Alternate Names: Falam, Fallam, Halam, Hallam Chin
Dialects: Hualngo, Khualshim (Kwelshin), Laizo (Laiso, Laizao, Laizo-Shimhrin), Lente (Gunte, Lyente), Ngawn, Sim, Taisun (Shunkla, Sunkhla, Taishon, Tashom, Tashon), Tapong, Zahao (Lyen-Lyem, Yahow, Zahau, Zahau-Shimhrin, Za-How), Zanniat (Zahnyiet, Zanniet). The Chorei dialect (in India) and Zanniat may be separate languages. Collectively called Baro Halam. Rupini and Koloi reportedly quite different from the others; Tapong reportedly has difficult intelligibility for other dialect speakers. 75% lexical similarity with Zanniat dialect.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 69,000 in Myanmar (1983). 9,000 Tashon, 16,000 Zanniat, 7,000 Khualshim, 4,000 Lente, 14,400 Zahao, 18,600 in Laizao (1983). Population total all countries: 107,300.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes.
Language Development: Most youth and some older people, if educated, can read Falam. Radio programs. Bible: 1991–2011.
Typology: SOV; negation is marked after the verb.
Writing System: Bengali, Latin
Nation of Origin: Myanmar
Other Comments: Christian.