Death of Marie-Hélène Cardinaud (1950–2026)

25 August 2026

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It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the death of Marie-Hélène Cardinaud, who taught at our school and took over as head of the Burmese department from 1989 to 2014, succeeding Denise Bernot.
Bougies allumées
Bougies allumées © Lakan Erenter / Pexels‎

Many colleagues, students and friends of Burmese studies will remember her love for Burma, her sense of humour, her integrity and her outspokenness.

Marie-Hélène Cardinaud co-authored, with Denise Bernot and Daw Yin Yin Myint, several key reference works for the teaching of Burmese in French-speaking contexts: Burmese Textbook (Volume 1): The Language of Myanmar (L’Asiathèque, 1990 / reprinted 2010), Let’s Speak Burmese: The Language of Myanmar (L’Harmattan, 1993), Burmese Textbook (Volume 2): Burmese Grammar (L’Asiathèque, 2001).

A Knight of the National Order of Merit and the Order of Academic Palms, Marie-Hélène Cardinaud has also conducted research into Burmese literature, particularly aetiological tales, collected in collaboration with leading Burmese academics, which have resulted in publications and works such as Why It Is Women Who Give Birth to Children – Burmese Tales (Grancher, 2004).

With this message, the university, the Burmese Studies Section, the Department of South-East Asia and the Pacific, and the Burma Research Group wish to pay tribute to her today and share in the grief of her loved ones.