{{short description|Language family}} {{Confusing|date=December 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Use British English|date=November 2017}} {{Infobox language family | name = Kuki-Chin | altname = Kuki-Chin-Mizo, Kukish, South Central Tibeto-Burman, South Central Trans-Himalayan | region = India, Myanmar, Bangladesh | ethnicity = Zo *Kuki *Chin *Mizo *Zomi | familycolor = Sino-Tibetan | fam2 = Central Tibeto-Burman? | fam3 = Kuki-Chin–Naga? | ancestor = Proto-Kuki-Chin{{sfn |VanBik |2009}} | child1 = Northwestern | child2 = Northeastern | child3 = Central | child4 = Maraic | child5 = Southern | child6 = Khomic | glotto = kuki1246 | glottoname = Kuki-Chin | notes = }} thumb|right|Blue: Old Kuki, Green: Kuki-Zo, Red: Central, Orange: Maraic, Yellow: Southern, Purple: Khomic The '''Kuki-Chin languages''' (also called '''Kukish'''<ref>{{cite book |last=Burling |first=Robbins |title=The Sino-Tibetan Languages |publisher=Routledge |year=2003 |isbn=0-7007-1129-5 |editor-last=Thurgood |editor-first=Graham |edition=1st |pages=169–191 |chapter=The Tibeto-Burman languages of Northeastern India |editor-last2=LaPolla |editor-first2=Randy J.}}</ref> 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 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.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Konnerth |first=Linda |year=2018 |title=The historical phonology of Monsang (Northwestern South-Central/"Kuki-Chin"): A case of reduction in phonological complexity |journal=Himalayan Linguistics |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=19-49 |doi=10.5070/H917134878 |quote=...many language activists among the speakers of languages of the South-Central branch has made it clear to me that using the "Kuki-Chin" label is very insensitive.|doi-access=free }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Thurgood |first=Graham |title=The Sino-Tibetan languages |publisher=Routledge |year=2003 |isbn=0-7007-1129-5 |editor-last=Thurgood |editor-first=Graham |location=London |pages=13–14 |chapter=A subgrouping of the Sino-Tibetan languages: The interaction between language contact, change, and inheritance |editor-last2=LaPolla |editor-first2=Randy J.}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=van Driem |first=George L. |year=2011 |title=Tibeto-Burman subgroups and historical grammar |url=http://www.linguistics.ucsb.edu/HimalayanLinguistics/articles/2011/HLJ1001B.html |url-status=dead |journal=Himalayan Linguistics Journal |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=31–39 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112220623/http://www.linguistics.ucsb.edu/HimalayanLinguistics/articles/2011/HLJ1001B.html |archive-date=12 January 2012}}</ref>

The Kuki-Chin branches listed below are from VanBik (2009), with the ''Northwestern'' branch added from Scott DeLancey, et al. (2015),<ref>{{cite conference |last=DeLancey |first=Scott |last2=Boro |first2=Krishna |last3=Konnerth |first3=Linda |last4=Teo |first4=Amos |date=14 May 2015 |title=Tibeto-Burman Languages of the Indo-Myanmar borderland |conference=31st South Asian Languages Analysis Roundtable}}</ref> and the ''Khomic'' branch (which has been split off from the ''Southern'' branch) from Peterson (2017).{{sfn |Peterson |2017}}

{{tree list}} *'''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,{{sfn |Peterson |2017}} Kharam,{{sfn |Peterson |2017}} {{tree list/end}}

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.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Mortenson |first=David |last2=Keogh |first2=Jennifer |year=2011 |title=Sorbung, an Undocumented Language of Manipur: its Phonology and Place in Tibeto-Burman |url=http://jseals.org/JSEALS-4-1.pdf |journal=Journal of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=64-114}}</ref>

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.{{sfn |Peterson |2017}}

===VanBik (2009)=== Kenneth VanBik classified the Kuki-Chin languages based on shared sound changes (phonological innovations) from Proto-Kuki-Chin as follows.{{sfn |VanBik |2009 |p=23}}

{{tree list}} *'''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(<sup>h</sup>)- > *t(<sup>h</sup>)-/*s-; *y- > *z-/*z(<sup>h</sup>)-; *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 {{tree list/end}}

===Peterson (2017)=== David A. Peterson's internal classification of the Kuki-Chin languages is as follows.{{sfn |Peterson |2017 |p=206}}

{{tree list}} *'''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'' {{tree list/end}}

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)

==References== {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== {{refbegin}} * {{cite book |last=van Driem |first=George |title=Languages of the Himalayas: An Ethnolinguistic Handbook of the Greater Himalayan Region |publisher=Brill |year=2001 |isbn=978-90-04-12062-4}} * {{cite book |last=Peterson |first=David A. |title=Sociohistorical linguistics in Southeast Asia: New horizons for Tibeto-Burman studies in honor of David Bradley |publisher=Brill |year=2017 |isbn=978-90-04-34983-4 |editor-last=Ding |editor-first=Picus Sizhi |location=Leiden |pages=189-209 |chapter=On Kuki-Chin subgrouping |doi=10.1163/9789004350519_012 |editor-last2=Pelkey |editor-first2=Jamin}} * {{cite book |last1=VanBik |first1=Kenneth |url=https://stedt.berkeley.edu/pubs_and_prods/STEDT_Monograph8_Proto-Kuki-Chin.pdf |title=Proto-Kuki-Chin: a reconstructed ancestor of the Kuki-Chin languages |date=20 October 2009 |publisher=University of California |isbn=0-944613-47-0 |location=Berkeley |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702145747/http://stedt.berkeley.edu/pubs_and_prods/STEDT_Monograph8_Proto-Kuki-Chin.pdf |archive-date=2 July 2013 |url-status=live}} {{refend}}

==Further reading== * {{cite book |last=Button |first=Christopher |url=http://stedt.berkeley.edu/pubs_and_prods/STEDT_Monograph10_Proto-Northern-Chin.pdf |title=Proto Northern Chin |year=2011 |isbn=0-944613-49-7 |series=STEDT Monograph |volume=10 |oclc=1013268663}} * {{cite journal |year=2014 |title=Proto-Kuki-Chin initials according to Toru Ohno and Kenneth VanBik |url=http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/18355/ |journal=Journal of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society |volume=7 |pages=11–30 |surname=Hill |given=Nathan W.}} * {{cite thesis |surname=Lam Thang |given=Khoi |title=A Phonological Reconstruction of Proto Chin |type=MA thesis |publisher=Payap University |url=http://inter.payap.ac.th/wp-content/uploads/linguistics_PDF/Khois-Proto-Reconstruction-of-Chin-revised.pdf |year=2001 |location=Chiang Mai}} * {{cite web |last=Mann |first=Noel |last2=Smith |first2=Wendy |year=2008 |title=Chin bibliography |url=http://li.payap.ac.th/images/stories/survey/Chin%20Bibliography.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423220249/http://li.payap.ac.th/images/stories/survey/Chin%20Bibliography.pdf |archive-date=23 April 2019 |publisher=Payap University |location=Chiang Mai}} * {{cite book |last=Dal Sian Pau |first=S. |title=The comparative study of Proto-Zomi (Kuki-Chin) languages |publisher=Zomi Language & Literature Society |year=2014 |location=Lamka, Manipur, India}}{{snd}}Comparative word list of Paite, Simte, Thangkhal, Zou, Kom, Paite or Tedim, and Vaiphei * {{cite web |last=Smith |first=Wendy |last2=Mann |first2=Noel |year=2009 |title=Chin bibliography with selected annotations |url=http://li.payap.ac.th/images/stories/survey/Chin%20Bibliography%20with%20Selected%20Annotations.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030042946/https://li.payap.ac.th/images/stories/survey/Chin%20Bibliography%20with%20Selected%20Annotations.pdf |archive-date=30 October 2019 |publisher=Payap University |location=Chiang Mai}}

==External links== * [http://hmartlangsam.blogspot.com/ Tlângsam: Latest News in Hmar language – Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, NE India] * [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJadjKGLrZCkr7m1Dl37exwsauW9OODP Recent Advances in Kuki-Chin Linguistics]

{{Sino-Tibetan languages}} {{Kuki-Chin–Naga languages}} {{Languages of Myanmar}} {{Languages of Northeast India}}

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Category:Kuki-Chin languages Category:Languages of India Category:Languages of Bangladesh