Chin, Matu

HLT

developing

Alternate Names: Nga La

Dialects: Ciing (Langle-Tamtlaih, Ngaleng, Phaneng, Siing, Vuitu), Doem (Ngatu, Valang), Langle-Tamtlaih, Ngala (Batu), Ngaleng, Phaneng, Thlangpang (Changpyang). Not intelligible with Haka Chin ,. Mizoram Matu reportedly not intelligible with Myanmar varieties. There are many Matu varieties in Myanmar, all intelligible to some extent with each other. Lexical similarity: 78%–89% within Matu varieties in Myanmar, 65%–76% with Rawngtu Chin ,, 66%–71% with Thaiphum Chin ,.

Genealogy:

Sino-Tibetan
Tibeto-Burman
Sal
Kuki-Chin-Naga
Kuki-Chin
Southern

Demographics: 30,000 in Myanmar (2012). Population total all countries: 40,000.

Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Burmese [mya], Haka Chin [cnh]. Used as L2 by Thaiphum Chin [cth].

Language Development: Dictionary. NT: 1999–2000.

Typology: SOV; negation is marked after the verb.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Myanmar

Other Comments: The Chin in Mindat Township refer to all the Matu as Batu, but the Matu use this name only for the area around Matupi Town. Christian.