Mro-Khimi language

Mro-Khimi (also Mro, Khimi, Mro Chin, Mro-Khimi Chin) is a Kuki-Chin language of Burma spoken by the Mro-Khimi people. The Mro-Khimi varieties share 91% to 98% lexical similarity. Mro-Khimi is 86%–90% lexically similar with the Likhy variety of Eastern Khumi, 81%–85% with Lemi variety of Eastern Khumi, and 77%–81% with Kaladan Khumi.

Geographical distribution

Mro-Khimi is spoken in the following townships of Myanmar (Ethnologue).

• Chin State: Paletwa township
• Rakhine State: Kyauktaw, Buthidaung, Ponnagyun, Pauktaw, Mrauk U, and Maungdaw townships.

Dialects

There are 4 main dialects of Mro-Khimi (Ethnologue).

• Arang (Ahraing Khami, Areung, Aroeng)
• Xengna (Hrengna)
• Xata
• Vakung (Wakun, Wakung)

Wakun (Vakung) is the most widely spoken and understood dialect (Horney 2009:5). Horney (2009:5) also lists Aryn, Dau, Khuitupui, Likhy, Pamnau, Tuiron, Xautau, and Xienau as dialects of khami. Horney (2009) describes phonologies of the Wakun and Xautau dialects.

References