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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > Myanmar > Chin, Falam

Chin, Falam

A language of Myanmar

ISO 639-3: cfm

Population  100,000 in Myanmar (1991 UBS). 9,000 Tashon, 16,000 Zanniat, 7,000 Khualshim, 4,000 Lente, 14,400 Zahao, 18,600 in Laizao (1983). Population total all countries: 121,000.
Region  Falam District, Chin Hills. Also in Bangladesh, India.
Alternate names   Falam, Fallam, Halam, Hallam Chin
Dialects  Zanniat, Taisun (Tashon, Tashom, Shunkla, Sunkhla), Laizo (Laiso, Laizao, Laizo-Shimhrin), Zahao (Zahau, Yahow, Zahau-Shimhrin, Lyen-Lyem), Khualshim (Kwelshin), Lente (Lyente). Chorei [cfm-in India] and Zanniat may be separate languages. In India, other dialect or clan names are: Choral, Dap, Eauglong, Ranjkho, Bong, Bongcher, Kaljang, Korbong, Langkai, Moosephang (Machaphang), Migli, Mitahar. Collectively called ’Baro Halam’. Rupini and Koloi reportedly quite different from the others; Tapong reported to have difficult intelligibility for other dialect speakers.
Classification  Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin, Northern
Language development  Most young people and some older people, if educated, can read Falam (Myanmar). Bible: 1991.
Writing system  Latin script, used in India. Latin script.
Comments  Taisun is dialect autoglottonym; Tashon, the Burmese spelling. SOV. Christian.

Also spoken in:

Bangladesh

Language name   Chin, Falam
Alternate names  Falam, Fallam, Halam, Hallam Chin
Dialects  Chorei, Zanniat.
 

India

Language name   Chin, Falam
Population  21,000 in India (2007).
Region  Assam, Karimganj District, south, a few villages in Cachar and North Hills districts; Tripura; Mizoram; West Bengal.
Alternate names  Fallam, Halam Chin, Hallam, Tipura
Dialects  Chorei, Chari Chong, Halam, Kaipang, Kalai (Koloi), Mursum (Molsom), Rupini, Tapong.
Language development  Literacy among Kaipeng in Tripura is low.
Comments  Ethnically Halam. A Scheduled Tribe. Many ethnic Halam speak Kok Borok [trp] as L1. Halam is a generic term under which 9 subgroups, each having a separate dialect, are grouped together: (Sakachep [sch], Chorei, Rupini, Ranglong [rnl], Marcephang (Khochung–dialect of [cfm]), Molsom, Keipang (dialect of [cfm]), Bondcher (dialect of [cfm]), Rangkhol [hra]). Hindu, traditional religion, Christian.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

WALKER, Stephen P., author. 1989. Tonal instability: Tone as part of the feature geometry.