Mro-Khimi language
Mro-Khimi (also Mro, Khimi, Mro Chin, Mro-Khimi Chin) is a Kuki-Chin language of Myanmar (Burma) spoken by the Mro-Khimi people. The Mro-Khimi varieties share 91% to 98% lexical similarity. Mro-Khimi is 86%โ90% lexically similar with the Likhy variety of Eastern Khumi, 81%โ85% with Lemi variety of Eastern Khumi, and 77%โ81% 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.