Kuki-Chin languages

Kuki-Chin
Kuki-Chin
Kukish
Ethnicity	Kuki, Mizo, Zomi, Chin
Geographic; distribution	India, Burma, Bangladesh
Linguistic classification	Sino-Tibetan Kuki-Chin–Naga? Kuki-Chin; ;
Subdivisions	Northwestern; Northern; Central; Maraic; Southern; Khomic;
Glottolog	kuki1246 (Kuki-Chin)

The Kuki-Chin languages (also called Kukish or South-Central Tibeto-Burman languages) are a branch of 50 or so Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in northeastern India, western Burma and eastern Bangladesh. Most speakers of these languages are known as Kukī in Assamese and as Chin in Burmese; some also identify as Lushei. Mizo is the most widely spoken of the Kuki-Chin languages.

Kuki-Chin is sometimes placed under Kuki-Chin–Naga, a geographical rather than linguistic grouping.

Most Kuki-Chin languages are spoken in and around Chin State, Burma, with some languages spoken in Sagaing Division, Magway Region and Rakhine State as well. In Northeast India, many Northern Kuki-Chin languages are also spoken in Mizoram State and Manipur State, India, especially in Churachandpur District, Pherzawl District, Kangpokpi District, Senapati District. Northwestern Kuki-Chin languages are spoken mostly in Chandel District, Manipur.

Kuki-Chin is alternatively called South-Central Trans-Himalayan (or South Central Tibeto-Burman) by Konnerth (2018).^[1]

Internal classification

The Karbi languages may be closely related to Kuki-Chin, but Thurgood (2003) and van Driem (2011) leave Karbi unclassified within Sino-Tibetan.^[2]^[3]

The Kuki-Chin branches listed below are from VanBik (2009), with the Northwestern branch added from Scott DeLancey, et al. (2015),^[4] and the Khumic branch (which has been split off from the Southern branch) from Peterson (2017).^[5]

Kuki-Chin

Central: Mizo (Lushai), Bawm (Sunthla and Panghawi), Tawr, Hmar, Hakha (Lai Pawi, Mi-E, Zokhua), Pangkhua, Saihriem
Maraic: Mara (Tlosai {Siaha and Saikao}, Hawthai {Lyvaw, Sizo, and Lochei} ,Hlaipao {Zyhno, Heima, and Lialai}), Zyphe, Senthang, Zotung, Lautu
Northern: Falam (Hallam, incl. Laizo/Tlaisun, Khualsim, Zanniat, Zahau, Hauhulh, Simpi, Hualngo, Chorei), Suantak-Vaiphei, Hrangkhol, Zo (Zou), Biate (Bete), Paite, Tedim (Tiddim), Thado (Kuki), Gangte, Simte, Vaiphei, Siyin (Sizaang), Ralte, Ngawn
Southern: Shö (Asho/Khyang, Bualkhaw, 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: Monsang, Moyon, Lamkang, Aimol, Anal, Tarao, Koireng (Kolhreng), Chiru, Kom, Chothe, Purum,^[5] Kharam,^[5]

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 (Mortenson & Keogh 2011).^[6]

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.^[5]

VanBik (2009)

Kenneth VanBik's (2009:23) classified the Kuki-Chin languages based on shared sound changes (phonological innovations) from Proto-Kuki-Chin as follows.

Kuki-Chin

Central: *k(ʰ)r-, *p(ʰ)r- > *t(ʰ)r-; *k(ʰ)l-, *p(ʰ)l- > *t(ʰ)l-; *y- > *z-
- Pangkhua?
- Laamtuk Thet: Laamtuk, Ruavaan
- Lai
  - Hakha: Hakha, Thantlang, Zokhua
  - Falam: Bawm, Bualkhua, Laizo, Lente, Khualsim, Khuangli, Sim, Tlaisun, Za-ngiat
- Mizo
  - Mizo: Fan-ai, Hualngo, Lushai, Khiangte,
  - Hmar: Khosak, Thiek, Lawitlang, Khawbung, Darngawn, Lungtau, Leiri
Maraic: *kr- > *ts-; *-ʔ, *-r, *-l > -Ø; *-p, *-t, *-k > *-ʔ
- Mara
  - Tlosai
    - Saikao
    - Siaha
  - Hlaipao
    - Heima
    - Lialai
    - Vahapi/Zyhno
  - HawThai
    - Sizo
      - Ngaphepi
      - Sabyu
      - Chapi
    - Lyvaw
      - Lochei
      - Tisih
      - Phybyu
- Lautu
  - Hnaro
  - Chawngthia
- Zophei
  - Vytu
  - SaTe/Awhsa
- Senthang
  - Khuapi
  - Surkhua
- Zotung
  - Calthawng
  - Innmai
Peripheral: *r- > *g-
- Northern: *θ- > *ts-; *kl- > *tl-; *-r > *-k
  - Thado/Kuki, Tedim, Khuangsai, Paite, Vuite, Chiru
  - Sizang/Siyin, Guite/Nguite, Vaiphei, Zo/Ralte,
- Southern (Southern Plains): *-r > *-y
  - Khumi: Khomi, Wakung
  - Cho-Asho
    - Asho
    - Cho: Matu; Chinpon; Daai, Nghmoye, Ngmuun, Mkaang

Peterson (2017)

David A. Peterson's (2017:206)^[5] internal classification of the Kuki-Chin languages is as follows.

Kuki-Chin

Northwestern: Purum (Naga), Koireng, Monsang (Naga), etc.
Central
- Core Central
- Maraic
Peripheral
- Northeastern
- Khomic: Khami/Khumi, Mro-Khimi, Lemi, Rengmitca, etc.
- Southern
  - Cho
  - Daai
  - Hyow/Asho

Peterson's Northeastern branch corresponds to VanBik's Northern branch, while Peterson's Northwestern corresponds to the Old Kuki branch of earlier classifications.

References

^ Konnerth, Linda. 2018. The historical phonology of Monsang (Northwestern South-Central/“Kuki-Chin”): A case of reduction in phonological complexity. Himalayan Linguistics, Vol. 17(1): 19-49.
^ Thurgood, Graham (2003) "A subgrouping of the Sino-Tibetan languages: The interaction between language contact, change, and inheritance." In G. Thurgood and R. LaPolla, eds., The Sino-Tibetan languages, pp. 13–14. London: Routledge, ISBN 978-0-7007-1129-1.
^ van Driem, George L. (2011a), "Tibeto-Burman subgroups and historical grammar", Himalayan Linguistics Journal, 10 (1): 31–39, archived from the original on 12 January 2012.
^ DeLancey, Scott; Krishna Boro; Linda Konnerth1; Amos Teo. 2015. Tibeto-Burman Languages of the Indo-Myanmar borderland. 31st South Asian Languages Analysis Roundtable, 14 May 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Peterson, David. 2017. "On Kuki-Chin subgrouping." In Picus Sizhi Ding and Jamin Pelkey, eds. Sociohistorical linguistics in Southeast Asia: New horizons for Tibeto-Burman studies in honor of David Bradley, 189-209. Leiden: Brill.
^ David Mortenson and Jennifer Keogh. 2011. "Sorbung, an Undocumented Language of Manipur: its Phonology and Place in Tibeto-Burman", in JEALS 4, vol 1.

Bibliography

George van Driem (2001) Languages of the Himalayas: An Ethnolinguistic Handbook of the Greater Himalayan Region. Brill, ISBN 978-90-04-12062-4.
VanBik, Kenneth. 2009. Proto-Kuki-Chin: A Reconstructed Ancestor of the Kuki-Chin Languages. STEDT Monograph 8. ISBN 0-944613-47-0.

External links

[1] Konnerth, Linda. 2018. The historical phonology of Monsang (Northwestern South-Central/“Kuki-Chin”): A case of reduction in phonological complexity. Himalayan Linguistics, Vol. 17(1): 19-49.

[2] Thurgood, Graham (2003) "A subgrouping of the Sino-Tibetan languages: The interaction between language contact, change, and inheritance." In G. Thurgood and R. LaPolla, eds., The Sino-Tibetan languages, pp. 13–14. London: Routledge, ISBN 978-0-7007-1129-1.

[3] van Driem, George L. (2011a), "Tibeto-Burman subgroups and historical grammar", Himalayan Linguistics Journal, 10 (1): 31–39, archived from the original on 12 January 2012.

[4] DeLancey, Scott; Krishna Boro; Linda Konnerth1; Amos Teo. 2015. Tibeto-Burman Languages of the Indo-Myanmar borderland. 31st South Asian Languages Analysis Roundtable, 14 May 2015.

[Peterson2017-5] Peterson, David. 2017. "On Kuki-Chin subgrouping." In Picus Sizhi Ding and Jamin Pelkey, eds. Sociohistorical linguistics in Southeast Asia: New horizons for Tibeto-Burman studies in honor of David Bradley, 189-209. Leiden: Brill.

[6] David Mortenson and Jennifer Keogh. 2011. "Sorbung, an Undocumented Language of Manipur: its Phonology and Place in Tibeto-Burman", in JEALS 4, vol 1.

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