Zeme language

Updated on Jan 24, 2024

Edit

Comment

Native speakers 130,000 (2001 census)
Region Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura Ethnicity Zeliangrong (Zeme Naga, Liangmai Naga, Rongmei Naga) Language family Sino-Tibetan Zeme languages Zeme ISO 639-3 Variously: nzm – Zeme nbu – Rongmai njn – Liangmai (Kwoireng) nkd – Kwoireng (Koireng) Glottolog zeme1240 (Zeme Naga) rong1266 (Rongmei Naga) koir1240 (Koireng) lian1251 (Liangmai Naga)

Zeme is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken in northeastern India. It is part of a dialect continuum that includes Rongmei and Liangmei.

Locations

Zeme (dialects: Paren, Njauna) is spoken in (Ethnologue):

Upper Barak valley, northern Cachar district, Assam

Tamenglong district, Manipur

Kohima district, Nagaland: Jalukie, Peren, Medzephima blocks

Rongmei (dialects: Songbu) is spoken in 35 villages of Cachar district, Assam, as well as in northwestern Manipur and Nagaland (Ethnologue).

Liangmei is spoken in Jalukie, Peren, and Medzephima blocks of Kohima district, Nagaland (Ethnologue).

Koireng is spoken in (Ethnologue):

5 villages in Saikul and Kangpokpi subdivisions, Senapati district, Manipur

3 villages south of Moirang in Bishnupur district, Manipur

2 villages near Palel in Chandel district, Manipur

Nagaland

Singh (2011:52) reports 11 Koireng villages in Saikul and Kangpokpi sub-divisions of Sadar Hills

Utonglok, Sadu Koireng, Nurathel, Iril Mapal, Ekpan, Tarung, Kamu Koireng, Longa Koireng, Awang Longa Koireng in Senapati District

Tarung in Thangmeiband and Lamphel Koireng in Imphal West district.

The "purest" Koireng is spoken in Satu and Utonglo (Ethnologue).

There are Koireng 8 clans (phung), namely Shong, Yei, Tieltu, Thamthu, Virei, Khonglung, Mreiem, and Mikan.

(Text) CC BY-SA