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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > India > Idu-Mishmi

Idu-Mishmi

A language of India

ISO 639-3: clk

Population  11,000 in India (2001 census). 20% are monolingual. Population total all countries: 11,080.
Region  Arunachal Pradesh, Dibang Valley District; Assam; West Bengal. Also in China.
Alternate names   “Chulikata” , “Chulikotta” , Ida, Idu, Midhi, Midu, Sulikota, Yidu Luoba
Dialects  Most similar to Digaro-Mishmi [mhu]. Different from Adi [adi]. May be a dialect of Miri [mrg]. Lexical similarity: 7% with the Miju-Mishmi dialect of Miju-Mishmi [mxj], 25% with Digaro-Mishmi.
Classification  Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, North Assam, Tani
Language use  Home, community, religion. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Assamese [asm], Hindi, or Nepali [nep]. A few also use English.
Language development  Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 55%. Radio programs. Grammar.
Writing system  Tibetan script, used in China.
Comments  Mishmi Idu is a Scheduled Tribe. May not be in the Tani group, but is related. SOV; postpositions; genitives before noun heads; numerals after noun heads, adjective and relatives before noun head; affixes indicate case of noun phrase; comparatives; open syllables; tonal. Hunter-gatherers; swidden agriculturalists: millet, maize, rice, wheat, sweet potatoes; fishermen; animal husbandry: pigs, chicken, goats, mithun (high altitude cattle); weavers. Traditional religion with Buddhist and Hindu influence.

Also spoken in:

China

Language name   Luoba, Yidu
Population  80 in China (1999 H. Sun). 50 monolinguals.
Region  Southeast Tibet, Nyingchi Prefecture, Chayu County, Xia Chayu (Zayu) zone, Xia Chayu (Zayu) and Ba’antong townships, in Danba River valley and adjoining mountain slopes, near Bhutan border.
Language map  Southwestern China
Alternate names  Chulikata, Idu Lhoba, Idu Mishmi, Lho-Pa, Lhoba, Yidu
Language use  Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Neutral attitude. 25 also use Chinese [cmn] or Tibetan [bod].
Comments  In China classified as Lhoba nationality. Different from Lowa [loy] (Loba) in Nepal. Swidden agriculturalists: rice, maize, barley, cotton; forestry; animal husbandry; hunters; fishermen. Traditional religion, Buddhist (Lamaist).