Kuki-Chin languages

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
Kuki-Chin-Mizo, Kukish
Geographic distribution	India, Myanmar, Bangladesh
Ethnicity	Zo Kuki Chin Mizo Zomi
Linguistic classification	Sino-Tibetan Tibeto-Burman Central Tibeto-Burman Kuki-Chin–Naga Kuki-Chin
Early form	Proto-Kuki-Chin[1]
Subdivisions	Northwestern Northeastern Central Maraic Southern Khomic
Language codes
Glottolog	kuki1246  (Kuki-Chin)

Blue- Old Kuki Green- Kuki-Zo Red- Central Orange- Maraic Yellow- Southern Purple- Khomic

Language groups in Southeast Asia

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

• 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

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 (Mortenson & Keogh 2011).^[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)

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?
    • 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(^h)- > *t(^h)-/*s-; *y- > *z-/*z(^h)-; *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 (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)^[7] internal classification of the Kuki-Chin languages is as follows.

• Kuki-Chin
  • Northwestern ("Old Kuki"): Purum, Koireng, Monsang, etc.
  • Central
    • Core Central
    • Maraic
  • Peripheral
    • Northeastern ("Northern")
    • 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.

See also

• Lai languages
• Pau Cin Hau script
• Kuki-Chin Swadesh lists (Wiktionary)