Kuki-Chin languages
The Kuki-Chin 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 by Konnerth, because of negative connotations of the term "Kuki-Chin" for many speakers of languages in this group.
Kuki-Chin is sometimes placed under Kuki-Chin–Naga, a geographical rather than linguistic grouping.
Geographical distribution
- Northwestern : Chandel district of Manipur, India; Tamu Township of Sagaing Region, Myanmar.
- Northeastern : 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
The Kuki-Chin branches listed below are from VanBik, with the Northwestern branch added from Scott DeLancey, et al., and the Khomic branch from Peterson.
- Kuki-Chin
- *Central: Mizo, Bawm, Falam, Thor, Hmar, Hrangkhol, Biate, Hakha, Pangkhua, Saihriem, Laizo/Tlaisun, Khualsim, Zanniat, Zahau, Sim
- *Maraic: Mara, Zophei, Senthang, Zotung, Lautu
- *Northeastern : Suantak-Vaiphei, Zo, Paite, Tedim, Thado, Gangte, Simte, Vaiphei, Sizang, Ralte, Ngawn
- *Southern: Shö, Thaiphum, Daai, Mün, Yindu, Matu, Welaung, Kaang, Laitu, Rungtu, Songlai, Sumtu
- *Khomic: Khumi, Mro, Rengmitca, etc.
- *Northwestern : Monsang, Moyon, Lamkang, Aimol, Anal, Tarao, Koireng, Chiru, Kom, Chothe, Purum, Kharam,
The recently discovered Sorbung language may be mixed language that could classify as either a Kuki-Chin or Tangkhul language.
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.
VanBik (2009)
Kenneth VanBik classified the Kuki-Chin languages based on shared sound changes from Proto-Kuki-Chin as follows.- Kuki-Chin
- *Central: *kr-, *pr- > *tr-; *kl-, *pl- > *tl-; *y- > *z-
- **Pangkhua?
- **Lamtuk Thet: Lamtuk, Ruavan
- **Lai
- ***Hakha: Hakha, Thantlang, Zokhua
- ***Falam: Bawm, Bualkhaw, Laizo, Lente, Khualsim, Khuangli, Sim, Tlaisun, Zanniat
- **Mizo
- ***Mizo: Fanai, Hualngo, Lushai, Khiangte
- ***Hmar: Khosak, Thiek, Lawitlang, Khawbung, Darngawn, Lungtau, Leiri
- *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
- **Lautu
- ***Hnaro
- ***Chawngthia
- **Zophei
- ***Vytu
- ***Sate/Awsa
- **Senthang
- ***Khuapi
- ***Surkhua
- **Zotung *h- > *f-; *kr- > *r-; *khl- > *kh-, *l-; *c- > *t-/*s-; *y- > *z-/*z-; *w- > *v-
- ***Calthawng
- ***Innmai
- ***Lungngo/Tinpa
- *Peripheral: *r- > *g-
- **Northern: *θ- > *ts-; *kl- > *tl-; *-r > *-k
- ***Thado/Kuki, Tedim, Khuangsai, Paite Vuite, Chiru
- ***Sizang, Guite, Vaiphei, Ralte,
- **Southern : *-r > *-y
- ***Khumi: Khomi, Wakung
- ***Cho-Asho
- ****Asho
- ****Cho: Matu; Chinpon; Daai, Nghmoye, Ngmuun, Mkaang
Peterson (2017)
- Kuki-Chin
- *Northwestern : Purum, Koireng, Monsang, etc.
- *Central
- **Core Central
- **Maraic
- *Peripheral
- **Northeastern
- **Khomic: Khami/Khumi, Mro-Khimi, Lemi, Rengmitca, etc.
- **Southern
- ***Cho
- ***Daai
- ***Hyow/''Asho