Chin, Matu

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A language of Myanmar

ISO 639-3
hlt
Alternate Names
Nga La
Population

30,000 in Myanmar (2012). Population total all countries: 40,000.

Location

Chin State, Matupi township. Also in India.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

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

Ciing (Langle-Tamtlaih, Ngaleng, Phaneng, Siing, Vuitu), Doem (Ngatu, Valang), Langle-Tamtlaih, Ngala (Batu), Ngaleng, Phaneng, Thlangpang (Changpyang). Not intelligible with Haka Chin [cnh]. Mizoram Matu reportedly not intelligible with Myanmar varieties. There are many Matu varieties in Myanmar, all intelligible to some extent with each other. Lexical similarity: 78%–89% with Matu varieties in Myanmar, 65%–76% with Rawngtu Chin [weu], 66%–71% with Thaiphum Chin [cth].

Typology

SOV; negation is marked after the verb

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Haka Chin [cnh] or Burmese [mya].

Language Development
Dictionary. NT: 1999–2000.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chin, Matu
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Included in official ethnic group list as Matu. Many somewhat intelligible varieties in Myanmar. The Chin in Mindat Township refer to all the Matu as Batu, but the Matu use this name only for the area around Matupi Town. Christian.

Also spoken in:

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