Chin, Eastern Khumi

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A language of Myanmar

ISO 639-3
cek
Alternate Names
Ta-aw, Ta-oo
Population

12,000 (2009 SIL). Very few monolinguals.

Location

Chin State, eastern Paletwa township, Sami area, 85 villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Sal, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin, Southern
Dialects

Asang (Kasang, Sangtha), Khenlak, Khongtu, Lemi (Akelong, Aki Along, Kaja, Kajauk), Likhy (Likhaeng), Nideun (Amlai, Ghu, Laungtha, Maru, Paru, Tahaensae, Taheunso, Uiphaw), Nisay (Nise, Palyng, Tao Cha), Rengsa (Namboi, Nangbwe). High degree of intelligibility among the dialect groups, although strong attitudes against sharing the same literature. Lexical similarity: 92%–97% with Nisay, Nideun, Khongtu, and Lemi, 79%–89% with Likhy, 78%–85% with Rengsa, 82%–87% with Khumi Chin [cnk]; Likhy variety, 86%–90% with Mro-Khimi Chin [cmr].

Typology

SOV; negation is marked after the verb

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use another Khumi variety or Rakhine [rki].

Language Development
Literacy classes are being taught in some communities. Preliminary orthographies and primers have been developed by many of the dialect groups. Poetry. Bible portions: 2007–2010.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chin, Eastern Khumi
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

These dialect groups do not have a unified identity or overarching name for themselves. However, because their speech varieties are highly intelligible with each other and because they are referred to as Nisay, eastern groups, by the Khumi, the term Eastern Khumi is used here as a cover term to refer to these groups. The Likhy people live among the other Eastern Khumi peoples, but their language is very similar to the Aroeng variety of Mro-Khimi [cmr]. Christian, Buddhist, traditional religion.