Zomi Baptist Convention to teach Six Chin Dialects
In attempts to find ways of improving communication and understanding among dialectically diverse Chin people, ZBC (Zomi Baptist Convention) is set to introduce ‘language learning programme’ in six different dialects in 2010, reports Chinland Guardian.
(Chin Dialects)
The programme, which will publish a book of lessons in Tedim, Falam, Cho, Matu, Mizo and Hakha dialects, is to start with children and youths from Sunday Schools at churches, it stated.
As a Baptist Convention, ZBC is focussing on its strongholds i.e. Tedim, Falam, Matu, Mizo and Hakha dialects. Chin pastor Rev. Shwekey Hoipang, of Dai-Chin in Southern Chin State rightly pointed out that Khumi and Dai Chin-tribes seem to have been omitted by the ZBC although both are the main groups in Southern Chin State. It may be just because Khumi and Dai are not parts of the mainstream Baptist denomination. The Khumi belongs to Anglican denomination and Dai belongs to Methodist and Presbyterian.
Likewise, Mara too is not included in this initiative, one reason could be that nearly 90 percent Maras in Chin state do not belong to Baptist denominatin. Majority of the Maras belong to Mara Evangelical Church founded by Rev. R.A. Lorrain, an English missionary to Mara people in undivided India which includes modern-day Myanmar (Burma) and India.
Rev. M. Thawng Kam, General Secretary of ZBC, was quoted as saying: “ZBC is a place where each Chin tribe gathers and works together. Having been unable to use our own dialects in ZBC meetings, we have got to speak in Burmese, which we cannot speak fluently. And many others who cannot speak Burmese at all do not talk during the meeting. This difficult situation makes us difficult to understand and share with each other.”
This tells us that it is an initiative within Zomi Baptist Convention (ZBC) and may not include some China dialects whose majority speakers do not belong to Baptist tradition.
Overall, this is a good initiative.
Founded in 1953 under the leadership of Rev. S.T. Hau Go, the Zomi Baptist Convention, an association of Baptist churches in Chin State, has currently over 200,000 members, with 873 churches, and 28 associations as well as 6 local churches based in Rangoon. ZBC is sub-divided into Tedim, Falam and Haka Associations.
Read more from Chinland Guardian (much inputs made from this website).
Related:
- Adoption of the Name Zomi Baptist Convention (Zogam.org)
Posted: December 23rd, 2009 under News & Views.
Comments: 2
Tags: Chin language
Comments
Comment from martin
Time: December 27, 2009, 2:10 pm
I Guess better than Nothing but still it is Nothing…..
We are like israeli now. We could have gone straight into Canaan but pain stakingly wondering around 40 years with conflicts.
I sort of asked a lot of Zo families in malaysia and overseas on about the Common language and what i heard is people are opening up. Dulien seems to be the Only one when people really want a Common language. A few seminars held in malaysia on Common language and dulien came up to be the sole winner.
hakha Doctrine (Lai), which are in practice in East Zoram ( Chin State)
1) Laimi = Chin n for that it includes Zo (mizo,zomi), Kuki
2) Hakha dialect = Laimi dialect = Chin Common Language
3) Peacefully or Forcefully Systematically Lainised every Zo families that is in Hakha and Thangtlang districts. Ex CNF control areas, CHRO control areas, Hakha control abroad ares, Lai doctrine in Chin Churches.
4) Attempt to make ” Chin ” the legal name for represting the Whole Zo population Zo ( Mizo,Zomi) kuki, Chin) in UN and world wide institutions. Lian Mung Sakhong is Top on the list on this.
5) By Using and Monopolizing the Term Chin forcefully putting all the Zo families under the term Chin and they say Lai=Chin and so all Zo are lai. That’s hakha mentality.
6) Use CNF as a right hand to smack down any anti Hakha(lai) movements at the same time proganding that CNF fights for all Chin to the world wide theatre n so taking all the political and financial support and that enable to manuver what they really plan to do hakhanization (laimi) in East Zoram ( Chin State). This can be cleary seen in conflicts in Chin Student Seminar among Hakha(lai) doctrine.
7) Make divisions as much as possible but at the same time shouting loud Unity in Chin. For them Unity means only Zos in Burma and which is not TRUE unity, only in that way they can manipulate what ever they want.
8) Use the manpower and resources with the Name Chin and counter check Zos activites in India like YMA, ZORO and ZRA.
9) Plays Mizos against Chin and so manipulates divission among Zo brothers (mainly southern Hakha) and so make them(hakha) more easy to ACT and rally against ANTI MIZO and ANTI dulien at the same time secretly promiting PRO LAIMI and PRO HAKHA dialect. When they successed in this area some Zo families (Chin) started to hate Mizos and started hating dulien dialect. Zo against Zo…hakha wins
10)They are not ashame of Lian Uk who says Laimi =Chin they are not ashame of van Kul who make Hakha villiage the Capital of East zoram. they are not ashame of Lian mung Sakong who is dedicated to drag the whole ZO population under the Burmese dog name ” Chin”. they are not asshame to tell a brother ZO u are CHIN so Speak Hakha. they are no ashame……………………………
Long live Common Zo identity…Long Live Common Language…..
Dead with the Hakha(Lai)………..ENEMY Within.
thanks
martin
Comment from ZoSangLiana
Time: January 26, 2010, 1:25 am
Hey,,martin u are so buzy!!!
Chin is Chin. Our Common Language is all CHIN languages…OK
Mizo is best language but, that’s ok for me that Our Common Language is all CHIN languages…
“2) Hakha dialect = Chin Common Language” hahah…You are funny ha.. Don’t be so halkha. AA vio suh ang ceh!
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