John Okell

Who is John Okell?

John William Alan Okell OBE is a research associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He is one of the world's leading experts on Burmese language and culture. Okell studied Classics at the University of Oxford. He then received training in linguistics at SOAS under R.K. Sprigg and others before travelling to Burma to learn Burmese. Upon his return to SOAS he collaborated on the Burmese English Dictionary founded by Stewart until the abandonment of this project in 1981. He learned Burmese literature and tradition from those like Burmese famous pandit, musician and historian Shwepyi U Ba Tin.

Okell was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to UK/Burma relations.