Tangkhul language
Tangkhul is a Sino-Tibetan language of the Tangkhulic branch, spoken in different villages of Ukhrul district, Manipur, India. The term "Tangkhul" is derived from the Meitei language terms, "Tang" (Meitei: ꯇꯥꯡ, romanized: /tāng/) meaning "scarce" and "Khul" (Meitei: ꯈꯨꯜ, romanized: /khūl/) meaning "village" respectively. According to another theory, the term "Tangkhul" is derived from "Thankhul", meaning "Than village" in Meitei language.
| Tangkhul | |
|---|---|
| Luhupa | |
Tangkhul written in Meitei script | |
| Native to | India |
| Region | Manipur, Nagaland |
| Ethnicity | Tangkhul people |
Native speakers | 140,000 (2001) |
| Dialects |
|
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | nmf |
| Glottolog | tang1336 |
| ELP | Tangkhul Naga |
Tangkhul became a written language for the first time in the year 1897, when William Pettigrew compiled "Tangkhul Primer and Catechism", during his Christian missionary activities.
The Department of Language Planning and Implementation of the Government of Manipur offers a sum of ₹5,000 (equivalent to ₹8,500 or US$110 in 2023), to every individual who learns Tangkhul language, under certain terms and conditions.
Tangkhul shares 93%–94% lexical similarity with the Somra variety of Tangkhul, 31% with Tangkhul Naga spoken in India, 51%–52% with Akyaung Ari Naga, and 29%–32% with Koki Naga.