Chin, Senthang

SEZ

threatened

Alternate Names: Hsemtang, Sentang

Dialects: Central Senthang (Bungzung, Khuapi, Lei-Um, Phaipha), Sakta, Shoneshi (Shonshe), Shonshe, Surkhua/Lungrang. High intelligibility among all Senthang villages, except possibly outlying dialects of Shoneshi, Surkhua (Lungrang), and Sakta. Lexical similarity: 79%–95% within Senthang.

Genealogy:

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

Demographics: 33,000 (2007 SIL).

Language Use: Vigorous in Hakha township villages; lower use in Magway division, Gangaw township. All domains in Hakha township villages. All ages. Positive attitudes. Younger generation also use Burmese [mya]. 15,000 also use Haka Chin [cnh]. Mostly older generation.

Language Development: Some community literacy classes (2011).

Typology: SOV; negation is marked after the verb.

Writing System: Latin

Nation of Origin: Myanmar

Other Comments: Preliminary orthography developed and primers designed: 2007–2010. Christian, Buddhist.