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There are approximately a hundred languages spoken in Myanmar. Burmese, spoken by two-thirds of the population, is the official language.
Thadou or Thado Chin is a Sino-Tibetan language of the Northern Kuki-Chin-Mizo sub-branch. It is spoken by the Thadou people in Northeast India And bordering Myanmar. The speakers of this language use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.
Hakha Chin, or Laiholh, is a Kuki-Chin language spoken by 446,264 people, mostly in Myanmar. In Mizoram, the language is recognized as Pawi. The total figure includes 2,000 Zokhua and 60,100 Hakha speakers. The speakers are largely concentrated in Chin State in western Myanmar and Mizoram in eastern India, with a small number of speakers in south-eastern Bangladesh.
The Kuki-Chin languages are a branch of 50 or so Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in northeastern India, western Myanmar and southeastern Bangladesh. Speakers of these languages are Mizo in Mizoram, Kuki people or southern Naga people in Manipur, and Chin people in Myanmar.
Falam Chin is a Kuki-Chin language in Falam Township, Chin State, Myanmar, and also in Mizoram, India.
The Tedim or Zomi language is spoken mostly in Myanmar and India. In Chin State (Khamtunggam), it is spoken in Tedim and Tonzang townships, while in Sagaing Division, it is spoken in Kalay and Mawlaik townships (Ethnologue). Dialects are Sokte and Kamhau. It is a subject-object verb language, and negation follows the verb.
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.
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.
Daai, 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).
Shö is a Kuki-Chin language dialect cluster of Burma and Bangladesh. There are perhaps three distinct dialects, Asho (Khyang), Chinbon, and Shendu.
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.
Ngawn or Ngawn Chin is a language spoken in Falam District, Chin State, and Kale District, Sagaing Region, Burma. There are 27 Ngawn villages in Falam township, Chin State.
Lutuv, widely known as Lautu Chin, is a Kuki-Chin language spoken in 16 villages in Matupi townships, Thantlang townships and Hakha townships, Chin State, Myanmar. The Lautu Chin dialects share 90%–97% lexical similarity. Lautu Chin has 87%–94% lexical similarity with Mara Chin, 82%–85% with Zophe Chin, 80%–86% with Senthang Chin.
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 "လိုင်းတူ" 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.
Sumtu is a Kuki-Chin language spoken in Ann, Minbya, and Myebon townships in Rakhine State, Burma. It is partially intelligible with Laitu Chin, with which it shares 91 to 96% lexical similarity. Sumtu has 96%–97% lexical similarity with the Dalet Stream variety of Laitu Chin, and 84%–87% with Chinbon Chin.
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.
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
- ↑ Zyphe at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
