Chin, Matu | Ethnologue

A language of Myanmar

ISO 639: hlt
Alternate Names: Matupi, Nga La
Autonym: Matu, Matu Chin
Population: 30,000 in Myanmar (2012). Total users in all countries: 40,000.
Location:: Chin state: Matupi township.
Language Status: 5 (Developing).
Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin, Peripheral, Southern, Cho-Asho, Cho
Dialects: Siing (Vuitu), Doem (Ngatu, Valang), Langle-Tamtlaih, Ngaleng, Phaneng, Thlangpang (Changpyang), Ngala (Batu). Not intelligible with Hakha Chin [cnh]. 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 [weu], 66%–71% with Thaiphum Chin [cth].
Typology: SOV; negation is marked after the verb.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Burmese [mya]. Also use Hakha Chin [cnh]. Used as L2 by Thaiphum Chin [cth].
Language Development: Dictionary. Bible: 2006.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Chin, Matu
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
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.