Chin, Rawngtu

A language of Myanmar

Rongtu, Shimi, Welaung

User Population

5,000 (2008).

Location

Chin state: Mindat township; Magway region: Htilin township, 2 villages.

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification

Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin, Peripheral, Southern

Dialects

Kyonnam, Welaung, Boishi, Shitwanu. Most Rawngtu in Mindat township adequately comprehend the Kyonnam variety, but nearby Matu [hlt] villages in Matupi township do not. These villages also do not consider themselves Rawngtu. Lexical similarity: more than 90% within Rawngtu; 84%–89% with Matupi Daai [dao], 67%–74% with Kaang Chin [ckn], 71%–83% with Matu varieties [hlt], less than 70% with Rungtu [rtc].

Typology

SOV; negation is marked after the verb.

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Burmese [mya]. Also use Müün Chin [mwq].

Language Development

Literacy rate in Burmese [mya] highest; very low literacy rate in Müün [mwq].

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Chin, Rawngtu

Writing

Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Christian.