{{Short description|Kuki-Chin language spoken in Bangladesh and Burma}} {{Infobox language |name=Khumi |nativename=''Khumi Chin'' |states=Myanmar, Bangladesh |region= |ethnicity=Khumi people |speakers={{sigfig|74,090|1}} |date=2006–2009 |ref=e18 |familycolor=Sino-Tibetan |fam2=Tibeto-Burman |fam3=Central Tibeto-Burman (?) |fam4=Kuki-Chin-Naga |fam5=Kuki-Chin |fam6=Khomic |lc1=cnk|ld1=Khumi |lc2=cek|ld2=Eastern Khumi |glotto=khum1248 |glottoname=Khumi proper |glottorefname=Khumi Chin |glotto2=east2779 |glottoname2=Eastern Khumi Chin |glottorefname2= }}
'''Khumi''', or '''Khumi Chin''', is a Kuki-Chin language of Myanmar, with some speakers across the border in Bangladesh. Khumi shares 75%–87% lexical similarity with Eastern Khumi, and 78-81% similarity with Mro-Khimi.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=Myanmar |url=http://www.ethnologue.com/country/MM/languages |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010180533/http://www.ethnologue.com/country/MM/languages |archive-date=2016-10-10 |website=Ethnologue: Languages of the World |access-date=2023-04-01 }}</ref> A written script for Khumi was created between 1930–1949 by E.W. Francis.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Lian |first=Salai Van Cung |last2=Salem-Gervais |first2=Nicolas |date=November 2020 |title=How Many Chin Languages Should Be Taught in Government Schools? Ongoing developments and structural challenges of language-in-education policy in Chin State |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345667190_How_Many_Chin_Languages_Should_Be_Taught_in_Government_Schools_Ongoing_developments_and_structural_challenges_of_language-in-education_policy_in_Chin_State |journal=Parami Journal of Education |volume=1 |issue=1}}</ref>
==Geographical distribution== '''Khumi''' proper is spoken in the following townships of Myanmar (''Ethnologue''). *Kaladan river area in Paletwa township, Chin State *A few villages in Kyauktaw township, Rakhine State.
'''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.<ref name=":0" /> In terms of lexical similarity, Nisay, Nideun, and Khongtu dialects share 92%–97% while the Khenlak and Asang dialects also share 92%–97%.<ref name=":0" /> The Likhy variety of Eastern Khumi shares 86%–90% lexical similarity with Mro-Khimi Chin.<ref name=":0" /> *Matupi township, Chin State (in 4 villages) *Sami subtownship, Paletwa township, Chin State (in 85 villages)
==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).<ref name="Wright2009">Jonathan Michael Wright. 2009. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131116213526/http://www.gial.edu/images/theses/Wright_Jonathan-thesis.pdf Hkongso Grammar Sketch]''. MA thesis, Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics.</ref> Kasang villages include Lamoitong and Tuirong.
==References== {{reflist}} *Herr, Kristen. 2011. ''[http://inter.payap.ac.th/wp-content/uploads/linguistics_students/Kristen_Herr_Thesis.pdf The Phonological Interpretation of Minor Syllables, Applied to Lemi Chin]''. Master’s thesis. *Lung, K Nu San. 2017. ''[http://inter.payap.ac.th/wp-content/uploads/linguistics_students/Thesis_NuNu_April27_2017.pdf Vitality of Language and Music among the Lemi People In Southern Chin State of Myanmar]''. Master’s Thesis. *Peterson, David A. 2012. ''The Khumi cluster and its place in Kuki-Chin-Mizo''. Paper presented at ICSTLL 45, Singapore.
{{Sino-Tibetan languages}} {{Kuki-Chin–Naga languages}} {{Languages of Bangladesh}} {{Languages of Burma}}
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Category:Kuki-Chin languages Category:Languages of Bangladesh Category:Languages of Myanmar