Northeastern Kuki-Chin languages
Northeastern Kuki-Chin is a branch of Kuki-Chin languages. It was formerly called Northern Kuki-Chin, but renamed to distinguish it from the Northwestern Kuki-Chin languages. VanBik also calls the branch Northern Chin or Zo.
These languages are spoken in northern parts of Chin State in Myanmar, and various parts of Northeast India, most notably in the state of Manipur.
Languages
VanBik includes the following languages as Northern Kuki-Chin languages. The positions of Ngawn and Ralte are not addressed by VanBik, but they are classified as Northern Kuki-Chin in Glottolog.Tedim is the local lingua franca of northern Chin State, Myanmar, while Paite is the local lingua franca of some parts of Churachandpur Town while Thadou is the lingua franca of most of the areas inhabited by the non-Nagas of Manipur.
Classification
VanBik divides the Northern Kuki-Chin branch into two major language clusters, namely the Thado cluster and Sizang cluster.- Thado cluster: Thado/Kuki, Tedim, Khuangsai, Paite, Vuite, Chiru, Zou, Ralte
- Sizang cluster: Sizang/Siyin, Guite/Nguite, Vaiphei, Zou
Sound changes
- Proto-Kuki-Chin *-r > Proto-Northern Chin *-k
- Proto-Kuki-Chin * θ- > Proto-Northern Chin *ts-
- Proto-Kuki-Chin *kl- > Proto-Northern Chin *tl-