Central Kuki-Chin languages

Mizo is the official language of Mizoram State, India, while Hakha Chin is the lingua franca of Chin State, Myanmar.

VanBik (2009:23) classifies the Central Kuki-Chin languages as follows.

Central Kuki-Chin

• Pangkhua?
• Laamtuk Thet (Tawr): Laamtuk, Ruavaan dialects
• Lai languages
  • Hakha cluster: Hakha, Dawn, Farrawn, Thantlang, Mi-E, Zokhua.
  • Falam cluster: Bawm, Bualkhua, Laizo, Lente, Khualsim, Khuangli, Sim, Tlaisun, Za-ngiat/ Zanniat
• Mizo languages
  • Mizo cluster: Fan-ai/Pawi Lusei, Hualngo, Lushai, Khiangte, Renthlei
  • Hmar cluster: Khosak, Thiek, Faihriem, Darlong, Darngawn, Biate, Khawthlang, Lutung/Chawnthei/Hmar Lusei, Lungtau, Leiri, Hrangkhol, Halam, Koilam, Hrangchal, Khowbung, Zote, Lawitlang.

VanBik (2009) is unsure about the classification of Pangkhua, and tentatively places it within Central Kuki-Chin.

VanBik (2009) lists the following sound changes from Proto-Kuki-Chin to Proto-Central Chin.

• Proto-Kuki-Chin *k(ʰ)r-, *p(ʰ)r- > Proto-Central Chin *t(ʰ)r-
• Proto-Kuki-Chin *k(ʰ)l-, *p(ʰ)l- > Proto-Central Chin *t(ʰ)l-
• Proto-Kuki-Chin *y- > Proto-Central Chin *z-

• Lai languages

• Peterson, David. 2017. "On Kuki-Chin subgrouping." In Picus Sizhi Ding and Jamin Pelkey, eds. Sociohistorical linguistics in Southeast Asia: New horizons for Tibeto-Burman studies in honor of David Bradley, 189-209. Leiden: Brill.
• VanBik, Kenneth. 2009. Proto-Kuki-Chin: A Reconstructed Ancestor of the Kuki-Chin Languages. STEDT Monograph 8. ISBN 0-944613-47-0.