Makury language

Makury, or Makury Naga (sometimes spelled Makuri), is a Naga language of India and Myanmar. Shi (2009:3) and Saul (2005:25) suggest that Makury may be an Ao language. The Makury dialects share 93% lexical similarity.^[2]

Makury
Makury Naga
Native to	India, Myanmar
Region	Nagaland
Ethnicity	Makury Naga
Native speakers	65,000 (2014-16)[1]
Language family	Sino-Tibetan (Tibeto-Burman) Ao? Tangkhulic? Makury
Language codes
ISO 639-3	jmn
Glottolog	maku1273

Classification

Makury is not close to other Naga languages that fall under Konyak-[Tangshang] and Angami-Zeme. Makury falls under the proposed Ao-Tangkhul linguistic group of southern Naga languages and is close to Naga languages that fall under said language group. Müvlë (Longphuri) are a sub-tribe of Makury. In Eastern Nagaland and Myanmar, the Makury, Somra Tangkhul and Para are closer than the other tribes in the north in terms of language (Makury Tribal Council). Makury shares 30%–37% lexical similarity with Long Phuri Naga, and 17%–19% with Para Naga^[2]

Hsiu (2021) classifies Makury as a sister of the Central Naga (Ao) languages.^[3]

Geographical distribution

Makury is spoken in Leshi Township, Homalin Township, and Lahe Township in Hkamti District, Sagaing Region, Myanmar. There are about 40,000 speakers in Myanmar, and about 25,000 in India.

Dialects

Ethnologue lists the following dialects of Makury.

• Mëkheotlë
• Sengphüvlë
• Aralë
• Jilë

Jongphüvlë (listed as Kyaungphuri in Ethnologue) is a Makury clan name (Makury Tribal Council).

Shi (2009:5) lists the following dialects of Makury.

• Phuvle, Makheotle
• Sengphuvle, Muvle, Jeile