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The Kuki-Chin languages (also called Kuki-Chin-Mizo, Kukish or South-Central Tibeto-Burman languages) are a branch of 50 or so Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in northeastern India, western Myanmar and southeastern
Bangladesh Bangladesh (}, ), officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the eighth-most populous country in the world, with a population exceeding 165 million people in an area of . Bangladesh is among the mos ...
. Most speakers of these languages are known as Mizo in
Mizoram Mizoram () is a state in Northeast India, with Aizawl as its seat of government and capital city. The name of the state is derived from " Mizo", the self-described name of the native inhabitants, and "Ram", which in the Mizo language means "lan ...
and Manipur. Also, as Kukī in Assamese and
Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
and as
Chin The chin is the forward pointed part of the anterior mandible ( mental region) below the lower lip. A fully developed human skull has a chin of between 0.7 cm and 1.1 cm. Evolution The presence of a well-developed chin is considered to be on ...
in Burmese; some also identify as Zomi. Mizo is the most widely spoken of the Kuki-Chin languages. Kuki-Chin is sometimes placed under Kuki-Chin–Naga, a geographical rather than linguistic grouping. Most Kuki-Chin languages are spoken in and around Chin State, Myanmar, with some languages spoken in
Sagaing Division Sagaing Region ( my, စစ်ကိုင်းတိုင်းဒေသကြီး, ; formerly Sagaing Division) is an administrative region of Myanmar, located in the north-western part of the country between latitude 21° 30' north and lo ...
,
Magway Region Magway Region ( my, မကွေးတိုင်းဒေသကြီး, ; formerly Magway Division) is an administrative division in central Myanmar. It is the second largest of Myanmar's seven divisions, with an area of . Pa Del Dam (ပဒ� ...
and
Rakhine State Rakhine State (; , , ; formerly known as Arakan State) is a state in Myanmar (Burma). Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State to the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region to the east, the Bay of Bengal ...
as well. In Northeast India, many Northern Kuki-Chin languages are also spoken in
Mizoram Mizoram () is a state in Northeast India, with Aizawl as its seat of government and capital city. The name of the state is derived from " Mizo", the self-described name of the native inhabitants, and "Ram", which in the Mizo language means "lan ...
State and Manipur State of India, especially in
Churachandpur District Churachandpur District ( Meitei pronunciation: ''/tʃʊraːˌtʃaːnɗpʊr/''), is one of the 16 districts in the southwestern corner of the Indian state of Manipur that covers an area of . It is named after the Meitei King Churachand Singh, ...
, Pherzawl District,
Kangpokpi District Kangpokpi district ( Meitei pronunciation: /kāng-pōk-pī/), also known as Sadar Hills district, is one of the 16 districts in the Indian state of Manipur. It was created in December 2016 from areas in the Sadar Hills region which were prev ...
, Senapati District. Northwestern Kuki-Chin languages are spoken mostly in
Chandel District Chandel district ( Meitei pronunciation:/ˌtʃænˈdɛl/) is one of the 16 districts of Manipur state in northeastern India. As of 2011 it was the second least populous district in the state, after Tamenglong. In December 2016, a part of the ...
, Manipur. Kuki-Chin is alternatively called ''South-Central'' Trans-Himalayan (or ''South Central'' Tibeto-Burman) by Konnerth (2018), because of negative connotations of the term "Kuki-Chin" for many speakers of languages in this group.


Internal classification

The Karbi languages may be closely related to Kuki-Chin, but Thurgood (2003) and van Driem (2011) leave Karbi unclassified within Sino-Tibetan. The Kuki-Chin branches listed below are from VanBik (2009), with the '' Northwestern'' branch added from
Scott DeLancey Scott DeLancey (born 1949) is an American linguist from the University of Oregon. His work focuses on typology and historical linguistics of Tibeto-Burman languages as well as North American indigenous languages such as the Penutian family, par ...
, et al. (2015), and the '' Khomic'' branch (which has been split off from the ''Southern'' branch) from Peterson (2017). ;Kuki-Chin *
Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known a ...
: Mizo (Duhlian), Bawm (Sunthla and Panghawi), Falam (Hallam, Hauhulh, Simpi, Hualngo, Chorei), Tawr,
Hmar Hmar may refer to: *Hmars or Hmar people *Hmar language Hmar language, also known by its endonym Khawsak Ṭawng, belongs to the Kukish branch of the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. The speakers of the language are also known as Hmar. Acc ...
, Hrangkhol, Biate (Biete),
Hakha Hakha (, ; formerly rendered Haka) is the capital of Chin State in Myanmar. Hakha is located in the northeast of Chin State, with a total area of about . The city of Hakha is more than above sea level, founded on a small highland plateau. Althou ...
(Lai/Pawi, Mi-E, Zokhua), Pangkhua, Saihriem, Laizo/ Tlaisun, Khualsim,
Zanniat The Zanniat tribe are people of western Myanmar (Burma) who are a sub-group of the Chin peoples. The Zanniat tribe has fifty-seven sub-groupings and clans. The group's existence was recorded (along with three of its many sub-groups) in Burma's 1931 ...
, Zahau * Maraic:
Mara Mara or MARA may refer to: Animals *Mara (mammal), a species of the cavy family *Mara the Lioness, in the movie ''Born Free'' Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Mara (''Doctor Who''), an evil being in two ''Doctor Who'' serials *Mara, ...
(Tlosai , Hawthai , Hlaipao ), Zophei, Senthang, Zotung (Lungngo, Calthawn, Innmai),
Lautu The ''Lutuv (Lautu) are an indigenous people inhabiting Southern Chin State in Myanmar. The Lutuv were initially known by other tribes as the 'Lautu' of the Southern Independent Villages derived from the Hakha Hakha (, ; formerly rendered Haka) i ...
*
Northern Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a r ...
: Suantak-Vaiphei, Zo (Zou), Paite,
Tedim Tedim (, , ( Zo: ''Tedim Khawpi'', pronounced ; is a town in and the administrative seat of Tedim Township, Chin State, in the north-western part of Burma. It is the second largest town in Chin State. The town's four major boroughs (''vengte'') ...
, Thado (Kuki),
Gangte Gangte is an ethnic group mainly living in the Indian state of Manipur. They belong to the Zo people and are parts of the Kuki or under Mizo tribe and are recognised a tribe of Manipur, India. They are also indigenous inhabitants of Mizoram, ...
, Simte, Vaiphei, Sizang,
Ralte {{unreferenced, date=June 2016 The Ralte tribes were mostly found scattered in the northern part of today's Aizawl, Kolasib and Serchhip Mamit, Lunglei District and all over Mizoram. Tahan (Myanmar) Bangladesh, Tripura, Assam and Manipur India ...
, Ngawn *
Southern Southern may refer to: Businesses * China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China * Southern Airways, defunct US airline * Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US * Southern Airways Express, M ...
: Shö (Asho/Khyang, Chinbon), Thaiphum, Daai (Nitu), Mün, Yindu, Matu, Welaung (Rawngtu), Kaang, Laitu, Rungtu, Songlai, Sumtu * Khomic: Khumi (Khumi proper and Khumi Awa), Mro, Rengmitca, etc. * Northwestern ( Southern Naga): Monsang,
Moyon Moyon () is a former commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune of Moyon Villages.Lamkang,
Aimol The Aimol people are an ethnic group living mainly in Manipur and in parts of Mizoram, Tripura,Nagaland and Assam in India. They speak Aimol language which is a Kuki-Chin language. Aimol people are one of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo people. They pract ...
,
Anal Anal may refer to: Related to the anus *Related to the anus of animals: ** Anal fin, in fish anatomy ** Anal vein, in insect anatomy ** Anal scale, in reptile anatomy *Related to the human anus: ** Anal sex, a type of sexual activity involving ...
, Tarao,
Koireng The Koireng people are one of the indigenous peoples inhabiting Manipur in North-East India. They have a shared common ancestry, history, cultural traits, folklore and dialects with their kindred people like Aimol The Aimol people are an ethn ...
(Kolhreng),
Chiru The Tibetan antelope or chiru (''Pantholops hodgsonii'') (, pronounced ; ) is a medium-sized bovid native to the northeastern Tibetan plateau. Most of the population live within the Chinese border, while some scatter across India and Bhutan in ...
,
Kom Kom or KOM may refer to: Ethnic groups * Kom people (Afghanistan), a Nuristani tribe in Afghanistan and Pakistan * Kom people (Cameroon), an ethnic group of northwest Cameroon * Kom people (India) a subgroup of the Kuki in north-eastern India * ...
, Chothe, Purum, Kharam, Darlong and
Ranglong Ranglong is a language spoken in some Indian villages. The Ranglong people live in a small and densely-packed area over three federal Indian states. Ranglong people The term Ranglong is used interchangeably with Langrong by different scholar ...
are unclassified Kuki-Chin language. The recently discovered
Sorbung Sorbung is a recently discovered Sino-Tibetan language spoken in Manipur, northeastern India. Although the speakers are ethnically Tangkhul, it appears to be a non-Tangkhulic Kuki-Chin language, as it shows strong links with what was called 'Sou ...
language may be mixed language that could classify as either a Kuki-Chin or
Tangkhul Tangkhul Naga may refer to: * Tangkhul Naga people ( Tangkhul Nagas) - Tangkhul people * Tangkhul Naga language - Tangkhul language Tangkhul (Tangkhul Naga) is a Sino-Tibetan language of the Tangkhulic branch. It is spoken in 168 villages of ...
language (Mortenson & Keogh 2011).David Mortenson and Jennifer Keogh. 2011.
Sorbung, an Undocumented Language of Manipur: its Phonology and Place in Tibeto-Burman
, in ''JEALS'' 4, vol 1.
Anu-Hkongso speakers self-identify as ethnic
Chin people The Chin people (, ) are a Southeast Asian people native to Chin State and its neighbouring states of Myanmar.Head, JonathanBurma's 'abused Chin need help' ''BBC News'', Jan 28, 2009, accessed Jan 28, 2009 The Chin are one of the founding groups ...
, although their language is closely related to Mru rather than to Kuki-Chin languages. The Mruic languages constitute a separate Tibeto-Burman branch, and are not part of Kuki-Chin.


VanBik (2009)

Kenneth VanBik's (2009:23) classified the Kuki-Chin languages based on shared
sound changes A sound change, in historical linguistics, is a change in the pronunciation of a language. A sound change can involve the replacement of one speech sound (or, more generally, one phonetic feature value) by a different one (called phonetic cha ...
(phonological innovations) from Proto-Kuki-Chin as follows. Kuki-Chin *
Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known a ...
: *k(ʰ)r-, *p(ʰ)r- > *t(ʰ)r-; *k(ʰ)l-, *p(ʰ)l- > *t(ʰ)l-; *y- > *z- ** Pangkhua? ** Lamtuk Thet: Lamtuk, Ruavan ** Lai ***
Hakha Hakha (, ; formerly rendered Haka) is the capital of Chin State in Myanmar. Hakha is located in the northeast of Chin State, with a total area of about . The city of Hakha is more than above sea level, founded on a small highland plateau. Althou ...
:
Hakha Hakha (, ; formerly rendered Haka) is the capital of Chin State in Myanmar. Hakha is located in the northeast of Chin State, with a total area of about . The city of Hakha is more than above sea level, founded on a small highland plateau. Althou ...
,
Thantlang Thantlang (, ; also Thlantlang or Htantlang in Burmese transliteration) is a town and the administrative center of Thantlang Township in Chin State, western Myanmar (formerly Burma). Names Thantlang was formerly known as Thlan Tlang ("Cemete ...
, Zokhua *** Falam: Bawm, Bualkhaw, Laizo, Lente, Khualsim, Khuangli, Sim, Tlaisun,
Zanniat The Zanniat tribe are people of western Myanmar (Burma) who are a sub-group of the Chin peoples. The Zanniat tribe has fifty-seven sub-groupings and clans. The group's existence was recorded (along with three of its many sub-groups) in Burma's 1931 ...
** Mizo *** Mizo: Fanai, Hualngo, Lushai, Khiangte ***
Hmar Hmar may refer to: *Hmars or Hmar people *Hmar language Hmar language, also known by its endonym Khawsak Ṭawng, belongs to the Kukish branch of the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. The speakers of the language are also known as Hmar. Acc ...
: Khosak, Thiek, Lawitlang, Khawbung, Darngawn, Lungtau, Leiri * Maraic: *kr- > *ts-; *-ʔ, *-r, *-l > -Ø; *-p, *-t, *-k > *-ʔ; *θ- > *s- **
Mara Mara or MARA may refer to: Animals *Mara (mammal), a species of the cavy family *Mara the Lioness, in the movie ''Born Free'' Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Mara (''Doctor Who''), an evil being in two ''Doctor Who'' serials *Mara, ...
***Tlosai ****Saikao ****Siaha ***Hlaipao ****Heima ****Lialai ****Vahapi/Zyhno ***HawThai ****Sizo *****Ngaphepi *****Sabyu *****Chapi ****Lyvaw *****Lochei *****Tisih *****Phybyu **
Lautu The ''Lutuv (Lautu) are an indigenous people inhabiting Southern Chin State in Myanmar. The Lutuv were initially known by other tribes as the 'Lautu' of the Southern Independent Villages derived from the Hakha Hakha (, ; formerly rendered Haka) i ...
***Hnaro ***Chawngthia ** Zophei ***Vytu ***Sate/Awsa ** Senthang ***Khuapi ***Surkhua ** Zotung *h- > *f-; *kr- > *r-; *khl- > *kh-, *l-; *c(h)- > *t(h)-/*s-; *y- > *z-/*z(h)-; *w- > *v- ***Calthawng ***Innmai ***Lungngo/Tinpa *Peripheral: *r- > *g- **
Northern Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a r ...
: *θ- > *ts-; *kl- > *tl-; *-r > *-k *** Thado/ Kuki,
Tedim Tedim (, , ( Zo: ''Tedim Khawpi'', pronounced ; is a town in and the administrative seat of Tedim Township, Chin State, in the north-western part of Burma. It is the second largest town in Chin State. The town's four major boroughs (''vengte'') ...
, Khuangsai, Paite Vuite,
Chiru The Tibetan antelope or chiru (''Pantholops hodgsonii'') (, pronounced ; ) is a medium-sized bovid native to the northeastern Tibetan plateau. Most of the population live within the Chinese border, while some scatter across India and Bhutan in ...
*** Sizang,
Guite Guite is the progenitor clan of Mizo people He is also said to be the Older Brother of Thadou progenitor of the Thadou people. Mostly the Guite clan speak mizo language . Some known as Zomi and few also as kuki in India and as Zogam in Myanmar ...
, Vaiphei,
Ralte {{unreferenced, date=June 2016 The Ralte tribes were mostly found scattered in the northern part of today's Aizawl, Kolasib and Serchhip Mamit, Lunglei District and all over Mizoram. Tahan (Myanmar) Bangladesh, Tripura, Assam and Manipur India ...
, **
Southern Southern may refer to: Businesses * China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China * Southern Airways, defunct US airline * Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US * Southern Airways Express, M ...
(Southern Plains): *-r > *-y *** Khumi: Khomi, Wakung *** Cho-Asho ****Asho ****Cho: Matu; Chinpon; Daai, Nghmoye, Ngmuun, Mkaang


Peterson (2017)

David A. Peterson's (2017:206)Peterson, David. 2017. "On Kuki-Chin subgrouping." In Picus Sizhi Ding and Jamin Pelkey, eds. ''Sociohistorical linguistics in Southeast Asia: New horizons for Tibeto-Burman studies in honor of David Bradley'', 189-209. Leiden: Brill. internal classification of the Kuki-Chin languages is as follows. ;Kuki-Chin * Northwestern: '' Purum (Naga), Koireng, Monsang (Naga)'', etc. *Central ** Core Central ** Maraic *Peripheral ** Northeastern ** Khomic: ''Khami/ Khumi, Mro-Khimi, Lemi, Rengmitca'', etc. **
Southern Southern may refer to: Businesses * China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China * Southern Airways, defunct US airline * Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US * Southern Airways Express, M ...
***''Cho'' ***Daai'' ***''Hyow''/'' Asho'' Peterson's ''Northeastern'' branch corresponds to VanBik's ''Northern'' branch, while Peterson's ''Northwestern'' corresponds to the ''Old Kuki'' branch of earlier classifications.


See also

*
Lai languages The Lai languages or Pawih/Pawi languages are various Central Kuki-Chin-Mizo languages spoken by the Lai people or Pawi. They include “ Laiṭong” ( Falam-Chin) spoken in Falam district, ''Laiholh'' ( Hakha-Chin) spoken around the Haka (Hakh ...
*
Pau Cin Hau script The Pau Cin Hau scripts, known as Pau Cin Hau lai ('Pau Cin Hau script'), or Zo tual lai ('Zo indigenous script') in Zomi, are two scripts, a logographic script and an alphabetic script created by Pau Cin Hau, a Zomi religious leader from Chin Sta ...
* Kuki-Chin Swadesh lists (Wiktionary)


References


Bibliography

* George van Driem (2001) ''Languages of the Himalayas: An Ethnolinguistic Handbook of the Greater Himalayan Region.'' Brill, . * VanBik, Kenneth. 2009. ''Proto-Kuki-Chin: A Reconstructed Ancestor of the Kuki-Chin Languages''. STEDT Monograph 8. .


Further reading

*Button, Christopher. 2011. ''Proto Northern Chin''. STEDT Monograph 10. . http://stedt.berkeley.edu/pubs_and_prods/STEDT_Monograph10_Proto-Northern-Chin.pdf * * *Mann, Noel, and Wendy Smith. 2008
Chin bibliography
Chiang Mai: Payap University. *S. Dal Sian Pau. 2014. ''The comparative study of Proto-Zomi (Kuki-Chin) languages''. Lamka, Manipur, India: Zomi Language & Literature Society (ZOLLS). Paite,__Simte,_ Paite,__Simte,_Thangkhal_language">Thangkhal,_Zou_language.html" ;"title="Thangkhal_language.html" ;"title="omparative word list of Paite, Simte, Thangkhal language">Thangkhal, Zou language">Zou,
Kom Kom or KOM may refer to: Ethnic groups * Kom people (Afghanistan), a Nuristani tribe in Afghanistan and Pakistan * Kom people (Cameroon), an ethnic group of northwest Cameroon * Kom people (India) a subgroup of the Kuki in north-eastern India * ...
, Paite or
Tedim Tedim (, , ( Zo: ''Tedim Khawpi'', pronounced ; is a town in and the administrative seat of Tedim Township, Chin State, in the north-western part of Burma. It is the second largest town in Chin State. The town's four major boroughs (''vengte'') ...
, and Vaiphei] *Smith, Wendy and Noel Mann. 2009
Chin bibliography with selected annotations
Chiang Mai: Payap University. *


External links


Tlângsam: Latest News in Hmar language – Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, NE India

Recent Advances in Kuki-Chin Linguistics
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