to the Monic subgroup of the Mon–Khmer branch within the Austroasiatic language family, one of the oldest documented language families in Southeast Asia.^[27] ^[28] Its closest genetic relative is Nyah Kur, a critically endangered language spoken by a small community in Thailand, with which it shares proto-Monic innovations in phonology and lexicon.^[27] This classification reflects Mon's position as a primary branch alongside other Austroasiatic subgroups like Munda, Vietic, and Khmer, with Austroasiatic speakers historically linked to early agricultural dispersals in mainland Southeast Asia dating back at least 4,000–5,000 years.^[29] Phonologically, Mon is characterized by two distinct voice registers: a clear or modal register (often described as creaky or tense) and a breathy register, which contrast in main syllables and influence vowel quality and prosody without developing full lexical tones as in neighboring Tai languages.^[30] The consonant inventory includes 24–28 phonemes, featuring aspirated stops, fricatives like /f/ and /θ/ (retained from proto-Mon-Khmer), and minor syllable onsets typical of sesquisyllabic word structures (e.g., minor syllable + major syllable, as in prənom 'person').^[31] Vowel harmony and nasalization further distinguish Mon, with up to 10–12 oral vowels and corresponding nasal variants, though the precise system varies by dialect due to substrate influences from Burmese and Thai.^[27] Morphologically, Mon exhibits an isolating profile common to many Mon–Khmer languages, relying on analytic structures rather than inflectional affixation, with grammatical relations encoded via word order, serial verb constructions, and preverbal particles rather than suffixes or case markers.^[32] ^[33] Reduplication serves derivational roles, such as intensifying adjectives (e.g., kəɲɛ̃h kəɲɛ̃h 'very red'), while rare infixes and prefixes—fossilized from proto-Mon–Khmer—mark causatives or nominalization in conservative speech.^[34] Syntax is predominantly head-initial and right-branching, with a basic SVO order that allows pragmatic flexibility, as in topic-comment structures, and heavy use of classifiers for nouns in numeral phrases.^[32] These features underscore Mon's retention of archaic Austroasiatic traits amid centuries of contact-induced changes, including Burmese loanwords comprising up to 30% of the modern lexicon.^[35]

Script and Literature

The Mon script, an abugida derived from the Pallava Grantha script of southern India, emerged in the 6th century CE for writing Old Mon, with distinct variants in Dvaravati (central Thailand) and southern Thailand regions.^[36]^[37] This early script facilitated inscriptions on stone, bells, and votive tablets during the Dvaravati, Thaton, and Bagan periods from the 5th to 12th centuries CE, adapting Brahmi-derived elements to Mon phonology while incorporating rounded forms influenced by local carving practices.^[38] By the 11th century, the Mon script influenced the development of the Burmese script, which in turn shaped the modern Mon script revived in the 18th–19th centuries following Mon reunification under Burmese rule, featuring 35 consonants, 14 vowels, and diacritics for tones and nasalization.^[27]^[36] Mon literature, primarily preserved in palm-leaf manuscripts, inscriptions, and later printed texts, encompasses religious, historical, and secular genres dating from the 6th century CE onward, often blending Theravada Buddhist themes with indigenous narratives.^[39] Key early works include royal chronicles like the Rājāvaṁsa Kathā, a collection of elaborated historical texts recounting Mon kingdoms and rulers from the Dvaravati era through the 18th century, valued for their detailed chronologies despite interpretive challenges from scribal variations.^[40] Religious literature dominates, with translations of Pali Buddhist canons, commentaries, and abhidhamma treatises composed in verse forms echoing Indian poetic meters, alongside secular categories such as folklore, poetry, and social treatises that reflect Mon societal norms and cosmology.^[41]^[39] In Thailand, Mon texts from the 18th–19th centuries, including over 900 digitized palm-leaf manuscripts, preserve folklore and historical accounts, though many secular works remain understudied due to prioritization of Pali-influenced religious content in monastic collections.^[42] Preservation efforts highlight the script's role in maintaining linguistic continuity, with modern Mon literature adapting to print and digital media while drawing on classical forms.^[43]

Current Usage and Preservation Efforts

The Mon language is spoken by approximately 850,000 people, primarily in southern Myanmar's Mon State and Tanintharyi Region, with smaller communities in Thailand.^[44] It functions as the primary language of communication within Mon ethnic households and communities, particularly for oral traditions, Buddhist rituals, and informal interactions, though its use in formal domains remains limited.^[45] Ethnologue assesses its vitality as stable, with all ethnic Mon using it as a first language, but it faces assimilation pressures from Burmese in Myanmar and Thai in border areas.^[45] Media presence includes the weekly Mon-language newspaper Guiding Star, published since 1999 by the Independent Mon News Agency, and radio broadcasts such as Mon programs on Democratic Voice of Burma.^[46] ^[47] Educational usage varies: while Myanmar's government schools do not incorporate Mon as a medium of instruction, Mon National Schools under the New Mon State Party employ mother-tongue-based multilingual education, teaching core subjects in Mon from early grades to support literacy and cultural continuity.^[48] ^[49] These independent systems, operational since the 1990s, contrast with sporadic government allowances for Mon as a subject in some villages, amid ongoing debates over junta approvals.^[50] Preservation initiatives encompass community-driven and transnational projects. The Mon Language Preservation Organization develops curricula, dictionaries, and digital resources to sustain usage among Mon diaspora in the United States and elsewhere.^[51] The Mon Culture and Literature Survival Project documents texts and promotes literacy programs to counter historical losses from conflict and suppression.^[52] In Thailand, collaborations between local Mon communities, Myanmar migrants, and overseas groups focus on digitizing and teaching the Mon script, including temple-held manuscripts.^[53] UNESCO classifies Mon as vulnerable, citing intergenerational transmission risks despite these efforts.^[54]

Geographical Places

Mon State in Myanmar

Mon State is a constituent state in southeastern Myanmar, situated along the Andaman Sea coastline and encompassing a narrow coastal strip of the northern Tenasserim region. It borders Bago Region to the north, Kayin State to the east, and the Andaman Sea to the west, with a total land area of approximately 12,155 square kilometers. The state features diverse terrain including coastal plains, hilly Dawna Range along its eastern boundary, tropical forests, and agricultural lowlands, supporting a 566-kilometer coastline dotted with small islands such as Bilu Kyun and U Nyin Oo. Its capital and largest city, Mawlamyine, serves as a key port and economic hub with a population estimated between 300,000 and 450,000 residents.^[55]^[56] The state's population was recorded at 2,044,029 in the 2014 census, yielding a density of about 168 persons per square kilometer, predominantly rural with agriculture as the mainstay. Ethnically, Mons constitute the majority, comprising an Austroasiatic group indigenous to the region, alongside significant Bamar (Burman), Karen, and smaller communities of Pa-O and Shan. Religiously, over 89% adhere to Theravada Buddhism, often blended with traditional nat spirit worship, while minorities include Muslims (around 5-6%), Hindus (1%), and Christians (0.5%). Urbanization remains low, with Mawlamyine as the primary center, though the state hosts refugee and internally displaced populations from adjacent conflict zones.^[57]^[1]^[58] Historically, Mon State formed the heartland of ancient Mon kingdoms like Thaton and later the Martaban-Pegu realm, which influenced Theravada Buddhism's spread in Southeast Asia before Burmese conquests in the 11th-16th centuries subdued Mon polities. Under British colonial rule from the 19th century, it was integrated into Lower Burma, fostering Mon cultural revival movements. Post-independence in 1948, ethnic tensions escalated, leading to the formation of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) in 1958 as an insurgent group seeking autonomy amid perceived central government marginalization of Mon interests. The region was officially designated Mon State in 1974, replacing Tanintharyi Region No. 1 under the socialist constitution.^[59]^[15] Economically, agriculture dominates, with rice paddy cultivation, rubber plantations, betel nut, fruits, and fisheries providing livelihoods for most rural households; the state contributes to Myanmar's rice exports via the Salween River delta proximity. Crop production accounts for the bulk of output, supplemented by livestock and limited agro-forestry, though mechanization has accelerated since 2011. Industrial activity is modest, centered on food processing and small-scale manufacturing in Mawlamyine, with ports facilitating trade in seafood and timber; however, ongoing instability hampers investment and infrastructure development.^[60]^[55]^[61] Politically, Mon State experiences sporadic conflict tied to Myanmar's broader civil war, intensified after the 2021 military coup. The NMSP, whose armed wing is the Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA), signed a 2012 ceasefire with the government but maintains demands for federalism and Mon self-determination. Internal splits emerged post-coup, with the NMSP-AD faction (formed 2021) rejecting junta engagement and aligning against the Tatmadaw, merging with groups like the Mon Liberation Army by May 2025 to form unified resistance under the Ramanya Mon Army. Clashes have displaced thousands, with NMSP-AD controlling pockets of territory amid junta scorched-earth tactics, though Mon areas see less escalation than northern fronts; the parent NMSP upholds a nominal truce but faces pressure from anti-junta alliances. These dynamics reflect causal ethnic grievances over resource control and cultural erosion, unaddressed by central policies favoring Bamar dominance.^[15]^[62]^[19]

Møn Island in Denmark

Møn is an island in southeastern Denmark, situated in the Baltic Sea with an area of 218 square kilometers (84 square miles).^[63] It lies south of Zealand, separated by the Ulv Strait, and northeast of Falster, forming part of the Zealand Region and Vordingborg Municipality following the 2007 local government reform. The terrain includes rolling hills, forests, pastures, and coastal plains, with the highest point at Aborrebjerg reaching 142 meters above sea level.^[63] The island's eastern coast features Møns Klint, a 6-kilometer stretch of chalk cliffs rising up to 128 meters above the sea, formed from marine chalk deposits dating to approximately 70 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period.^[64] These deposits primarily consist of coccoliths, microscopic calcite plates from marine algae, shaped by glacial erosion during the Pleistocene ice ages and ongoing coastal processes.^[65] The cliffs expose layered sedimentary sequences, including flint nodules and fossils, contributing to the area's geological significance and clear coastal waters from eroding chalk. Møns Klint borders woodlands, ponds, and steep slopes, supporting diverse ecosystems within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation for the island.^[66] Human settlement on Møn dates to the Stone Age, evidenced by passage graves, burial chambers, and megalithic monuments such as those near the cliffs.^[63] By the 12th century, the market town of Stege emerged as a key settlement, hosting a royal fortress until its decline in the medieval period; the island remained largely crown property until sales in 1769 enabled private estates and farming expansions.^[63] The fertile clay loam soils have historically supported agriculture, including grain cultivation and dairy production, which persist alongside modern rural economies.^[63] Tourism drives much of the contemporary economy, drawing visitors to Møns Klint's trails, the GeoCenter interpretive facility, sandy beaches, and sites like Liselund Park, a neoclassical landscape garden established in 1792.^[67] Møn and adjacent Nyord form a Dark Sky Community, certified in 2017 for minimal light pollution, enhancing astronomical observation opportunities amid the island's low-density population of around 9,400 as of 2017.^[68] Conservation efforts emphasize sustainable land use, balancing farming, forestry, and protected natural areas to preserve biodiversity and geological heritage.^[69]

Other Locations Named Mon

Mon District is an administrative division in the northeastern Indian state of Nagaland, serving as its northernmost district. It encompasses an area of 1,786 square kilometers and recorded a population of 250,671 in the 2011 census, with a literacy rate of 56.99%. The district is bounded by Sibsagar District of Assam to the north, Tuensang District of Nagaland to the south, Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh to the east, and Mokokchung and Tuensang Districts of Nagaland to the west. Its headquarters is the town of Mon, which functions as the administrative and economic center for the region.^[70] Smaller localities named Mon exist in various countries, including multiple villages across regions of Sweden such as Västra Götaland and Värmlands Län, as well as isolated places in Pakistan's Sindh province, Mexico's Durango state, Indonesia's Aceh region, Spain's Asturias, Switzerland's Graubünden, and Burkina Faso's Passoré province; however, these are primarily minor settlements with limited documentation or prominence beyond local geographic listings.^[71]

Other Meanings and Abbreviations

Prefixes and Word Roots

The prefix mon- or mono-, derived from Ancient Greek mónos ("alone, only, single"), denotes singularity or unity in numerous English words, particularly in scientific, technical, and philosophical contexts.^[72] For instance, monochrome refers to a single color, monopoly to exclusive control by one entity, and monotheism to belief in a single deity.^[73] This root appears before consonants as mon- (e.g., monandrous, having one male) and before vowels or h as mono- (e.g., monogamy, marriage to one spouse).^[74] Its adoption into English occurred primarily through Latin intermediaries during the Renaissance, when classical Greek texts influenced scientific nomenclature, as seen in terms like monad (a single unit) coined by philosophers such as Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz in the 17th century.^[75] A distinct Latin root mon-, from the verb monēre ("to warn, remind, advise"), forms words related to caution or notification.^[76] Examples include monitor (one who warns or oversees), admonition (a gentle warning), and premonition (a forewarning).^[77] This root entered English via ecclesiastical and legal Latin during the medieval period, with monitor first attested in English around 1540 to describe a school supervisor reminding pupils of duties.^[76] Unlike the Greek prefix, it functions more as a combining form emphasizing advisory action rather than numerical singularity. Less commonly, "mon" appears as a dialectal variant of Old English mon ("man, human"), an Indo-European root *mon-gh- denoting persons, influencing regional usages like Scottish "mon" for "man" but rarely as a productive prefix in modern standard English.^[78] These roots collectively underpin hundreds of derivatives, aiding morphological analysis in linguistics and vocabulary building.

Abbreviations (e.g., Monday)

"Mon" or "Mon." serves as the standard abbreviation for "Monday," the second day of the week in the Gregorian calendar and the first day of the typical workweek in many Western cultures.^[79]^[80] This abbreviation is widely employed in calendars, schedules, diaries, and business correspondence to conserve space while maintaining clarity.^[81]^[82] The form "Mon" without a period is common in informal and digital contexts, such as email signatures, spreadsheets, and mobile applications, whereas "Mon." with a period adheres to more traditional style guides like those in publishing and formal writing.^[81]^[83] In English-language conventions, it follows the sequence established for days: Sun. for Sunday, Mon. for Monday, Tue. or Tues. for Tuesday, and so on, reflecting phonetic shortening of the full name derived from Old English "mōnandæg," meaning "moon's day."^[84]^[82] This abbreviation's usage traces to practical needs in record-keeping and printing, where brevity aids efficiency; for instance, in tabular formats like weekly planners, "Mon" enables compact representation without ambiguity, as it is uniquely associated with Monday among days of the week.^[85] Variations are minimal in standard English, though some regional or stylistic preferences may omit the period entirely in modern digital interfaces.^[83]

Miscellaneous Uses

In automotive engineering, MON designates the Motor Octane Number, a measure of a gasoline blend's resistance to auto-ignition or knocking under simulated high-speed, high-temperature engine conditions, as determined by ASTM D2699 testing procedures; it complements the Research Octane Number (RON) by focusing on loaded motor operation, with the anti-knock index often calculated as (RON + MON)/2.^[86]^[87] Higher MON values indicate better performance in boosted or turbocharged engines, where fuels typically require MON ratings of 80 or above to prevent detonation.^[88] In astronomy, Mon serves as the International Astronomical Union (IAU)-approved three-letter abbreviation for Monoceros, a faint equatorial constellation introduced in the early 17th century by Petrus Plancius and depicting a unicorn; it spans 482 square degrees and contains notable deep-sky objects like the Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC 2264) and Hubble's Variable Nebula (NGC 2261).^[89]^[90] Under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, MON refers to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants applicable to miscellaneous organic chemical manufacturing processes, established in 2003 to limit emissions of volatile hazardous air pollutants such as ethylene oxide and benzene from over 200 affected facilities; amendments in 2020 further tightened controls, projecting reductions of 107 tons per year in hazardous pollutants through enhanced storage and wastewater management.^[91]^[92]^[93]

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The Myanmar junta has ramped up its “scorched earth” tactics against civilians in response to the growing armed resistance and territorial losses.
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[PDF] A Short Introduction to the Mon Language
The Mon language belongs to the Mon-Khmer branch of the Austroasiatic language family. Its closest relative is Nyah Kur, a language spoken by a few thousand ...
[28]
Issues in Austroasiatic Classification - Sidwell - 2013 - Compass Hub
Aug 19, 2013 · The Monic branch consists of two languages, Mon and Nyah Kur, spoken today by minorities in Myanmar and Thailand. These languages are ...
[29]
[PDF] The Origin and Dispersal of Austroasiatic Languages from the ...
Mar 15, 2024 · The Austroasiatic (AA) languages are a large language family in Mainland Southeast and South Asia. Theoretical, methodological, and material ...
[30]
Voice Register in Mon: Acoustics and Electroglottography - PMC
Mon is spoken in villages in Thailand and Myanmar. The dialect of Ban Nakhonchum, Thailand has two voice registers, modal and breathy; these phonation types ...
[31]
[PDF] New infixes in spoken Mon - SEAlang Projects
Morphology and Syntax of Spoken Mon. M.A. thesis,. University of London, SOAS. Diffloth, Gérard. 1984. The Dvaravati Old Mon Language and Nyah Kur. Monic ...
[32]
Mon-Khmer | The Oxford Handbook of Derivational Morphology
29.3.1 Phonological Issues ... In many Mon-Khmer languages, in main syllables, CV(C) is the standard basic syllable shape, initial consonant clusters are a good ...
[33]
(PDF) Morphological functions among Mon-Khmer languages
Aug 14, 2017 · Grammatical functions among Mon-Khmer languages thus tend to be expressed via word order and lexemes, not affixation. Of the readily ...
[34]
[PDF] Grammatical Functions in Mon-Khmer Morphology Mark J. Alves ...
Jul 19, 2013 · a-Non-Munda Mon-Khmer languages have almost exclusively prefixes and infixes, with suffixes only in very limited instances in Khasi and ...
[35]
(PDF) The Mon language:recipient and donor between Burmese ...
Oct 13, 2015 · Mon is spoken in south Myanmar and parts of central and northern Thailand and has been in intense contact with its neighboring languages for many centuries.
[36]
Mon language and alphabet - Omniglot
Feb 19, 2025 · Mon was first written during the 6th century AD in two different scripts: the Old Mon script of Dvaravati, which developed from the Grantha ( ...Missing: history | Show results with:history
[37]
Mon language | Mon-Burmese, Mon-Khmer, Mon-Thai | Britannica
Old Mon is written in a script originating from South India. The Mon writing system evolved gradually into its modern form and served as a basis for the Burmese ...
[38]
[PDF] mon writing and inscriptions in the first era (5 - -12
Mon literature developed from the 5th to 12th century AD, including Dvaravati, Thaton, and Bagan eras, using stone, bell, votive, and ink inscriptions.Missing: texts | Show results with:texts
[39]
Mon Language in Thailand: The endangered heritage - Burma Library
May 11, 2003 · ... Mon literature in Thailand . We may divide Mon literature in Thailand into 5 groups: Religion, Texts, Society, History, and Folklore and Poetry.
[40]
The Position of the <i>Rājāvaṁsa Katnā</i> in Mon History-Telling
Nov 16, 2011 · The Rājāvaṁsa Kathā is a collection of Mon-language historical texts and includes some of the longest, most elaborated, and well-known ...
[41]
[PDF] Thai and Mon Literature:
Thai and Mon literature share common origins, often in verses, with Indian mythological elements, and scenic descriptions. Thai literature is more elaborated. ...
[42]
digitising Mon palm-leaf manuscripts of Thailand. Part 2 (EAP1432)
This project digitizes Mon palm-leaf manuscripts, prioritizing secular texts, producing 38,000 images and 900 texts, mostly in Mon, with some Pāli and Thai.<|separator|>
[43]
Kalawt Pakoaw – Mon Learn Hub
The Mon language and literature are deeply rooted in Southeast Asia' history, especially in Myanmar and Thailand. Studying ancient Mon texts preserves a ...
[44]
Mon - Accent Network
Mon includes complex tones and vowel sounds, challenging for non-native speakers. Grammatical Structure. Typically SVO, though flexible word order is sometimes ...
[45]
Mon Language (MNW) - Ethnologue
Mon is a stable indigenous language of Myanmar and Thailand. It belongs to the Austro-Asiatic language family. The language is used as a first language by all ...
[46]
After struggling for 20 years, a Mon-language newspaper in ...
Dec 3, 2019 · Myanmar's Mon-language weekly newspaper Guiding Star has just celebrated 20 years in operation. We spoke to Nai Kasauh Mon, the chief editor and founder of the ...Missing: radio | Show results with:radio
[47]
Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA) - Burma Library
Every month, IMNA is publishing Mon language newspaper called Guiding Star, be targeted Mon audience in Thailand and Burma. IMNA also have Mon DVB radio program ...Missing: media | Show results with:media
[48]
Mon lead the way in mother tongue education | Frontier Myanmar
May 20, 2019 · Mon educators now seek recognition for their mother tongue-based system, while the government slowly brings ethnic languages into classrooms.
[49]
Local Languages and Education Amidst Conflict and Federal ...
' In contrast, the NMSP's Mon National Schools have followed a model largely aligned with classic mother tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) practices ...
[50]
Disagreement among Mon community over permission to teach Mon ...
Mar 14, 2023 · There are differences of opinion among the Mon community regarding the permission to teach Mon language during school hours in Mon state's villages.
[51]
The Formation of MLPO
The Mon Language Preservation Organization (MLPO) was initially formed with some like-minded friends in America. With more participants, it took the place of ...Missing: Myanmar | Show results with:Myanmar
[52]
Mon Culture and Literature Survival Project - Burma Library
"The Mon Culture and Literature Survival Project (MCL) is a group of people both Mon and foreigners who are concerned with the preservation of the cultural ...
[53]
transnational movement to preserve Mon scripts in Thailand
Oct 15, 2024 · This paper examines the transnational movements among the Mons in Thailand, the oversea Mons and the Mon migrants from Myanmar to preserve Mon written language.
[54]
Endangered languages: the full list | News | theguardian.com
Apr 15, 2011 · The UNESCO provide an Alas of endangered languages on their website. ... Mon, 800000, Vulnerable. Polesian, 800000, Vulnerable. Tamaceq, 800000 ...
[55]
Mon State - Ministry of Hotels and Tourism
Mon is a state in Myanmar which covers a narrow strip of land located ... State capital - Mawlamying. Home to the Mon People. 2.05 million population ...
[56]
[PDF] Mon State Profile - MIMU
The Mon people are one of the oldest civilizations in South-‐East Asia, with a recorded history dating back more than a millennium, and are believed to be a ...
[57]
[PDF] Mon State Census Report - UNFPA Myanmar
The population density of Mon State in March 2014 was 167 persons per square kilometre. ... area to the surface of the area, expressed in square kilometres (Km2).
[58]
Ethnic Groups in Myanmar - Shanti Travel
Jun 17, 2024 · Location: Southern Myanmar, Mon State · Language: Mon (Austroasiatic) · Religion: Theravada Buddhism with nat (spirit) worship · Traditions: The ...
[59]
Prioritize unity among national brethren | Ministry Of Information
Mar 20, 2024 · According to the Constitution (1974) of the Socialist Republic of Burma, Taninthayi Region No 1 was renamed Mon State on 19 March when Mon State ...Missing: sources facts
[60]
Toward a Rural Development Strategy for Mon State, Myanmar
Aug 5, 2016 · According to the Mon State Rural Household Survey carried out in 2015, the main sources of rural household income are agricultural production ( ...
[61]
MKCF-Project View
Agriculture was a primary economic driver in Myanmar, especially in developing regions like Mon State, where the majority of the population relied on it for ...
[62]
Ramyana Mon Army Formed | Burma News International
May 30, 2025 · This follows the formation of the Ramanya Joint Task Force on 19 January 2025 by the MNLA-D, which is the armed wing of the New Mon State Party ...<|separator|>
[63]
Møn | Beach, Cliffs, Nature Reserve - Britannica
The island has an area of 84 square miles (218 square km) and lies in the Baltic Sea. It is separated from southern Zealand by the Ulv Strait and from Falster ...
[64]
Møns Klint White Cliffs of Møn - Denmark - Travel In Culture
Mar 9, 2025 · The spectacular cliffs rise 128 metres above the turquoise sea and the fossil beach below telling their own story of Denmark's past.
[65]
Möns geology - Insel Mön
The chalk cliffs of Møns Klint consist mainly of microscopic calcareous algae, known as coccoliths, which formed the seabed around 70 million years ago, in the ...
[66]
7 fun ways to really experience Møns Klint | VisitDenmark
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is perched on the island of Møn, itself recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. With its towering white chalk cliffs and rare ...Missing: facts verifiable sources
[67]
Attractions in Møns klint - The Danish Nature Agency
Møns Klint is a place of extremes. It is a wild, white world of chalk and raging natural forces. Adjacent to Møns Klint is Liselund Park.
[68]
Møn and Nyord | DarkSky International
Mar 17, 2017 · Møn and Nyord are two islands in the Zealand Region of southeastern Denmark comprising 223 km2 (86 square miles) of land area.Missing: geography | Show results with:geography
[69]
Møn - an island of enjoyment! - Mønguide.com
There were flowers for the now endangered bees, while there also needs to be room for agriculture. Biosphere Reserve covers the land, the water and the sky – ...
[70]
MON | The Land of Anghs | India
DISTRICT AT A GLANCE · Area: 1,786 sq km · Population: 2,50,671 · Literacy Rate: 56.99% · Block: 8 · Villages: 131 · Legislative Constituency: 9 · Municipality: 5.About Mon · Subdivision & Blocks · Demography · Map of District
[71]
How many places are named Mon? - Geotargit
There are 24 places in the world named Mon! ... Mon can be found in 9 countries throughout the world. In some countries the place can be found more than once. For ...
[72]
mono- (Prefix) - Word Root - Membean
The prefix mono- and its variant mon- mean “one.” Here is an anything but monotonous rootcast to teach you about these singular prefixes!
[73]
The web's largest word root and prefix directory - LearnThatWord
mon/o, one, single, alone, Greek, monochromat - having one color; monologue - a speech spoken by one person; monotheism - belief in one god. list, mot, mov ...<|separator|>
[74]
Rootcast: Mono a Mono - Membean
The prefix mono- and its variant mon-, which both mean “one,” are important prefixes in the English language. For instance, the prefix mono- gave rise to ...
[75]
Using Greek and Latin Prefixes to Understand English Words
May 2, 2022 · Common Prefixes in English & Their Greek and Latin Roots ; mis-, hate, GREEK, misandry, misogyny ; mon-, one, GREEK, monotone, monolith.
[76]
[PDF] Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms
mon, -a, -er, -o (G). One, single monet (L). Money; mint monil, -i (L). A necklace, string of beads monimo (G). Fixed, steadfast monit (L). Warn; warning.
[77]
Root words and origins(BEI-TEP) Flashcards - Quizlet
English Tea's test - knowledge of language (grammar, rhetorical context, paragraph) ... ROOT-mon. warn(premonition, admonition). ROOT-mor, mort. death(mortal ...
[78]
Etymology of 'Man' Part 2 | OUPblog
Nov 18, 2015 · Old Engl. mon, which alternated with man, is the product of a local rule, according to which Old Engl. a yielded o before n; mon has no ...
[79]
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/mon
[80]
https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/Mon
[81]
Standard Month and Days of the Week Abbreviations - YourDictionary
The long abbreviations for the days of the week are: Sun - Sunday; Mon - Monday; Tue or Tues - Tuesday; Wed - Wednesday; Thu, Thur, or Thurs - Thursday; Fri ...
[82]
Abbreviations of Months of the Year and Days of the Week
Abbreviations of Days of the Week. 1. Sunday - Sun. 2. Monday - Mon. 3. Tuesday - Tu., Tue., or Tues. 4. Wednesday - Wed. 5. Thursday - Th., Thu., Thur., or ...
[83]
Standard Abbreviations For Months, Weekdays, & Timezones
May 11, 2023 · Common Day Abbreviations · Sunday - Sun. · Monday - Mon. · Tuesday - Tues. or Tue. · Wednesday - Wed. or Weds. · Thursday - Thu, Thur., or Thurs.
[84]
Days of the Week | Learn English
Days of the Week ; Monday, Mon. Mo. ; Tuesday, Tue. Tu. ; Wednesday, Wed. We. ; Thursday, Thu. Th. ; Friday, Fri. Fr.
[85]
Abbreviations of Months of the Year, Days of the Week, and Other ...
Abbreviations of Days of the Week · 1. Sunday – Sun. · 2. Monday – Mon. · 3. Tuesday – Tu., Tue., or Tues. · 4. Wednesday – Wed. · 5. Thursday – Th., Thu., Thur., or ...
[86]
Gasoline explained - octane in depth - U.S. Energy Information ... - EIA
Octane ratings are measures of fuel stability. These ratings are based on the pressure at which a fuel will spontaneously combust (auto-ignite) in a testing ...
[87]
https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?def_id=15-USC-473348282-821793327&term_occur=999&term_src=title:15:chapter:55:subchapter:II:section:2821
[88]
[PDF] Motor Gasoline Specifications - Division of Oil and Public Safety (OPS)
The octane number is a measure of the antiknock performance of a gasoline or gasoline component, the higher the octane number, the greater the fuel's ability to ...
[89]
Constellation: Monoceros - NOIRLab
Monoceros is derived from the Greek word for unicorn. It is a faint constellation on the celestial equator.
[90]
Monoceros Constellation (the Unicorn): Stars, Location, Story, Facts
The genitive form of Monoceros, used in star names, is Monocerotis (pronunciation: /ˌmɒnəsɪˈroʊtɪs/). The three-letter abbreviation, adopted by the ...
[91]
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
This rule promulgates national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for miscellaneous organic chemical manufacturing facilities.
[92]
Final Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing Risk ... - EPA
May 29, 2020 · The final MON amendments are expected to reduce emissions of hazardous air pollutants from the source category by 107 tons per year, which ...
[93]
Reconsideration of the 2020 National Emission Standards for ...
Dec 21, 2022 · The EPA promulgated the Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing NESHAP (MON) on November 10, 2003 (68 FR 63852), and further amended the ...