Nga La language

Last updated
Matu
Matupi Chin
Region Myanmar, India
Ethnicity Matupi
Native speakers
30,000 (2012) [1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3 hlt
Glottolog ngal1291

Matu, also known as Matu Chin, Batu, or Nga La, is a Kuki-Chin spoken in Matupi township, Chin State, Myanmar, and also in Mizoram, India by the Matu people. Matu is the most commonly spoken language in Matupi Township outside of Burmese language, which is the official language of Myanmar.

The Matu dialects share 78%–89% lexical similarity. [2] Matu shares 65%–76% lexical similarity with Rawngtu Chin, and 66%–71% with Thaiphum Chin. [2]

Dialects

Ethnologue lists the following dialects of Matupi, Chin State. Matu from Mizoram, India is reportedly not intelligible with various tribal ethnicities of Matupi in Myanmar.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matupi Township</span> Township in Chin State, Burma

Matupi Township is a township of Matupi District in the Chin State of Burma (Myanmar). Matupi is the administrative center for the township.

The Lai people mainly inhabit the southern parts of Chin Hills in Myanmar's Chin State, in the townships of Falam, Thantlang and Hakha. They are also found in the Lawngtlai district of Mizoram, India, where they have been granted the Lai Autonomous District Council. Outside this area they are scattered in Mizoram and in Manipur. Their languages "Lai holh" and "Hakha holh" are classified as Central Kuki-Chin languages.

Lai, Laiholh, or Pawi is a Kuki-Chin language spoken in central Chin State in Myanmar, and Lawngtlai district of Mizoram, India. Hakha Chin-speaking minorities are also found in the Sagaing and Magway Regions of Myanmar, and in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeastern Bangladesh by the Bawm minority.

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The Kuki-Chin languages are a branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family spoken in northeastern India, western Myanmar and southeastern Bangladesh. Most notable Kuki-Chin-speaking ethnic groups are referred to collectively as the Zo people which includes: the Mizo of Mizoram, the Kuki of Manipur, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and Bangladesh and the Chin of Chin State, Myanmar.

Falam Chin is a Kuki-Chin language in Falam Township, Chin State, Myanmar, and also in Mizoram, India.

Mro-Khimi is a Kuki-Chin language of Burma spoken by the Mro-Khimi people. The Mro-Khimi varieties share 91% to 98% lexical similarity. Mro-Khimi is 86%–90% lexically similar with the Likhy variety of Eastern Khumi, 81%–85% with Lemi variety of Eastern Khumi, and 77%–81% with Kaladan Khumi.

Khumi, or Khumi Chin, is a Kuki-Chin-Mizo language of Burma, with some speakers across the border in Bangladesh. Khumi shares 75%–87% lexical similarity with Eastern Khumi, and 78-81% similarity with Mro-Khimi.

Senthang is a Kuki-Chin-Mizo language of Burma. The Senthang dialects share 79% to 95% lexical similarity.

Dai, which borders the Mün and Ütbü language groups, is a Kuki-Chin of Myanmar. It is spoken in 142 villages in Kanpetlet, Matupi, Mindat, and Paletwa townships in Chin State, Burma (Ethnologue).

Welaung, also known as Rawngtu Chin, is a purported Kuki-Chin-Mizo languages of Burma. It is spoken in Mindat township, Chin State, as well as in 2 villages of Htilin township, Magway Region.

The Chin Association for Christian Communication (CACC) is non-profit, faith-based organization dedicated to the preservation of Chin culture and language. CACC is located in Hakha, Burma. The most well-known projects and activities undertaken by CACC are revising and updating Laiholh. At the moment, CACC is in-charge of standardizing Laiholh, the most widely spoken Chin dialects in Burma. Though there is no common language or official language in Chin State, Laiholh is used as a medium of communication among different Chin groups in Hakha, Thantlang, Matupi, Falam, Burma, and diasporas all over the world.

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Kaang is a Kuki-Chin language spoken by about 35,000 people in Mindat Township and Matupi Township, Chin State, Myanmar. There are three sub-groups under Kaang, namely Zo Kaang, Puei Kaang, and Cum Kaang. Kaang has 73% to 80% lexical similarity with Welaung, 77% to 79% similarity with Müün Chin, and 67% to 80% with Daai Chin.

Laitu "လေးတူ" is a Kuki-Chin language of Burma. It is partially intelligible with Sumtu Chin. In Sittwe District, Rakhine State, Laitu is spoken in Minbya, Mrauk-U, and Myebon townships, and is also spoken in Paletwa township, Chin State. Laitu has 91-96% lexical similarity with Sumtu Chin and Songlai Chin, 85-89% similarity with Chinbon Chin, and 82-84% lexical similarity with Asho.

Rungtu, also known as Taungtha, is a moribund Kuki-Chin language of Burma spoken by the Taungtha people. It is spoken in 35 villages in Htilin, Kyaukhtu, and Saw townships, Magway Region. There are 3 dialects, namely Northern Rungtu, Central Rungtu, and Southern Rungtu.

Songlai is a Kuki-Chin language of Burma. It is 90% lexically similar to Laitu Chin, but not mutually intelligible. Dialects are Doitu, Hettui, Mang Um (Song), and Lai.

Makury, or Makury Naga, is a Naga language of India and Myanmar. Shi (2009:3) and Saul (2005:25) suggest that Makury may be an Ao language. The Makury dialects share 93% lexical similarity.

Thaiphum is a Southern Kuki-Chin language spoken in 4 villages of Matupi township, Chin State, Burma. Thaiphum is partially intelligible with neighboring languages, such as the Eastern Khumi varieties of Khenlak, Asang, and Rengcaa. Thaiphum has 72%–75% lexical similarity with Eastern Khumi, 69%–71% with Khumi, 65%–68% with Mro-Khimi, and 66%–71% with Matu Chin.

References

  1. Matu at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. 1 2 "Myanmar". Ethnologue: Languages of the World. 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-10-10.