Meitei language: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Sino-Tibetan language}}
{{Short description|Tibeto-Burman language of India}}
{{Redirect|Manipuri language|the Meitei-Bengali [[creole language]]|Bishnupriya Manipuri}}
{{About|the [[Languages with official status in India|sole official language]] of [[Manipur]]|other speech forms|languages of Manipur}}
{{About|the [[Languages with official status in India|sole official language]] of [[Manipur]]|other speech forms|languages of Manipur}}
{{About|the overall description of Meitei language in all its geographical extent|its description based in Bangladesh|Meitei language in Bangladesh}}
{{Hatnote|Unless otherwise specified, Meitei in this article is written in [[Meitei Mayek]].}}
{{Hatnote|Unless otherwise specified, Meitei in this article is written in [[Meitei Mayek]]/[[Eastern Nagari script|Eastern Nagari]]/[[Naoriya Phullo script]] order. If the Eastern Nagari and Naoriya Phullo characters are mutually intelligible or virtually identical to a great extent, the former is used.}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
 
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
| name = Meitei
| name = Meitei
| nativename = <!--In Meitei script--> {{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ}} • <!--In Eastern Nagari script--> {{Script|Beng|মৈতৈলোন}} • <!--Romanization--> {{transl|la|ISO|Meiteilon}}
| nativename = <!--In Meitei script--> {{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ}} • <!--In Eastern Nagari script--> মৈতৈলোন • <!--Romanization--> {{transliteration|la|ISO|Meiteilon}}
| altname = Manipuri (Meiteilon, Meetei, Meeteilon) 
| altname = Manipuri
| pronunciation    =  
| pronunciation    =
| image = Meitei language written in Meitei script.svg
| image = Meitei language written in Meitei script.svg
| imagescale  =
| imagescale  =
| imagecaption = ''"Meitei Lon"'' written in [[Meitei script]]
| imagecaption = ''Meitei Lon'' written in Meitei script
| states = [[Manipur]], [[Assam]] and [[Tripura]]
| states = [[India]], [[Bangladesh]]
| region = [[India]], [[Bangladesh]] and [[Myanmar]]
| region = [[Manipur]], [[Assam]], [[Tripura]]
| ethnicity = [[Meitei people]]
| ethnicity = [[Meitei people|Meitei]]
| familycolor = Sino-Tibetan
| familycolor = Sino-Tibetan
| fam1 = [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]
| fam1 = [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]
Line 23: Line 23:
| speakers = {{sigfig|1.775000|2}} million
| speakers = {{sigfig|1.775000|2}} million
| date = 2003–2011
| date = 2003–2011
| ref = e25
| ref = <ref>{{e28|mni}}</ref>
| ancestor = [[Proto-Sino-Tibetan]]
| ancestor = [[Proto-Sino-Tibetan]]
| ancestor2 = [[Proto-Tibeto-Burman]]
| ancestor2 = [[Proto-Tibeto-Burman]]
| ancestor3 = [[:simple:Ancient Meitei language|Ancient Meitei]]
| script =  
| script =  
* [[Meitei script]] (officially known as [[Meetei Mayek]]{{efn|The terms, "Meitei", "Meetei" and "Manipuri" are synonymous. While "Meitei" is more popular than "Meetei", "Meetei" is the officially mentioned synonym of the term "Manipuri".}}) (officially used according to "The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021")<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gazette Title: The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021 |url=http://manipurgovtpress.nic.in/en/details_gazzete/?gazette=658 |access-date= |website=manipurgovtpress.nic.in}}</ref><ref name=e25/>
*[[Meetei Mayek]]
* [[Bengali script]] (officially used according to "The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021")<ref>{{Cite web |title=GAZETTE TITLE: The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021 |url=http://manipurgovtpress.nic.in/en/details_gazzete/?gazette=658 |access-date= |website=manipurgovtpress.nic.in}}</ref><ref name=e25/>
*[[Naoriya Phulo script|Naoriya Phulo]]
* [[Naoriya Phulo script]] ([[invented Meitei Yelhou Mayek script]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=নাওরিয়া ফুলো : ঋষি অমা - এলাংম দীনমনী |script-title= |url=http://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12.11.2019-B7.pdf |work=hueiyenlanpao.com |language=mni |publication-place=India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=লাইনীংহন নাওরিয়া ফুলো অমসুং মহাক্কী থবকশিং - ইঙো লোইতোংবা মোহেন |url=http://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/23.08.2019-B7.pdf |work=hueiyenlanpao.com |language=mni |publication-place=India}}</ref>
*[[Bengali-Assamese script]]
* [[Latin alphabet|Latin script]] (unofficial)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ghosh |first=Kunal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_8ylAgAAQBAJ&q=Meitei+language+in+Roman+script&pg=PT83 |title=Separatism in North-East India: Role of Religion, Language and Script |date=1 January 2008 |publisher=Suruchi Prakashan |isbn=978-81-89622-33-6 |pages=133, 148 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Latin alphabet]] (unofficial)
| nation = {{flag|India}} {{small|(as [[Scheduled languages of India|scheduled language]])}}
| nation = *[[Official languages of India|India]] (scheduled official)
* [[File:Kanglasa.svg|20px]] [[Manipur]] {{small|(as [[Languages with official status in India|state official language]])}}
**[[Manipur]] (main official)
| minority        =
**[[Assam]] (additional official)
{{flag|Bangladesh}} <br /> {{flag|Myanmar}}
| minority = {{Bulleted list|[[Tripura|Tripura, India]]|[[Languages of Bangladesh|Bangladesh]]|[[Languages of Myanmar|Myanmar]]}}
| agency = [[Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation]] (DLPI), <br /> [[Government of Manipur]]
| agency = [[Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation]], Manipur
| development_body =  
| development_body =
* [[Ministry of Culture (India)]]
* [[Ministry of Culture (India)]]
** [[Sahitya Akademi]]
* [[Sahitya Akademi]]
* [[Central Institute of Indian Languages]]
* [[Central Institute of Indian Languages]]
* [[Government of Manipur]]
* [[Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation]]
** [[Government of Manipur|Department of Art and Culture]]
* [[Manipuri Sahitya Parishad]]
** [[Directorate of Language Planning and Implementation]] (DLPI)
* [[Manipuri Sahitya Parishad]] (MSP)
* [[Department of Manipuri, Assam University]]
* [[Department of Manipuri, Manipur University]]
| iso2 = mni
| iso2 = mni
| lc1 = mni
| lc1 = mni
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| glotto2 = meit1246
| glotto2 = meit1246
| glottoname2 = Meitei (standard dialect)
| glottoname2 = Meitei (standard dialect)
| glotto3 = loii1241
| glotto3 = pang1284
| glottoname3 = Loi ([[Chakpa language|Chakpa dialect]])
| glottoname3 = Pangal (Muslim dialect)
| glotto4 = pang1284
| glottoname4 = Pangal (Muslim dialect)
| notice          = IPA
| notice          = IPA
| notice2          = IPA
| notice2          =
| dialects = Standard Meitei, [[Chakpa language|Chakpa]] (also called [[Loi]]) and Meitei Pangal (Muslim dialect)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meitei {{!}} Ethnologue |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724203234/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mni/ |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=[[Ethnologue]] |language=en}}</ref>
| dialects =
*[[Thougallon]] (royal court register)
*[[Amailon]] ([[liturgical language|liturgical]])
*[[Khuman (linguistics)|Khuman]] (historical)
*[[Moirang (linguistics)|Moirang]] (historical)
*[[Chakpa language|Chakpa/Loi]]
*Meitei Pangal<ref name="ethnologue_mni">{{Cite web |title=Meitei {{!}} Ethnologue |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mni/ |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=[[Ethnologue]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724203234/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mni/ |archive-date=24 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Meitei language in Bangladesh|Bangladeshi Meitei]]
| speakers2 =
| speakers2 =
| map = File:Meitei language distribution.png
| map = File:Meitei language distribution.png
| mapcaption =  
| mapcaption =
{{legend|#00008B|Regions where Meitei is native, majority, official and educational language}}
{{legend|#014167|Regions where Meitei is official and educational language}}
{{legend|#1167b1|Regions where Meitei is indigenous and educational language but not official}}
{{legend|#076BA2|Regions where Meitei is recognised and educational language but not official}}
{{legend|#187bcd|Regions where Meitei is not indigenous and official but educational}}
{{legend|#419ED5|Regions where Meitei is not recognised and not official but educational}}
{{legend|#5579CE|Regions where Meitei is considered indigenous but not official and educational}}
{{legend|#79A9E3|Regions where Meitei is recognised but not official and educational}}
{{legend|#91BAD6|Regions with significant Meitei speaking minorities}}
{{legend|#A6BBD5|Regions with significant Meitei speaking minorities}}
}}
}}
<!-- Please don't remove the following template "infobox" without any discussion and consensus. -->
{{Contains special characters|Meitei}}
{{Infobox
| name    = Meitei linguistic events
| image    =
| caption1 =


| label1  = Language event(s)
'''Meitei''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|eɪ|t|eɪ}};<ref>{{Cite OED|Meithei |access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref> {{Meitei|ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ|ba=মৈতৈলোন্|label=no|xlit=yes|p=no}} {{IPA| mni|mejtejlon|pron}}), also known as '''Manipuri''' ({{Meitei|ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ|ba=মণিপুরী|label=no}} {{IPA|mni|mənipuɾi|pron}}), is a [[Tibeto-Burman language]] of [[northeast India]]. It is the official language and the [[lingua franca]] of [[Manipur]] and an additional official language in four districts of [[Assam]]. It is one of the [[scheduled languages of India|constitutionally scheduled official languages of the Indian Republic]].<ref name="britannica.com" /> Meitei is the most widely-spoken [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman language]] of India and the third most widely spoken language of northeast India after [[Assamese language|Assamese]] and [[Bengali language|Bengali]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Language – India, States and Union Territories |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf |work=Census of India 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General |pages=13–14 |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114073412/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| data1  =  
There are {{sigfig|1.761079|3}}&nbsp;million [[States of India by Meitei speakers|Meitei native speakers in India according to the 2011 census]], {{sigfig|1.522132|3}}&nbsp;million of whom are found in the state of Manipur, where they represent the majority of its population. There are smaller communities in neighbouring Indian states, such as [[#Assam|Assam]] ({{sigfig|168133|3}}), [[#Tripura|Tripura]] ({{sigfig|23779|2}}), [[#Nagaland|Nagaland]] ({{sigfig|9511|2}}), and elsewhere in the country ({{sigfig|37524|3}}). The language is also spoken by smaller groups in neighbouring [[#Myanmar|Myanmar]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuris in Mandalay see ray of hope in Modi |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Manipuris-in-Mandalay-see-ray-of-hope-in-Modi/articleshow/48059811.cms |last1=Sunil |first1=Oinam |date=14 July 2015 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> and [[Meitei language in Bangladesh|Bangladesh]].<ref>{{e28|mni}}</ref>
* [[Meitei language day]] ([[Manipuri language day]])
* [[Meitei poetry day]] ([[Manipuri poetry day]])  
* [[Meitei language festival]] ([[Manipuri language festival]])


| header2  = [[Meitei language movement]]s for
Meitei and [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] jointly hold the third place among the fastest growing [[languages of India]], following [[Hindi]] and [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=R |first=Aishwaryaa |date=6 June 2019 |title=What census data reveals about use of Indian languages |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/what-census-data-reveals-about-use-of-indian-languages-738340.html |work=[[Deccan Herald]] |access-date=16 November 2023}}</ref>


| label3  = [[Scheduled languages of India|Scheduled language]] status
Meitei is not [[Language endangerment|endangered]]: its status has been assessed as safe by ''[[Ethnologue]]'' (where it is assigned to [[EGIDS]] level 2 "provincial language").<ref>{{e28|mni}}</ref> However, it is considered [[vulnerable language|vulnerable]] by UNESCO.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Moseley |editor-first1=C. |title=Atlas of the world's languages in danger (3rd ed) |date=2010 |publisher=UNESCO Publishing |location=Paris |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000187026 |pages=44{{ndash}}45 and elsewhere}}</ref>
| data3  = [[Meitei scheduled language movement]] (successful)  


| label4  = [[classical language of India|Indian classical language]] status
The Manipuri language is associated with the [[Ningthouja dynasty]] ([[Mangang]]s), the [[Khuman kingdom|Khuman dynasty]], the [[Ancient Moirang|Moirang]]s, the [[Angom]]s, the [[Luwang]]s, the [[Salai Leishangthem|Chengleis]] ([[Sarang-Leishangthem]]s), and the [[Khaba-Nganba]]s. Each had their respective distinct dialects and were politically independent from one another. Later, all of them fell under the dominion of the Ningthouja dynasty, changing their status of being independent "ethnicities" into those of "clans" of the collective [[Meitei community]]. The Ningthouja dialect was predominant,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC&dq=luwang+khuman+angom+language&pg=PA10 |title=Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization |date=1988 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-853-2 |page=10 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Miri |first=Mrinal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qfSz3UOAxM4C&dq=luwang+khuman+angom+language&pg=PA77 |title=Linguistic Situation in North-East India |date=2003 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-026-6 |page=77 |language=en}}</ref> and received heavy influences from the speech forms of the other groups.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Chungkham Yashwanta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pCtkAAAAMAAJ |title=Manipuri Grammar |date=2000 |publisher=Rajesh Publications |isbn=978-81-85891-33-0 |pages=2, 202 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ayyappappanikkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC&dq=luwang+khuman+angom+language&pg=PA333 |title=Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections |date=1997 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-0365-5 |page=333 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Aspects of Manipuri language and its literary traditions By Ahanthem Homen |url=https://e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Aspects_of_Manipuri_language_and_its_literary_traditions_By_Ahanthem_Homen.html.. |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref>
|  data4  = [[Meitei classical language movement]] (ongoing in [[Manipur]])


| label5  = Associate [[official language]] status
Meitei is one of the advanced literary languages recognised by [[Sahitya Akademi]], India's National Academy of Letters.
|  data5  = [[Meitei associate official language movement]] (ongoing in [[Assam]])


| label6  = [[Linguistic purism]]
== Classification ==
|  data6  = [[Meitei linguistic purism movement]] (ongoing in [[Manipur]])
Meitei belongs to the [[Tibeto-Burman]] branch of the [[Sino-Tibetan]] languages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meitei {{!}} Ethnologue Free |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mni/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=Ethnologue (Free All) |language=en}}</ref><ref name="britannica.com">{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manipuri-language |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |date=15 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
}}
{{Constitutionally recognised languages in India}}
{{Contains special characters|Meitei}}
'''Meitei''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|eɪ|t|eɪ}}; {{Lang|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ}}; {{Script|Beng|মৈতৈলোন্}}|}}, [[Romanisation|romanised]]: ''"Meiteilon"''),<ref>{{Cite OED|Meithei|access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref> officially known as '''Manipuri''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|m|æ|n|ᵻ|ˈ|p|ʊər|i}}, {{IPAc-en|m|ʌ|-}}; {{Lang|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ}}; {{Script|Beng|মণিপুরী}}|manipuri lon}}),<ref>{{Cite OED|Manipuri|access-date=14 October 2022}}</ref> is a [[Tibeto-Burman language]] of [[northeast India]]. It is the official language and the lingua franca of [[Manipur]] as well as one of the [[22 official languages of the Indian Republic]], included in the [[8th Schedule to the Indian Constitution]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Languages Included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution {{!}} Department of Official Language {{!}} Ministry of Home Affairs {{!}} GoI |url=https://rajbhasha.gov.in/en/languages-included-eighth-schedule-indian-constitution |access-date=6 August 2023 |website=rajbhasha.gov.in}}</ref> Native to the [[Meitei people]], it is spoken by around 1.8 million people, predominantly in the state of [[Manipur]], but also by smaller communities in the rest of the country and in parts of neighbouring [[Myanmar]] and [[Bangladesh]]. It was used as a court language in the historic [[Manipur Kingdom]].


Meitei language is the [[List of languages by number of native speakers in India#List of languages by number of native speakers|most widely spoken]] [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman language]] of India and the most spoken [[indigenous language]] of northeast India after [[Assamese language|Assamese]] and [[Bengali language|Bengali]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Language – India, States and Union Territories |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf |work=Census of India 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General |pages=13–14 |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114073412/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf |archive-date=14 November 2018 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-2000.XLSX |website=census.gov.in |access-date=6 March 2020 |archive-date=12 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112015730/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-2000.XLSX |url-status=live }}</ref>
During the 19th and 20th centuries, different linguists tried to assign Meitei to various sub-groups. Early classifier [[George Abraham Grierson]] (1903–1924) put it in [[Kuki-Chin]], Vegelin and Voegelin (1965) in Kuki-Chin-Naga, and Benedict (1972) in Kuki-Naga. [[Robbins Burling]] has suggested that Meitei belongs to none of those groups.<ref name="iias">{{Cite web |title=A History of Manipuri Language |url=http://iias.ac.in/events/a-history-of-manipuri-language/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=[[Indian Institute of Advanced Study]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Current academic consensus agrees with [[James Matisoff]] in placing Manipuri in its own subdivision of the Kamarupan group—a geographic rather than a genetic grouping.<ref name="britannica.com"/> However, some still consider Meitei to be a member of the [[Kuki-Chin-Naga languages|Kuki-Chin-Naga branch]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glottolog 4.8 – Manipuri |url=https://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/mani1292 |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=glottolog.org}}</ref>
There are {{sigfig|1.761079|3}} million Meitei speakers in India according to the 2011 census. The majority of these, or {{sigfig|1.522132|3}} million, are found in the state of [[Manipur]], where they represent just over half of its population. There are smaller communities in neighbouring Indian states, such as [[Assam]] ({{sigfig|168133|3}}), [[Tripura]] ({{sigfig|23779|2}}), [[Nagaland]] ({{sigfig|9511|2}}), and elsewhere in the country ({{sigfig|37524|3}}).<ref>{{cite web|title = C-16: Population by mother tongue, India – 2011| author = Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India| url = https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10191| access-date = 14 October 2022}}</ref> Additionally, there are around 200,000 L2 speakers.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}} The language is also spoken by smaller groups in neighbouring [[Languages of Myanmar|Myanmar]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manipuris in Mandalay see ray of hope in Modi|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Manipuris-in-Mandalay-see-ray-of-hope-in-Modi/articleshow/48059811.cms|last1=Sunil|first1=Oinam|date=14 July 2015|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> and [[Languages of Bangladesh|Bangladesh]].<ref name=e25/> Meitei is not [[Language endangerment|endangered]]: its status has been assessed as safe in ''[[Ethnologue]]'' (where it is assigned to [[EGIDS]] level 2 "provincial language"),<ref name=e25/> but is considered [[vulnerable language|vulnerable]] in UNESCO's ''[[Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger]]''.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Moseley |editor-first1=C. |title=Atlas of the world's languages in danger (3rd ed) |date=2010 |publisher=UNESCO Publishing |location=Paris| url = https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000187026| pages = 44{{ndash}}45 and elsewhere}}</ref>


In the Indian subcontinent, a command over Meitei language, alongside [[Sanskrit]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Odia language|Oriya]], [[Persian language|Persian]], or [[Arabic]], is highly appreciated and respected for learning dances (most significantly [[Indian Classical Dance]]s) as dancers could have the tools of these languages to go into the primary material texts.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Munsi |first1=Urmimala Sarkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bKepAgAAQBAJ&dq=classical+language+meitei&pg=PT35 |title=Traversing Tradition: Celebrating Dance in India |last2=Burridge |first2=Stephanie |date=2012 |publisher=[[Routledge]], [[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-1-136-70378-2 |location=en |pages=35 |language=en |quote=... This means a command of Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Oriya, Meitei, Persian, or Arabic. ...}}</ref>
== History ==


== History ==
[[File:Yumbanlol (Yumpanlol) - a 6th century Classical Meitei language copper manuscript text - in Meetei script - works on sensuality & relationship between husbands & wives and how to run a household in Ancient Kangleipak civilisation state.jpg|thumb|Yumbanlol (Yumpanlol), a group of 6th century Classical Meitei language [[Indian copper plate inscriptions|copper plate inscriptions]], written in [[Meitei script]].]]
{{Quote box
| quote = "The beginning of this old [[Manipuri literature]] (as in the case of [[Newari language|Newari]]) may go back to 1500 years, or even 2000 years, from now."<ref>{{Cite book |url= |title=[[Indian Literature (journal)|Indian Literature]] - Volume 14 - Page 20 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1971 |edition=Volume 14 - Page 20 |pages=20 |language=en |quote= The beginning of this old Manipuri literature (as in the case of Newari) may go back to 1500 years, or even 2000 years, from now.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Siṃha |first=Niṃthaukhoṃjama Khelacandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EpAOAAAAMAAJ |title=Manipuri Language: Status and Importance |date=1975 |publisher=N. Tombi Raj Singh |year=1975 |pages=34 |language=en, mni |quote=The beginning of this old Manipuri literature (as in the case of Newari) may go back to 1500 years, or even 2000 years, from now... |author-link=Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC&dq=manipuri+court+language&pg=PA290 |title=Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization |date=1988 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-853-2 |pages=290 |language=en}}</ref>
| source = —[[Suniti Kumar Chatterji]], [[Padma Vibhushan]] awardee Indian  scholar
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[[File:ANDRO INSCRIBED STONE.jpg|thumb|A Meitei language stone inscription in [[Meitei script]] about a royal decree of a Meitei king found in the sacred site of God [[Panam Ningthou]] in [[Andro, Imphal East]], [[Manipur]]]]
The Meitei language has existed for at least 2000 years.<ref name="iias" />
According to linguist [[Suniti Kumar Chatterjee]], the [[ancient Meitei literature]] dates back to 1500 to 2000 years [[before present]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chatterji |first=Suniti Kumar |author-link=Suniti Kumar Chatterji |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32096/page/n187/mode/2up |title=Kirata-jana-krti |date=1951 |publisher=[[The Asiatic Society]], [[Digital Library of India]]; [[Internet Archive]] |location=Kolkata |publication-date=1951 |pages=157, 158 |language=en |quote=... The beginnings of this Old Manipuri literature (as in the case of Newari) may go back to 1500 years, or even 2000 years, from now. ...}}</ref>


Meitei language has been in existence since 2000 years back till present times, preserving a classical cultural heritage of literature.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url= |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |date=1996 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |pages=8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC&dq=manipuri+court+language&pg=PA290 |title=Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization |date=1988 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-853-2 |pages=290 |language=en}}</ref>
=== First Millennium CE ===
=== First Millennium CE ===
==== 1st half : 1st century-5th century CE ====
The earliest known Meitei language compositions is the ritual song ''[[Ougri]]'' ({{Script|Mtei|ꯑꯧꯒ꯭ꯔꯤ}}), which was used in religious and coronation ceremonies of [[Kangleipak]]. It may have existed before the [[Common Era]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ayyappappanikkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC&pg=PA329 |title=Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections |date=1997 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-260-0365-5 |pages=326–329 |language=en |author-link=Ayyappa Paniker}}</ref> ''[[Numit Kappa]]'' {{Meitei|ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ ꯀꯥꯞꯄ|t=The Shooting of the Sun}}, a religious epic that tells the tale of how the night was divided from the day, was also composed in the first century.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kshetrimayum |first1=Jogendro |editor-last1=Wouters |editor-first1=Jelle J. P. |editor-last2=Subba |editor-first2=Tanka B. |chapter=Violence |title=The Routledge Companion to Northeast India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YseEEAAAQBAJ&q=Numit+Kappa+1st&pg=PT473 |year=2023 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-0-367-72566-2 |page=483 |language=en}}</ref>
The '''[[Ougri (Meitei)|Ougri]]''' ({{Script|Mtei|ꯑꯧꯒ꯭ꯔꯤ}}) is an [[ancient Meitei language|ancient Meitei]] ritualistic musical composition which dated back to the 1st century CE. It was used mostly in the religious ceremonies of the early Meitei society and the coronation ceremonies of rulers in [[Ancient Kangleipak]] (early [[Manipur]]).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ayyappappanikkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC&pg=PA326 |title=Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections |date=1997 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-260-0365-5 |pages=326 |language=en |author-link=Ayyappa Paniker}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/A_History_of_Manipuri_Literature/yiBkAAAAMAAJ?hl=en |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |date=1996 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |location=India |pages=13, 14 |language=en, mni |chapter=The Early Period (Ritual Songs) : Ougri |quote=Again from amongst the songs mentioned above, 'Ougri' and 'Khencho', in view of their more archaic diction and much advanced historical allusions, may be considered earlier than the rest. ... 'Ougri' is referred to as sung at the coronation of Nongdā Lāiren Pākhangbā, which took place in 33 A.D. ...}}</ref>
Many scholars are of the opinion that this ritual song existed even before the beginning of the [[Common Era]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ayyappappanikkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC&pg=PA329 |title=Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections |date=1997 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-260-0365-5 |pages=329 |language=en |author-link=Ayyappa Paniker}}</ref>


In the 3rd century CE, [[Poireiton Khunthok]] ({{lang|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯄꯣꯏꯔꯩꯇꯣꯟ ꯈꯨꯟꯊꯣꯛ}}|}}), an [[ancient Meitei language|ancient Meitei]] literary narrative work, about a ''legendary'' establishment of a colony in the [[Imphal Valley]], under the leadership of [[Poireiton]], was composed. The ''"Report on the Archaeological studies in Manipur Bulletin No. 1"'' affirmed the antiquity of this literary work.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Khelchandra Ningthoukhongjam |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466183/page/n121/mode/2up?view=theater |title=History Of Old Manipuri Literature |publisher=[[Digital Library of India]] |others=[[Manipur University]] Library, Imphal |location=India |pages=121, 122 |language=en, mni |chapter=Poireiton Khunthokpa |quote=The Poireiton Khunthokpa, is the most conspicuous one of all pre-Garibniwaz manuscripts. From a linguistic point of view, it seems to be much earlier than any of the books yet come under our view. Circumstantial and other incidental evidences would confirm that the book might have been of the time of the third century A. D. It describes the colonization of the valley by a band of prople from the land of Death under Poireiton. They first established their colony near the Langol Hill; probably the vast area between the Koubru Hill and the Langol Hill was their kingdom.  --Report on the Archaeological studies in Manipur Bulletin No. 1-by W. Yumjao Singh, pp 18-19. |author-link=Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bhaṭṭācāryya |first=Haridāsa |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=Wy88AAAAMAAJ&q=poireiton+Khunthok+century&dq=poireiton+Khunthok+century&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwioq4fOiNOAAxVs1TgGHX9GAW0Q6AF6BAgIEAM#poireiton%20Khunthok%20century |title=The Cultural Heritage of India: Languages and literatures |date=1953 |publisher=[[Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture|Ramakrishna Mission, Institute of Culture]] |others=[[University of Michigan]] |year=1953 |location=India |pages=663 |language=en |quote=... The beginnings of this Old Manipuri literature may go back to 1,500 years or even 2,000 years from now. ... Poireiton Khunthok, a prose work describing the settlement of some Meithei tribes, is the oldest work in Manipuri going back to the third century A.D. ... |author-link=Haridas Bhattacharya}}</ref>
''[[Poireiton Khunthok]]'' {{Meitei|ꯄꯣꯢꯔꯩꯇꯣꯟ ꯈꯨꯟꯊꯣꯛ|t=The Immigration of Poireiton}} is a 3rd-century narrative work describing the establishment of a colony in Kangleipak by a group of immigrants led by [[Poireiton]], the younger brother of the god of the underworld.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466183/page/n121/mode/2up?view=theater |title=History of Old Manipuri Literature |location=Imphal |publisher=Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra Singh |pages=121, 122 |language=en, mni |chapter=Poireiton Khunthokpa}}</ref>
==== 2nd half : 6th century-10th century CE ====
The '''Khencho''' ({{Script|Mtei|ꯈꯦꯟꯆꯣ}}) is another [[ancient Meitei language|ancient Meitei]] poetry work, which was composed at least before the beginning of 7th century CE.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ayyappappanikkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC&pg=PA330 |title=Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections |date=1997 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-260-0365-5 |pages=330 |language=en |author-link=Ayyappa Paniker}}</ref>
It is noted to be ''"quite obscure and entirely unintelligible"'' to the present-day generations of people but still it is an integral part of the [[Lai Haraoba]] festival.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/A_History_of_Manipuri_Literature/yiBkAAAAMAAJ?hl=en |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |date=1996 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |location=India |pages=14, 15 |language=en, mni |chapter=The Early Period (Ritual Songs) |quote=... 'Khencho' is quite obscure and entirely unintelligible to the present generation though it forms an inseparable element of the daily proceedings of the festival. ...}}</ref>


According to the "Report on the Archaeological Studies in Manipur, Bulletin No-1", a Meitei language [[Indian copper plate inscriptions|copper plate inscription]] was found to be dated back to the 7th-8th century CE. It is one of the most well preserved ancient Meitei language epigraphic records.<ref>{{Cite web |title=মণিপুরি ভাষা ও লিপি – এল বীরমঙ্গল সিংহ {{!}} আপনপাঠ ওয়েবজিন |date=16 September 2021 |url=https://aponpath.com/manipuri-bhasa-o-lipi-l-birmangal-singh/ |language=bn}}</ref> It was inscribed during the reign of Meitei King Khongtekcha (763-773 CE). It was discovered by scholar W. Yumjao from [[Phayeng]] village in the east of [[Imphal]] in the year 1935 CE.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Devi |first=Yumlembam Gopi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gxqeDwAAQBAJ&q=8th%20century%20copper%20plate%20inscription%20manipur&pg=PA25 |title=Glimpses of Manipuri Culture |isbn=978-0-359-72919-7 |pages=25 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Paniker |first=K. Ayyappa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC&q=8th%20century%20copper%20plate%20inscription%20manipur&pg=PA325 |title=Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections (Assamese-Dogri) |date=1997 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-260-0365-5 |pages=325 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sen |first=Sipra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bQQNCU-QWBAC&q=8th%20century%20copper%20plate%20inscription%20manipur&pg=PA28 |title=Tribes and Castes of Manipur: Description and Select Bibliography |date=1992 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-310-0 |pages=28 |language=en}}</ref>
The ''Yumbanlol'', a [[Indian copper plate inscriptions|copper plate manuscript]] was composed in the 6th century or 7th&nbsp;century CE for the royal family of Kangleipak. It is a rare work of [[dharmashastra]], covering sexuality, the relationships between husbands and wives, and instructions on how to run a household.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Vijñānanidhi: Manuscript Treasures of India |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/34231921/manuscript-treasures-of-india-national-mission-for-manuscripts/88 |date=February 2007 |publisher=National Mission of Manuscripts |access-date=2024-04-29 |oclc=171288062 |pages=88, 89 |language=en}}</ref>


In c. 763 CE, ''Akoijam Tombi'' (also called ''Akoijam Tomboy''<ref name=":Glimpses_Panthoibi_Khongul" />) composed the '''[[Panthoibi Khonggul]]''' ([[Ancient Meitei language|Ancient Meitei]]: {{lang|omp|{{Script|Mtei|ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯄꯤ ꯈꯣꯡꯀꯨꯜ}}|}}, {{Script|Latn|Panthoipi Khongkul}}), also termed as the '''[[Panthoibi Khongul]]''', an [[ancient Meitei language]] narrative text of the romantic adventures of [[deified]] Meitei princess [[Panthoibi]].<ref name=":Glimpses_Panthoibi_Khongul">{{Cite book |last=Devi |first=Dr Yumlembam Gopi |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=gxqeDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA119&dq=panthoibi+khongul&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi-j56HibiAAxWZsVYBHZqqD9YQ6AF6BAgHEAM#v=onepage&q=panthoibi%20khongul&f=false |title=Glimpses of Manipuri Culture |publisher= |isbn=978-0-359-72919-7 |pages=119 |language=en |quote=... the text Panthoibi Khongul generally believed to have been written by Akoijam Tomboy during the reign of King Khongtekcha Yoiremba (763 A.D.) ...}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mukherjee |first=Sujit |url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=YCJrUfVtZxoC&pg=PA280&dq=panthoibi+khongul&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi-j56HibiAAxWZsVYBHZqqD9YQ6AF6BAgKEAM#v=onepage&q=panthoibi%20khongul&f=false |title=A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850 |date=1998 |publisher=[[Orient Blackswan]] |year=1998 |isbn=978-81-250-1453-9 |pages=280 |language=en |quote=Panthoibi khongul ( ? C ; Manipuri ) : prose narrative , the original of which was believed to have been composed in ancient Meitei language in first half of 8th century AD ... |author-link=Sujit Mukherjee}}</ref><ref name=":ccrtindia.gov.in_Panthoibi_Khongul">{{Cite web |others=[[Ministry of Culture (India)|Ministry of Culture, Government of India]] |title=The relationship between Thang-Ta & Meitei Pung maintained by our Ancient ... |url=https://ccrtindia.gov.in/wp-content/fellowship_research_project/TherelationshipbetweenThangtaandMeiteiPungmaintainedbyourAncientGurus.pdf |website=ccrtindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Centre for Cultural Resources and Training]] |page=4}}</ref>
The ''Khencho'' ({{Script|Mtei|ꯈꯦꯟꯆꯣ}}), an early Meitei work of poetry was composed by the beginning of the 7th&nbsp;century CE.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Khelchandra Ningthoukhongjam |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466183/page/n97/mode/2up |title=History Of Old Manipuri Literature |location=Imphal |publisher=Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra Singh |pages=97, 98 |language=mni |chapter=Khencho |author-link=Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra}}</ref> Although it is obscure and unintelligible to present-day Meiteis, it is still recited as part of the [[Lai Haraoba]] festival.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiBkAAAAMAAJ |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |location=India |pages=14, 15 |language=en, mni |chapter=The Early Period (Ritual Songs)}}</ref>
 
One of the best-preserved early Meitei language epigraphic records is a copper plate inscription dating to the reign of King Khongtekcha ({{reign|c. 763|773|era=CE}}).<ref name="aponpath.com">{{Cite book |last=Devi |first=Yumlembam Gopi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gxqeDwAAQBAJ&q=8th%20century%20copper%20plate%20inscription%20manipur&pg=PA25 |title=Glimpses of Manipuri Culture |date=16 June 2019 |isbn=978-0-359-72919-7 |page=25 |publisher=LP |language=en}}</ref> During the same time period, Akoijam Tombi composed the ''[[Panthoibi Khonggul]]'' ({{lang|omp|{{Script|Mtei|ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯄꯤ ꯈꯣꯡꯀꯨꯜ}}|}}), an account of the romantic adventures of the [[deification|deified]] Meitei princess [[Panthoibi]].<ref name=":Glimpses_Panthoibi_Khongul">{{Cite book |last=Devi |first=Dr Yumlembam Gopi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gxqeDwAAQBAJ&dq=panthoibi+khongul&pg=PA119 |title=Glimpses of Manipuri Culture |date=16 June 2019 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-0-359-72919-7 |page=119 |language=en}}</ref>


=== Second Millennium CE ===
=== Second Millennium CE ===
In 1100 CE, the '''[[Loyumba Shinyen]]''' ([[Ancient Meitei language|Ancient Meitei]]: {{lang|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯣꯌꯨꯝꯄ ꯁꯤꯟꯌꯦꯟ}}|}}, {{Script|Latn|Loyumpa Sinyen}}), a written [[constitution]] was ''finalised'' and enacted by Meitei King [[Loiyumba|Loiyumba (Loyumba)]] (1074 CE-1112 CE), as a formal edict of the ''"proto-constitution"'' which was first drafted in 429 CE by his ancestor ruler, Meitei King [[Naophangba]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vO-vtI8NuxIC&dq=loyumba+shinyen+final+document&pg=PP2 |title=Manipur: Treatise & Documents |date=1993 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-399-5 |pages=2 |language=en |quote=Manipur, known as 'Meetei Leipak' or 'Kangleipak' in the two millennia old Meetei manuscripts had experienced some form of constitutional government under a proto-Constitution in 429 A.D. which was reduced to a final format in 1110 A.D. Constitution entitled 'Loiyamba Shinyen' during the regime of King Loyumba.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9eYC4tjzyi4C&dq=loyumba+shinyen+written+constitution&pg=PA304 |title=Law and Society: Strategy for Public Choice, 2001 |date=1991 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-271-4 |pages=304 |language=en |quote=The constitutionalism had developed with the adoption of a prototype of a constitution in 429 A.D. which was finally moulded into the written constitution in 1110 A.D., called 'Loyumba Shinyen' till it was substituted by Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947 which operated till Manipur's merger with India on October 15, 1949.}}</ref>
[[File:The first page of Loyumba Silyen (Loiyumpa Silyel) - 11th-12th century Classical Meitei language Constitution of the then Kangleipak civilisation state - in traditional Meetei Mayek writing system (Manipur State Archives).jpg|thumb|The first page of Loyumba Shinyen, the 11th-12th century Meitei-language constitution of Kangleipak.]]


== Geographical distribution ==
In 1100 CE, a written constitution, {{meitei|ꯂꯣꯏꯌꯨꯝꯄ ꯁꯤꯜꯌꯦꯜ|la=[[Loyumba Shinyen]]}}, was finalised by King [[Loiyumba]] ({{reign|c. 1074|1112|era=CE}}) of Kangleipak. It was a codification of the proto-constitution drafted by King [[Naophangba]] in 429 CE.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vO-vtI8NuxIC&dq=loyumba+shinyen+final+document&pg=PP2 |title=Manipur: Treatise & Documents |date=1993 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-399-5 |page=2 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9eYC4tjzyi4C&dq=loyumba+shinyen+written+constitution&pg=PA304 |title=Law and Society: Strategy for Public Choice, 2001 |date=1991 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-271-4 |page=304 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Bangladesh ===
{{Main|Meitei language in Bangladesh}}
[[File:Sylhet in Bangladesh.svg|thumb|Areas where there is significant population of [[Meitei speakers]] ([[Manipuris]]) in Bangladesh]]
The population of [[Meitei speakers]] ([[Manipuris]]) are found in four districts, namely [[Sylhet District]], [[Moulvibazar District]], [[Sunamganj District]] and [[Habiganj District]] of the [[Sylhet Division]] of Bangladesh. In early times, there were Meitei speaking population in [[Dhaka]], [[Mymensingh]] and [[Comilla]] also.<ref name=":Bangladesh">{{Cite web |title=Textile Bdesh Myanmar 3 |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Arts_and_Culture.Mutua_Bahadur_Art_Collection.Textile_Bdesh_Myanmar_3 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=www.e-pao.net}}</ref>
==== Sylhet district ====
There are thirteen villages in [[Sylhet District]], which are Amborkhana (Nongthombam Leikai in Meitei language), Nayabazar, Shibgonj, Goaipara, Kewapara, Sagordighirpar (Pukhri Mapan in Meitei language), Baghbari, Laladighipar (Sapam Leikai in Meitei language), Lamabazar (Leichom Leikai in Meitei language), Doxingach, Rajbari (Konung Leikai in Meitei language), Brojonath Tila (Meitei people refer to it as Brajanath Leikai but earlier it was known as Narasingh Tila) and Noyabazar (Sylhet P.S.) among others.<ref name=":Bangladesh" />
==== Mouluvibazar district ====
[[Moulvibazar District]] has twenty-eight [[Meitei speakers|Meitei]] populated settlements, which are Photiguli, Goalbari, Naldhari, Boroiloli (Kulaura P.S.), Ramnagar, Khaspur, Balishira (Shrimongol P.S.), Gouranagar, Puthadhor, Chotodhamai, Patharia, Gourangabil (Borolekha P.S.), Madhobpur, Chaiciri (Nongthombam Leikai in Meitei language), Homerjan, Majhergaon, Shangaon (Hamom Khul in Meitei language), Haqtiarkhola, Shripiire, Bhandarigaon, Chitlia, Noyapattan, Ganganagar, Bhanubil, Katabil Tateygaon (Mange Makhong Khul in Meitei language), Mongolpur (Haobam Leikai in Meitei language), Konagoan (Kamalgonj P.S.), among others.<ref name=":Bangladesh" />


==== Habiganj district ====
Before 1675 CE, the Meitei language experienced no significant influence from any other languages.<ref name="iias" /> Beginning in the late 17th century, Hindu influence on Meitei culture increased, and the Meitei language experienced some influences from other languages, on its [[phonology]], [[morphology (linguistics)]], [[syntax]] and [[semantics]]. At the same time, the Hinduised King [[Pamheiba]] ordered that the [[Meitei script]] be replaced by the [[Bengali-Assamese script]].<ref name="iias" />
[[Habiganj District|Habigonj District]] (Chunarghat P.S.) had four Meitei settlement areas, which are Gaborkhula, Abadgaon, Shibnagar and Dudhpatil.<ref name=":Bangladesh" />


==== Sunamganj district ====
[[File:ANDRO INSCRIBED STONE.jpg|thumb|An 1822 CE stone recording a royal decree attributed to King [[Ching-Thang Khomba|Jai Singh]] ({{reign|1759|1762|1763|1798}}), erected at [[Andro, Imphal East]], Manipur]]
[[Sunamganj District|Sunamgonj District]] (Chatak P.S.) has three Meitei populated settlements, which are Nayanpur, Lakhat and Ratanpur.<ref name=":Bangladesh" />


=== India ===
In 1725 CE, Pamheiba wrote [[Meitei translations and literary adaptations of the Mahabharata#History|Parikshit]], possibly the first piece of Meitei-language [[Hindu literature]], based on the story of the eponymous king [[Parikshit]] of the [[Mahabharata]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiBkAAAAMAAJ |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |date=1996 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |location=India |page=135 |language=en}}</ref>
==== Assam ====
{{See|Barak Valley#Languages|Meitei associate official language movement}}
[[File:Map of Barak Valley.jpg|thumb|Districts of Barak Valley - Meitei speaking population settlement areas of Assam]]
Meitei language is the third most widely spoken language, after Bengali and Hindi, in the [[Barak Valley]] region of [[Assam]] state of India.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mishra |first=Awadesh |date=1 January 1999 |title=The Manipuris in the Barak Valley: A Case Study of Language Maintenance' |url=https://www.academia.edu/1059019 |journal=Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area}}</ref>


==== Manipur ====
== Geographical distribution ==
The Indian state of [[Manipur]] has the largest Meitei speaking population among all its geographical distribution. Native to as well as predominantly spoken in the state, Meitei language is the official language of the [[Government of Manipur]] as well as the [[lingua franca]] of the different communities living in Manipur.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manipuri-language |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>
{{Further|States of India by Meitei speakers}}
The majority of Meitei speakers, about 1.5&nbsp;million<ref name="census">{{cite web |title=Census Tables |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/census-tables |website=Census of India |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=15 February 2024 |year=2011}}</ref> live in the Indian state of Manupur. Meitei is the official language of the [[Government of Manipur]] as well as its [[lingua franca]].<ref name="britannica.com" /> [[File:Map of Barak Valley.jpg|thumb|Districts of Barak Valley – Meitei speaking population settlement areas of Assam]]
There are nearly 170,000 Meitei-speakers in Assam,<ref name="census"/> mainly in the [[Barak Valley]], where it is the third most commonly used language after Bengali and Hindi.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mishra |first=Awadesh |date=1 January 1999 |title=The Manipuris in the Barak Valley: A Case Study of Language Maintenance' |url=https://www.academia.edu/1059019 |journal=Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area}}</ref> Manipuri is also spoken by about 9500 people in Nagaland, in communities such as [[Dimapur]], [[Kohima]], [[Peren, Nagaland|Peren]] and [[Phek]].<ref name="ethnologue_mni"/><ref name="census"/> Meitei is a [[second language]] for various [[Naga people|Naga]] and [[Kuki-Chin-Mizo people|Kuki-Chin]] ethnic groups.<ref name="ethnologue_mni"/>


==== Nagaland ====
[[File:Sylhet in Bangladesh.svg|thumb|Areas with significant numbers of Meitei speakers in Bangladesh]]
According to [[Ethnologue]], Meitei language is also spoken in [[Dimapur]], [[Kohima]], [[Peren, Nagaland|Peren]] and [[Phek]] of [[Nagaland]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meitei {{!}} Ethnologue |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724203234/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mni/ |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=[[Ethnologue]] |language=en}}</ref>
There are around 15,000 [[Meitei language in Bangladesh|Meitei speakers in Bangladesh]]{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} mainly are in the districts of [[Sylhet District|Sylhet]], [[Moulvibazar District|Moulvibazar]], [[Sunamganj District|Sunamganj]] and [[Habiganj District|Habiganj]] in the [[Sylhet Division]] of Bangladesh. In the past, there was a Meitei speaking population in [[Dhaka]], [[Mymensingh]] and [[Comilla]] also.<ref name=":Bangladesh">{{Cite web |title=Textile Bdesh Myanmar 3 |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Arts_and_Culture.Mutua_Bahadur_Art_Collection.Textile_Bdesh_Myanmar_3 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref> Manipuri is used as a second language by the [[Bishnupriya Manipuri people]].<ref name="ethnologue_mni"/>


=== Myanmar ===
Myanmar has a significant Meitei speaking population in the states of [[Kachin state|Kachin]] and [[Shan state|Shan]] and the regions of [[Yangon Region|Yangon]], [[Sagaing Region|Sagaing]], and [[Ayeyarwady Region|Ayeyarwady]], among others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri in Myanmar 1 |url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Arts_and_Culture.Mutua_Bahadur_Art_Collection.Manipuri_in_Myanmar_1 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref>
Myanmar has significant Meitei speaking population in [[Kachin state]], [[Yangon Region]], [[Sagaing Region]], [[Shan state]], [[Ayeyarwady Region]], among others.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri in Myanmar 1 |url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Arts_and_Culture.Mutua_Bahadur_Art_Collection.Manipuri_in_Myanmar_1 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref>
 
== As a second or foreign language {{anchor|As a multi ethnic language|As a second language|As a foreign language}} ==
According to the [[Ethnologue]], in India, Meitei language is used as a [[second language]] (L2) by the various [[Naga people|Naga ethnic groups]] and [[Kuki-Chin-Mizo people|Kuki-Chin ethnic groups]], including [[Aimol people|Aimol]], [[Anāl people|Anal]], [[Chiru people|Chiru]], [[Chothe people|Chothe]], [[Gangte people|Gangte]], [[Hmar people|Hmar]], [[Inpui people|Inpui]], [[Kharam people|Kharam]], [[Koireng people|Koireng]], [[Kom people (India)|Kom]], [[Lamkang people|Lamkang]], [[Mao people|Mao]], [[Maram people|Maram]], [[Monsang people|Monsang]], [[Moyon people|Moyon]], [[Purum people|Purum]], [[Tarao people|Tarao]], [[Thadou people|Thadou]] ([[Chin people]]), [[Thangal Naga people]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meitei {{!}} Ethnologue |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724203234/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mni/ |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=[[Ethnologue]] |language=en}}</ref>
 
The Ethnologue also reports that [[Meitei language in Bangladesh]] is used as a second language (L2) by the [[Bishnupriya Manipuri people|Bishnupriya people]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meitei {{!}} Ethnologue |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724203234/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mni/ |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=[[Ethnologue]] |language=en}}</ref>


== Name ==
== Name ==
According to the [[Ethnologue]], the alternative names of Meitei language are ''Kathe, Kathi, Manipuri, Meetei, Meeteilon, Meiteilon, Meiteiron, Meithe, Meithei, Menipuri, Mitei, Mithe, Ponna''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meitei {{!}} Ethnologue |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724203234/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mni/ |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=[[Ethnologue]] |language=en}}</ref>
According to the [[Ethnologue]], the alternative names of Meitei language are ''Kathe, Kathi, Manipuri, Meetei, Meeteilon, Meiteilon, Meiteiron, Meithe, Meithei, Menipuri, Mitei, Mithe, Ponna''.<ref name="ethnologue_mni"/>


The name ''Meitei'' or its alternate spelling ''Meithei'' is preferred by many native speakers of Meitei over ''Manipuri.''<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2">Chelliah (1997: 2)</ref> The term is derived from the Meitei word for the language ''Meitheirón'' (''Meithei'' + ''-lon'' 'language', pronounced {{IPA|/mə́i.təi.lón/}}).<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=H. Surmangol |date=2006 |title=Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary.Meitei |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/sharma_query.py?qs=%EA%AF%83%EA%AF%A9%EA%AF%87%EA%AF%A9&searchhws=yes |access-date=30 July 2022 |website=dsal.uchicago.edu}}</ref> ''Meithei'' may be a compound from ''mí'' 'man' + ''they'' 'separate'.<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> This term is used by most Western linguistic scholarship.<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> Meitei scholars use the term ''Meit(h)ei'' when writing in English and the term ''Meitheirón'' when writing in Meitei.<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> Chelliah (2015: 89) notes that the ''Meitei'' spelling has replaced the earlier ''Meithei'' spelling.<ref>Chelliah (2015: 89)</ref>
The name ''Meitei'' or its alternate spelling ''Meithei'' is preferred by many native speakers of Meitei over ''Manipuri.''<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2">Chelliah (1997: 2)</ref> The term is derived from the Meitei word for the language ''Meitheirón'' (''Meithei'' + ''-lon'' 'language', pronounced {{IPA|/mə́i.təi.lón/}}).<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=H. Surmangol |year=2006 |title=Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary. Meitei |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/sharma_query.py?qs=%EA%AF%83%EA%AF%A9%EA%AF%87%EA%AF%A9&searchhws=yes |access-date=30 July 2022 |website=dsal.uchicago.edu}}</ref> ''Meithei'' may be a compound from ''mí'' 'man' + ''they'' 'separate'.<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> This term is used by most Western linguistic scholarship.<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> Meitei scholars use the term ''Meit(h)ei'' when writing in English and the term ''Meitheirón'' when writing in Meitei.<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> Chelliah (2015: 89) notes that the ''Meitei'' spelling has replaced the earlier ''Meithei'' spelling.<ref>Chelliah (2015: 89)</ref>


The language (and people) is also referred to by the loconym ''Manipuri.''<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> The term is derived from the name of the state of [[Manipur]].<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> ''Manipuri'' is the official name of the language for the [[India]]n government and is used by government institutions and non-Meitei authors.<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> The term ''Manipuri'' is also used to refer to the different [[languages of Manipur]] and to the people.<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> Additionally, ''Manipuri,'' being a loconym, can refer to anything pertaining to the Manipur state.
The language (and people) is also referred to by the loconym ''Manipuri.''<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> The term is derived from the name of the state of [[Manipur]].<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> ''Manipuri'' is the official name of the language for the Indian government and is used by government institutions and non-Meitei authors.<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> The term ''Manipuri'' is also used to refer to the different [[languages of Manipur]] and to the people.<ref name="Chelliah 1997: 2"/> Additionally, ''Manipuri,'' being a loconym, can refer to anything pertaining to the Manipur state.


Speakers of Meitei language are known as ''"Kathe"'' by the [[Burmese people]], ''"Moglie"'' or ''"Mekhlee"'' by the people of [[Cachar]], Assam ([[Kachari people|Kacharis]] and [[Assamese people|Assamese]]) and ''"Cassay"'' by the [[Shan people]] and the other peoples living in the east of the [[Ningthee River]] (or Khyendwen River). ''"Ponna"'' is the Burmese term used to refer to the [[Meitei people|Meiteis]] living inside [[Burma]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gangte |first=Priyadarshini M.|url=http://www.thepeopleschronicle.in/daily/english/1781|title = Evolution of Meetei state- Emergence of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba |work=The People's Chronicle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119084314/http://www.thepeopleschronicle.in/daily/english/1781 |archive-date=19 January 2021 |access-date=21 March 2022}}</ref>
Speakers of Meitei language are known as ''"Kathe"'' by the [[Burmese people]], ''"Moglie"'' or ''"Mekhlee"'' by the people of [[Cachar]], Assam ([[Dimasa people|Dimasas]] and [[Assamese people|Assamese]]) and ''"Cassay"'' by the [[Shan people]] and the other peoples living in the east of the [[Ningthee River]] (or Khyendwen River). ''"Ponna"'' is the Burmese term used to refer to the [[Meitei people|Meiteis]] living inside [[Burma]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gangte |first=Priyadarshini M. |url=http://www.thepeopleschronicle.in/daily/english/1781 |title=Evolution of Meetei state- Emergence of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba |work=The People's Chronicle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119084314/http://www.thepeopleschronicle.in/daily/english/1781 |archive-date=19 January 2021 |access-date=21 March 2022}}</ref>


== Dialects ==
== Dialects ==
Line 204: Line 160:


== Status ==
== Status ==
{{See|Meitei language movement#Scheduled language movement|Meitei classical language movement|Meitei associate official language movement}}
{{Further|Meitei classical language movement|Meitei associate official language movement}}
{{See also|Languages with official status in India}}
[[File:Kanglasa.svg|thumb|The [[Emblem of Manipur]] uses Meitei language, written in [[Meitei script]].]]
=== Official language status ===
Meitei is the sole [[official language]] of the [[Government of Manipur]]. It is used for all official purposes, except for some interstate cases. Meitei is included among the languages that are part of the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India]], thus granting it the status of a "scheduled language".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language and alphabets |url=https://omniglot.com/writing/manipuri.htm |website=omniglot.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manipuri-language |website=www.britannica.com |date=19 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
==== Amendment to the script policy ====
In 2021, there were changes to the Manipur Official Language Act by the [[Government of Manipur]] as follows:
{{Quote|"Manipuri Language" means Meeteilon written in Meetei Mayek and spoken by the majority of Manipur population:
Provided that the concurrent use of Bengali Script and Meetei Mayek shall be allowed in addition to English language, for a period upto 10(ten) years from the date of commencement of this Act.|The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021
{{Small|([[Amendment]] to the Section 2 of the "Manipur Official Language Act, 1979", for clause "f")}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=GAZETTE TITLE: The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021 |url=http://manipurgovtpress.nic.in/en/details_gazzete/?gazette=658 |website=manipurgovtpress.nic.in
|publisher=[[National Informatics Center]]
|others=[[Government of India]]}}</ref>}}


=== Court language status ===
Meitei is the sole [[official language]] of the [[Government of Manipur]], and has been an official language of India since 1992.<ref name="britannica.com" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language and alphabets |url=https://omniglot.com/writing/manipuri.htm |website=omniglot.com}}</ref>
{{See|Manipur State Constitution Act 1947}}
Meitei language was the court language of the historic [[Manipur Kingdom]] (Meeteileipak),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC&dq=manipuri+court+language&pg=PA290 |title=Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization |date=1988 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-853-2 |pages=290 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mohanty |first=P. K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zkguECp3vKEC&dq=manipuri+court+language&pg=PA149 |title=Encyclopaedia of Scheduled Tribes in India: In Five Volume |date=2006 |publisher= |isbn=978-81-8205-052-5 |pages=149 |language=en}}</ref> and was declared as such in the kingdom's [[Manipur State Constitution Act 1947|1947 Constitution]], before it merged into the Indian Republic.<ref>–{{Cite book |last=Chishti |first=S. M. A. W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YMcxSM_ZO30C&dq=Manipuri+court+language&pg=PA282 |title=Political Development in Manipur, 1919-1949 |date=2005 |publisher= |isbn=978-81-7835-424-8 |pages=282 |language=en}}<br />–{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Suresh K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dpyeNBqtHlgC&dq=Manipuri+court+language&pg=PA168 |title=Documents on North-East India: Manipur |date=2006 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-8324-092-5 |pages=168 |language=en}}<br />–{{Cite book |last=Tarapot |first=Phanjoubam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FsUJ0E3BXkMC&dq=Manipuri+court+language&pg=PA309 |title=Bleeding Manipur |date=2003 |publisher=Har-Anand Publications |isbn=978-81-241-0902-1 |pages=309 |language=en}}<br />–{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vO-vtI8NuxIC&dq=manipuri+court+language&pg=PA369 |title=Manipur: Treatise & Documents |date=1993 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-399-5 |pages=369 |language=en}}<br />–{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vO-vtI8NuxIC&dq=manipuri+court+language&pg=PA255 |title=Manipur: Treatise & Documents |date=1993 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-399-5 |pages=255 |language=en}}</ref>


=== Recognition by the Sahitya Akademi ===
Meitei language was the court language of the historic [[Manipur Kingdom]],<ref name="Sanajaoba 1988 290">{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC&dq=manipuri+court+language&pg=PA290 |title=Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization |date=1988 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-853-2 |page=290 |language=en}}</ref> and before it merged into the Indian Republic.<ref name=":court_language_status">{{Cite book |last=Chishti |first=S. M. A. W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YMcxSM_ZO30C&dq=Manipuri+court+language&pg=PA282 |title=Political Development in Manipur, 1919–1949 |date=2005 |publisher=GPH |isbn=978-81-7835-424-8 |page=282 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Sahitya Akademi]], India's National Academy of Letters, recognised Meitei as one of the major advanced Indian literary languages in 1972, long before it became an official language in 1992.
{{See|Sahitya Akademi Award for Meitei|Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize for Meitei|Yuva Puraskar for Meitei}}
In 1950, the [[Government of India]] did not include Meitei in its list of 14 official languages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=English Releases |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=5928 |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref> A [[Meitei language movement#Scheduled language movement|language movement]], spearheaded by organisations including the [[Manipuri Sahitya Parishad]] and the All Manipur Students' Union demanded that Meitei be made an official language for more than 40 years, until Meitei was finally added to the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India]] in 1992.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=C. Joshua |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=daMpNcQKkjMC |title=Constraints in Development of Manipur |last2=Gopalakrishnan |first2=Ramamoorthy |last3=Singh |first3=R. K. Ranjan |date=2001 |publisher=Regency Publications [for Policy Alternatives for the North-East and Conflict Elimination Awareness] |isbn=978-81-87498-30-8 |pages=54–55 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language in 8th Schedule By Jeet Akoijam |url=http://e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=MeiteiMayek.Manipuri_language_in_8th_Schedule_By_Jeet_Akoijam.html |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref>
With nearly two dozen dailies and a good deal of periodicals,{{efn|During that time, i.e. 1970s}} and more than 1000 ancient and medieval texts, written in [[Meitei Mayek]] ([[Manipuri script]]),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC&dq=manipuri+court+language&pg=PA290 |title=Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization |date=1988 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-853-2 |pages=290 |language=en}}</ref> Meitei language was recognised by the National [[Sahitya Akademi]] of New Delhi, as one of the major advanced Indian literary languages in 1972, long before it was recognised as a [[scheduled languages of India|constitutionally scheduled language]] in 1992. The National [[Sahitya Academy]] bestow multiple annual awards for the promotion, recognition of the language and its literature.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sealang.net/sala/archives/pdf4/devi2004loanwords.pdf|title=Loanwords in Manipuri and their impact|website=sealang.net|author=Hajarimayum Subadani Devi|quote=In 1972 the Sahitya Akademi, the highest body of language and literature of India recognized Manipuri (Manipuri Sahitya Parisad. 1986:82)|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr Thokchom Ibohanbi - first Manipuri writer to get Akademi award : 24th feb22 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=30..240222.feb22 |access-date=20 August 2022 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref>


=== Scheduled language status ===
Meitei became an associate official language of [[Assam]] in 2024,<ref>{{cite news |title=Assam recognises Manipuri as associate official language in four districts |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/assam-recognises-manipuri-as-associate-official-language-in-four-districts-101708770769105.html |access-date=29 April 2024 |work=Hindustan Times |date=24 February 2024 |language=en}}</ref> following several years of effort by the [[Meitei associate official language movement]] to protect the identity, history, culture and tradition of Manipuris in Assam.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Manipuri as associate official language in Assam Sanajaoba approaches Sonowal |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2020/9/24/Manipuri-as-associate-official-language-in-AssamSanajaoba-approaches-Sonowal-.html |website=The Sangai Express |date=24 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Manipuri language should be one of Assam's associate official languages: AAMSU |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/9888/manipuri-language-should-be-one-of-assams-associate-official-languages-aamsu |work=Imphal Free Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811005543/https://www.ifp.co.in/9888/manipuri-language-should-be-one-of-assams-associate-official-languages-aamsu |archive-date=2023-08-11 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="hindu27Sep2020">{{Cite news |last=Laithangbam |first=Iboyaima |date=27 September 2020 |title=Assam to look into demand to include Manipuri in list of associate languages |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/minister-to-look-into-demand-to-include-manipuri-in-the-list-of-associate-languages-of-assam/article32707194.ece}}</ref>
{{See|Meitei scheduled language movement|Seventy-first Amendment of the Constitution of India}}
{{Quote|
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Forty-third Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
<br />
1. Short title.-This Act may be called the Constitution (Seventy-first Amendment) Act, 1992.
<br />
2. Amendment of Eighth Schedule. In the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution,-
<br />
(a) existing entry 7 shall be re-numbered as entry 8, and before entry 8 as so re-numbered, the entry "7. Konkani." shall be inserted;
<br />
(b) existing entry 8 shall be re-numbered as entry 10, and before entry 10 as so re-numbered, the entry "9. Manipuri." shall be inserted;
<br />
(c) existing entries 9 to 15 shall be re-numbered as entries 12 to 18 respectively, and before entry 12 as so re-numbered, the entry "11. Nepali." shall be inserted.|[[Seventy-first Amendment of the Constitution of India|THE CONSTITUTION (SEVENTY-FIRST AMENDMENT) ACT, 1992]]|31st August, 1992<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Constitution (Seventy-first Amendment) Act, 1992{{!}} National Portal of India |url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/constitution-india/amendments/constitution-india-seventy-first-amendment-act-1992 |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=www.india.gov.in}}</ref>{{efn|Konkani and Nepali languages were recognised as scheduled languages at the same time when Meitei language was recognised.}}
}}


The Meitei language has been recognised (under the name ''Manipuri'') by the Indian Union and was included in the list of scheduled languages (included in the 8th schedule by the [[Seventy-first Amendment of the Constitution of India|71st amendment of the constitution]] in 1992).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language in 8th Schedule By Jeet Akoijam |url=http://e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=MeiteiMayek.Manipuri_language_in_8th_Schedule_By_Jeet_Akoijam.html |access-date=12 March 2022 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Languages Included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution {{!}} Department of Official Language {{!}} Ministry of Home Affairs {{!}} GoI |url=https://rajbhasha.gov.in/en/languages-included-eighth-schedule-indian-constitution |access-date=12 March 2022 |website=rajbhasha.gov.in}}</ref>
The Meitei language is one of the 13 official languages of the India used to administer police, armed services, and civil service recruitment exams.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh lauds SSC for deciding to conduct the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff examination 2022 in 13 regional languages in addition to Hindi and English for the first time |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1892439 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=pib.gov.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Manipuri among 13 regional languages approved for CAPF exam |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/manipuri-among-13-regional-languages-approved-for-capf-exam |access-date=19 April 2023 |work=[[Imphal Free Press]] |date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009002143/https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/manipuri-among-13-regional-languages-approved-for-capf-exam |archive-date=2024-10-09 |language=en}}</ref>
The day of the inclusion of Meitei language in the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India]] and making it one of the [[languages with official status in India|official languages of the Indian Republic]] is annually commemorated as [[Meitei Language Day]] (also called [[Manipuri Language Day]]) on 20 August.<ref>{{Cite web |title=30th Manipuri Language Day observed : 21st aug21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=7..210821.aug21 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 August 2017 |title=Manipuri Language Day observed in Manipur - Eastern Mirror |url=https://easternmirrornagaland.com/manipuri-language-day-observed-in-manipur/ |website=easternmirrornagaland.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>


=== Language movements ===
The [[Press Information Bureau]] of the Indian [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]] publishes in 14 languages, including Meitei.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Imphal Free |author-link=Imphal Free Press |title=PIB website has news in regional languages now – KanglaOnline |url=http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/pib-website-has-news-in-regional-languages-now/ |access-date=25 January 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In the modern era, several [[Meitei language movement]]s have been in existence, including the ''[[Meitei linguistic purism movement|linguistic purism movement]], [[Meitei language movement#Scheduled language movement|scheduled language movement]], [[Meitei classical language movement|classical language movement]], [[Meitei associate official language movement|associate official language movement]]''. There is a proposal for the language to be granted the elite status of "[[Classical Languages of India]]".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government must take concrete step for recognition of Manipuri as classical language |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/government-must-take-concrete-step-for-recognition-of-manipuri-as-classical-language |website=Imphal Free Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=IANS |date=20 August 2016 |title=Classic language status for Manipuri demanded |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/classic-language-status-for-manipuri-demanded-116082000690_1.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 August 2019 |title=Manipur Govt Begins Efforts for Inclusion of Manipuri Among 'Classical' Languages |url=http://www.indiatodayne.in/breaking-news/story/manipur-govt-begins-efforts-inclusion-manipuri-among-classical-languages-397876-2019-08-21 |website=India Today NE |language=hi}}</ref> Besides, it is also proposed to be recognised as an ''"associate official language"'' of the [[Government of Assam]]. According to [[Leishemba Sanajaoba]], the present titular king of [[Manipur]] and a [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]] from Manipur state, by recognising Meitei as an ''associate official language'' of [[Assam]], the identity, history, culture and tradition of Manipuris residing in Assam could be able to get protected and preserved.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri as associate official language in Assam Sanajaoba approaches Sonowal |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2020/9/24/Manipuri-as-associate-official-language-in-AssamSanajaoba-approaches-Sonowal-.html |website=www.thesangaiexpress.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language should be one of Assam's associate official languages: AAMSU |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/9888/manipuri-language-should-be-one-of-assams-associate-official-languages-aamsu |website=Imphal Free Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Laithangbam |first=Iboyaima |date=27 September 2020 |title=Assam to look into demand to include Manipuri in list of associate languages |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/minister-to-look-into-demand-to-include-manipuri-in-the-list-of-associate-languages-of-assam/article32707194.ece |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
 
=== In the Prime Minister's Office ===
{{See|Prime Minister's Office (India)| Prime Minister of India}}
Meitei language is selected as one of the 11 [[Languages of India|Indian languages]], out of the [[22 official languages of the Indian Republic]], to be made available in the official website of the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Indian Prime Minister's Office]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=PMINDIA Multilingual Website now available in 13 languages Assamese and Manipuri versions of Prime Minister's Official Website launched |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1514873 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
=== In the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ===
Meitei language is selected as one of the 14 [[Languages of India|Indian languages]], out of the [[22 official languages of the Indian Republic]], to be made available in the [[Press Information Bureau]] (PIB) by the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)|Ministry of Information and Broadcasting]] of the [[Government of India]] (GOI). The Meitei language versions of the press releases are presently available in [[Bengali script]], but there is plan of changing the script into [[Meitei script]] ([[Manipuri script]]) in due course of time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PIB press releases in Manipuri : 25th nov15 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=17..251115.nov15 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Imphal Free |author-link=Imphal Free Press |title=PIB website has news in regional languages now – KanglaOnline |url=http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/pib-website-has-news-in-regional-languages-now/ |access-date=25 January 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
=== In the Staff Selection Commission ===
Meitei language is one of the 13 [[Languages of India|Indian languages]], out of the [[22 official languages of the Indian Republic]], selected by the [[Staff Selection Commission]] (SSC) of the [[Government of India]], to be made available in the conduction of the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff examination across the country. The [[Staff Selection Commission]] is one of the biggest job recruiting agencies belonging to the [[Indian Government]]. It mainly recruits people to "Group B" (Non-Gazetted Posts) and "Group C" (Non-Technical Posts) in diverse governmental ministries and departments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh lauds SSC for deciding to conduct the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff examination 2022 in 13 regional languages in addition to Hindi and English for the first time |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1892439 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=www.pib.gov.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=হিন্দি অমসুং ইংলিসকী মথক্তা অহানবা ওইনা লম-লমগী লোন ১৩দা মল্তি-তাস্কিং(নন-তেক্নিকেল) স্তাফ এজামিনেসন ২০২২ পাংথোক্নবা ৱারেপ লৌখিবগীদমক য়ুনিয়ন মিনিস্তর দোক্তর জিতেন্দ্র সিংহনা এস.এস.সি থাগৎখ্রে |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1892624 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=pib.gov.in |language=mni}}</ref>
 
=== In the Central Armed Police Forces ===
Meitei language is selected by the [[Union Government of India]] as one of the 13 Indian languages, out of the [[22 official languages of the Indian Republic]], to be used in the recruitment examination of the [[Central Armed Police Forces]] (CAPF). The decision, for all these 13 languages, was taken by an official agreement between the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] and the [[Staff Selection Commission]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri among 13 regional languages approved for CAPF exam |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/manipuri-among-13-regional-languages-approved-for-capf-exam |access-date=19 April 2023 |website=[[Imphal Free Press]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 April 2023 |title=CAPF Recruitment Examination In Assamese, Manipuri, Bengali, Odia & Other Regional Languages - NE India Broadcast |url=https://neindiabroadcast.com/2023/04/15/capf-recruitment-examination-in-assamese-manipuri-bengali-odia-other-regional-languages/ |access-date=19 April 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref> and it will be converted into action from {{Start date and age|df=y|2024|01|01}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NEWS |first=NE NOW |date=16 April 2023 |title=Manipur CM lauds Centre for introducing Manipuri in CAPF exams |url=http://nenow.in/north-east-news/manipur/manipur-cm-lauds-centre-introducing-manipuri-capf-exams.html |access-date=19 April 2023 |website=NORTHEAST NOW |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=BORA |first=ADREENA |date=15 April 2023 |title=Northeast {{!}} MHA approves constable exams for CAPFs in Assamese, Manipuri & Bengali also |url=http://nenow.in/north-east-news/northeast-mha-constable-exams-capfs-assamese-manipuri-bengali.html |access-date=19 April 2023 |website=NORTHEAST NOW |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== In the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology ===
Meitei language is selected as one of the 5 Indian languages, for publishing information on the Indian heritage by the [[Indian Government]]'s [[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]] sponsored "Northeast Heritage" Web, besides Hindi and English.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Discover the Heritage of North East India ... English {{!}} हिंदी {{!}} অসমীয়া {{!}} Ka Ktien Khasi {{!}} Mizo ṭawng {{!}} Meitei {{!}} बड़
|url=https://northeastheritage.in/ne-heritage-portal?language=en
|website=Northeast Heritage
|others=[[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]]
|language=en, hi, as, mni, brx, kha, lus}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|title=ভারতকি চিংখৈথংবা শরুকতা চৎনরকলিবা মৈহৌরোল পুথোকপা
|url=https://northeastheritage.in/ne-heritage-portal?language=ma
|website=Northeast Heritage
|others=[[Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology]]
|language=mni}}</ref>
 
=== In the National Education Policy ===
{{See|Meitei language#Education{{!}}Meitei language in education}}
Meitei language is one of the 28 languages selected across the world, besides French, Sanskrit, Tamil, etc. to be used in teaching and learning in grades (1-5) by the "Unified District Information System for Education Plus" (UDISE+), as per the reports of the [[Press Information Bureau]] (PIB). It is a part of the [[National Education Policy 2020]] started by the [[Union Cabinet of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Education in Mother Tongue |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1847061 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=www.pib.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=মমালোন্দা লাইরিক তম্বা |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1847117 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=pib.gov.in |language=mni}}</ref>


== Education ==
== Education ==
{{See|Meitei language#In the National Education Policy{{!}}Meitei language in the National Education Policy|Meitei language festival|Department of Manipuri, Manipur University}}
Meitei is a language of instruction in all in the educational institutions in Manipur. It is one of the 40 instructional languages offered by the [[Central Board of Secondary Education]] (CBSE), controlled and managed by the [[Ministry of Education (India)|Ministry of Education]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=CBSE {{!}} Academics Unit: Curriculum/Syllabus |url=https://cbseacademic.nic.in/curriculum.html |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=[[Central Board of Secondary Education|cbseacademic.nic.in]]}}</ref> Meitei is taught as a subject up to the post-graduate level in Indian universities, including [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]], [[Delhi University]], [[Gauhati University]], and the [[University of North Bengal]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Devi |first1=S. |date=May 2013 |title=Is Manipuri an Endangered Language? |url=http://www.languageinindia.com/may2013/rebikameitheiendangeredfinal.pdf |journal=Language in India |volume=13 |issue=5 |pages=520–533}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bareh |first=Hamlet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XScmdGvMf7IC&dq=Manipuri+national+language&pg=PA80 |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India |date=2001 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-790-0 |page=80 |language=en}}</ref> [[Indira Gandhi National Open University]] teaches Meitei to undergraduates.<ref>{{cite web |title=Manipur: Meitei language to be introduced in IGNOU syllabus, says union minister |url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/manipur/manipur-meitei-language-to-be-introduced-in-ignou-syllabus-says-union-minister.html |website=Northeast Now |access-date=18 February 2024 |date=21 August 2023}}</ref>
Besides being a medium of instructions in the [[List of institutions of higher education in Manipur|educational institutions in Manipur]], Meitei language is taught as a subject up to the post-graduate level (Ph.D.) in major [[List of universities in India|universities of India]], including but not limited to [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]], [[Delhi University]], [[Gauhati University]], and [[University of North Bengal]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Devi |first1=S. |date=May 2013 |title=Is Manipuri an Endangered Language? |url=http://www.languageinindia.com/may2013/rebikameitheiendangeredfinal.pdf |journal=Language in India |volume=13 |issue=5 |pages=520–533}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bareh |first=Hamlet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XScmdGvMf7IC&dq=Manipuri+national+language&pg=PA80 |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India |date=2001 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-790-0 |pages=80 |language=en}}</ref>
=== All India ===
==== CBSE ====
Meitei language (under the subject name "Manipuri") is one of the [[Central Board of Secondary Education#Languages|40 languages (including indigenous/local and foreign/international)]] offered for academics in the curriculum for the [[Central Board of Secondary Education]] (CBSE), controlled and managed by the [[Ministry of Education (India)|Ministry of Education]] of the [[Government of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=CBSE {{!}} Academics Unit : Curriculum/Syllabus |url=https://cbseacademic.nic.in/curriculum.html |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=[[Central Board of Secondary Education|cbseacademic.nic.in]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Language Secondary {{!}} Manipuri Sec |url=https://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/CurriculumMain20/Language-Secondary/Manipuri_Sec_2019-20.pdf |website=cbseacademic.nic.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Curriculum Main 20 {{!}} Sr Secondary {{!}} Manipuri |url=https://cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/CurriculumMain20/SrSecondary/Manipuri.pdf |website=cbseacademic.nic.in}}</ref>
==== IGNOU ====
[[Indira Gandhi National Open University]] (IGNOU), the [[List of largest universities and university networks by enrollment|largest university in the world]], offers education in Meitei language as one of the 14 major "[[Indira Gandhi National Open University#Languages|Modern Indian Languages]]" (MILs) for undergraduate students.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ANI |date=16 February 2023 |title=Kashmiri language introduced by IGNOU at under graduate level |url=https://theprint.in/india/kashmiri-language-introduced-by-ignou-at-under-graduate-level/1375099/ |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US |quote=In addition to these disciplines, the School has an elective basket of Modern Indian Languages on offer to undergraduates: Malayalam, Marathi, Odiya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Assamese, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Manipuri and Nepali.}}</ref>


=== Assam ===
=== Assam ===
{{See|Department of Manipuri, Assam University}}
Meitei language instruction has been offered in the lower primary schools of Assam since 1956.<ref name="hindu27Sep2020" /> The [[Board of Secondary Education, Assam]] offers secondary education in Manipuri.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 March 2023 |title=Assam HSLC Exam Routine 2023 Revised: SEBA To Conduct All Class 10 Language Papers Including English On April 1 |url=https://www.india.com/education/assam-hslc-exam-routine-2023-revised-seba-to-conduct-all-class-10-language-paper-including-english-on-april-1-after-assamese-paper-leak-himanta-biswa-sarma-5950004/ |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=India.com |language=en |quote=In addition to Assamese, the other MIL subjects are Bengali, Bodo, Hindi, Manipuri, Hmar, Nepali, Mizo, Khasi, Garo, Karbi and Urdu.}}</ref> The [[Assam Higher Secondary Education Council]] of Assam offers both Meitei-language schooling and instruction in Meitei as a second language.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AHSEC complete syllabus for HS 2nd year |url=https://ahsec.assam.gov.in/index.php/hs-2nd-year-syllabus/ |website=ahsec.assam.gov.in}}</ref>
[[Board of Secondary Education, Assam]] (SEBA) offers Meitei language subject under the name "Manipuri".<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 March 2023 |title=Assam HSLC Exam Routine 2023 Revised: SEBA To Conduct All Class 10 Language Papers Including English On April 1 |url=https://www.india.com/education/assam-hslc-exam-routine-2023-revised-seba-to-conduct-all-class-10-language-paper-including-english-on-april-1-after-assamese-paper-leak-himanta-biswa-sarma-5950004/ |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=India.com |language=en |quote=In addition to Assamese, the other MIL subjects are Bengali, Bodo, Hindi, Manipuri, Hmar, Nepali, Mizo, Khasi, Garo, Karbi and Urdu.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 March 2023 |title=Assam paper leak case: MIL exam of Class 10 boards rescheduled for April 1 |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/assam-paper-leak-case-mil-exam-of-class-10-boards-rescheduled-for-april-1-101679043225385.html |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=[[Hindustan Times]] |language=en |quote=The MIL paper includes languages such as English (IL), Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Hindi, Manipuri, Hmar, Nepali, Mizo, Khasi, Garo, Karbi and Urdu.}}</ref>
[[Assam Higher Secondary Education Council]] (AHSEC) of Assam offers Meitei language subjects, under the names [[Assam Higher Secondary Education Council#Languages|"Manipuri" and "Advance Manipuri"]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=AHSEC complete syllabus for HS 2nd year |url=https://ahsec.assam.gov.in/index.php/hs-2nd-year-syllabus/ |website=ahsec.assam.gov.in |quote=2.(i) Any one of the following Modern Indian Language (MIL) subjects: a) Assamese {{!}}{{!}}  b) Bodo {{!}}{{!}}  c) Hindi {{!}}{{!}}  d) Nepali {{!}}{{!}}  e) Urdu {{!}}{{!}}  f) Khasi{{!}}{{!}}  g) Garo {{!}}{{!}} h) Mizo {{!}}{{!}} i) Manipuri {{!}}{{!}} j) Hamar {{!}}{{!}} k) Bengali ...... 11. (ii)Any one of the following advanced languages subjects: Advance Assamese {{!}}{{!}} Advance Hindi {{!}}{{!}} Advance Bodo {{!}}{{!}} Advance Sanskrit {{!}}{{!}} Advance Manipuri {{!}}{{!}} ...}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bureau |first=Pratidin |title=AHSEC HS 2nd Year Examination Routine 2023 Released Today– Download now ahsec.assam.gov.in. |url=https://www.pratidintime.com/education/ahsec-hs-2nd-year-examination-routine-2023 |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=Pratidin Time |language=en |quote=Modern Indian Languages: Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Garo, Hmar, Hindi, Khasi, Manipuri, Mizo, Nepali & Urdu. ... Advance Languages include: Advance Assamese, Advance Bengali, Advance Bodo, Advance Hindi & Advance Manipuri.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 December 2022 |title=Assam Board Exam 2023: Class 12 date sheet released |url=https://www.firstpost.com/education/assam-board-class-12-hs-time-table-2023-released-check-details-11808481.html/amp |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=Firstpost |language=en |quote=The exam will be conducted for modern languages including Bodo, Garo, Assamese, Bengali, Manipuri, Mizo, Hmar, Hindi, Khasi, Nepali and Urdu. The advanced language includes Advance Assamese, Advance Bodo, Advance Bengali, Advance Hindi and Advance Manipuri.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Desk |first=Sentinel Digital |date=5 June 2022 |title=AHSEC includes Karbi as Modern Indian Language in HS first year - Sentinelassam |url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/guwahati-city/ahsec-includes-karbi-as-modern-indian-language-in-hs-first-year-595287 |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=www.sentinelassam.com |language=en |quote=The AHSEC already has Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Garo, Hmar, Hindi, Khasi, Manipuri, Mizo, Nepali and Urdu as MIL.}}</ref>
 
Meitei language subject is offered by the [[Government of Assam]] in the lower primary schools of Assam, since 1956.
Meitei language subject is offered for the education in the [[Bachelor's degree]] in the [[Gauhati University]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Laithangbam |first=Iboyaima |date=27 September 2020 |title=Assam to look into demand to include Manipuri in list of associate languages |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/minister-to-look-into-demand-to-include-manipuri-in-the-list-of-associate-languages-of-assam/article32707194.ece |access-date=18 March 2023 |issn=0971-751X |quote=The Assam government had recognised Manipuri in the lower primary schools in 1956. It is taught at the graduate level under the Gauhati university. ... Mr. Nandababu said the Assam government had recently started granting ₹5 lakh as annual financial assistance to the Assam Manipuri Sahitya Parishad. Besides it created a corpus by sanctioning ₹6 crore for the development of the Manipuri language.}}</ref>


Since 2020, [[Assam Government]] is annually granting ₹5 lakh as financial assistance to the [[Manipuri Sahitya Parishad|Assam Manipuri Sahitya Parishad]]. Moreover, the Assam government financed {{INR Convert|6|c|year=2020}} and created a corpus for the development of the Meitei language.<ref name=":0" />
Since 2020, the [[Assam Government]] has made an annual grant of {{INR Convert|5|l|year=2020}} to the [[Manipuri Sahitya Parishad]] (Manipuri Language Council). It also invested {{INR Convert|6|c|year=2020}} in the creation of a corpus for the development of the Meitei language.<ref name="hindu27Sep2020" />


The "[[Department of Manipuri, Assam University|Department of Manipuri]]" (estd. in July 1997) of [[Assam University]] in [[Silchar]] offers education of [[Master's degree]], [[Master of Philosophy]] degree and [[Doctor of Philosophy]] degree in Meitei language, under the title "Manipuri".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri Department |url=http://www.aus.ac.in/manipuri-department/ |access-date=18 March 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=5 literary bodies bat for Manipuri language in Assam |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2020/8/3/5-literary-bodies-bat-for-Manipuri-language-in-Assam.amp.html |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=www.thesangaiexpress.com |language=en |quote=Moreover, Manipuri in MA and PhD courses are offered at Assam University, Silchar.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AAMSU demands Associate Official Language status to Manipuri language |url=https://www.time8.in/aamsu-demands-associate-official-language-status-to-manipuri-language/ |website=www.time8.in |quote=Several universities, notably Assam University and Silchar University, provide Manipuri language courses.}}</ref>
The [[Department of Manipuri, Assam University|Department of Manipuri]] of [[Assam University]] offers education up to the Ph.D. level in Meitei language.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri Department |url=http://www.aus.ac.in/manipuri-department/ |access-date=18 March 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=5 literary bodies bat for Manipuri language in Assam |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2020/8/3/5-literary-bodies-bat-for-Manipuri-language-in-Assam.amp.html |access-date=18 March 2023 |work=The Sangai Express |date=3 August 2020 |language=en |quote=Moreover, Manipuri in MA and PhD courses are offered at Assam University, Silchar.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=AAMSU demands Associate Official Language status to Manipuri language |url=https://www.time8.in/aamsu-demands-associate-official-language-status-to-manipuri-language/ |work=Time8 |date=22 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826054218/https://www.time8.in/aamsu-demands-associate-official-language-status-to-manipuri-language/ |archive-date=2022-08-26 |quote=Several universities, notably Assam University and Silchar University, provide Manipuri language courses.}}</ref>


=== Tripura ===
=== Tripura ===
The [[Government of Tripura]] offers Meitei language as "first language" subject at primary level in 24 notified schools throughout the state. It was introduced since 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MANIPURI {{!}} DIRECTORATE OF KOKBOROK & OTHER MINORITY LANGUAGES |url=https://kokborokoml.tripura.gov.in/manipuri#:~:text=The%20government%20of%20Tripura%20has,notified%20schools%20throughout%20the%20state. |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=kokborokoml.tripura.gov.in}}</ref>  
Since 1998, the [[Government of Tripura]] has offered Meitei language as a "first language" subject at primary level in 24 schools throughout the state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MANIPURI {{!}} DIRECTORATE OF KOKBOROK & OTHER MINORITY LANGUAGES |url=https://kokborokoml.tripura.gov.in/manipuri#:~:text=The%20government%20of%20Tripura%20has,notified%20schools%20throughout%20the%20state. |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=kokborokoml.tripura.gov.in}}</ref>


In December 2021, [[Tripura University]] proposed to the [[Ministry of Education (India)|Ministry of Human Resource Development]] and the [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Council (UGC)]], about the introduction of diploma courses in Meitei language, along with other international languages like Japanese, Korean and Nepali simultaneously.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 December 2021 |title=Tripura University proposes introduction of diploma courses in Japanese, Korean, Nepali and Manipuri languages |url=http://www.indiatodayne.in/breaking-news/story/tripura-university-proposes-introduction-diploma-courses-japanese-korean-nepali-and-manipuri-languages-411046-2021-12-23 |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=India Today NE |language=hi}}</ref>
In December 2021, [[Tripura University]] proposed to the Indian Ministry of Education and the [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Council (UGC)]], regarding the introduction of diploma courses in Meitei, along with international languages like Japanese, Korean and Nepali.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 December 2021 |title=Tripura University proposes introduction of diploma courses in Japanese, Korean, Nepali and Manipuri languages |url=http://www.indiatodayne.in/breaking-news/story/tripura-university-proposes-introduction-diploma-courses-japanese-korean-nepali-and-manipuri-languages-411046-2021-12-23 |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=India Today NE |language=hi}}</ref>


== Phonology ==
== Phonology ==
The exact classification of the Meitei language within [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] remains unclear. It has lexical resemblances to [[Kuki language|Kuki]] and [[Tangkhul language|Tangkhul]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Post |first1=Mark W. |last2=Burling |first2=Robbins |author2-link=Robbins Burling |year=2017 |orig-year=First published 2003 |chapter=The Tibeto-Burman Languages of Northeastern India |editor1-last=Thurgood |editor1-first=Graham |editor1-link=Graham Thurgood |editor2-last=LaPolla |editor2-first=Randy J. |editor2-link=Randy LaPolla |title=The Sino-Tibetan Languages |edition=2nd |publisher=Routledge |pages=23, 232–233 |isbn=978-1-138-78332-4}}</ref>  
The exact classification of the Meitei language within [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]] remains unclear. It has lexical resemblances to [[Kuki language|Kuki]] and [[Tangkhul language|Tangkhul]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Post |first1=Mark W. |last2=Burling |first2=Robbins |author2-link=Robbins Burling |year=2017 |orig-date=First published 2003 |chapter=The Tibeto-Burman Languages of Northeastern India |editor1-last=Thurgood |editor1-first=Graham |editor1-link=Graham Thurgood |editor2-last=LaPolla |editor2-first=Randy J. |editor2-link=Randy LaPolla |title=The Sino-Tibetan Languages |edition=2nd |publisher=Routledge |pages=23, 232–233 |isbn=978-1-138-78332-4}}</ref>


=== Tone ===
=== Tone ===
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!colspan=3|
!colspan=3|
![[Labial consonant|Labial]]
![[Labial consonant|Labial]]
![[Dental consonant|Dental]]/[[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
![[Dental consonant|Dental]]/<br />[[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
![[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
![[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
![[Velar consonant|Velar]]
![[Velar consonant|Velar]]
Line 319: Line 207:
|-
|-
!colspan=3|[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
!colspan=3|[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
|{{IPAlink|m}}
|{{IPA link|m}}
|{{IPAlink|n}}
|{{IPA link|n}}
|
|
|{{IPAlink|ŋ}}
|{{IPA link|ŋ}}
|
|
|-
|-
!rowspan=4|[[Stop consonant|Stop]]
!rowspan=4|[[Plosive]]
!rowspan=2|{{small|[[voice (phonetics)|voiceless]]}}
!rowspan=2|{{small|[[voice (phonetics)|voiceless]]}}
!{{small|unaspirated}}
!{{small|unaspirated}}
|{{IPAlink|p}}
|{{IPA link|p}}
|{{IPAlink|t}}
|{{IPA link|t}}
|{{IPAlink|tʃ}}
|{{IPA link|tʃ}}
|{{IPAlink|k}}
|{{IPA link|k}}
|{{IPAlink|ʔ}}
|{{IPA link|ʔ}}
|-
|-
!{{small|[[aspirated consonant|aspirated]]}}
!{{small|[[aspirated consonant|aspirated]]}}
|{{IPAlink|pʰ}}
|{{IPA link|pʰ}}
|{{IPAlink|tʰ}}
|{{IPA link|tʰ}}
|
|
|{{IPAlink|kʰ}}
|{{IPA link|kʰ}}
|
|
|-
|-
!rowspan=2|{{small|[[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
!rowspan=2|{{small|[[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
!{{small|unaspirated}}
!{{small|unaspirated}}
|{{IPAlink|b}}
|{{IPA link|b}}
|{{IPAlink|d}}
|{{IPA link|d}}
|{{IPAlink|dʒ}}
|{{IPA link|dʒ}}
|{{IPAlink|ɡ}}
|{{IPA link|ɡ}}
|
|
|-
|-
!{{small|[[breathy voice|breathy-voiced]]}}
!{{small|[[breathy voice|breathy]]}}
|{{IPAlink|bʱ}}
|{{IPA link|bʱ}}
|{{IPAlink|dʱ}}
|{{IPA link|dʱ}}
|
|
|{{IPAlink|ɡʱ}}
|{{IPA link|ɡʱ}}
|
|
|-
|-
!colspan=3|[[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
!colspan=3|[[Fricative]]
|
|
|{{IPAlink|s}}
|{{IPA link|s}}
|
|
|
|
|{{IPAlink|h}}
|{{IPA link|h}}
|-
|-
!colspan=3|[[Flap consonant|Flap]]
!colspan=3|[[Tap consonant|Tap]]
|
|
|{{IPAlink|ɾ}}
|{{IPA link|ɾ}}
|
|
|
|
Line 372: Line 260:
!colspan=3|[[Lateral consonant|Lateral]]
!colspan=3|[[Lateral consonant|Lateral]]
|
|
|{{IPA|l}}
|{{IPA link|l}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|-
!colspan=3|[[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
!colspan=3|[[Approximant]]
|{{IPAlink|w}}
|{{IPA link|w}}
|
|
|{{IPAlink|j}}
|{{IPA link|j}}
|
|
|
|
Line 393: Line 281:
|-
|-
![[Close vowel|High]]
![[Close vowel|High]]
|{{IPAlink|i}}
|{{IPA link|i}}
|
|
|{{IPAlink|u}}
|{{IPA link|u}}
|-
|-
![[Mid vowel|Mid]]
![[Mid vowel|Mid]]
|{{IPAlink|e}}
|{{IPA link|e}}
|{{IPAlink|ɐ}}
|{{IPA link|ɐ}}
|{{IPAlink|o}}
|{{IPA link|o}}
|-
|-
![[Open vowel|Low]]
![[Open vowel|Low]]
|
|
|{{IPAlink|a}}
|{{IPA link|a}}
|
|
|}
|}


Note: the central vowel /ɐ/ is transcribed as <nowiki><ə></nowiki> in recent linguistic work on Meitei. However, phonetically it is never [ə], but more usually [ɐ]. It is assimilated to a following approximant: /ɐw/ = /ow/, /ɐj/ = [ej].
Note: the central vowel /ɐ/ is transcribed as <nowiki><ə></nowiki> in recent linguistic work on Meitei. However, phonetically it is never [ə], but more usually [ɐ]. It is assimilated to a following approximant: /ɐw/ = [ow], /ɐj/ = [ej].


=== Phonological processes ===
=== Phonological processes ===
Line 431: Line 319:


=== Meitei script ===
=== Meitei script ===
{{See|Meitei script|Meetei Mayek (Unicode block)|Meetei Mayek Extensions (Unicode block)|Wikipedia:Meitei script display help|Meitei keyboard|Meitei inscriptions}}
[[File:Depiction of the Puya Mei Thaba (Burning of the Meitei texts) ordered by Meitei King Pamheiba (AKA Garib Niwaj or Gopal Singh) under the influence of Bengali Hindu missionary Shantidas Gosai (AKA Shantidas Goswami or Shantidas Adhikari).jpg|thumb|300px|Depiction of the 18th century historic burning of texts written in Meitei script.]]


[[File:Depiction of the Puya Mei Thaba (Burning of the Meitei texts) ordered by Meitei King Pamheiba (AKA Garib Niwaj or Gopal Singh) under the influence of Bengali Hindu missionary Shantidas Gosai (AKA Shantidas Goswami or Shantidas Adhikari).jpg|thumb|300px|Depiction of the 18th century historic burning of the texts written in [[Meitei script]] so as to replace it with [[Bengali script]] for writing Meitei language afterwards, ordered by Hinduised Meitei King [[Pamheiba]] (popularly called, [[Pamheiba|Garib Niwaj]]) under the influence of Bengali Hindu missionary [[Shantidas Gosai]]]]
The [[Meitei script]] ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ}}|Meitei mayek|label=none}})<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Khuman |first1=Yanglem Loijing Khomba |last2=Devi |first2=Salam Dickeeta |last3=Singh |first3=Ch. Ponykumar |last4=Devi |first4=H. Mamata |last5=Singh |first5=N. Ajith |date=1 December 2022 |title=A benchmark dataset for printed Meitei/Meetei script character recognition |journal=Data in Brief |language=en |volume=45 |article-number=108585 |doi=10.1016/j.dib.2022.108585 |pmid=36426059 |pmc=9679442 |bibcode=2022DIB....4508585K |issn=2352-3409}}</ref> is one of the [[official scripts of the Indian Republic]]. Meitei mayek is also known as Kanglei script {{meitei|ꯀꯪꯂꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ|kanglei mayek|label=no}}<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Noni |first1=Arambam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OzjbCgAAQBAJ&q=Kanglei+script+Meetei+Mayekuz8AhVlSWwGHeUtCqoQ6AF6BAgFEAM&pg=PA223 |title=Colonialism and Resistance: Society and State in Manipur |last2=Sanatomba |first2=Kangujam |year=2015 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-317-27066-9 |pages=223, 235, 237 |language=en}}</ref> or kok sam lai script {{meitei|ꯀꯣꯛ ꯁꯝ ꯂꯥꯏ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ|la=kok sam lai mayeke|label=no}}, after its first three letters.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=mni:মণিপুরদা লোলয়ান চঙলকপা অমদি মীতৈ ইয়েক্না থোঙজিন্দা ৱারৌজনা লেপ্লরবদা ! |url=http://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/17.02.2022-B5.pdf |website=Hueiyen Lanpao |language=mni}}</ref> Its earliest known appearance is on 6th century coins.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&q=Manipur%208th%20century%20copper%20plate%20inscription%20Manipur&pg=PA142 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1987 |isbn=978-81-260-1803-1 |page=142 |language=en}}</ref> It was used until the 18th century, when it was replaced by the [[Bengali script]], and then revived in again massively in the 20th.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Laithangbam |first=Iboyaima |date=23 September 2017 |title=Banished Manipuri script stages a comeback |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/banished-manipuri-script-stages-a-comeback/article19743482.ece |access-date=6 March 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In 2021, the use of Meetei Mayek to write Manipuri was officially adopted by the [[government of Manipur]], alongside Bengali script.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GAZETTE TITLE: The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021 |url=http://manipurgovtpress.nic.in/en/details_gazzete/?gazette=658 |access-date=6 March 2023 |website=manipurgovtpress.nic.in}}</ref>


The '''Meitei script''' ({{Script|Mtei|[[ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ]]}}, romanized: [[Meitei Mayek]]), also known as the '''Meetei script''' ({{Script|Mtei|[[ꯃꯤꯇꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ]]}}, romanized: [[Meetei Mayek]]),<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Khuman |first1=Yanglem Loijing Khomba |last2=Devi |first2=Salam Dickeeta |last3=Singh |first3=Ch. Ponykumar |last4=Devi |first4=H. Mamata |last5=Singh |first5=N. Ajith |date=1 December 2022 |title=A benchmark dataset for printed Meitei/Meetei script character recognition |journal=Data in Brief |language=en |volume=45 |pages=108585 |doi=10.1016/j.dib.2022.108585 |pmid=36426059 |pmc=9679442 |bibcode=2022DIB....4508585K |issn=2352-3409 }}</ref> used for writing in Meitei language, is one of the [[official scripts of the Indian Republic]]. Also known as the '''Kanglei script''' ({{script|mtei|ꯀꯪꯂꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ/ꯀꯪꯂꯩ ꯏꯌꯦꯛ}}, romanized: Kanglei Mayek/Kanglei Iyek)<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Noni |first1=Arambam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OzjbCgAAQBAJ&q=Kanglei+script+Meetei+Mayekuz8AhVlSWwGHeUtCqoQ6AF6BAgFEAM&pg=PA223 |title=Colonialism and Resistance: Society and State in Manipur |last2=Sanatomba |first2=Kangujam |date=16 October 2015 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-317-27066-9 |pages=223, 235, 237 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=O'Keeffe |first1=Anne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=giaMAgAAQBAJ&q=Meetei+Mayek+%28Meitei+Mayek%2C+Kanglei%29wjC9-TUluz8AhVlSWwGHeUtCqoQ6AF6BAgIEAM&pg=PA146 |title=The Routledge Handbook of Corpus Linguistics |last2=McCarthy |first2=Michael |date=5 April 2010 |publisher=[[Taylor and Francis]] |isbn=978-1-135-15363-2 |pages=146 |language=en |quote=Meetei Mayek (Meitei Mayek, ... Kanglei)}}</ref> and the '''Kok Sam Lai script''' ({{script|mtei|ꯀꯣꯛ ꯁꯝ ꯂꯥꯏ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ}}, romanized: Kok Sam Lai Mayek),{{efn|named after the first three letters "Kok" (K), "Sam" (S) and "Lai" (L) of the Meitei writing system.}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=মণিপুরদা লোলয়ান চঙলকপা অমদি মীতৈ ইয়েক্না থোঙজিন্দা ৱারৌজনা লেপ্লরবদা ! |url=http://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/17.02.2022-B5.pdf |website=hueiyenlanpao.com |language=mni}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 December 2022 |title=Lost and revived: The story of Meitei script |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/meitei-script-manipur-history-8317655/ |access-date=6 March 2023 |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref> its earliest known [[Epigraphy|epigraphic]] evidence of existence dates back to the 6th century CE coins issued by [[List of Meitei kings|Meitei kings]], engraving the Meitei letters,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fNM1jbGkfJAC&dq=meitei+language+in+roman+script&pg=PT4 |title=Fresh Fictions: Folk Tales, Plays, Novellas from the North East |date=2005 |publisher=Katha |isbn=978-81-87649-44-1 |pages=4 |language=en}}</ref> as verified by the National [[Sahitya Akademi]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&q=Manipur%208th%20century%20copper%20plate%20inscription%20Manipur&pg=PA142 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature |date=1987 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1987 |isbn=978-81-260-1803-1 |pages=142 |language=en}}</ref> It was used until the 18th century, when it was replaced by the [[Bengali script]], and reused again massively in the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Laithangbam|first=Iboyaima|date=23 September 2017|title=Banished Manipuri script stages a comeback|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/banished-manipuri-script-stages-a-comeback/article19743482.ece|access-date=6 March 2023|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Starting from 2021, Meitei script (officially known as [[Meetei Mayek]]{{efn|The terms, "Meitei", "Meetei" and "Manipuri" are synonymous. While "Meitei" is more popular than "Meetei", "Meetei" is the officially mentioned synonym of the term "Manipuri".}}) was officially used by the [[Government of Manipur]], along with the Bengali script, to write the Meitei language, as per "The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021".<ref>{{Cite web |title=GAZETTE TITLE: The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021 |url=http://manipurgovtpress.nic.in/en/details_gazzete/?gazette=658 |access-date=6 March 2023 |website=manipurgovtpress.nic.in}}</ref>
The Roman alphabet has been used in medium for teaching basic Meitei as a second language teaching by the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 January 2023 |title=Manipur HSLC Date Sheet 2023: BSEM Class 10 time table released, exam begins March 16 |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/manipur-hslc-date-sheet-2023-bsem-class-10-time-table-released-exam-begins-march-16/articleshow/97300318.cms?from=mdr |access-date=6 March 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=SNS |date=10 January 2019 |title=Manipur Board Class 12 (HSC) and Class 10 (HSLC) Timetable 2019 available online at manipureducation.gov.in {{!}} Check now |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/manipur-board-class-12-hsc-and-class-10-hslc-timetable-2019-available-online-at-manipureducation-gov-in-check-now-1502723456.html |access-date=6 March 2023 |website=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]] |language=en-US}}</ref> More recently, the Board has issued a directive that no more Manipuri textbooks using the Latin alphabet be published.<ref>{{cite web |title=MEELAL lauds BSEM order: 04th feb24 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=https://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=44..040224.feb24 |website=e-pao.net |access-date=15 February 2024}}</ref> Meitei language editions of the Bible in Roman script are very commonly used by the [[Christianity in Manipur|Christians]] in Manipur.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Birth of Jesus Manipuri Roman Mayek CB |url=https://bibleforchildren.org/PDFs/manipuri_roman_mayek/36_The_Birth_of_Jesus_Manipuri_Roman_Mayek_CB.pdf |website=bibleforchildren.org}}</ref>
 
=== Naoriya Phulo script ===
{{Main|Naoriya Phulo script}}
=== Latin script ===
'''Elementary Manipuri (Roman Script)''' is one of the subjects offered to the students by ''The Board of Secondary Education Manipur''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 January 2023 |title=Manipur HSLC Date Sheet 2023: BSEM Class 10 time table released, exam begins March 16 |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/manipur-hslc-date-sheet-2023-bsem-class-10-time-table-released-exam-begins-march-16/articleshow/97300318.cms?from=mdr |access-date=6 March 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |year=2019 |others=Board of Secondary Education Manipur, BSEM |title=Prescribed-BSEM-Text-Books-2019 |url=https://manipureducation.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Prescribed-BSEM-Text-Books-2019.pdf |website=manipureducation.gov.in |publisher=[[Government of Manipur]]}}</ref>
It is a subject categorised under the ''"Subjects In Lieu Of First Language"'', for being used in lieu of ''"Manipuri"''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=SNS |date=10 January 2019 |title=Manipur Board Class 12 (HSC) and Class 10 (HSLC) Timetable 2019 available online at manipureducation.gov.in {{!}} Check now |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/manipur-board-class-12-hsc-and-class-10-hslc-timetable-2019-available-online-at-manipureducation-gov-in-check-now-1502723456.html |access-date=6 March 2023 |website=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
It is a commonly opted subject to the students of the [[hill people]] of [[Manipur]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Editorial |first=Signpost |date=21 August 2022 |title=Preserving Manipuri Lol by Hill people |url=https://signpostnews.com/preserving-manipuri-lol-by-hill-people/ |access-date=6 March 2023 |website=Signpost News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
 
The Meitei language editions of the [[Bible]] in Roman script is very commonly used by the [[Christianity in Manipur|Christians of Manipur]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Birth of Jesus Manipuri Roman Mayek CB |url=https://bibleforchildren.org/PDFs/manipuri_roman_mayek/36_The_Birth_of_Jesus_Manipuri_Roman_Mayek_CB.pdf |website=bibleforchildren.org}}</ref>
 
There exists an informal, but fairly consistent practical spelling of Meitei in Latin script.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}} This spelling is used in the transcription of personal names and place names, and it is extensively used on the internet (Facebook, blogspots, etc.). It is also found in academic publications, for the spelling of Meitei book titles and the like (examples can be seen in the References, below). This spelling, on the whole, offers a transparent, unambiguous representation of the Meitei sound system, although the tones are usually not marked. It is practical in the sense that it does not use extra-alphabetical symbols, and can, therefore, be produced easily on any standard keyboard. The only point of ambiguity is found in the spelling of the vowels /ɐ/ and /a/, which are usually both written "a", except when they occur before an [[approximant]] (see table below). The vowel /a/ is sometimes written as "aa" to distinguish it from /ɐ/.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}
 
{|| class="wikitable"
|-
! IPA !! Practical
|-
|/m/||m
|-
|/n/||n
|-
|/ŋ/||ng
|-
|/b/||b
|-
|/d/||d
|-
|/dʒ/||j
|-
|/ɡ/||g
|-
|/bʱ/||bh
|-
|/dʱ/||dh
|-
|/dʒʱ/||jh
|-
|/ɡʱ/||gh
|-
|/p/||p
|-
|/t/||t
|-
|/tʃ/||c or ch
|-
|/k/||k
|-
|/ʔ/||’
|-
|/pʰ/||ph (rarely f)
|-
|/tʰ/||th
|-
|/kʰ/||kh
|-
|/s/||s or sh
|-
|/h/||h
|-
|/ɾ/||r
|-
|/l/||l
|-
|/w/||w
|-
|/j/||y
|-
|/ɐ/||a
|-
|/ɐj/||ei
|-
|/ɐw/||ou
|-
|/a/||a or aa or ā
|-
|/aj/||ai
|-
|/aw/||ao
|-
|/e/||e
|-
|/i/||i (rarely ee)
|-
|/o/||o
|-
|/oj/||oi
|-
|/u/||u (rarely oo)
|-
|/uj/||ui
|}


=== Bengali script ===
The [[Naoriya Phulo script]] is a [[constructed script]], invented by Laininghan Naoriya Phulo (1888–1941). It shares many similarities with [[Devanagari]] and Bengali script.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=mni:নাওরিয়া ফুলো: ঋষি অমা - এলাংম দীনমনী |url=http://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12.11.2019-B7.pdf |work=Hueiyen Lanpao |language=mni |publication-place=India}}</ref> It was championed by [[Apokpa Marup]], but was never widely adopted.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Wahengbam Ibohal |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.463276/page/n501/mode/2up?q=Naoriya+phullo |title=The History Of Manipur |publisher=[[Digital Library of India]] |others=[[Internet Archive]] |location=India |page=501 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:The term "Manipuri Lon" and its endonym "Meitei Lon", literally meaning "Manipuri language" and "Meitei language" respectively, written in the Eastern Nagari script.jpg|thumb|The term "Manipuri Lon" and its [[endonym]] "Meitei Lon", literally meaning "Manipuri language" and "Meitei language" respectively, written in the [[Eastern Nagari script]] ([[Bengali script]])]]
Meitei in Bangladesh and India currently uses the [[Bengali script]], alongside the [[Meitei script]].<ref name=e25/>


== Grammar ==
== Grammar ==
Sentences in the Meitei language use the format '''[[subject–object–verb word order]]''' (SOV). For example, in the sentence ''Ei chak chai'' (ꯑꯩ ꯆꯥꯛ ꯆꯥꯢ), which translates to ''I eat rice'', the gloss is "ei" (I), "chak" (rice), "chai" (eat).
Sentences in the Meitei language use the [[subject–object–verb word order]] (SOV). For example, in the sentence ''Ei chak chai'' (ꯑꯩ ꯆꯥꯛ ꯆꯥꯢ), which translates to ''I eat rice'', the gloss is "ei" (I), "chak" (rice), "chai" (eat).


=== Nouns ===
=== Nouns ===
Line 551: Line 347:
! Adjective (Meitei) !! Adjective (English) !! Example (Meitei) !! Example (English)
! Adjective (Meitei) !! Adjective (English) !! Example (Meitei) !! Example (English)
|-
|-
| ama || one || mi ama laak’i || A person comes.
| ama || one || mi ama laak'i || A person comes.
|-
|-
| khara || some || mi khara laak’i || Some persons come.
| khara || some || mi khara laak'i || Some persons come.
|-
|-
| mayaam || many || mi mayaam laak’i || Many persons come.
| mayaam || many || mi mayaam laak'i || Many persons come.
|}
|}


Line 587: Line 383:


== Number words ==
== Number words ==
{{See|Meitei numerals}}
{{Further|Meitei numerals}}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class=wikitable
|-
|-
! Numeral !! Word !!Etymology!!Meitei Script
! Numeral !! Word !!Etymology!!Meitei Script
|-
|-
|1||a-ma ~ a-maa||"1" ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯑꯃꯥ}}
|1||a-ma ~ a-maa||1 ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯑꯃꯥ}}
|-
|-
|2||a-ni||Proto-Tibeto-Burman *ni||{{Script|Mtei|ꯑꯅꯤ}}
|2||a-ni||Proto-Tibeto-Burman *ni||{{Script|Mtei|ꯑꯅꯤ}}
Line 606: Line 402:
|7||ta-ret||PTB *let ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯦꯠ}}
|7||ta-ret||PTB *let ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯦꯠ}}
|-
|-
|8||ni-paan||"2-less"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯅꯤꯄꯥꯟ}}
|8||ni-paan||2-less||{{Script|Mtei|ꯅꯤꯄꯥꯟ}}
|-
|-
|9||maa-pan||"1-less"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯥꯄꯟ}}
|9||maa-pan||1-less||{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯥꯄꯟ}}
|-
|-
|10||ta-raa||"10"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥ}}
|10||ta-raa||10||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥ}}
|-
|-
|11||taraa-maa-thoi||"ten + 1-more"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯃꯥꯊꯣꯏ}}
|11||taraa-maa-thoi||ten + 1-more||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯃꯥꯊꯣꯏ}}
|-
|-
|12||taraa-ni-thoi||"ten + 2-more"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯅꯤꯊꯣꯏ}}
|12||taraa-ni-thoi||ten + 2-more||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯅꯤꯊꯣꯏ}}
|-
|-
|13||taraa-húm-doi||"ten + 3-more"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯍꯨꯝꯗꯣꯏ}}
|13||taraa-húm-doi||ten + 3-more||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯍꯨꯝꯗꯣꯏ}}
|-
|-
|14||taraa-mari||"ten +4"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯃꯔꯤ}}
|14||taraa-mari||ten +4||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯃꯔꯤ}}
|-
|-
|15||taraa-mangaa||"ten +5"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯃꯉꯥ}}
|15||taraa-mangaa||ten +5||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯃꯉꯥ}}
|-
|-
|16||taraa-taruk||"ten +6"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯇꯔꯨꯛ}}
|16||taraa-taruk||ten +6||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯇꯔꯨꯛ}}
|-
|-
|17||taraa-taret||"ten +7"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯇꯔꯦꯠ}}
|17||taraa-taret||ten +7||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯇꯔꯦꯠ}}
|-
|-
|18||taraa-nipaan||"ten +8"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯅꯤꯄꯥꯟ}}
|18||taraa-nipaan||ten +8||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯅꯤꯄꯥꯟ}}
|-
|-
|19||taraa-maapan||"ten +9"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯃꯥꯄꯟ}}
|19||taraa-maapan||ten +9||{{Script|Mtei|ꯇꯔꯥꯃꯥꯄꯟ}}
|-
|-
|20||kun ~ kul||"score" ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯀꯨꯟ ~ ꯀꯨꯜ}}
|20||kun ~ kul||score ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯀꯨꯟ ~ ꯀꯨꯜ}}
|-
|-
|30||*kun-taraa > kun-thraa||"score ten"|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯀꯨꯟꯊ꯭ꯔꯥ}}
|30||*kun-taraa > kun-thraa||score ten|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯀꯨꯟꯊ꯭ꯔꯥ}}
|-
|-
|40||ni-phú||"two score"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯅꯤꯐꯨ}}
|40||ni-phú||two score||{{Script|Mtei|ꯅꯤꯐꯨ}}
|-
|-
|50||yaang-khéi||"half hundred"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯌꯥꯡꯈꯩ}}
|50||yaang-khéi||half hundred||{{Script|Mtei|ꯌꯥꯡꯈꯩ}}
|-
|-
|60||hum-phú||"three score"|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯍꯨꯝꯐꯨ}}
|60||hum-phú||three score|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯍꯨꯝꯐꯨ}}
|-
|-
|70||hum-phú-taraa||"three score ten"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯍꯨꯝꯐꯨꯇꯔꯥ}}
|70||hum-phú-taraa||three score ten||{{Script|Mtei|ꯍꯨꯝꯐꯨꯇꯔꯥ}}
|-
|-
|80||mari-phú||"four score"|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯔꯤꯐꯨ}}
|80||mari-phú||four score|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯔꯤꯐꯨ}}
|-
|-
|90||mari-phú-taraa||"four score ten"|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯔꯤꯐꯨꯇꯔꯥ}}
|90||mari-phú-taraa||four score ten|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯔꯤꯐꯨꯇꯔꯥ}}
|-
|-
|100||chaama||"one hundred"|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯥꯃ}}
|100||chaama||one hundred|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯥꯃ}}
|-
|-
|200||cha-ni||"two hundreds"|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯥꯅꯤ}}
|200||cha-ni||two hundreds|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯥꯅꯤ}}
|-
|-
|300||cha-hum||"three hundreds"|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯥꯍꯨꯝ}}
|300||cha-hum||three hundreds|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯥꯍꯨꯝ}}
|-
|-
|400||cha-mri||"four hundreds"|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯥꯃ꯭ꯔꯤ}}
|400||cha-mri||four hundreds|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯥꯃ꯭ꯔꯤ}}
|-
|-
|500||cha-mangaa||"five hundreds"|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯥꯃꯉꯥ}}
|500||cha-mangaa||five hundreds|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯆꯥꯃꯉꯥ}}
|-
|-
|1,000||lisíng ama||"one thousand"|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯁꯤꯡ}}
|1,000||lisíng ama||one thousand|| {{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯁꯤꯡ}}
|-
|-
|10,000||lisīng-taraa||"ten thousands" ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯁꯤꯡꯇꯔꯥ}}
|10,000||lisīng-taraa||ten thousands ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯁꯤꯡꯇꯔꯥ}}
|-
|-
|1,00,000||licha||"one hundred-thousand"||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯆꯥ}}
|1,00,000||licha||one hundred-thousand||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯆꯥ}}
|-
|-
|10,00,000||licha-taraa||"ten hundred-thousands" ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯆꯥꯇꯔꯥ}}
|10,00,000||licha-taraa||ten hundred-thousands ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯆꯥꯇꯔꯥ}}
|-
|-
|1,00,00,000||leepun||"one ten-million" ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯄꯨꯟ}}
|1,00,00,000||leepun||one ten-million ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯄꯨꯟ}}
|-
|-
|10,00,00,000||leepun-taraa||"ten ten-millions" ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯄꯨꯟꯇꯔꯥ}}
|10,00,00,000||leepun-taraa||ten ten-millions ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯄꯨꯟꯇꯔꯥ}}
|-
|-
|1,00,00,00,000||leepot||"one billion" ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯄꯣꯠ}}
|1,00,00,00,000||leepot||one billion ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯄꯣꯠ}}
|-
|-
|10,00,00,00,000||leepot-taraa||"ten billions" ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯄꯣꯠꯇꯔꯥ}}
|10,00,00,00,000||leepot-taraa||ten billions ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯄꯣꯠꯇꯔꯥ}}
|-
|-
|1,00,00,00,00,000||leekei||"one hundred-billion" ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯀꯩ}}
|1,00,00,00,00,000||leekei||one hundred-billion ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯀꯩ}}
|-
|-
|10,00,00,00,00,000||leekei-taraa||"ten hundred-billions" ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯀꯩꯇꯔꯥ}}
|10,00,00,00,00,000||leekei-taraa||ten hundred-billions ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯤꯀꯩꯇꯔꯥ}}
|-
|-
|1,00,00,00,00,00,000||pu-ama||"one ten-trillion" ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯄꯨ ꯑꯃꯥ}}
|1,00,00,00,00,00,000||pu-ama||one ten-trillion ||{{Script|Mtei|ꯄꯨ ꯑꯃꯥ}}
|}
|}


== Literature ==
== Literature ==
{{Main|Ancient Meitei literature|Meitei literature|Meitei poetry day|List of epics in Meitei language|Meitei language festival}}
{{Main|Ancient Meitei literature|Meitei literature}}
[[File:The classical Meitei epic of the "Numit Kappa", written in ancient Meitei language (in archaic Meitei script).jpg|thumb|The [[Numit Kappa]], a [[:en:wikibooks:Classical Meitei|Classical Meitei]] epic text written during the 1st century, based on ancient [[Meitei mythology]] and [[Meitei religion|religion]] ([[Sanamahism]])]]
[[File:The classical Meitei epic of the "Numit Kappa", written in ancient Meitei language (in archaic Meitei script).jpg|thumb|The [[Numit Kappa]], a Classical Meitei 1st century epic based on Meitei mythology and religion.]]
The ''[[Khamba Thoibi Sheireng]]'', also spelled as the ''[[Khamba Thoibi Sheireng|Khamba Thoibi Seireng]]'' ({{Script|Mtei|[[ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ]]}}, lit. ''Poem on [[Khamba Thoibi]]''<ref>{{Cite book |last=George |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA29 |title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems |date=1992 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1992 |isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 |location=India |pages=29 |language=en}}</ref>), which is regarded as the [[national epic]] of the [[Manipuris]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=George |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA258 |title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems |date=1992 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 |location=India |pages=258 |language=en |quote=H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1186 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |date=1988 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |pages=1186 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":Sisir">{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Sisir Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA190 |title=A History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy |date=2005 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-81-7201-798-9 |pages=190 |language=en |quote=His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads.}}</ref> is a [[:simple:classical Meitei language|classical Meitei language]] [[epic poem]] based on the ancient romantic adventure tale of [[Khamba and Thoibi]] of [[Moirang]] kingdom{{efn|[[Moirang]] was an independent kingdom in early times, though later became a province of a unified kingdom, called [[Manipur Kingdom]].}} of [[Ancient Kangleipak]] (early [[Manipur]]). It is the [[masterpiece]] of [[:simple:Hijam Anganghal Singh|Hijam Anganghal]], the "[[Bard]] of [[Samurou]]", and is regarded as the greatest of all the epic poems in [[Meitei literature]], having a length of 39,000 [[Verse (poetry)|verses]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1573 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |date=1988 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |pages=1573 |language=en |quote=His best work, Khamba Thoibi sheireng, in 39,000 lines on the story of 'Khamba and Thoibi' was started in 1939 and the composition was completed in 1940.}}</ref><ref name=":Sisir" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Delhi |first=All India Radio (AIR), New |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gL_8DwAAQBAJ&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Seireng&pg=PA1582 |title=AKASHVANI: Vol. XL. No. 35 ( 31 AUGUST, 1975 ) |date=31 August 1975 |publisher=All India Radio (AIR),New Delhi |year=1975 |pages=1582 |language=en}}</ref>
The ''[[Khamba Thoibi Sheireng]]'', a poem of 39,000&nbsp;verses composed by Hijam Anganghal Singh and first published in 1940 ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|[[ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ]]}}|Poem on [[Khamba Thoibi]]}})<ref>{{Cite book |last=George |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA29 |title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1992 |isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 |location=India |page=29 |language=en}}</ref> is regarded as the [[national epic]] of the [[Manipuris]].<ref name="George 1992 258">{{Cite book |last=George |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA258 |title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems |date=1992 |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 |location=India |page=258 |language=en |quote=H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1186 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |page=1186 |language=en}}</ref> It is a classical Meitei language [[epic poem]] based on the ancient romantic adventure tale of [[Khamba and Thoibi]] of [[Moirang]]. It is regarded as the greatest of all Meitei epic poems.<ref name="Datta 1988 1573">{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1573 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |page=1573 |language=en |quote=His best work, Khamba Thoibi sheireng, in 39,000 lines on the story of 'Khamba and Thoibi' was started in 1939 and the composition was completed in 1940.}}</ref><ref name=":Sisir">{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Sisir Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA190 |title=A History of Indian Literature: 1911–1956, struggle for freedom: triumph and tragedy |publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]] |year=2005 |isbn=978-81-7201-798-9 |page=190 |language=en |quote=His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Sing |first=Damodar |title=The Epic of Manipur: Khamba Thoibi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gL_8DwAAQBAJ&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Seireng&pg=PA1582 |magazine=Akashvani |volume=XL |issue=35 |date=31 August 1975 |publisher=All India Radio (AIR) |location=New Delhi |page=1582 |language=en}}</ref>
 
=== Linguistic tradition ===
{{Main|Meitei proverbs|Meitei folklore|Meitei folktales|Meitei mythology}}
The culture involved with the Meitei language is rooted deeply with pride and tradition based on having respect to the community elders. Young children who do not know about the tales that have been passed on from generation to generation are very rare. Regarding the history behind the ancient use of [[proverb]]s that defines the way conversation is held with the Meitei language, it is a way of expressing and telling stories and even using modern slang with old proverbs to communicate between one another.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Betholia |first1=C. |date=August 2008 |title=Manipuri Culture Seen Through Proverbs |url=http://indianfolklore.org/journals/index.php/IFL/article/view/111/883 |journal=Indian Folklife |issue=30 |pages=4–5}}</ref>
 
=== Literary Awards ===
{{See|Sahitya Akademi Award for Meitei|Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize for Meitei|Yuva Puraskar for Meitei}}
 
== Media ==
{{Main|List of Meitei-language newspapers|List of Meitei-language television channels|List of Meitei-language films|Meitei cinema}}[[File:Meitei Cinema - Maniwood Clapperboard.jpg|thumb|An illustration of the [[Meitei cinema|Maniwood]] clapperboard]]


After the birth of [[Meitei cinema]] in 1972 as [[Matamgi Manipur]] ({{Script|mtei|[[ꯃꯇꯝꯒꯤ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔ]]}}), Maniwood, the Meitei language film industry, began to bring fame and prestige to India at the international level and to [[Manipur]] at the nation level. Notable internationally acclaimed and renowned films include 1981 film [[Imagi Ningthem]] (first Indian film to win a grand prix award of the Golden Montgolfiere at the Festival des 3 Continents, [[Nantes]]),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Digitised Imagi Ningthem screened at Pune film fest : 15th jan14 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=16..150114.jan14 |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref> 1990 film [[Ishanou]] (screened at the [[Un Certain Regard]] section of the [[1991 Cannes Film Festival|1991 Cannes International Film Festival]]),<ref>{{Cite web |title=ISHANOU - Festival de Cannes |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/films/ishanou |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=www.festival-cannes.com |language=en}}</ref> the 1984 film "Pebet" (Best Short Fiction Film in the International Short Film Festival, Kolkata 1985), the 2008 film "Nungee Mit" (Best Short Film in 2nd Cine ASA International Film Festival 2009, Guwahati), the 2009 film "Ilisha Amagi Mahao" (Best Director Award in the Cine ASA International Film Festival 2009, Guwahati), 2014 film "Phum Shang" (Best Medium Length Film at 18th International Environmental Film & Video Festival, Goias, Brazil 2016), 2016 film "Ima Sabitri" (Best Documentary Film Award at the 15th [[Mumbai International Film Festival]]), 2017 film "Theatre of the Earth" (Winner of Satyajit Ray Bronze Award for the 3rd Best Documentary at the 2nd South Asian Short Film Festival), 2018 film "Fireflies" (Best Documentary Short at Arthouse Asia International Film Festival 2018), "Naapal" (Best Short Film Award at the 1st Guwahati International Documentary, Short and Animation Film Festival), 2019 film "Highways of Life" (Best Film Award at the 8th Liberation DocFest, Bangladesh 2020), "I Rise" (Best Documentary Award at the Mumbai Short International Film Festival 2020), Motsillaba Mingsel (The Tainted Mirror) (Best Director and Best Child Artist awards at the Cochin International Shortfilm Awards 2021, Best Short Film Award at The Himalayan Film Festival 2021), 2020 film "Nawa Seidum" (Outstanding Achievement Award at the Tagore International Film Festival 2020, Best Narrative Film in Moment International 2020), "Samnaba - Merge" (Best Cinematography Award at The Himalayan Film Festival 2021), 2021 film "Class@6pm" (Best Asian Short Film Award at the Golden Leaf International Film Festival 2021), "Monsoon of Life" (Best Film at Unibrow Film Festival 2021 at the MOKKHO International Film Festival 2022), "Beyond Blast" (Best Director of Photography in the Goa International Film Festival 2021 and Best Documentary Feature Film in the Port Blair International Film Festival 2021), 2022 film "Erolnungdagi" (2nd Best Film Award at the 14th International Guwahati Film Festival 2022), "Re-Inkarnation" (DocEdge New Zealand Award in the Dhaka Doc Lab 2022), etc.
The [[Meitei classical language movement]] seeks to gain recognition for Meitei as one of the [[Classical Languages of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Government must take concrete step for recognition of Manipuri as classical language |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/government-must-take-concrete-step-for-recognition-of-manipuri-as-classical-language |website=Imphal Free Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=IANS |date=20 August 2016 |title=Classic language status for Manipuri demanded |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/classic-language-status-for-manipuri-demanded-116082000690_1.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 August 2019 |title=Manipur Govt Begins Efforts for Inclusion of Manipuri Among 'Classical' Languages |url=http://www.indiatodayne.in/breaking-news/story/manipur-govt-begins-efforts-inclusion-manipuri-among-classical-languages-397876-2019-08-21 |website=India Today NE |language=hi}}</ref>


== Annual events ==
== Annual events ==
Various annual events are organised to promote, protect and develop Meitei language, in the sovereign states of India and Bangladesh in particular as well as in other parts of the world in general.  
Various annual events are organised to promote, protect and develop Meitei language, in the sovereign states of India and Bangladesh in particular as well as in other parts of the world in general.
=== Meitei language day ===
* [[Manipuri language day]] ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯣꯟꯒꯤ ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ}}|Manipuri Lon-gi Numit}}) is observed annually on 20 August, commemorating the day in 1992 when Manipuri was made one of the [[official languages of India]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Coleman |first1=Daniel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eu8cTROu4LcC&dq=meitei+language+day&pg=PA131 |title=Countering Displacements: The Creativity and Resilience of Indigenous and Refugee-ed Peoples |last2=Glanville |first2=Erin Goheen |last3=Hasan |first3=Wafaa |last4=Kramer-Hamstra |first4=Agnes |date=26 April 2012 |publisher=University of Alberta |isbn=978-0-88864-592-0 |page=131 |language=en}}</ref>
{{Main|Meitei language day}}
* [[Manipuri poetry day]] ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡꯒꯤ ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ}}|Manipuri Sheirenggi Numit}}), is an annual literary event that promotes Meitei language poetry and the traditions of [[Meitei literature]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=St Joseph University, Nagaland observes Manipuri Poetry Day 2022 |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/poetry/st-joseph-university-nagaland-observes-manipuri-poetry-day-2022 |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=[[Imphal Free Press]] |date=14 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri Poetry Day 2021 celebrated: 22nd oct21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=14..221021.oct21 |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref> Events are held in [[Manipur]] and in and by Meitei-speakers in [[Northeast India]] and [[West Bengal]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ajit |first=Sh |title=Manipuri in Kolkata observes "Manipuri Poetry Day" |url=https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/item/15818-manipuri-in-kolkata-observes-manipuri-poetry-day |access-date=9 March 2023 |work=Imphal Times |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Manipuri Poetry Day 2021 celebrated |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2021/10/21/IMPHAL-Oct-21Department-of-English-St-Joseph-University-Nagaland-in-collaboration-with-Fiction.html |access-date=9 March 2023 |work=The Sangai Express |date=21 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
The '''[[Meitei language day]]''' ({{Script|Mtei|''[[ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟꯒꯤ ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ]]''}}, romanized: ''Meiteilon-gi Numit''), formally known as the '''[[Manipuri language day]]''' ({{Script|Mtei|''[[ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯂꯣꯟꯒꯤ ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ]]''}},  romanized: ''Manipuri Lon-gi Numit''), is annually observed on 20 August, in memory of the historic day on which the language was included in the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India]] and made one of the [[official languages of the Indian Republic]] on 20 August 1992.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Th Suresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kbu_AwAAQBAJ&dq=meitei+language+day&pg=PA24 |title=The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India |date=2 June 2014 |publisher=Quills Ink Publishing |isbn=978-93-84318-00-0 |pages=24 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Th Suresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kbu_AwAAQBAJ&dq=meitei+language+day&pg=PA25 |title=The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India |date=2 June 2014 |publisher=Quills Ink Publishing |isbn=978-93-84318-00-0 |pages=25 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Coleman |first1=Daniel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eu8cTROu4LcC&dq=meitei+language+day&pg=PA131 |title=Countering Displacements: The Creativity and Resilience of Indigenous and Refugee-ed Peoples |last2=Glanville |first2=Erin Goheen |last3=Hasan |first3=Wafaa |last4=Kramer-Hamstra |first4=Agnes |date=26 April 2012 |publisher=University of Alberta |isbn=978-0-88864-592-0 |pages=131 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=30th Manipuri Language Day observed : 21st aug21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=7..210821.aug21 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 August 2017 |title=Manipuri Language Day observed in Manipur - Eastern Mirror |url=https://easternmirrornagaland.com/manipuri-language-day-observed-in-manipur/ |website=easternmirrornagaland.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* The [[Manipuri Language Festival]] ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯂꯣꯟꯒꯤ ꯀꯨꯝꯃꯩ}}|Manipuri Lon-gi Kummei}}) is an annual cultural event that aims to protect and develop of the Meitei language, script and [[Meitei culture|culture]] in Bangladesh.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paul |first=Jibon |date=14 May 2022 |script-title=bn:কমলগঞ্জে মণিপুরি ভাষা ও সংস্কৃতি উৎসব |url=https://dailyjalalabad.com/2022/05/186017/ |access-date=11 March 2023 |work=Daily Jalalabad |language=bn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311211732/https://dailyjalalabad.com/2022/05/186017/ |archive-date=2023-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |script-title=bn:কমলগঞ্জে মনিপুরী ভাষা উৎসব উদযাপিত |url=https://www.bangla-times.com/2023/03/10/%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%89%E0%A7%8E/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=bangla-times.com |date=10 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311203440/https://bangla-times.com/2023/03/10/%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%89%E0%A7%8E/ |archive-date=2023-03-11 |language=bn}}</ref>
 
=== Meitei poetry day ===
{{Main|Meitei poetry day}}
The '''[[Meitei poetry day]]''' ({{Script|Mtei|''[[ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡꯒꯤ ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ]]''}}, romanized: ''Meiteilon Sheirenggi Numit''), formally termed as the '''[[Manipuri poetry day]]''' ({{Script|Mtei|''[[ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡꯒꯤ ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ]]''}}, romanized: ''Manipuri Sheirenggi Numit''), is an annual literary event that promotes the Meitei language poetries and honours the contributions of the poets as well as the diverse and distinctive uncommon [[literary traditions of Meitei language]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=St Joseph University, Nagaland observes Manipuri Poetry Day 2022 |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/poetry/st-joseph-university-nagaland-observes-manipuri-poetry-day-2022 |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=[[Imphal Free Press]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri Poetry Day 2021 celebrated : 22nd oct21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=14..221021.oct21 |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref> organised in [[Manipur]] as well as in other [[Meitei speakers]] populated areas ([[Northeast India]] and [[West Bengal]]{{efn|The event is annually observed in Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal, by an organization named "Manipuri in Kolkata" (MIK).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ajit |first=Sh |title=Manipuri in Kolkata observes "Manipuri Poetry Day" - Imphal Times |url=https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/item/15818-manipuri-in-kolkata-observes-manipuri-poetry-day |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=www.imphaltimes.com |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri in Kolkata observes 'Manipuri Poetry Day' : 15th oct19 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=14..151019.oct19 |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref>}} inside India), aiming to popularise and expose [[Meitei literature]] ([[Manipuri literature]]) to the greater world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri Poetry Day 2021 celebrated |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2021/10/21/IMPHAL-Oct-21Department-of-English-St-Joseph-University-Nagaland-in-collaboration-with-Fiction.html |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=www.thesangaiexpress.com |language=en}}</ref>
 
=== Meitei language festival ===
{{Main|Meitei language festival}}
The '''[[Meitei language festival]]''' ({{Script|Mtei|''[[ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟꯒꯤ ꯀꯨꯝꯃꯩ]]'', romanized: ''Meiteilon-gi Kummei''}}), formally known as the '''[[Manipuri language festival]]''' ({{Script|Mtei|''[[ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯂꯣꯟꯒꯤ ꯀꯨꯝꯃꯩ]]'', romanized: ''Manipuri Lon-gi Kummei''}}) or the '''[[Manipuri Bhasha Utsav]]''' ({{Script|Beng|''[[মণিপুরী ভাষা উৎসব]]''}}), is an annual cultural event that aims to the protection and the development of Meitei language, indigenous [[Meitei script]]{{efn|name=script|The event promotes indigenous [[Meitei writing system]] to be used for Meitei language, other than the already predominantly used Bengali script.<ref>{{Cite web |last=প্রতিনিধি |title=কমলগঞ্জে দিনব্যাপী মণিপুরি ভাষা ও সংস্কৃতি উৎসব |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/কমলগঞ্জে-দিনব্যাপী-মণিপুরি-ভাষা-ও-সংস্কৃতি-উৎসব |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=Prothomalo |date=13 May 2022 |language=bn}}</ref>}} and [[Meitei culture]]{{efn|name=culture|The event also focusses on the cultural programs, besides the mother tongue, Meitei language.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Jibon |date=14 May 2022 |title=কমলগঞ্জে মণিপুরি ভাষা ও সংস্কৃতি উৎসব |url=https://dailyjalalabad.com/2022/05/186017/ |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=দৈনিক জালালাবাদ {{!}} Daily Jalalabad |language=en-US}}</ref>}} in the [[Republic of Bangladesh]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=কমলগঞ্জে মনিপুরী ভাষা উৎসব উদযাপিত |url=https://www.bangla-times.com/2023/03/10/%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%89%E0%A7%8E/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=www.bangla-times.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The event is organised by the ''"Bangladesh Manipuri Sahitya Sangsad"'' since the year 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=কমলগঞ্জে মণিপুরি ভাষা উৎসব পালিত |url=https://www.abnews24.com/country-news/223407/%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A3%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%89%E0%A7%8E%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%AC-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4 |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=ABNEWS24 |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 March 2023 |title=নিজস্ব ভাষা সাহিত্যকে যথার্থ চর্চার মাধ্যমেই বাঁচিয়ে রাখা সম্ভব |url=https://sylheterdak.com.bd/নিজস্ব-ভাষা-সাহিত্যকে-যথ/ |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=সিলেটের ডাক |language=en-US}}</ref>


== Software ==
== Software ==
{{See|Meitei input methods}}
{{Further|Meitei input methods}}
In 2021, Rudali Huidrom, a Manipuri researcher of the EBMT/NLP laboratory, [[Waseda University]], [[Japan]], created a [[text corpus]] named "EM Corpus" (shortened form of "Emalon Manipuri Corpus"). It is the first comparable [[text corpus|text to text corpus]] built for Meitei language (mni) and English language (eng) pair from sentences. The writing system used for Meitei language in this corpus is [[Bengali script]]. It was crawled and collected from ''thesangaiexpress.com'' - the news website of "The Sangai Express",<ref>{{cite web |title=The Sangai Express - Largest Circulated NewsPaper in Manipur |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/ |website=thesangaiexpress.com |access-date=12 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref> a daily newspaper of [[Manipur]] from August 2020 to 2021. In version 1, she created the monolingual data, having 1,034,715 Meitei language sentences and 846,796 English language sentences. In version 2, she created the monolingual data, having 1,880,035 Meitei language sentences and 1,450,053 English language sentences.<ref name="RudaliHuidrom">{{Cite web |title=Machine translation of English-Manipuri made possible : 13th oct21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=35..131021.oct21 |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref name="catalog.elra.info">{{Cite web |title=Ema-lon Manipuri Corpus (including word embedding and language model) – ELRA Catalogue |url=http://catalog.elra.info/en-us/repository/browse/ELRA-W0316/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=catalog.elra.info}}</ref>
In 2021, Rudali Huidrom, a Manipuri researcher of the EBMT/NLP laboratory, [[Waseda University]], Japan, created a [[text corpus]] named "EM Corpus" (shortened form of "Emalon Manipuri Corpus"). It is the first comparable [[text corpus|text to text corpus]] built for Meitei language (mni) and English language (eng) pair from sentences. The writing system used for Meitei language in this corpus is [[Bengali script]]. It was crawled and collected from ''thesangaiexpress.com'' – the news website of "[[The Sangai Express]]", a daily newspaper of [[Manipur]] from August 2020 to 2021. In version 1, she created the monolingual data, having 1,034,715 Meitei language sentences and 846,796 English language sentences. In version 2, she created the monolingual data, having 1,880,035 Meitei language sentences and 1,450,053 English language sentences.<ref name="RudaliHuidrom">{{Cite web |title=Machine translation of English-Manipuri made possible: 13th oct21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=35..131021.oct21 |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=e-pao.net}}</ref><ref name="catalog.elra.info">{{Cite web |title=Ema-lon Manipuri Corpus (including word embedding and language model) – ELRA Catalogue |url=http://catalog.elra.info/en-us/repository/browse/ELRA-W0316/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=catalog.elra.info}}</ref>


EM-ALBERT is the first ALBERT model available for Meitei language. EM-FT is also [[FastText]] word embedding available for Meitei language. These resources were created by Rudali Huidrom and are now available at free of cost at the [[European Language Resources Association]] catalogue (ELRA catalogue) under CC-BY-NC-4.0 license.<ref name="RudaliHuidrom" /><ref name="catalog.elra.info" />
EM-ALBERT is the first ALBERT model available for Meitei language. EM-FT is also [[FastText]] word embedding available for Meitei language. These resources were created by Rudali Huidrom and are now available at free of cost at the European Language Resources Association catalogue (ELRA catalogue) under CC-BY-NC-4.0 licence.<ref name="RudaliHuidrom" /><ref name="catalog.elra.info" />


[[File:Google Translate - English to Meiteilon (Manipuri) - "What is your name?" - Screenshot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|A screen shot of [[Google Translate]] translating a sentence from English language into Meitei language]]
[[File:Google Translate - English to Meiteilon (Manipuri) - "What is your name?" - Screenshot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|A screen shot of [[Google Translate]] translating a sentence from English language into Meitei language]]


On 11 May 2022, [[Google Translate]] added Meitei-language (under the name '''''"Meiteilon (Manipuri)"''''') during its addition of 24 new languages to the translation tool. The writing system used for Meitei language in this tool is [[Meitei script]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 May 2022 |title=Assamese, Meiteilon (Manipuri) and Mizo language has been added to Google translate, moment of pride for Northeastern India! - NE India Broadcast |url=https://neindiabroadcast.com/2022/05/12/assamese-meiteilon-manipuri-and-mizo-language-has-been-added-to-google-translate-moment-of-pride-for-northeastern-india/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2022 |title=Google Translate adds support for Assamese, Mizo and Manipuri languages - Eastern Mirror |url=https://easternmirrornagaland.com/google-translate-adds-support-for-assamese-mizo-and-manipuri-languages/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=easternmirrornagaland.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=12 May 2022 |title=Google Translate gets support for 24 new languages including Assamese, Mizo and Manipuri |url=https://www.time8.in/google-translate-gets-support-for-24-new-languages-including-assamese-mizo-and-manipuri/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=TIME8 |language=en-US|last1=Webdesk |first1=Time8 }}</ref>
On 11 May 2022, [[Google Translate]] added Meitei-language (under the name '''''"Meiteilon (Manipuri)"''''') during its addition of 24 new languages to the translation tool. The writing system used for Meitei language in this tool is [[Meitei script]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 May 2022 |title=Assamese, Meiteilon (Manipuri) and Mizo language has been added to Google translate, moment of pride for Northeastern India! – NE India Broadcast |url=https://neindiabroadcast.com/2022/05/12/assamese-meiteilon-manipuri-and-mizo-language-has-been-added-to-google-translate-moment-of-pride-for-northeastern-india/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2022 |title=Google Translate adds support for Assamese, Mizo and Manipuri languages – Eastern Mirror |url=https://easternmirrornagaland.com/google-translate-adds-support-for-assamese-mizo-and-manipuri-languages/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=easternmirrornagaland.com |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=12 May 2022 |title=Google Translate gets support for 24 new languages including Assamese, Mizo and Manipuri |url=https://www.time8.in/google-translate-gets-support-for-24-new-languages-including-assamese-mizo-and-manipuri/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |work=Time8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512140916/https://www.time8.in/google-translate-gets-support-for-24-new-languages-including-assamese-mizo-and-manipuri/ |archive-date=2022-05-12 |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
== Influence on other speech forms ==
Words of Meitei origin occur in other languages, dialects and lects.
=== In Bishnupriya lect ===
{{See also|Bengali–Assamese languages}}
[[Bishnupriya language|Bishnupriya]], also termed as "Bishnupriya Manipuri" or "Bishnupriya Meitei",<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sahoo |first=Ajaya K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7xsfEAAAQBAJ&dq=bishnupriya+meiteis&pg=PA109 |title=Routledge Handbook of Asian Diaspora and Development |date=30 March 2021 |publisher=[[Taylor & Francis]] |isbn=978-1-000-36686-0 |pages=109 |language=en |quote=The Bishnupriya Meiteis from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Tripura and Assam used the Bengali script and speak their own language, which is influenced by Meiteilon (Mani- puri).}}</ref> a [[creole language|creole]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moseley |first=Christopher |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kFVthqmDs_kC&dq=bishnupriya+creole&pg=PA139 |title=Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger |date=1 January 2010 |publisher=UNESCO |isbn=978-92-3-104096-2 |pages=139 |language=en}}</ref> of [[Bengali language]] and Meitei language, besides still retaining its pre-Bengali features,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Frawley |first=William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sl_dDVctycgC&dq=Bishnupriya+bengali+dialect&pg=PA481 |title=International Encyclopedia of Linguistics: 4-Volume Set |date=2003 |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA |isbn=978-0-19-513977-8 |pages=481 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Haokip |first=Pauthang |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hnYShQ7TryMC&dq=Bishnupriya+bengali+dialect&pg=PA8 |title=Socio-linguistic Situation in North-East India |date=2011 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-760-9 |pages=8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Asher |first1=R. E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0xWDwAAQBAJ&dq=Bishnupriya+bengali+dialect&pg=PR97 |title=Atlas of the World's Languages |last2=Moseley |first2=Christopher |date=19 April 2018 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-85108-0 |pages=97 |language=en}}</ref> uses around 4000 [[Loanword|borrowed]] [[Root (linguistics)|root words]] from Meitei language.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gelbukh |first=Alexander |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dS66BQAAQBAJ&q=Bishnupriya+4000+borrowed+root+words+from+Meitei&pg=PA207 |title=Computational Linguistics and Intelligent Text Processing: 15th International Conference, CICLing 2014, Kathmandu, Nepal, April 6-12, 2014, Proceedings, Part I |date=18 April 2014 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-642-54906-9 |pages=207 |language=en}}</ref>
 
=== In Tangkhul ===
{{See also|Tangkhul language|Tangkhulic languages}}
"Tangkhul" ({{lang|mni|{{script|mtei|ꯇꯥꯡꯈꯨꯜ}}|/tāng-khūl/}}) is a [[Tangkhul language|speech form]] as well as an [[Tangkhul people|ethnicity]].
The term "Tangkhul" got its name from the Meitei language terms, "Tang" ({{lang|mni|{{script|mtei|ꯇꯥꯡ}}|/tāng/}}) meaning "scarce" and "Khul" ({{lang|mni|{{script|mtei|ꯈꯨꯜ}}|/khūl/}}) meaning "village" respectively.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sanyu |first=Visier |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1D1uAAAAMAAJ&q=meitei+language+influence+on+tangkhul |title=A History of Nagas and Nagaland: Dynamics of Oral Tradition in Village Formation |date=1996 |publisher=Commonwealth Publishers |others=[[University of Michigan]] |isbn=978-81-7169-369-6 |pages=25 |language=en |quote=... a sparse nature of settlement that the Tangkhul tribe got its name. In Meitei language-literally, Tang means scarce and khul means village.}}</ref>
According to another theory, the term "Tangkhul" is derived from "Thankhul", meaning "Than village" in Meitei language.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shimray |first=A. S. W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E1MwAQAAIAAJ&q=Meitei+language+Tang+Khul |title=History of the Tangkhul Nagas |date=2001 |publisher=Akansha Publishing House |isbn=978-81-87606-04-8 |pages=43 |language=en |quote=... the village which they lived was known by the name ' THANKHUL ' meaning Than - Village in Meitei language . Therefore , the name ' TANGKHUL ' is derived from Than - Khul ...}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Lisam |first=Khomdan Singh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z6d-IyINtk4C&dq=Meitei+language+Tang+Khul&pg=PA516 |title=Encyclopaedia Of Manipur (3 Vol.) |date=2011 |publisher= |year=2011 |isbn=978-81-7835-864-2 |pages=516 |language=en |quote=The name Tangkhul was given to them by the Meiteis. There are many legends regarding the origin of the word Tangkhul.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |others=[[Government of India]] |title=History {{!}} Ukhrul District, Government of Manipur {{!}} India |url=https://ukhrul.nic.in/history/#:~:text=The%20name%20Tangkhul%20was%20given,means%20people%20with%20pierced%20earlobes. |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=[[National Informatics Centre]] |language=en, mni |quote=The name Tangkhul was given to them by their neighbours, the Meiteis. The northern Tangkhuls were also called the Luhupas.}}</ref>
 
=== In Lamkang/Lamgang ===
{{See also|Lamkang language|Lamkang people}}
"Lamkang" ({{lang|mni|{{script|mtei|ꯂꯝꯀꯥꯡ}}}}) or "Lamgang" ({{lang|mni|{{script|mtei|ꯂꯝꯒꯥꯡ}}}}) is a speech form as well as an ethnic group. The term is derived from the Meitei language words, "Lam" ({{lang|mni|{{script|mtei|ꯂꯝ}}|/lam/}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=H. Surmangol |date=2006 |title=Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Meaning of "Lam") |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/sharma_query.py?qs=%EA%AF%82%EA%AF%9D+land&matchtype=default |access-date=4 February 2023 |website=dsal.uchicago.edu |publisher=[[University of Chicago]] |page=165 |language=mni, en |quote=lam ꯂꯝ /ləm/ n. land; state; country; nation.}}</ref>) meaning "land" and "Kang" ({{lang|mni|{{script|mtei|ꯀꯡ}}|/kang/}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=H. Surmangol |date=2006 |title=Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Meaning of "Kang") |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/sharma_query.py?qs=%EA%AF%80%EA%AF%A1+dry&matchtype=default |access-date=4 February 2023 |website=dsal.uchicago.edu |publisher=[[University of Chicago]] |page=33 |language=mni, en |quote=kang-₁ ꯀꯡ- /kəŋ/ v. to dry.}}</ref>) meaning "dry". The overall meaning of "Lamkang" is rendered as ''"people who settled on the dry hilly areas"'' by the [[Meitei people]]. In old Meitei records, the Lamkang people were termed as the "Hiroi Lamkang". The prefixed term "Hiroi" is derived from the Meitei language word for boat ("hi") and work group ("loi").<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bareh |first=Hamlet |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XScmdGvMf7IC&q=meitei+language+influence+on+lamkangarch&pg=PA161 |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India |date=2001 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-790-0 |pages=161 |language=en |chapter=Lamgang |quote=... the term Lamgang might have been given by the Meitei to mean the people who settled on the dry hilly areas (lam: land; kang: day). In the earlier records of the Meitei they are referred to as the Hiroi Lamkang. The prefix hiroi is derived from the Meitei word for boat (hi: work; loi: group).}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=H. Surmangol |date=2006 |title=Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Meaning of "Hiroi") |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/sharma_query.py?qs=%EA%AF%8D%EA%AF%A4%EA%AF%94%EA%AF%A3%EA%AF%8F&matchtype=default |access-date=4 February 2023 |website=dsal.uchicago.edu |publisher=[[University of Chicago]] |page=207 |language=mni, en |quote=hiroi ꯍꯤꯔꯣꯏ /hi.rói/ n. oarsman. Morph: hi‑roi [boat‑to accompany].}}</ref>
 
=== In Anal/Anan ===
{{See also|Anāl language|Anāl people}}
"Anāl" ({{lang|mni|{{script|mtei|ꯑꯅꯥꯜ}}}}) is a speech form as well as an ethnic group. The term "Anāl" ({{lang|mni|{{script|mtei|ꯑꯅꯥꯜ}}|/a-nāl/}}) is derived from the Meitei language term "Anan" ({{lang|mni|{{script|mtei|ꯑꯅꯥꯟ}}|/a-nān/}}) meaning "cleanliness". The Anāl people are named so by the [[Meitei people]] because of their cleanliness in comparison to other tribes.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bisht |first1=Narendra S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0-AGCwb72zsC&dq=Meitei+language+Anal&pg=PA28 |title=Encyclopaedic Ethnography of the Himalayan Tribes |last2=Bankoti |first2=T. S. |date=2004 |publisher=Global Vision |isbn=978-81-87746-91-1 |pages=28 |language=en |quote=... because of their cleanlines in comparison with other tribes, the Meitei called them Anan which gives away to Anal.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Prakash |first=Col Ved |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wxkC9S2jYCkC&dq=Meitei+language+Anal&pg=PA1515 |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India |date=2007 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-269-0706-9 |pages=1515 |language=en |quote=... because of their fondness for cleanliness, compared to others, the Meiteis called them 'Anan', which later transformed to 'Anal'. ... But the Anals often refer to themselves as 'Pakan' and the term 'Anal' seem to be of Meitei origin.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Bisht |first1=Narendra S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0-AGCwb72zsC&dq=Meitei+language+Anal&pg=PA29 |title=Encyclopaedic Ethnography of the Himalayan Tribes |last2=Bankoti |first2=T. S. |date=2004 |publisher=Global Vision |isbn=978-81-87746-91-1 |pages=29 |language=en |quote=the Anals often refer themselves as Pakan and the term Anals seems to be of Meitei origin.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=H. Surmangol |date=2006 |title=Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Term for "clean") |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/sharma_query.py?qs=an%C4%81nba+%EA%AF%91%EA%AF%85%EA%AF%A5%EA%AF%9F%EA%AF%95&matchtype=default |access-date=3 February 2023 |website=dsal.uchicago.edu |publisher=[[University of Chicago]] |page=7 |language=mni, en |quote=anānba ꯑꯅꯥꯟꯕ /ə.nán.bə/ adj. 1) smooth. 2) clean. Morph: a‑nān‑ba [Att‑to be smooth/clean‑Nom].}}</ref>


== Sample text ==
== Sample text ==
The following is a sample text in Modern Meitei of the Article 1 of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] (by the [[United Nations]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language and alphabets |url=https://omniglot.com/writing/manipuri.htm |access-date=12 August 2022 |website=omniglot.com}}</ref>{{efn|The Meitei-language translation of the passage of the Article 1 has two foreign words present, "ꯏꯖꯖꯠ" ("iːdʒət") and "ꯍꯛ" ("hə́k"), meaning "dignity" and "rights" respectively, as given in the source website. The original Meitei-language terms for "dignity" and "rights" are "ꯏꯀꯥꯏ ꯈꯨꯝꯅꯕ" ("í.kai kʰum.nə.bə") and "ꯐꯪꯐꯝ ꯊꯣꯛꯄ" ("pʰəŋ.pʰəm tʰok.pə") respectively.}}:
The following is a sample text in Modern Meitei of the Article 1 of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] (by the United Nations):<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language and alphabets |url=https://omniglot.com/writing/manipuri.htm |access-date=12 August 2022 |website=omniglot.com}}</ref>{{efn|The Meitei-language translation of the passage of the Article 1 has two foreign words present, "ꯏꯖꯖꯠ" ("iːdʒət") and "ꯍꯛ" ("hə́k"), meaning "dignity" and "rights" respectively, as given in the source website. The original Meitei-language terms for "dignity" and "rights" are "ꯏꯀꯥꯏ ꯈꯨꯝꯅꯕ" ("í.kai kʰum.nə.bə") and "ꯐꯪꯐꯝ ꯊꯣꯛꯄ" ("pʰəŋ.pʰəm tʰok.pə") respectively.}}
 
{{quote|{{lang|mni|{{script|mtei|ꯃꯤꯑꯣꯏꯕ ꯈꯨꯗꯤꯡꯃꯛ ꯄꯣꯛꯄ ꯃꯇꯝꯗ ꯅꯤꯡꯇꯝꯃꯤ, ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯏꯖꯖꯠ ꯑꯃꯁꯨꯡ ꯍꯛ ꯃꯥꯟꯅꯅ ꯂꯧꯖꯩ ꯫ ꯃꯈꯣꯏ ꯄꯨꯝꯅꯃꯛ ꯋꯥꯈꯜ ꯂꯧꯁꯤꯡ ꯁꯦꯡꯏ, ꯑꯐ ꯐꯠꯇ ꯈꯪꯏ, ꯑꯗꯨꯅ ꯑꯃꯅ ꯑꯃꯒ ꯂꯣꯏꯅꯕ ꯃꯇꯝꯗ ꯃꯆꯤꯟ ꯃꯅꯥꯎꯒꯨꯝꯅ ꯂꯣꯏꯅꯒꯗꯕꯅꯤ ꯫}}}}|Modern Meitei in [[Meitei script]]}}


{{quote|{{lang|mni|{{script|beng|মিওইবা খুদিংমক পোকপা মতমদা নিংতম্মী, অমদি ইজ্জৎ অমসুং হক মান্ননা লৌজৈ । মখোই পুম্নমক ৱাখল লৌশিং শেঙই, অফ ফত্তা খঙই, অদুনা অমনা অমগা লোইনবদা মচীন মনাওগুম্না লোইনগদবনি ।}}}}|Modern Meitei in [[Bengali script]]}}
{{blockquote|
{{lang|mni|{{script|Mtei|ꯃꯤꯑꯣꯏꯕ ꯈꯨꯗꯤꯡꯃꯛ ꯄꯣꯛꯄ ꯃꯇꯝꯗ ꯅꯤꯡꯇꯝꯃꯤ, ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯏꯖꯖꯠ ꯑꯃꯁꯨꯡ ꯍꯛ ꯃꯥꯟꯅꯅ ꯂꯧꯖꯩ ꯫ ꯃꯈꯣꯏ ꯄꯨꯝꯅꯃꯛ ꯋꯥꯈꯜ ꯂꯧꯁꯤꯡ ꯁꯦꯡꯏ, ꯑꯐ ꯐꯠꯇ ꯈꯪꯏ, ꯑꯗꯨꯅ ꯑꯃꯅ ꯑꯃꯒ ꯂꯣꯏꯅꯕ ꯃꯇꯝꯗ ꯃꯆꯤꯟ ꯃꯅꯥꯎꯒꯨꯝꯅ ꯂꯣꯏꯅꯒꯗꯕꯅꯤ ꯫}}}} (in [[Meitei script]])


{{quote|{{lang|mni|{{script|latn|Mioiba khudingmak pokpa matamda ningtammi amadi ijjat amasung hak mānnana leijei, makhoi pumnamak wākhal loushing shengi, apha phatta khangi, aduna amana amaga loinabada machin manāogumna loinagadabani.}}}}|Modern Meitei in [[Roman transliteration]]|faithful to script}}
{{lang|mni|মিওইবা খুদিংমক পোকপা মতমদা নিংতম্মী, অমদি ইজ্জৎ অমসুং হক মান্ননা লৌজৈ । মখোই পুম্নমক ৱাখল লৌশিং শেঙই, অফ ফত্তা খঙই, অদুনা অমনা অমগা লোইনবদা মচীন মনাওগুম্না লোইনগদবনি ।}} (in [[Bengali script]])


{{quote|{{IPA|míːójbə kʰud̯íŋmək pókpə mət̯ə̀md̯ə níːŋt̯ə̀mmi, əməd̯i iːdʒət əməʃùng hə́k màːnənə lɐ̀jdʒɐ̀j. məkʰój púmnəmək wakʰə̀l lə̀wʃiŋ ʃèŋi, əpʱə̀ pʱə́ːt̯ə kʰə́ŋi, əd̯unə əmənə əməgə lòjnəbəd̯ə mət͡ʃìn mənáwgùmnə lójnəgəd̯əbəni'.}}|Modern Meitei in [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]}}
{{lang|mni|Mioiba khudingmak pokpa matamda ningtammi amadi ijjat amasung hak mānnana leijei, makhoi pumnamak wākhal loushing shengi, apha phatta khangi, aduna amana amaga loinabada machin manāogumna loinagadabani.}} ([[Roman transliteration]])


{{quote|{{lang|en|All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are all pure in mind, knowing right from wrong, and should be treated like brothers and sisters when they treat each other.}}|Gloss|word-for-word}}
{{lang|mni|{{IPA|míːójbə kʰud̯íŋmək pókpə mət̯ə̀md̯ə níːŋt̯ə̀mmi, əməd̯i iːdʒət əməʃùng hə́k màːnənə lɐ̀jdʒɐ̀j. məkʰój púmnəmək wakʰə̀l lə̀wʃiŋ ʃèŋi, əpʱə̀ pʱə́ːt̯ə kʰə́ŋi, əd̯unə əmənə əməgə lòjnəbəd̯ə mət͡ʃìn mənáwgùmnə lójnəgəd̯əbəni'}}}} ([[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]] transliteration).


{{quote|{{lang|en|All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.}}|Translation|grammatical}}
{{langx|en|All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.}} }}


== See also ==
== See also ==
{{Portal bar|Asia|Bangladesh|India|Languages|Linguistics|Myanmar}}
{{Portal bar|Asia|Bangladesh|India|Languages|Linguistics|Myanmar}}
* [[Meitei language in India]]
** [[Meitei language in Assam]]
** [[Meitei language in Tripura]]
* [[Meitei language in Bangladesh]]
* [[Meitei language in Myanmar]]
* [[Languages of India]]
* [[Languages of India]]
* [[List of languages by number of native speakers in India]]
* [[List of languages by number of native speakers in India]]
* [[List of Indian poets#Manipuri|List of Manipuri poets]]
* [[List of Indian poets#Manipuri|List of Meitei poets]]
* [[Meitei inscriptions]]
* [[Meitei inscriptions]]
* [[Meitei literature]]
* [[Meitei literature]]
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* [[List of Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize winners for Meitei]]
* [[List of Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize winners for Meitei]]
* [[List of Yuva Puraskar winners for Meitei]]
* [[List of Yuva Puraskar winners for Meitei]]
* [[List of Bal Sahitya Puraskar winners for Meitei]]
* [[Vikaspedia]]
* [[Vikaspedia]]


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== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
* 1. ''A Short History of Kangleipak (Manipur) Part-I'', by Chingtamlen, 2005
* 1. ''A Short History of Kangleipak (Manipur) Part-I'', by Chingtamlen, 2005
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* Chelliah, Shobhana L. (2002). Early Meitei manuscripts. In C. I. Beckwith (Ed.), ''Medieval Tibeto-Burman languages: PIATS 2000: Tibetan studies: Proceedings of the ninth seminar of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, Leiden 2000'' (pp.&nbsp;59–71). Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.
* Chelliah, Shobhana L. (2002). Early Meitei manuscripts. In C. I. Beckwith (Ed.), ''Medieval Tibeto-Burman languages: PIATS 2000: Tibetan studies: Proceedings of the ninth seminar of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, Leiden 2000'' (pp.&nbsp;59–71). Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.
* Chelliah, Shobhana L. (2002). A glossary of 39 basic words in archaic and modern Meitei. In C. I. Beckwith (Ed.), ''Medieval Tibeto-Burman languages: PIATS 2000: Tibetan studies: Proceedings of the ninth seminar of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, Leiden 2000'' (pp.&nbsp;189–190). Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.
* Chelliah, Shobhana L. (2002). A glossary of 39 basic words in archaic and modern Meitei. In C. I. Beckwith (Ed.), ''Medieval Tibeto-Burman languages: PIATS 2000: Tibetan studies: Proceedings of the ninth seminar of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, Leiden 2000'' (pp.&nbsp;189–190). Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.
* {{cite journal |last1=Chelliah |first1=Shobhana L. |year=2004 |title=Polysemy through metonymy: The case of Meitei ''pi'' 'grandmother' |journal=Studies in Language |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=363–386 |doi=10.1075/sl.28.2.04che}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Chelliah |first1=Shobhana L. |date=January 2004 |title=Polysemy through metonymy: The case of Meitei ''pi'' 'grandmother' |journal=Studies in Language |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=363–386 |doi=10.1075/sl.28.2.04che}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Chelliah |first1=Shobhana L. |s2cid=130962163 |year=2015 |title=Is Manipur a linguistic area? |journal=Journal of South Asian Languages and Linguistics |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=87–109 |doi=10.1515/jsall-2015-0004}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Chelliah |first1=Shobhana L. |s2cid=130962163 |year=2015 |title=Is Manipur a linguistic area? |journal=Journal of South Asian Languages and Linguistics |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=87–109 |doi=10.1515/jsall-2015-0004}}
* Singh, Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra. (1964). ''Manipuri to Manipuri & English dictionary''.
* Singh, Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra. (1964). ''Manipuri to Manipuri & English dictionary''.


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commonscat}}
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wiktionary|Meitei}}
{{Wiktionary|Meitei}}
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{{Incubator|mni|Wikiquote}}
{{Incubator|mni|Wikiquote}}
{{Incubator|mni|Wikivoyage}}
{{Incubator|mni|Wikivoyage}}
{{incubator|code=omp|lang=Ancient Meitei}}
* {{Cite web |title=Meetei Mayek |url=http://tabish.freeshell.org/eeyek/ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=tabish.freeshell.org}}
 
* {{Cite web |title=Meetei Mayek |url=http://tabish.freeshell.org/eeyek/ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=tabish.freeshell.org}}  
** {{Cite web |title=Manipuri/Meiteilon/Meithei |url=http://tabish.freeshell.org/eeyek/mani_intro.html |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=tabish.freeshell.org}}
** {{Cite web |title=Manipuri/Meiteilon/Meithei |url=http://tabish.freeshell.org/eeyek/mani_intro.html |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=tabish.freeshell.org}}
* {{Cite web |title=Manipuri language and alphabets |url=https://omniglot.com/writing/manipuri.htm |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=omniglot.com}}
* {{Cite web |title=Manipuri language and alphabets |url=https://omniglot.com/writing/manipuri.htm |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=omniglot.com}}
* {{Cite web |title=Learn to speak Manipuri |url=http://tabish.freeshell.org/manipuri/ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=tabish.freeshell.org}}  
* {{Cite web |title=Learn to speak Manipuri |url=http://tabish.freeshell.org/manipuri/ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=tabish.freeshell.org}}
* {{Cite web |title=Learn Manipuri |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Learn_Manipuri.html |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=www.e-pao.net}}
* {{Cite web |title=Learn Manipuri |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Learn_Manipuri.html |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=www.e-pao.net}}
* {{Cite web |title=Meetei Mayek keys |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.meetei_mayek_keys.html.. |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=www.e-pao.net}}  
* {{Cite web |title=Meetei Mayek keys |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.meetei_mayek_keys.html.. |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=www.e-pao.net}}
* {{Cite web |title=Meetei Mayek Poems |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=MeiteiMayek.meetei_mayek_Poems.html../ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=www.e-pao.net}}  
* {{Cite web |title=Meetei Mayek Poems |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=MeiteiMayek.meetei_mayek_Poems.html../ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=www.e-pao.net}}


{{Sino-Tibetan languages}}
{{Sino-Tibetan languages}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Meitei Language}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meitei Language}}
[[Category:Meitei language| ]]
[[Category:Meitei language| ]]
[[Category:Advanced MILs in Assam Higher Secondary Education Council]]
[[Category:Educational languages in Assam Higher Secondary Education Council]]
[[Category:Educational languages in Board of Secondary Education of Assam]]
[[Category:Official languages of India]]
[[Category:Official languages of India]]
[[Category:Formal languages used for Indian scriptures]]
[[Category:Languages associated with classical dances of India]]
[[Category:Languages of Manipur]]
[[Category:Languages of Manipur]]
[[Category:Languages of Assam]]
[[Category:Languages of Assam]]
[[Category:Languages of Tripura]]
[[Category:Languages of Tripura]]
[[Category:Languages of Nagaland]]
[[Category:Languages of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Languages of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Languages of Myanmar]]
[[Category:Languages of Myanmar]]
[[Category:Languages with own distinct writing systems]]
[[Category:Languages written in Latin script]]
[[Category:Languages written in Latin script]]
[[Category:Languages officially written in Indic scripts]]
[[Category:Languages written in Brahmic scripts]]
[[Category:Languages used in Akashvani]]
[[Category:Languages used in Doordarshan]]
[[Category:Languages used in Press Information Bureau of India]]
[[Category:Languages used in Prime Minister's Office of India]]
[[Category:Languages used in recruitment of Central Armed Police Forces of India]]
[[Category:Languages used in Staff Selection Commission of India]]
[[Category:Lingua francas]]
[[Category:Lingua francas]]
[[Category:Meitei culture]]
[[Category:Meitei culture]]
[[Category:Meitei literature]]
[[Category:Meitei literature]]
[[Category:MILs in Central Board of Secondary Education of India]]
[[Category:MILs in Indira Gandhi National Open University]]
[[Category:Sahitya Akademi recognised languages]]
[[Category:Standard languages]]
[[Category:Standard languages]]
[[Category:Subject–object–verb languages]]
[[Category:Subject–object–verb languages]]
[[Category:Tonal languages]]
[[Category:Tonal languages]]
[[Category:Unclassified Sino-Tibetan languages]]
[[Category:Unclassified Sino-Tibetan languages]]

Revision as of 10:45, 24 February 2026


"Manipuri language" redirects here. For the Meitei-Bengali creole language, see Bishnupriya Manipuri.
This article is about the sole official language of Manipur. For other speech forms, see languages of Manipur.
Unless otherwise specified, Meitei in this article is written in Meitei Mayek.

Meitei
Manipuri
ꯃꯩꯇꯩꯂꯣꯟ • মৈতৈলোন • Meiteilon
Meitei Lon written in Meitei script
Native toIndia, Bangladesh
RegionManipur, Assam, Tripura
EthnicityMeitei
Native speakers
1.8 million (2003–2011)[1]
Early forms
Dialects
Official status
Official language in
Recognised minority
language in
Regulated byDirectorate of Language Planning and Implementation, Manipur
Development body
Language codes
ISO 639-2mni
ISO 639-3Either:
mni – Manipuri
omp – Old Manipuri
Glottologmani1292  Manipuri
meit1246  Meitei (standard dialect)
pang1284  Pangal (Muslim dialect)
  Regions where Meitei is official and educational language
  Regions where Meitei is recognised and educational language but not official
  Regions where Meitei is not recognised and not official but educational
  Regions where Meitei is recognised but not official and educational
  Regions with significant Meitei speaking minorities
This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.

Meitei (/ˈmeɪteɪ/;[3] Template:Meitei mni), also known as Manipuri (Template:Meitei mni), is a Tibeto-Burman language of northeast India. It is the official language and the lingua franca of Manipur and an additional official language in four districts of Assam. It is one of the constitutionally scheduled official languages of the Indian Republic.[4] Meitei is the most widely-spoken Tibeto-Burman language of India and the third most widely spoken language of northeast India after Assamese and Bengali.[5] There are 1.76 million Meitei native speakers in India according to the 2011 census, 1.52 million of whom are found in the state of Manipur, where they represent the majority of its population. There are smaller communities in neighbouring Indian states, such as Assam (168,000), Tripura (24,000), Nagaland (9,500), and elsewhere in the country (37,500). The language is also spoken by smaller groups in neighbouring Myanmar[6] and Bangladesh.[7]

Meitei and Gujarati jointly hold the third place among the fastest growing languages of India, following Hindi and Kashmiri.[8]

Meitei is not endangered: its status has been assessed as safe by Ethnologue (where it is assigned to EGIDS level 2 "provincial language").[9] However, it is considered vulnerable by UNESCO.[10]

The Manipuri language is associated with the Ningthouja dynasty (Mangangs), the Khuman dynasty, the Moirangs, the Angoms, the Luwangs, the Chengleis (Sarang-Leishangthems), and the Khaba-Nganbas. Each had their respective distinct dialects and were politically independent from one another. Later, all of them fell under the dominion of the Ningthouja dynasty, changing their status of being independent "ethnicities" into those of "clans" of the collective Meitei community. The Ningthouja dialect was predominant,[11][12] and received heavy influences from the speech forms of the other groups.[13][14][15]

Meitei is one of the advanced literary languages recognised by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters.

Classification

Meitei belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages.[16][4]

During the 19th and 20th centuries, different linguists tried to assign Meitei to various sub-groups. Early classifier George Abraham Grierson (1903–1924) put it in Kuki-Chin, Vegelin and Voegelin (1965) in Kuki-Chin-Naga, and Benedict (1972) in Kuki-Naga. Robbins Burling has suggested that Meitei belongs to none of those groups.[17] Current academic consensus agrees with James Matisoff in placing Manipuri in its own subdivision of the Kamarupan group—a geographic rather than a genetic grouping.[4] However, some still consider Meitei to be a member of the Kuki-Chin-Naga branch.[18]

History

Yumbanlol (Yumpanlol), a group of 6th century Classical Meitei language copper plate inscriptions, written in Meitei script.

The Meitei language has existed for at least 2000 years.[17] According to linguist Suniti Kumar Chatterjee, the ancient Meitei literature dates back to 1500 to 2000 years before present.[19]

First Millennium CE

The earliest known Meitei language compositions is the ritual song Ougri (ꯑꯧꯒ꯭ꯔꯤ), which was used in religious and coronation ceremonies of Kangleipak. It may have existed before the Common Era.[20] Numit Kappa Template:Meitei, a religious epic that tells the tale of how the night was divided from the day, was also composed in the first century.[21]

Poireiton Khunthok Template:Meitei is a 3rd-century narrative work describing the establishment of a colony in Kangleipak by a group of immigrants led by Poireiton, the younger brother of the god of the underworld.[22]

The Yumbanlol, a copper plate manuscript was composed in the 6th century or 7th century CE for the royal family of Kangleipak. It is a rare work of dharmashastra, covering sexuality, the relationships between husbands and wives, and instructions on how to run a household.[23]

The Khencho (ꯈꯦꯟꯆꯣ), an early Meitei work of poetry was composed by the beginning of the 7th century CE.[24] Although it is obscure and unintelligible to present-day Meiteis, it is still recited as part of the Lai Haraoba festival.[25]

One of the best-preserved early Meitei language epigraphic records is a copper plate inscription dating to the reign of King Khongtekcha (r. c. 763 – 773 CE).[26] During the same time period, Akoijam Tombi composed the Panthoibi Khonggul (ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯄꯤ ꯈꯣꯡꯀꯨꯜ), an account of the romantic adventures of the deified Meitei princess Panthoibi.[27]

Second Millennium CE

The first page of Loyumba Shinyen, the 11th-12th century Meitei-language constitution of Kangleipak.

In 1100 CE, a written constitution, Template:Meitei, was finalised by King Loiyumba (r. c. 1074 – 1112 CE) of Kangleipak. It was a codification of the proto-constitution drafted by King Naophangba in 429 CE.[28][29]

Before 1675 CE, the Meitei language experienced no significant influence from any other languages.[17] Beginning in the late 17th century, Hindu influence on Meitei culture increased, and the Meitei language experienced some influences from other languages, on its phonology, morphology (linguistics), syntax and semantics. At the same time, the Hinduised King Pamheiba ordered that the Meitei script be replaced by the Bengali-Assamese script.[17]

An 1822 CE stone recording a royal decree attributed to King Jai Singh (r. 1759–1762, 1763–1798), erected at Andro, Imphal East, Manipur

In 1725 CE, Pamheiba wrote Parikshit, possibly the first piece of Meitei-language Hindu literature, based on the story of the eponymous king Parikshit of the Mahabharata.[30]

Geographical distribution

Further information: States of India by Meitei speakers

The majority of Meitei speakers, about 1.5 million[31] live in the Indian state of Manupur. Meitei is the official language of the Government of Manipur as well as its lingua franca.[4]

Districts of Barak Valley – Meitei speaking population settlement areas of Assam

There are nearly 170,000 Meitei-speakers in Assam,[31] mainly in the Barak Valley, where it is the third most commonly used language after Bengali and Hindi.[32] Manipuri is also spoken by about 9500 people in Nagaland, in communities such as Dimapur, Kohima, Peren and Phek.[2][31] Meitei is a second language for various Naga and Kuki-Chin ethnic groups.[2]

Areas with significant numbers of Meitei speakers in Bangladesh

There are around 15,000 Meitei speakers in Bangladesh[citation needed] mainly are in the districts of Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj and Habiganj in the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh. In the past, there was a Meitei speaking population in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Comilla also.[33] Manipuri is used as a second language by the Bishnupriya Manipuri people.[2]

Myanmar has a significant Meitei speaking population in the states of Kachin and Shan and the regions of Yangon, Sagaing, and Ayeyarwady, among others.[34]

Name

According to the Ethnologue, the alternative names of Meitei language are Kathe, Kathi, Manipuri, Meetei, Meeteilon, Meiteilon, Meiteiron, Meithe, Meithei, Menipuri, Mitei, Mithe, Ponna.[2]

The name Meitei or its alternate spelling Meithei is preferred by many native speakers of Meitei over Manipuri.[35] The term is derived from the Meitei word for the language Meitheirón (Meithei + -lon 'language', pronounced /mə́i.təi.lón/).[35][36] Meithei may be a compound from mí 'man' + they 'separate'.[35] This term is used by most Western linguistic scholarship.[35] Meitei scholars use the term Meit(h)ei when writing in English and the term Meitheirón when writing in Meitei.[35] Chelliah (2015: 89) notes that the Meitei spelling has replaced the earlier Meithei spelling.[37]

The language (and people) is also referred to by the loconym Manipuri.[35] The term is derived from the name of the state of Manipur.[35] Manipuri is the official name of the language for the Indian government and is used by government institutions and non-Meitei authors.[35] The term Manipuri is also used to refer to the different languages of Manipur and to the people.[35] Additionally, Manipuri, being a loconym, can refer to anything pertaining to the Manipur state.

Speakers of Meitei language are known as "Kathe" by the Burmese people, "Moglie" or "Mekhlee" by the people of Cachar, Assam (Dimasas and Assamese) and "Cassay" by the Shan people and the other peoples living in the east of the Ningthee River (or Khyendwen River). "Ponna" is the Burmese term used to refer to the Meiteis living inside Burma.[38]

Dialects

The Meitei language exhibits a degree of regional variation; however, in recent years the broadening of communication, as well as intermarriage, has caused the dialectal differences to become relatively insignificant. The only exceptions to this occurrence are the speech differences of the dialects found in Tripura, Bangladesh and Myanmar.[39] The exact number of dialects of Meitei is unknown.[40]

The three main dialects of Meitei are: Meitei proper, Loi and Pangal. Differences between these dialects are primarily characterised by the extensions of new sounds and tonal shifts. Meitei proper is considered to be the standard variety—and is viewed as more dynamic than the other two dialects.[41] The brief table below compares some words in these three dialects:[42]

Standard Meitei Loi Pangal English translation
chaaba chaapa chaaba to eat
kappa kapma kappa to weep
saabiba saapipa saabiba to make
thamba thampa thamba to put
chuppiba chuppipa chuppiba to kiss

Devi (2002)[43] compares the Imphal, Andro, Koutruk, and Kakching dialects of Meitei.

Status

Further information: Meitei classical language movement and Meitei associate official language movement

Meitei is the sole official language of the Government of Manipur, and has been an official language of India since 1992.[4][44]

Meitei language was the court language of the historic Manipur Kingdom,[45] and before it merged into the Indian Republic.[46] The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, recognised Meitei as one of the major advanced Indian literary languages in 1972, long before it became an official language in 1992. In 1950, the Government of India did not include Meitei in its list of 14 official languages.[47] A language movement, spearheaded by organisations including the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad and the All Manipur Students' Union demanded that Meitei be made an official language for more than 40 years, until Meitei was finally added to the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India in 1992.[48][49]

Meitei became an associate official language of Assam in 2024,[50] following several years of effort by the Meitei associate official language movement to protect the identity, history, culture and tradition of Manipuris in Assam.[51][52][53]

The Meitei language is one of the 13 official languages of the India used to administer police, armed services, and civil service recruitment exams.[54][55]

The Press Information Bureau of the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting publishes in 14 languages, including Meitei.[56]

Education

Meitei is a language of instruction in all in the educational institutions in Manipur. It is one of the 40 instructional languages offered by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), controlled and managed by the Ministry of Education.[57] Meitei is taught as a subject up to the post-graduate level in Indian universities, including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Gauhati University, and the University of North Bengal.[58][59] Indira Gandhi National Open University teaches Meitei to undergraduates.[60]

Assam

Meitei language instruction has been offered in the lower primary schools of Assam since 1956.[53] The Board of Secondary Education, Assam offers secondary education in Manipuri.[61] The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council of Assam offers both Meitei-language schooling and instruction in Meitei as a second language.[62]

Since 2020, the Assam Government has made an annual grant of ₹5 lakh (US$7,000) to the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad (Manipuri Language Council). It also invested ₹6 crore (US$840,000) in the creation of a corpus for the development of the Meitei language.[53]

The Department of Manipuri of Assam University offers education up to the Ph.D. level in Meitei language.[63][64][65]

Tripura

Since 1998, the Government of Tripura has offered Meitei language as a "first language" subject at primary level in 24 schools throughout the state.[66]

In December 2021, Tripura University proposed to the Indian Ministry of Education and the University Grants Council (UGC), regarding the introduction of diploma courses in Meitei, along with international languages like Japanese, Korean and Nepali.[67]

Phonology

The exact classification of the Meitei language within Sino-Tibetan remains unclear. It has lexical resemblances to Kuki and Tangkhul.[68]

Tone

The Meitei language is a tonal language. There is a controversy over whether there are two or three tones.[69]

Segments

Meitei distinguishes the following phonemes:[70]

Consonants

Labial Dental/
Alveolar 		Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m n ŋ
Plosive voiceless unaspirated p t tʃ k ʔ
aspirated pʰ tʰ kʰ
voiced unaspirated b d dʒ ɡ
breathy bʱ dʱ ɡʱ
Fricative s h
Tap ɾ
Lateral l
Approximant w j

Vowels

Front Central Back
High i u
Mid e ɐ o
Low a

Note: the central vowel /ɐ/ is transcribed as <ə> in recent linguistic work on Meitei. However, phonetically it is never [ə], but more usually [ɐ]. It is assimilated to a following approximant: /ɐw/ = [ow], /ɐj/ = [ej].

Phonological processes

A velar deletion is noted to occur on the suffix -lək when following a syllable ending with a /k/ phoneme.[69]

Meitei has a dissimilatory process similar to Grassmann's law found in Ancient Greek and Sanskrit, though occurring on the second aspirate.[71] Here, an aspirated consonant is deaspirated if preceded by an aspirated consonant (including /h/, /s/) in the previous syllable. The deaspirated consonants are then voiced between sonorants.[citation needed]

Template:Interlinear Template:Interlinear Template:Interlinear

Writing systems

Meitei script

Depiction of the 18th century historic burning of texts written in Meitei script.

The Meitei script (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.)[72] is one of the official scripts of the Indian Republic. Meitei mayek is also known as Kanglei script Template:Meitei[73] or kok sam lai script Template:Meitei, after its first three letters.[74] Its earliest known appearance is on 6th century coins.[75] It was used until the 18th century, when it was replaced by the Bengali script, and then revived in again massively in the 20th.[76] In 2021, the use of Meetei Mayek to write Manipuri was officially adopted by the government of Manipur, alongside Bengali script.[77]

The Roman alphabet has been used in medium for teaching basic Meitei as a second language teaching by the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur.[78][79] More recently, the Board has issued a directive that no more Manipuri textbooks using the Latin alphabet be published.[80] Meitei language editions of the Bible in Roman script are very commonly used by the Christians in Manipur.[81]

The Naoriya Phulo script is a constructed script, invented by Laininghan Naoriya Phulo (1888–1941). It shares many similarities with Devanagari and Bengali script.[82] It was championed by Apokpa Marup, but was never widely adopted.[83]

Grammar

Sentences in the Meitei language use the subject–object–verb word order (SOV). For example, in the sentence Ei chak chai (ꯑꯩ ꯆꯥꯛ ꯆꯥꯢ), which translates to I eat rice, the gloss is "ei" (I), "chak" (rice), "chai" (eat).

Nouns

Nouns and pronouns are marked for number in Meitei. The plural is indicated by the suffixes -khoi (for personal pronouns and human proper nouns) and -sing (for all other nouns). Verbs associated with the pluralised nouns are unaffected. Examples are demonstrated below:[84]

Noun (Meitei) Noun (English) Example (Meitei) Example (English)
angaang baby angaang kappi Baby cries.
angaangsing babies angaangsing kappi Babies cry.

When adjectives are used to be more clear, Meitei utilises separate words and does not add a suffix to the noun. Examples are show in the chart below:[84]

Adjective (Meitei) Adjective (English) Example (Meitei) Example (English)
ama one mi ama laak'i A person comes.
khara some mi khara laak'i Some persons come.
mayaam many mi mayaam laak'i Many persons come.

Compound verbs

Compound verbs are created by combining root verbs each ending with aspect markers. While the variety of suffixes is high, all compound verbs utilise one of two:[85]

Suffix English translation
-thok out/ come out
-ning To wish/ want/ desire

Aspect markers appear as suffixes that clarify verb tense and appear at the end of the compound verb. Overall, the formula to construct a compound verb becomes [root verb] + [suffix] + [aspect marker]:[85]

Language Root verb Suffix Aspect marker Combined form
Meitei tum -thok -le tumthokle
English sleep out/ come out perfect aspect has started sleeping
Meitei tum -ning -le tumningle
English sleep want perfect aspect has felt sleepy

Compound verbs can also be formed utilising both compound suffixes as well, allowing utterances such as pithokningle meaning "want to give out".

Number words

Further information: Meitei numerals
Numeral Word Etymology Meitei Script
1 a-ma ~ a-maa 1 ꯑꯃꯥ
2 a-ni Proto-Tibeto-Burman *ni ꯑꯅꯤ
3 a-húm PTB *sum ꯑꯍꯨꯝ
4 ma-ri PTB *li ꯃꯔꯤ
5 ma-ngaa PTB *ŋa ꯃꯉꯥ
6 ta-ruk PTB *luk ꯇꯔꯨꯛ
7 ta-ret PTB *let ꯇꯔꯦꯠ
8 ni-paan 2-less ꯅꯤꯄꯥꯟ
9 maa-pan 1-less ꯃꯥꯄꯟ
10 ta-raa 10 ꯇꯔꯥ
11 taraa-maa-thoi ten + 1-more ꯇꯔꯥꯃꯥꯊꯣꯏ
12 taraa-ni-thoi ten + 2-more ꯇꯔꯥꯅꯤꯊꯣꯏ
13 taraa-húm-doi ten + 3-more ꯇꯔꯥꯍꯨꯝꯗꯣꯏ
14 taraa-mari ten +4 ꯇꯔꯥꯃꯔꯤ
15 taraa-mangaa ten +5 ꯇꯔꯥꯃꯉꯥ
16 taraa-taruk ten +6 ꯇꯔꯥꯇꯔꯨꯛ
17 taraa-taret ten +7 ꯇꯔꯥꯇꯔꯦꯠ
18 taraa-nipaan ten +8 ꯇꯔꯥꯅꯤꯄꯥꯟ
19 taraa-maapan ten +9 ꯇꯔꯥꯃꯥꯄꯟ
20 kun ~ kul score ꯀꯨꯟ ~ ꯀꯨꯜ
30 *kun-taraa > kun-thraa score ten ꯀꯨꯟꯊ꯭ꯔꯥ
40 ni-phú two score ꯅꯤꯐꯨ
50 yaang-khéi half hundred ꯌꯥꯡꯈꯩ
60 hum-phú three score ꯍꯨꯝꯐꯨ
70 hum-phú-taraa three score ten ꯍꯨꯝꯐꯨꯇꯔꯥ
80 mari-phú four score ꯃꯔꯤꯐꯨ
90 mari-phú-taraa four score ten ꯃꯔꯤꯐꯨꯇꯔꯥ
100 chaama one hundred ꯆꯥꯃ
200 cha-ni two hundreds ꯆꯥꯅꯤ
300 cha-hum three hundreds ꯆꯥꯍꯨꯝ
400 cha-mri four hundreds ꯆꯥꯃ꯭ꯔꯤ
500 cha-mangaa five hundreds ꯆꯥꯃꯉꯥ
1,000 lisíng ama one thousand ꯂꯤꯁꯤꯡ
10,000 lisīng-taraa ten thousands ꯂꯤꯁꯤꯡꯇꯔꯥ
1,00,000 licha one hundred-thousand ꯂꯤꯆꯥ
10,00,000 licha-taraa ten hundred-thousands ꯂꯤꯆꯥꯇꯔꯥ
1,00,00,000 leepun one ten-million ꯂꯤꯄꯨꯟ
10,00,00,000 leepun-taraa ten ten-millions ꯂꯤꯄꯨꯟꯇꯔꯥ
1,00,00,00,000 leepot one billion ꯂꯤꯄꯣꯠ
10,00,00,00,000 leepot-taraa ten billions ꯂꯤꯄꯣꯠꯇꯔꯥ
1,00,00,00,00,000 leekei one hundred-billion ꯂꯤꯀꯩ
10,00,00,00,00,000 leekei-taraa ten hundred-billions ꯂꯤꯀꯩꯇꯔꯥ
1,00,00,00,00,00,000 pu-ama one ten-trillion ꯄꯨ ꯑꯃꯥ

Literature

Main articles: Ancient Meitei literature and Meitei literature
The Numit Kappa, a Classical Meitei 1st century epic based on Meitei mythology and religion.

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng, a poem of 39,000 verses composed by Hijam Anganghal Singh and first published in 1940 (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.)[86] is regarded as the national epic of the Manipuris.[87][88] It is a classical Meitei language epic poem based on the ancient romantic adventure tale of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. It is regarded as the greatest of all Meitei epic poems.[89][90][91]

The Meitei classical language movement seeks to gain recognition for Meitei as one of the Classical Languages of India.[92][93][94]

Annual events

Various annual events are organised to promote, protect and develop Meitei language, in the sovereign states of India and Bangladesh in particular as well as in other parts of the world in general.

Software

Further information: Meitei input methods

In 2021, Rudali Huidrom, a Manipuri researcher of the EBMT/NLP laboratory, Waseda University, Japan, created a text corpus named "EM Corpus" (shortened form of "Emalon Manipuri Corpus"). It is the first comparable text to text corpus built for Meitei language (mni) and English language (eng) pair from sentences. The writing system used for Meitei language in this corpus is Bengali script. It was crawled and collected from thesangaiexpress.com – the news website of "The Sangai Express", a daily newspaper of Manipur from August 2020 to 2021. In version 1, she created the monolingual data, having 1,034,715 Meitei language sentences and 846,796 English language sentences. In version 2, she created the monolingual data, having 1,880,035 Meitei language sentences and 1,450,053 English language sentences.[102][103]

EM-ALBERT is the first ALBERT model available for Meitei language. EM-FT is also FastText word embedding available for Meitei language. These resources were created by Rudali Huidrom and are now available at free of cost at the European Language Resources Association catalogue (ELRA catalogue) under CC-BY-NC-4.0 licence.[102][103]

A screen shot of Google Translate translating a sentence from English language into Meitei language

On 11 May 2022, Google Translate added Meitei-language (under the name "Meiteilon (Manipuri)") during its addition of 24 new languages to the translation tool. The writing system used for Meitei language in this tool is Meitei script.[104][105][106]

Sample text

The following is a sample text in Modern Meitei of the Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (by the United Nations):[107][lower-alpha 1]

ꯃꯤꯑꯣꯏꯕ ꯈꯨꯗꯤꯡꯃꯛ ꯄꯣꯛꯄ ꯃꯇꯝꯗ ꯅꯤꯡꯇꯝꯃꯤ, ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯏꯖꯖꯠ ꯑꯃꯁꯨꯡ ꯍꯛ ꯃꯥꯟꯅꯅ ꯂꯧꯖꯩ ꯫ ꯃꯈꯣꯏ ꯄꯨꯝꯅꯃꯛ ꯋꯥꯈꯜ ꯂꯧꯁꯤꯡ ꯁꯦꯡꯏ, ꯑꯐ ꯐꯠꯇ ꯈꯪꯏ, ꯑꯗꯨꯅ ꯑꯃꯅ ꯑꯃꯒ ꯂꯣꯏꯅꯕ ꯃꯇꯝꯗ ꯃꯆꯤꯟ ꯃꯅꯥꯎꯒꯨꯝꯅ ꯂꯣꯏꯅꯒꯗꯕꯅꯤ ꯫ (in Meitei script)

মিওইবা খুদিংমক পোকপা মতমদা নিংতম্মী, অমদি ইজ্জৎ অমসুং হক মান্ননা লৌজৈ । মখোই পুম্নমক ৱাখল লৌশিং শেঙই, অফ ফত্তা খঙই, অদুনা অমনা অমগা লোইনবদা মচীন মনাওগুম্না লোইনগদবনি । (in Bengali script)

Mioiba khudingmak pokpa matamda ningtammi amadi ijjat amasung hak mānnana leijei, makhoi pumnamak wākhal loushing shengi, apha phatta khangi, aduna amana amaga loinabada machin manāogumna loinagadabani. (Roman transliteration)

míːójbə kʰud̯íŋmək pókpə mət̯ə̀md̯ə níːŋt̯ə̀mmi, əməd̯i iːdʒət əməʃùng hə́k màːnənə lɐ̀jdʒɐ̀j. məkʰój púmnəmək wakʰə̀l lə̀wʃiŋ ʃèŋi, əpʱə̀ pʱə́ːt̯ə kʰə́ŋi, əd̯unə əmənə əməgə lòjnəbəd̯ə mət͡ʃìn mənáwgùmnə lójnəgəd̯əbəni' (IPA transliteration).

Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The Meitei-language translation of the passage of the Article 1 has two foreign words present, "ꯏꯖꯖꯠ" ("iːdʒət") and "ꯍꯛ" ("hə́k"), meaning "dignity" and "rights" respectively, as given in the source website. The original Meitei-language terms for "dignity" and "rights" are "ꯏꯀꯥꯏ ꯈꯨꯝꯅꯕ" ("í.kai kʰum.nə.bə") and "ꯐꯪꯐꯝ ꯊꯣꯛꯄ" ("pʰəŋ.pʰəm tʰok.pə") respectively.

References

  1. ↑ Template:E28
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Meitei | Ethnologue". Ethnologue. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Meithei". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. Retrieved 14 October 2022. Template:OEDsub
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Manipuri language". Encyclopædia Britannica. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "Language – India, States and Union Territories" (PDF). Census of India 2011. Office of the Registrar General. pp. 13–14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  6. ↑ Sunil, Oinam (14 July 2015). "Manipuris in Mandalay see ray of hope in Modi". The Times of India.
  7. ↑ Template:E28
  8. ↑ R, Aishwaryaa (6 June 2019). "What census data reveals about use of Indian languages". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Template:E28
  10. ↑ Moseley, C., ed. (2010). Atlas of the world's languages in danger (3rd ed). Paris: UNESCO Publishing. pp. 44–45 and elsewhere.
  11. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. p. 10. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2.
  12. ↑ Miri, Mrinal (2003). Linguistic Situation in North-East India. Concept Publishing Company. p. 77. ISBN 978-81-8069-026-6.
  13. ↑ Singh, Chungkham Yashwanta (2000). Manipuri Grammar. Rajesh Publications. pp. 2, 202. ISBN 978-81-85891-33-0.
  14. ↑ Ayyappappanikkar (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. p. 333. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
  15. ↑ "Aspects of Manipuri language and its literary traditions By Ahanthem Homen". e-pao.net. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  16. ↑ "Meitei | Ethnologue Free". Ethnologue (Free All). Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "A History of Manipuri Language". Indian Institute of Advanced Study. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  18. ↑ "Glottolog 4.8 – Manipuri". glottolog.org. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  19. ↑ Chatterji, Suniti Kumar (1951). Kirata-jana-krti. Kolkata: The Asiatic Society, Digital Library of India; Internet Archive. pp. 157, 158. ... The beginnings of this Old Manipuri literature (as in the case of Newari) may go back to 1500 years, or even 2000 years, from now. ...
  20. ↑ Ayyappappanikkar (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 326–329. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
  21. ↑ Kshetrimayum, Jogendro (2023). "Violence". In Wouters, Jelle J. P.; Subba, Tanka B. (eds.). The Routledge Companion to Northeast India. Taylor & Francis. p. 483. ISBN 978-0-367-72566-2.
  22. ↑ Singh, Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra. "Poireiton Khunthokpa". History of Old Manipuri Literature (in English and ꯃꯤꯇꯩ ꯂꯣꯟ). Imphal: Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra Singh. pp. 121, 122.
  23. ↑ Vijñānanidhi: Manuscript Treasures of India. National Mission of Manuscripts. February 2007. pp. 88, 89. OCLC 171288062. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  24. ↑ Singh, Khelchandra Ningthoukhongjam. "Khencho". History Of Old Manipuri Literature (in ꯃꯤꯇꯩ ꯂꯣꯟ). Imphal: Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra Singh. pp. 97, 98.
  25. ↑ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). "The Early Period (Ritual Songs)". A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and ꯃꯤꯇꯩ ꯂꯣꯟ). India: Sahitya Akademi. pp. 14, 15. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  26. ↑ Devi, Yumlembam Gopi (16 June 2019). Glimpses of Manipuri Culture. LP. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-359-72919-7.
  27. ↑ Devi, Dr Yumlembam Gopi (16 June 2019). Glimpses of Manipuri Culture. Lulu.com. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-359-72919-7.
  28. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1993). Manipur: Treatise & Documents. Mittal Publications. p. 2. ISBN 978-81-7099-399-5.
  29. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1991). Law and Society: Strategy for Public Choice, 2001. Mittal Publications. p. 304. ISBN 978-81-7099-271-4.
  30. ↑ Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 135. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 "Census Tables". Census of India. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  32. ↑ Mishra, Awadesh (1 January 1999). "The Manipuris in the Barak Valley: A Case Study of Language Maintenance'". Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area.
  33. ↑ "Textile Bdesh Myanmar 3". e-pao.net. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  34. ↑ "Manipuri in Myanmar 1". e-pao.net. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 35.6 35.7 35.8 Chelliah (1997: 2)
  36. ↑ Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary. Meitei". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  37. ↑ Chelliah (2015: 89)
  38. ↑ Gangte, Priyadarshini M. "Evolution of Meetei state- Emergence of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba". The People's Chronicle. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  39. ↑ Thoudam, P. C. (2006). Demographic and Ethnographic Information: Problems in the analysis of Manipuri language. Central Institute of Indian Language.
  40. ↑ Haokip, P. (April 2011). "The Languages of Manipur: A Case Study of the Kuki-Chin Languages". Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area. 34 (1): 86–118.
  41. ↑ "Meitei | Ethnologue". Ethnologue. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  42. ↑ Ningoma, M. S. (1996). Manipur Dialects. Sealang Projects.
  43. ↑ Devi, L. Manimala. 2002. A comparative study of Imphal, Andro, Koutruk and Kakching dialects of Meiteiron. (Doctoral dissertation, Canchipur: Manipur University; 273pp.)
  44. ↑ "Manipuri language and alphabets". omniglot.com.
  45. ↑ Sanajaoba, Naorem (1988). Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization. Mittal Publications. p. 290. ISBN 978-81-7099-853-2.
  46. ↑ Chishti, S. M. A. W. (2005). Political Development in Manipur, 1919–1949. GPH. p. 282. ISBN 978-81-7835-424-8.
  47. ↑ "English Releases". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  48. ↑ Thomas, C. Joshua; Gopalakrishnan, Ramamoorthy; Singh, R. K. Ranjan (2001). Constraints in Development of Manipur. Regency Publications [for Policy Alternatives for the North-East and Conflict Elimination Awareness]. pp. 54–55. ISBN 978-81-87498-30-8.
  49. ↑ "Manipuri language in 8th Schedule By Jeet Akoijam". e-pao.net. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  50. ↑ "Assam recognises Manipuri as associate official language in four districts". Hindustan Times. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  51. ↑ "Manipuri as associate official language in Assam Sanajaoba approaches Sonowal". The Sangai Express. 24 September 2020.
  52. ↑ "Manipuri language should be one of Assam's associate official languages: AAMSU". Imphal Free Press. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023.
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 Laithangbam, Iboyaima (27 September 2020). "Assam to look into demand to include Manipuri in list of associate languages". The Hindu.
  54. ↑ "Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh lauds SSC for deciding to conduct the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff examination 2022 in 13 regional languages in addition to Hindi and English for the first time". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  55. ↑ "Manipuri among 13 regional languages approved for CAPF exam". Imphal Free Press. 16 April 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  56. ↑ Press, Imphal Free. "PIB website has news in regional languages now – KanglaOnline". Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  57. ↑ "CBSE | Academics Unit: Curriculum/Syllabus". cbseacademic.nic.in. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  58. ↑ Devi, S. (May 2013). "Is Manipuri an Endangered Language?" (PDF). Language in India. 13 (5): 520–533.
  59. ↑ Bareh, Hamlet (2001). Encyclopaedia of North-East India. Mittal Publications. p. 80. ISBN 978-81-7099-790-0.
  60. ↑ "Manipur: Meitei language to be introduced in IGNOU syllabus, says union minister". Northeast Now. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  61. ↑ "Assam HSLC Exam Routine 2023 Revised: SEBA To Conduct All Class 10 Language Papers Including English On April 1". India.com. 17 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023. In addition to Assamese, the other MIL subjects are Bengali, Bodo, Hindi, Manipuri, Hmar, Nepali, Mizo, Khasi, Garo, Karbi and Urdu.
  62. ↑ "AHSEC complete syllabus for HS 2nd year". ahsec.assam.gov.in.
  63. ↑ "Manipuri Department". Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  64. ↑ "5 literary bodies bat for Manipuri language in Assam". The Sangai Express. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2023. Moreover, Manipuri in MA and PhD courses are offered at Assam University, Silchar.
  65. ↑ "AAMSU demands Associate Official Language status to Manipuri language". Time8. 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Several universities, notably Assam University and Silchar University, provide Manipuri language courses.
  66. ↑ "MANIPURI | DIRECTORATE OF KOKBOROK & OTHER MINORITY LANGUAGES". kokborokoml.tripura.gov.in. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  67. ↑ "Tripura University proposes introduction of diploma courses in Japanese, Korean, Nepali and Manipuri languages". India Today NE (in हिन्दी). 23 December 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  68. ↑ Post, Mark W.; Burling, Robbins (2017) [First published 2003]. "The Tibeto-Burman Languages of Northeastern India". In Thurgood, Graham; LaPolla, Randy J. (eds.). The Sino-Tibetan Languages (2nd ed.). Routledge. pp. 23, 232–233. ISBN 978-1-138-78332-4.
  69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 LaPolla, Randy J. (2000). "Book review: A grammar of Meitei, by S. L. Chelliah". Lingua. 110 (4). Elsevier: 299–304. doi:10.1016/s0024-3841(99)00037-6.
  70. ↑ Chelliah, S. L. (1997). Meitei Phonology. Mouton de Gruyter. pp. 17–21.
  71. ↑ Chelliah (1997)
  72. ↑ Khuman, Yanglem Loijing Khomba; Devi, Salam Dickeeta; Singh, Ch. Ponykumar; Devi, H. Mamata; Singh, N. Ajith (1 December 2022). "A benchmark dataset for printed Meitei/Meetei script character recognition". Data in Brief. 45 108585. Bibcode:2022DIB....4508585K. doi:10.1016/j.dib.2022.108585. ISSN 2352-3409. PMC 9679442. PMID 36426059.
  73. ↑ Noni, Arambam; Sanatomba, Kangujam (2015). Colonialism and Resistance: Society and State in Manipur. Routledge. pp. 223, 235, 237. ISBN 978-1-317-27066-9.
  74. ↑ মণিপুরদা লোলয়ান চঙলকপা অমদি মীতৈ ইয়েক্না থোঙজিন্দা ৱারৌজনা লেপ্লরবদা ! (PDF). Hueiyen Lanpao (in ꯃꯤꯇꯩ ꯂꯣꯟ).
  75. ↑ Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 142. ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1.
  76. ↑ Laithangbam, Iboyaima (23 September 2017). "Banished Manipuri script stages a comeback". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  77. ↑ "GAZETTE TITLE: The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021". manipurgovtpress.nic.in. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  78. ↑ "Manipur HSLC Date Sheet 2023: BSEM Class 10 time table released, exam begins March 16". The Times of India. 25 January 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  79. ↑ SNS (10 January 2019). "Manipur Board Class 12 (HSC) and Class 10 (HSLC) Timetable 2019 available online at manipureducation.gov.in | Check now". The Statesman. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  80. ↑ "MEELAL lauds BSEM order: 04th feb24 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  81. ↑ "The Birth of Jesus Manipuri Roman Mayek CB" (PDF). bibleforchildren.org.
  82. ↑ নাওরিয়া ফুলো: ঋষি অমা - এলাংম দীনমনী (PDF). Hueiyen Lanpao (in ꯃꯤꯇꯩ ꯂꯣꯟ). India.
  83. ↑ Singh, Wahengbam Ibohal. The History Of Manipur. Internet Archive. India: Digital Library of India. p. 501.
  84. ↑ 84.0 84.1 Singh, S. Indrakumar (November 2013). "Agreements in Manipuri" (PDF). Language in India. 13 (11): 216–231.
  85. ↑ 85.0 85.1 Devi, M. Bidyarani (May 2014). "Compound Verbs in Manipuri" (PDF). Language in India. 14 (5): 66–70.
  86. ↑ George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 29. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0.
  87. ↑ George, K. M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 258. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0. H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur.
  88. ↑ Datta, Amaresh (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 1186. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
  89. ↑ Datta, Amaresh (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 1573. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0. His best work, Khamba Thoibi sheireng, in 39,000 lines on the story of 'Khamba and Thoibi' was started in 1939 and the composition was completed in 1940.
  90. ↑ Das, Sisir Kumar (2005). A History of Indian Literature: 1911–1956, struggle for freedom: triumph and tragedy. Sahitya Akademi. p. 190. ISBN 978-81-7201-798-9. His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads.
  91. ↑ Sing, Damodar (31 August 1975). "The Epic of Manipur: Khamba Thoibi". Akashvani. Vol. XL, no. 35. New Delhi: All India Radio (AIR). p. 1582.
  92. ↑ "Government must take concrete step for recognition of Manipuri as classical language". Imphal Free Press.
  93. ↑ IANS (20 August 2016). "Classic language status for Manipuri demanded". Business Standard India.
  94. ↑ "Manipur Govt Begins Efforts for Inclusion of Manipuri Among 'Classical' Languages". India Today NE (in हिन्दी). 21 August 2019.
  95. ↑ Coleman, Daniel; Glanville, Erin Goheen; Hasan, Wafaa; Kramer-Hamstra, Agnes (26 April 2012). Countering Displacements: The Creativity and Resilience of Indigenous and Refugee-ed Peoples. University of Alberta. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-88864-592-0.
  96. ↑ "St Joseph University, Nagaland observes Manipuri Poetry Day 2022". Imphal Free Press. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  97. ↑ "Manipuri Poetry Day 2021 celebrated: 22nd oct21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  98. ↑ Ajit, Sh. "Manipuri in Kolkata observes "Manipuri Poetry Day"". Imphal Times. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  99. ↑ "Manipuri Poetry Day 2021 celebrated". The Sangai Express. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  100. ↑ Paul, Jibon (14 May 2022). কমলগঞ্জে মণিপুরি ভাষা ও সংস্কৃতি উৎসব. Daily Jalalabad (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  101. ↑ কমলগঞ্জে মনিপুরী ভাষা উৎসব উদযাপিত. bangla-times.com (in Bengali). 10 March 2023. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  102. ↑ 102.0 102.1 "Machine translation of English-Manipuri made possible: 13th oct21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  103. ↑ 103.0 103.1 "Ema-lon Manipuri Corpus (including word embedding and language model) – ELRA Catalogue". catalog.elra.info. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  104. ↑ "Assamese, Meiteilon (Manipuri) and Mizo language has been added to Google translate, moment of pride for Northeastern India! – NE India Broadcast". 12 May 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  105. ↑ "Google Translate adds support for Assamese, Mizo and Manipuri languages – Eastern Mirror". easternmirrornagaland.com. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  106. ↑ "Google Translate gets support for 24 new languages including Assamese, Mizo and Manipuri". Time8. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  107. ↑ "Manipuri language and alphabets". omniglot.com. Retrieved 12 August 2022.

Further reading

  • 1. A Short History of Kangleipak (Manipur) Part-I, by Chingtamlen, 2005
  • 2. A Short History of Kangleipak (Manipur) Part-II, by Chingtamlen, 2007
  • 3. A Short History of Kangleipak (Manipur) Part-III, by Chingtamlen, 2008
  • 4. The Meetei and the Bishnupriya, by Chingtamlen, 2008

Culture

  • Brara, N. Vijaylakshmi. (1998). Politics, society, and cosmology in India's North East. Delphi: Oxford University Press.
  • Budha, W. (1992). Indigenous games of the Meiteis. Manipur: Wangkeimayum Publications.
  • Kshetrimayum, Otojit. (2014). Ritual, Politics and Power in North East India: Contexualising the Lai Haraoba of Manipur. Delhi: Ruby Press & Co.
  • Singh, M. Kirti. (1988). Religion and culture of Manipur. Delhi: Manas Publications.
  • Singh, M. Kirti. (1993). Folk culture of Manipur. Delhi: Manas Publications.
  • Singh, Saikhom Gopal. (2014). The Meeteis of Manipur: A Study in Human Geography. Delhi: Ruby Press & Co.

Language

  • Bhat, D. N. S.; & Ningomba, S. (1997). Manipuri grammar. Munich: Lincom Europa.
  • Chelliah, Shobhana L. (1990). Experiencer subjects in Manipuri. In V. M. Manindra & K. P. Mohanan (Eds.), Experiencer subjects in South Asian languages (pp. 195–211). Stanford: The Center for the Study of Language and Information.
  • Chelliah, Shobhana L. (1992). Tone in Manipuri. In K. L. Adams & T. J. Hudak (Eds.), Papers from the first annual meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society 1991 (pp. 65–85). Tempe, AZ: Arizona State University.
  • Chelliah, Shobhana L. (1992). Bracketing paradoxes in Manipuri. In M. Aronoff (Ed.), Morphology now (pp. 33–47). Albany: State University of New York Press.
  • Chelliah, Shobhana L. (1994). Morphological change and fast speech phenomena in the Manipuri verb. In K. L. Adams & T. J. Hudak (Eds.), Papers from the second annual meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society 1992 (pp. 121–134). Tempe, AZ: Arizona State University.
  • Chelliah, Shobhana L. (1997). A grammar of Meitei. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. ISBN 0-19-564331-3.
  • Chelliah, Shobhana L. (2002). Early Meitei manuscripts. In C. I. Beckwith (Ed.), Medieval Tibeto-Burman languages: PIATS 2000: Tibetan studies: Proceedings of the ninth seminar of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, Leiden 2000 (pp. 59–71). Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.
  • Chelliah, Shobhana L. (2002). A glossary of 39 basic words in archaic and modern Meitei. In C. I. Beckwith (Ed.), Medieval Tibeto-Burman languages: PIATS 2000: Tibetan studies: Proceedings of the ninth seminar of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, Leiden 2000 (pp. 189–190). Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.
  • Chelliah, Shobhana L. (January 2004). "Polysemy through metonymy: The case of Meitei pi 'grandmother'". Studies in Language. 28 (2): 363–386. doi:10.1075/sl.28.2.04che.
  • Chelliah, Shobhana L. (2015). "Is Manipur a linguistic area?". Journal of South Asian Languages and Linguistics. 2 (1): 87–109. doi:10.1515/jsall-2015-0004. S2CID 130962163.
  • Singh, Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra. (1964). Manipuri to Manipuri & English dictionary.

External links

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