 | This article may be confusing or unclear to readers. (December 2023) |
| Kuki-Chin | |
|---|---|
| Kuki-Chin-Mizo, Kukish | |
| Ethnicity | Zo |
| Geographic distribution | India, Myanmar, Bangladesh |
| Linguistic classification | Sino-Tibetan |
Early form | |
| Subdivisions | |
| Glottolog | kuki1246 (Kuki-Chin) |
The Kuki-Chin languages (also called Kukish[2] or South-Central Tibeto-Burman languages) are a branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family spoken in northeastern India, western Myanmar and southeastern Bangladesh. Most notable Kuki-Chin-speaking ethnic groups are referred to collectively as the Zo people which includes the Mizo, Kuki, Chin and Zomi people.
Kuki-Chin is alternatively called South-Central Trans-Himalayan (or South Central Tibeto-Burman) by Konnerth (2018), because of negative connotations of the term "Kuki-Chin" for many speakers of languages in this group.[3]
Kuki-Chin is sometimes placed under Kuki-Chin–Naga, a geographical rather than linguistic grouping.
Geographical distribution[edit | edit source]
- Northwestern ("Old Kuki"): Chandel district of Manipur, India; Tamu Township of Sagaing Region, Myanmar.
- Northeastern ("Kuki-Zo"): Chandel district, Churachandpur district, Kangpokpi district, Noney district, Tamenglong district, and Tengnoupal districts of Manipur, India; Tedim Township of Chin State, Myanmar; Tamu Township of Sagaing Region, Myanmar.
- Central: whole state of Mizoram, India; Pherzawl district of Manipur, India; parts of Cachar district and parts of Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India; parts of East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, India; Falam Township, Hakha Township, and Thantlang Townships of Chin State, Myanmar; Kalay Township and Khampat area of Sagaing Region, Myanmar, parts of Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.
- Maraic: majority of Siaha district of Mizoram, India; parts of Matupi Township of Chin State, Myanmar.
- Southern: Kanpetlet Township, Matupi Township, Mindat Township, Paletwa Townships of Chin State, Myanmar; parts of the Arakan Range of Rakhine State, Myanmar; parts of Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.
- Khomic: Paletwa Township of Chin State, Myanmar; parts of Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.
Internal classification[edit | edit source]
The Karbi languages may be closely related to Kuki-Chin, but Thurgood (2003) and van Driem (2011) leave Karbi unclassified within Sino-Tibetan.[4][5]
The Kuki-Chin branches listed below are from VanBik (2009), with the Northwestern branch added from Scott DeLancey, et al. (2015),[6] and the Khomic branch (which has been split off from the Southern branch) from Peterson (2017).[7]
- Kuki-Chin
- Central: Mizo (Duhlian), Bawm (Sunthla and Panghawi), Falam (Hallam, Ranglong, Darlong, Hauhulh, Simpi, Hualngo, Chorei), Thor (Tawr), Hmar, Hrangkhol, Biate (Biete), Hakha (Lai/Pawi, Mi-E, Zokhua), Pangkhua, Saihriem, Laizo/Tlaisun, Khualsim, Zanniat, Zahau, Sim
- Maraic: Mara (Tlosai {Siaha and Saikao}, Hawthai {Lyvaw, Sizo, and Lochei}, Hlaipao {Zyhno, Heima, and Lialai}), Zophei, Senthang, Zotung (Lungngo, Calthawn, Innmai), Lautu
- Northeastern (Northern): Suantak-Vaiphei, Zo (Zou), Paite, Tedim, Thado (Kuki), Gangte, Simte, Vaiphei, Sizang, Ralte, Ngawn
- Southern: Shö (Asho/Khyang, Chinbon), Thaiphum, Daai (Nitu), Mün, Yindu, Matu, Welaung (Rawngtu), Kaang, Laitu, Rungtu, Songlai, Sumtu
- Khomic: Khumi (Khumi proper and Khumi Awa), Mro, Rengmitca, etc.
- Northwestern ("Old Kuki"): Monsang, Moyon, Lamkang, Aimol, Anal, Tarao, Koireng (Kolhreng), Chiru, Kom, Chothe, Purum,[7] Kharam,[7]
Darlong and Ranglong are unclassified Kuki-Chin language.
The recently discovered Sorbung language may be mixed language that could classify as either a Kuki-Chin or Tangkhul language.[8]
Anu-Hkongso speakers self-identify as ethnic Chin people, although their language is closely related to Mru rather than to Kuki-Chin languages. The Mruic languages constitute a separate Tibeto-Burman branch, and are not part of Kuki-Chin.[7]
VanBik (2009)[edit | edit source]
Kenneth VanBik classified the Kuki-Chin languages based on shared sound changes (phonological innovations) from Proto-Kuki-Chin as follows.[9]
- Kuki-Chin
- Central: *k(ʰ)r-, *p(ʰ)r- > *t(ʰ)r-; *k(ʰ)l-, *p(ʰ)l- > *t(ʰ)l-; *y- > *z-
- Maraic: *kr- > *ts-; *-ʔ, *-r, *-l > -Ø; *-p, *-t, *-k > *-ʔ; *θ- > *s-
- Mara
- Tlosai
- Saikao
- Siaha
- Hlaipao
- Heima
- Lialai
- Vahapi/Zyhno
- HawThai
- Sizo
- Ngaphepi
- Sabyu
- Chapi
- Lyvaw
- Lochei
- Tisih
- Phybyu
- Sizo
- Tlosai
- Lautu
- Hnaro
- Chawngthia
- Zophei
- Vytu
- Sate/Awsa
- Senthang
- Khuapi
- Surkhua
- Zotung *h- > *f-; *kr- > *r-; *khl- > *kh-, *l-; *c(h)- > *t(h)-/*s-; *y- > *z-/*z(h)-; *w- > *v-
- Calthawng
- Innmai
- Lungngo/Tinpa
- Mara
- Peripheral: *r- > *g-
Peterson (2017)[edit | edit source]
David A. Peterson's internal classification of the Kuki-Chin languages is as follows.[10]
- Kuki-Chin
- Northwestern ("Old Kuki"): Purum, Koireng, Monsang, etc.
- Central
- Peripheral
Peterson's Northeastern branch corresponds to VanBik's Northern branch, while Peterson's Northwestern corresponds to the Old Kuki branch of earlier classifications.
See also[edit | edit source]
- Lai languages
- Pau Cin Hau script
- Kuki-Chin Swadesh lists (Wiktionary)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ VanBik 2009.
- ↑ Burling, Robbins (2003). "The Tibeto-Burman languages of Northeastern India". In Thurgood, Graham; LaPolla, Randy J. (eds.). The Sino-Tibetan Languages (1st ed.). Routledge. pp. 169–191. ISBN 0-7007-1129-5.
- ↑ Konnerth, Linda (2018). "The historical phonology of Monsang (Northwestern South-Central/"Kuki-Chin"): A case of reduction in phonological complexity". Himalayan Linguistics. 17 (1): 19–49. doi:10.5070/H917134878.
...many language activists among the speakers of languages of the South-Central branch has made it clear to me that using the "Kuki-Chin" label is very insensitive.
- ↑ Thurgood, Graham (2003). "A subgrouping of the Sino-Tibetan languages: The interaction between language contact, change, and inheritance". In Thurgood, Graham; LaPolla, Randy J. (eds.). The Sino-Tibetan languages. London: Routledge. pp. 13–14. ISBN 0-7007-1129-5.
- ↑ van Driem, George L. (2011). "Tibeto-Burman subgroups and historical grammar". Himalayan Linguistics Journal. 10 (1): 31–39. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012.
- ↑ DeLancey, Scott; Boro, Krishna; Konnerth, Linda; Teo, Amos (14 May 2015). Tibeto-Burman Languages of the Indo-Myanmar borderland. 31st South Asian Languages Analysis Roundtable.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Peterson 2017.
- ↑ Mortenson, David; Keogh, Jennifer (2011). "Sorbung, an Undocumented Language of Manipur: its Phonology and Place in Tibeto-Burman" (PDF). Journal of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society. 4 (1): 64–114.
- ↑ VanBik 2009, p. 23.
- ↑ Peterson 2017, p. 206.
Bibliography[edit | edit source]
- van Driem, George (2001). Languages of the Himalayas: An Ethnolinguistic Handbook of the Greater Himalayan Region. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-12062-4.
- Peterson, David A. (2017). "On Kuki-Chin subgrouping". In Ding, Picus Sizhi; Pelkey, Jamin (eds.). Sociohistorical linguistics in Southeast Asia: New horizons for Tibeto-Burman studies in honor of David Bradley. Leiden: Brill. pp. 189–209. doi:10.1163/9789004350519_012. ISBN 978-90-04-34983-4.
- VanBik, Kenneth (20 October 2009). Proto-Kuki-Chin: a reconstructed ancestor of the Kuki-Chin languages (PDF). Berkeley: University of California. ISBN 0-944613-47-0. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 July 2013.
Further reading[edit | edit source]
- Button, Christopher (2011). Proto Northern Chin (PDF). STEDT Monograph. Vol. 10. ISBN 0-944613-49-7. OCLC 1013268663.
- Hill, Nathan W. (2014). "Proto-Kuki-Chin initials according to Toru Ohno and Kenneth VanBik". Journal of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society. 7: 11–30.
- Lam Thang, Khoi (2001). A Phonological Reconstruction of Proto Chin (PDF) (MA thesis). Chiang Mai: Payap University.
- Mann, Noel; Smith, Wendy (2008). "Chin bibliography" (PDF). Chiang Mai: Payap University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2019.
- Dal Sian Pau, S. (2014). The comparative study of Proto-Zomi (Kuki-Chin) languages. Lamka, Manipur, India: Zomi Language & Literature Society. – Comparative word list of Paite, Simte, Thangkhal, Zou, Kom, Paite or Tedim, and Vaiphei
- Smith, Wendy; Mann, Noel (2009). "Chin bibliography with selected annotations" (PDF). Chiang Mai: Payap University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2019.