Meitei

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A language of India

Assam state: Cachar and Dima Hasao; Mainly Manipur state; Nagaland state: Dimapur, Kohima, Peren, Phek; Mizoram state: Aizwal and Kolasibi; possibly some in nearby states.

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Bangladesh

Language NameMeitei

User Population

15,000 in Bangladesh (2003). 300 monolinguals.

Location

Sylhet division: Moulvi Bazar district, Kamalganj subdistrict; Sylhet city.

Alternate Names

Manipuri, Meetei, Meitei Manipuri, Meithei

Dialects

Hindu Meitei, Pangan (Pangal).

Language Status

5 (Dispersed).

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, village. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Bengali [ben], especially youth. Also use Bishnupuriya [bpy]. Also use Sylheti [syl]. Used as L2 by Bishnupuriya [bpy].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: Low. Literacy rate in L2: 70% in Bengali [ben]. Those literate in Bengali are able to read Meitei but have little practice doing so.

Other Comments

Preferred name is Meitei Manipuri. Outsiders don’t distinguish between Meitei and Bishnupriya, calling both of them Manipuri. Meitei is a well-developed language with much literature in India, but little is available in Bangladesh. Hindu, Muslim.

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Meitei

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A language of India

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