Chin, Rawngtu

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A language of Myanmar

ISO 639-3
weu
Alternate Names
Rongtu, Shimi, Welaung
Population

5,000 (2008).

Location

Chin State, Mindat township; Htilin township, Magwe region, 2 villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Boishi, Kyonnam, Shitwanu, Welaung. Most Rawngtu in Mindat Township adequately comprehend the Kyonnam variety, but villages in Matupi Township do not. These villages also do not consider themselves Rawngtu. Lexical similarity: more than 90% with villages, 84%-89% with Matupi Daai [dao], 67%-74% with Kaang Chin [ckn], 71%-83% with Matu varieties [hlt], less than 70% with Rungtu [rtc].

Typology

SOV; negation is marked after the verb

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Burmese [mya] or Müün [mwq].

Language Development
Literacy rate in Burmese [mya] highest; very low literacy rate in Müün [mwq].
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chin, Rawngtu
Writing
Latin script.
Other Comments

Included in official ethnic group list as Rongtu. Christian.