Kuki-Chin languages
Encyclopedia
The Kukish languages, also known as Kuki-Chin (Kuki/Chin) and Mizo–Kuki/Chin, are a family of fifty Tibeto-Burman languages
spoken in eastern India and Burma. Most speakers of these languages are known as Kukī
in Assamese
and as Chin
in Burmese
; some are also identified as Naga
, though the Mizo (Lushai) are also ethnically distinct.
s are related to, or part of, Kukish, but they are aberrant. However, Thurgood (2003) leaves Karbi unclassified within Tibeto-Burman. The Mru language
once classified as Kukish is now thought to be closer to Lolo–Burmese.
The internal classification of the Kukish languages proper has changed little in a century:
Bradley (1997) includes Meithei.
Tibeto-Burman languages
The Tibeto-Burman languages are the non-Chinese members of the Sino-Tibetan language family, over 400 of which are spoken thoughout the highlands of southeast Asia, as well as lowland areas in Burma ....
spoken in eastern India and Burma. Most speakers of these languages are known as Kukī
Kuki people
The Kukis are an ethnic group that spread throughout the Northeastern region of India, Northwest Burma and Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh. In Northeast India they are present in all the states except Arunachal Pradesh. This dispersal across international borders is mainly attributed to the...
in Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
and as Chin
Chin people
The Chin , known as the Kuki in Assam, are one of the ethnic groups in Burma. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Burma and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries'...
in Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
; some are also identified as Naga
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
, though the Mizo (Lushai) are also ethnically distinct.
Languages
There is general agreement that the Karbi languageKarbi language
The Karbí language, also known as Mikir or Arleng, is spoken by the Karbi people of Assam. It belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family, but its position is unclear...
s are related to, or part of, Kukish, but they are aberrant. However, Thurgood (2003) leaves Karbi unclassified within Tibeto-Burman. The Mru language
Mru language
The Mru language is a part of Tibeto-Burman languages and one of the recognized languages of Bangladesh.It is spoken by a community of Mros inhabiting the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and also in Burma with a population of 21,963 in Bangladesh according to the 1991 census. The Mros are the...
once classified as Kukish is now thought to be closer to Lolo–Burmese.
The internal classification of the Kukish languages proper has changed little in a century:
- Karbi (Mikir): KarbiKarbi languageThe Karbí language, also known as Mikir or Arleng, is spoken by the Karbi people of Assam. It belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family, but its position is unclear...
, AmriAmri languageAmri, or Amri Karbi, is spoken by the Karbi people of Assam and Meghalaya. Roman Script is used for institutional practice but it is seen, in various published megagines, that the authors use both Roman Script and Assamese script . Sociolinguistically, it's a variety of the Karbi language, though... - Kukish
- Central: MizoMizo languageThe Mizo language is natively spoken by Mizo people in Mizoram, a state in the Indian Union; Chin State of Burma and in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The language is also known as Lushai , as Lusei people are the first clan who have an external exposure...
(Lushai), ZypheZyphe languageZyphe is a Tibeto-Burman language originating in Burma and also spoken in India. It is spoken by 17,000 Burmese and 3,000 Indians....
, Bawm (Banjogi), HmarHmar languageThe Hmar language belongs to the Kukish branch of the Tibeto-Burman family of languages. The speakers of the language are also known as Hmar.Hmar speakers are scattered over a vast area in Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Chittagong Hill tracts, and NC Hills and Cachar districts of Assam...
, HakhaHakha-Chin languageHakha Chin is a language spoken in southern Asia by 446,264 people. The total figure includes 2,000 Zokhua, and 60,100 Lai speakers...
(Lai Pawi), Ngawn, Senthang, Tawr, Zotung, Darlong, Pangkhua - Northern: FalamFalam languageFalam, also known as Falam Chin, Falam Lai, Zahau, and Laiţawng, is a Kukish language of Burma and India....
(Hallam, incl. Laizo, Zahao), AnalAnal languageAnal, also known as Namfau, is a Northern Kukish language, part of the Sino-Tibetan language family, spoken by a dwindling number of Anal people in India, Burma, and possibly Bangladesh. It had 14,000 speakers in India according to the 2001 census. UNESCO lists Anal as having 23,000 speakers in...
, Hrangkhol, Zo (Zou, Zome), Aimol, Biete (Bete), Paite, Siyin (Sizaang), Tedim (Tiddim), ThadoThado languageThado is a Kukish language of India and Burma....
, Chiru, GangteGangte languageGangte is a Kukish language of India. There are a few speakers across the border in Burma....
, Kom, Lamkang, Chothe (Old Kuki now Naga), Kharam (Naga), Milhiem, Monsang (Naga), Moyon (Naga), Purum (Naga), Tarao (Naga), RalteRalte languageRalte is a Kukish language of Burma. Though an equivalent number of ethnic Ralte people live in India, fewer than a thousand speak the language....
, Ranglong, Sakachep, Simte, Vaiphei, Yos - Southern: Shö (Asho/Khyang, Bualkhaw, Chinbon, and Shendu), MaraMara languageThe Mara language is a language spoken by Mara people living in South Mizoram, India and the adjacent people living in Chin State in Burma, formerly Burma.The Mara language belongs to the Kukish branch of the Tibeto-Burman family of languages...
(Lakher), KhumiKhumi languageKhumi, or Khumi Chin, is a Kukish language of Burma, with some across the border in Bangladesh. A purported distinct coastal variety, Awa Khumi, turns out to be Mro....
(Khumi proper and Khumi Awa), DaaiDaai languageDaai , also known as Mün and Ütbü, is a Kukish language of Burma....
(Nitu), MroMro languageMro, also Mro-Khimi or Mro Chin, is a Kukish language of Burma....
, Mün, Nga LaNga La languageNga La, also known as Matu Chin and Haltu, is a Kukish language of Burma and India....
, Welaung (Rawngtu)
- Central: Mizo
Bradley (1997) includes Meithei.