Lai Language
Encyclopedia
Lai are those Kukish languages spoken by the Lai people. They include Laiholh (Hakha-Chin language
) spoken around the Haka (Hakha/Halkha) capital of Chin State
in Burma (Myanmar) and in the Lawngtlai district of Mizoram
, India. In Bangladesh, a related language is spoken by the Bawm people
. Known locally as Hakha Holh, it is probably the most spoken language in Chin State. Another branch of Lai Kukish includes Falam Lai/Zahau
, better known as Laiţawng. Other Lai languages are Senthang, and the Zokhua dialect of Hakha spoken in Zokhua village.
Lai languages are used in Hakha, Falam
, Matupi
and Thantlang townships of Chin state. However, the Lai language spoken in Falam township is called Laizo or Zahau dialect and is a little different from the version spoken in Hakha Lai because the Hakha dialect is not a tonal language. However, 87% of its usage in Laizo dialect itself and Falam Lai or Laizo are the same. Therefore, it is intelligible between Falam Lai and Hakha Lai. Laizo language is very close to its sibling Mizo language
, chiefly used in Mizoram
state India. Due to its closeness to the Mizo language, Laizo language vocabularies have been seen quite common in Mizo language. It is probably due to history that some of Mizo have been living in the west part of Chin state before they migrated to the current Mizoram. History also said that the Mizo language is derived from the Zahau (Lai) language.
Lai language is written with the Roman alphabet. D.J.C. MacNabb, B.Sc., political officer in Haka, wrote the first Lai language writing handbook, "The Handbook of Haka or Baungshe Dialect of Chin Language," printed by Superintendent, Government Printing Press, Rangoon, in 1891. In 1894 Surgeon Major A.G.E Newland (IMS) redeveloped the Lai writing system and published a book called "A Practical Hand Book of the Lais as spoken by the Hakas and other allied tribes of the Chin Hills (Commonly the Baungshe dialect)," printed by the Superintendent, Government Printing, Burma, 1897. Later, the first Chin Hill missionaries Rev. Arthur E. Carson and Laura Carson arrived in Haka on 15 March 1899. With the arrival of Rev. Dr. Tilbe in 1900 in Haka, he and Rev. Arthur Carson researched the Lai writing system developed by Major A.G.E Newland. Still, the latest version of the Lai writing system was far from being perfection.
Examples of Lai writing system developed by Rev. Arthur Carson and Rev. Dr. Tilbe.
1. Lai Relnak Tsa Ok
2. A zhul Tu An Twa Hser Nak
3. Hla Tsa Ok
In modern writing;
1. Lai Relnak Cauk
2. A Zultu An Tuahsernak
In 1908 Rev. Joseph Herbert Cope and his wife arrived in Haka city and revamped the Lai writing system. After Rev. Dr. Chester U Strait and his wife arrived in Haka in 1925, they upgraded the Lai writing system to almost perfection. Thus, when the last American Baptist Missionary Rev. Dr. Robert G. Johnson and his wife arrived in Haka in 1947, there were not many errors in the Lai writing system to fix and redevelop. Therefore, they translated the Holy Bible into Hakha Lai language in accordance with the Lai grammar finalized by Dr. Cope and Dr. Strait.
official language in Myanmar indigenous radio broadcasting program. Falam Lai is regarded as the easiest dialect to learn in Chin state. The local peoples from Falam called it "Laiţawng" where 'ţawng' means 'language'.
The current official Chin language is 'Laizo' dialect since early 20th century. Though there are numerous dialects among the ethnic Chin, they all have links and similarities, which make them easy to understand each other. After studying several years on all the dialects among the Chins, the research concluded that the Laizo dialect has the commonest and it's also the most understood language over all chin tribes including Mizos and is recognized as the Chin official language with the British scholars and learns through out the state until the junta disallowed to continue in the late 20th century. Laizo (Falam) dialect is being practiced as official Chin language in Myanmar as in radio broadcasting.
station language. Unlike other dialects, Baungshe is not a tonal language. That's the reason why the accent or tone of Baungshe dialect speakers differs from township to township and village to village. Therefore, the orthography, phonology and some the vocabularies used in one township may not be used in other townships. However, there is almost no discrepancy of vocabularies between Hakha Lai used in capital Haka / Hakha, Matupi and Thantlang townships. Matupi
town has its own dialect known Matuholh or Matu Lai. It is the next kin of Hakha Lai. The Bible in Matu language has been successfully translated by Rev. Chan Thleng from Matupi. He is both expert in Matu and Hakha Lai. However, due to a very poor transportation and communication between Haka and Matupi, the Haka Lai influence and progress in Matupi is weak.
Hakha-Chin language
Hakha Chin is a language spoken in southern Asia by 446,264 people. The total figure includes 2,000 Zokhua, and 60,100 Lai speakers...
) spoken around the Haka (Hakha/Halkha) capital of Chin State
Chin State
Chin State is a state located in western Burma . The Chin State is bordered by Rakhine State in the south, Bangladesh in south-west, Sagaing Division and Magway Division in the east, Indian state of Manipur in the north and Indian state of Mizoram in the west. The Chin ethnic group make up the...
in Burma (Myanmar) and in the Lawngtlai district of Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
, India. In Bangladesh, a related language is spoken by the Bawm people
Bawm people
The Bom , are a community inhabiting in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The Bom are one of smallest ethnic groups in Bangladesh with a population of only 6978 according to the 1991 census.They are famous for their simple lives, honesty and truthfulness.-History:The Bawms of the CHT call...
. Known locally as Hakha Holh, it is probably the most spoken language in Chin State. Another branch of Lai Kukish includes Falam Lai/Zahau
Falam language
Falam, also known as Falam Chin, Falam Lai, Zahau, and Laiţawng, is a Kukish language of Burma and India....
, better known as Laiţawng. Other Lai languages are Senthang, and the Zokhua dialect of Hakha spoken in Zokhua village.
Lai languages are used in Hakha, Falam
Falam Township
Falam Township is a township of Falam District in the Chin State of Burma . Its administrative seat is the town of Falam.Falam Township is mountainous, running east-west from the foothills above the Neyinzaya and Myittha rivers to the high peaks of the Chin Hills in the Arakan Mountain Range and...
, Matupi
Matupi Township
Matupi Township is a township of Mindat District in the Chin State of Burma . Matupi is the administrative center for the township.-Ethnic groups:The Matu Chin are the predominant tribe in the area....
and Thantlang townships of Chin state. However, the Lai language spoken in Falam township is called Laizo or Zahau dialect and is a little different from the version spoken in Hakha Lai because the Hakha dialect is not a tonal language. However, 87% of its usage in Laizo dialect itself and Falam Lai or Laizo are the same. Therefore, it is intelligible between Falam Lai and Hakha Lai. Laizo language is very close to its sibling Mizo language
Mizo language
The Mizo language is natively spoken by Mizo people in Mizoram, a state in the Indian Union; Chin State of Burma and in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The language is also known as Lushai , as Lusei people are the first clan who have an external exposure...
, chiefly used in Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
state India. Due to its closeness to the Mizo language, Laizo language vocabularies have been seen quite common in Mizo language. It is probably due to history that some of Mizo have been living in the west part of Chin state before they migrated to the current Mizoram. History also said that the Mizo language is derived from the Zahau (Lai) language.
History
According to Thomas Han Tai, British soldier Lieutenant R. Steward Hudson developed the first writing system of Chin dialects in AD 1857.Lai language is written with the Roman alphabet. D.J.C. MacNabb, B.Sc., political officer in Haka, wrote the first Lai language writing handbook, "The Handbook of Haka or Baungshe Dialect of Chin Language," printed by Superintendent, Government Printing Press, Rangoon, in 1891. In 1894 Surgeon Major A.G.E Newland (IMS) redeveloped the Lai writing system and published a book called "A Practical Hand Book of the Lais as spoken by the Hakas and other allied tribes of the Chin Hills (Commonly the Baungshe dialect)," printed by the Superintendent, Government Printing, Burma, 1897. Later, the first Chin Hill missionaries Rev. Arthur E. Carson and Laura Carson arrived in Haka on 15 March 1899. With the arrival of Rev. Dr. Tilbe in 1900 in Haka, he and Rev. Arthur Carson researched the Lai writing system developed by Major A.G.E Newland. Still, the latest version of the Lai writing system was far from being perfection.
Examples of Lai writing system developed by Rev. Arthur Carson and Rev. Dr. Tilbe.
1. Lai Relnak Tsa Ok
2. A zhul Tu An Twa Hser Nak
3. Hla Tsa Ok
In modern writing;
1. Lai Relnak Cauk
2. A Zultu An Tuahsernak
In 1908 Rev. Joseph Herbert Cope and his wife arrived in Haka city and revamped the Lai writing system. After Rev. Dr. Chester U Strait and his wife arrived in Haka in 1925, they upgraded the Lai writing system to almost perfection. Thus, when the last American Baptist Missionary Rev. Dr. Robert G. Johnson and his wife arrived in Haka in 1947, there were not many errors in the Lai writing system to fix and redevelop. Therefore, they translated the Holy Bible into Hakha Lai language in accordance with the Lai grammar finalized by Dr. Cope and Dr. Strait.
Falam Lai or Laizo or Laiţawng or Zopau or Zotawng
The language is used in Falam township is called "Laiţawng" and is used as common media by the peoples of Lai tribes around Falam. It's currently used as ChinChin
In the human anatomy, the chin is the lowermost part of the face.It is formed by the lower front of the mandible.People show a wide variety of chin structures. See Cleft chin....
official language in Myanmar indigenous radio broadcasting program. Falam Lai is regarded as the easiest dialect to learn in Chin state. The local peoples from Falam called it "Laiţawng" where 'ţawng' means 'language'.
The current official Chin language is 'Laizo' dialect since early 20th century. Though there are numerous dialects among the ethnic Chin, they all have links and similarities, which make them easy to understand each other. After studying several years on all the dialects among the Chins, the research concluded that the Laizo dialect has the commonest and it's also the most understood language over all chin tribes including Mizos and is recognized as the Chin official language with the British scholars and learns through out the state until the junta disallowed to continue in the late 20th century. Laizo (Falam) dialect is being practiced as official Chin language in Myanmar as in radio broadcasting.
Hakha Lai or Baungshe Language
The emergence of terminology of Hakha Lai is one of the reason where Lai language is more diversified than as known. CACC calls it HakhaHakha
Hakha is the capital of Chin State in Burma. Its located in the northeast in Chin State. The vernacular name of the city was Halkha. The total area of Hakha is about . The town of Hakha, more than 6,000 feet above the sea level, is founded on a small highland plateau...
station language. Unlike other dialects, Baungshe is not a tonal language. That's the reason why the accent or tone of Baungshe dialect speakers differs from township to township and village to village. Therefore, the orthography, phonology and some the vocabularies used in one township may not be used in other townships. However, there is almost no discrepancy of vocabularies between Hakha Lai used in capital Haka / Hakha, Matupi and Thantlang townships. Matupi
Matupi
Matupi is a town in Chin State in western Burma , in Southeast Asia.Matupi is the second capital City, one of the townships of Chin State of West Myanmar, South-east Asia...
town has its own dialect known Matuholh or Matu Lai. It is the next kin of Hakha Lai. The Bible in Matu language has been successfully translated by Rev. Chan Thleng from Matupi. He is both expert in Matu and Hakha Lai. However, due to a very poor transportation and communication between Haka and Matupi, the Haka Lai influence and progress in Matupi is weak.