Chakma

A language of Bangladesh

ISO 639-3

ccp

Alternate Names

Sakma, Sangma, Takam

Population

150,000 (2007 SIL). Total users in all countries: 326,000.

Location

Chittagong division: Chittagong city, Chittagong Hills area; Khagrachari and Rangamati districts.

Language Maps

Southeastern Bangladesh

India, Map 5

Central Myanmar

Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese

Dialects

Chakma of India [ccp] understand Bangladesh Chakma with difficulty. Some dialect variation within Myanmar. Lexical similarity: 58%–67% with Tanchangya [tnv].

Language Use

All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Chittagonian [ctg]. Also use Bengali [ben], especially educated people and most men. Used as L2 by Riang [ria].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 70%. Literacy rate in L2: 70%. Literature. NT: 1926–1991.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Chakma

Writing

Bengali (Bangla) script [Beng]. Chakma script [Cakm], no longer in use. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Buddhist, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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India

Language nameChakma

Population Full

176,000 (2001 census). Other estimates less than 100,000 (2002).

Location

Arunachal Pradesh state: Changlang district, Miao sub-district, Lohit district, Chowkham sub-district, Tirap district; Assam state: Anglong, Cachar, Karbi, and North Cachar districts; Mizoram state: southwest along Karnafuli river; Tripura state: North Tripura district, Kailashahar sub-district; South Tripura district; Manipur and West Bengal states.

Alternate Names

Chakama, Takam, Tsakma

Status

5 (Developing).

Language Use

Also use Bengali [ben], Mizo [lus].

Language Development

Taught in primary schools, in Tripura and Mizoram.

Other Comments

A Scheduled Tribe. Distinct from Chak [ckh]. Buddhist, traditional religion.

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Myanmar

Language nameChakma

Location

Chin state: Paletwa township, a few villages; Rakhine state: Buthidaung, Kyauktaw (main concentration), Maungdaw, and Punnakyun townships.

Alternate Names

Daingnet, Sangma

Status

6a (Vigorous).

Language Use

Vigorous. All ages. Many also use Rakhine [rki].

Other Comments

Dialect variation by township. A variety of Bangla, not to be confused with Chak [ckh]. Buddhist.

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Ethnologue

Chakma

Primary tabs

A language of Bangladesh

Also spoken in:

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