Khumi
Khumi Chin
Native toBangladesh
EthnicityKhumi people
Native speakers
70,000 (2006–2009)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
cnk – Khumi
cek – Eastern Khumi
Glottologkhum1248  Khumi proper
east2779  Eastern Khumi Chin

Khumi, or Khumi Chin, is a Kuki-Chin-Mizo language of Burma, with some speakers across the border in Bangladesh. Khumi shares 75%–87% lexical similarity with Eastern Khumi, and 78-81% similarity with Mro-Khimi.[2]

Geographical distribution

Khumi proper is spoken in the following townships of Myanmar (Ethnologue).

Eastern Khumi (Khami) is spoken in the following townships of Myanmar (Ethnologue). The Eastern Khumi dialects have a high degree of mutual intelligibility, with all dialects sharing at least 74% lexical similarity, although there are strong attitudes against sharing the same literature.[2] In terms of lexical similarity, Nisay, Nideun, and Khongtu dialects share 92%–97% while the Khenlak and Asang dialects also share 92%–97%.[2] The Likhy variety of Eastern Khumi shares 86%–90% lexical similarity with Mro-Khimi Chin.[2]

Dialects

Ethnologue lists the following dialects.

  • Khumi
    • Pi Chaung
    • Kaladan
    • Eastern Kaladan
    • Southern Paletwa
  • Eastern Khumi (Khami)
    • Nisay (Nise, Palyng, Tao Cha)
    • Nideun (Amlai, Ghu, Laungtha, Maru, Paru, Tahaensae, Taheunso, Uiphaw)
    • Lemi (Akelong, Aki Along, Kaja, Kajauk)
    • Khongtu
    • Likhy (Likhaeng)
    • Rengcaa (Namboi, Nangbwe)
    • Khenlak
    • Asang (Kasang, Sangtha)

The Kasang (also known as Khenlak, Ta-aw, Hkongsa-Asang, Hkongso-Asang, Asang, and Sangta) consider themselves as ethnic Hkongso, but their language is intelligible with Khumi rather than Anu or Hkongso (Wright 2009).[3] Kasang villages include Lamoitong and Tuirong.

References

  1. ↑ Khumi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
    Eastern Khumi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Myanmar". Ethnologue: Languages of the World. 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-10-10. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  3. ↑ Jonathan Michael Wright. 2009. Hkongso Grammar Sketch. MA thesis, Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics.
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