Khuman () or Khumal () is a historical dialectal variety of the Meitei language (also known as Manipuri) associated with the Khuman dynasty and its Khuman clan, one of the seven principal Yek Salai clans of the traditional Meitei confederacy. Historically influential in the Khuman kingdom, the Khuman dialect has contributed a distinct lexical layer to Meitei, with words of Khuman origin frequently attested in classical Meitei manuscripts and early literary sources. These features have drawn sustained attention from linguists, particularly within Tibeto-Burman studies, where Khuman data are examined for insights into the historical development, internal variation, and clan-based stratification of the Meitei language.Yashwanta Singh, Chungkham. Manipuri Grammar. India: Rajesh Publications, 2000.
The independent Khuman political identity came to an end during the reign of Lamyai Kaikhinba (c. 1330–1400 CE), the last king of the Khuman dynasty. With the assimilation of the Khuman kingdom into the broader Meitei confederacy under the leadership of the Ningthouja dynasty, Khuman ceased to exist as a separate polity. This political integration played a significant role in shaping the linguistic landscape of early Meitei society, facilitating the incorporation of Khuman linguistic features into the developing Meitei language and its classical literary tradition.Ayyappappanikkar (1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. p. 333. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
Vocabularies
Khuman words Latin transliterations Equivalents in another variant/dialect of Meitei language Latin transliterations English translation Note(s) tarang laija water it is often collectively said as tarang laija, in which laija is originated from Moirang (linguistics) speech, as a part of semantic reduplication in Meitei vocabulary nembi singnang grass it is often collectively said as nembi singnang, in which singnang is originated from Ningthouja speech, as a part of semantic reduplication in Meitei vocabulary kei pamba tiger it is often collectively said as pamba kei, where pamba is originated from Ningthouja speech, as a part of semantic reduplication in Meitei vocabulary toutek nou oar it is often collectively said as toutek nou, where nou is originated from Ningthouja speech, as a part of semantic reduplication in Meitei vocabulary
Comparison with Modern Meitei equivalents + Khuman vocabulary comparison Word from Pre-20th Century Manuscripts, predominantly used by the Khumans Modern Meitei Word English Gloss soypay yenba cock yakon səŋgay house kon pat lake ya kəŋphal land tawtek nəw oar Literary sources
See also Khuman Kangleirol Moirang Kangleirol Khuman Apokpa List of Khuman and Luwang common ancestral monarchs Mangang Luwang Khuman List of Khuman kings List of Khuman queens Khuman royal necklace incident Khuman Khamba
References