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Paite | |
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Paite | |
Native to | India, Myanmar |
Region | Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Chin State |
Ethnicity | Paite/ Paite te |
Native speakers | 1,00,000+[1][2] |
Latin | |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | pck |
Glottolog | pait1244 |
ELP | Paite Chin |
Paite is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Paite people. There are different Paite dialects; some notable Paite dialects are Bukpi, Lousau, Valpau, Dapzal, Tuichiap, Sukte, Dim, Lamzang and Sihzang. The language exhibits mutual intelligibility with the other languages of the region including Thadou, Hmar, Vaiphei, Simte, Kom, Gangte and other languages.[3] The name Paite could translate to 'the people who went', 'a group of people marching'. Paite refers to a group of people who enter today Manipur and Mizoram (India) crossing the run river (a river separating the two countries of India and Burma) during the pre colonial era, so the word Paite itself means "those who went out".... It is fairly necessary to note that there are amongst those group of people who do not leave today Burma and still settle there. They cannot be called Paite since they do not leave or set out, So to put an umbrella term on all the ethnic groups between two international countries the word "Zomi" is unifiedly used. They are a part of the Chin/Kuki/Mizo/Zomi (CHIKIMZO) [4]
The Paites in India have shaped and influence many languages and words used in Mizo/Duhlian/lusei language (Official language of Mizoram state) this is because the Mizo royal clan namely the Sailo clan are their descent. So the Sailo clan being Paite descent which through them shape the Mizo society to what it is today in culture, music, weaving patters, words similarity in languages and religion, superstition etc. all this during the Sailo reigning period. Another credit goes to major tribes like the Hmar, lai, lusei, etc.