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Mao
Sopvoma, Emela, Mao' La
Mao written in Meitei script
Pronunciation	mau
Native to	India
Region	Nagaland, Manipur
Ethnicity	Mao Naga, Poumai Naga
Native speakers	240,205 (2011 census)
Language family	Sino-Tibetian Angami–Pochuri Mao
Dialects	Paomata
Official status
Recognised minority language in	India
Language codes
ISO 639-3	Either: nbi – Mao pmx – Poumai
Glottolog	naga1397
ELP	Mao Naga

Mao, also known as Sopvoma, is a Sino-Tibetan language of the Angami–Pochuri linguistic sub-branch. It is spoken primarily in Senapati district, northwestern Manipur and in Nagaland, India. It is similar to Angami. The speakers of this language use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.

Phonology

Consonants

• /t͡ʃʰ/ and /w/ only rarely occur, and with /t͡ʃʰ/ only occurring in word-initial position.
• The pre-aspirated voiceless /ʰr̥/, may have a word-initial allophone of [ʂ], rarely occurs phonemically.
• only occurs marginally from loanwords.
• /t̪, p͡f/ in word-initial position may be heard as in free variation, rarely as phonemic.
• /h/ may have an allophone of [x] word-initially, word medially in free variation. rarely occurs as a phoneme.
• /m/ before a central vowel /ɨ/ can have an allophone of a labiodental [ɱ].
• /n/ before high vowel sounds can have an allophone of a palatalized [nʲ].

Vowels

• only occurs inter-morphemically.
• /ɨ/ can be heard as rounded in free variation.
• In word-initial position, /i, u/ can be lowered to .
• /e, o/ can be lowered to in word-final position.

References

1. "Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues – 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
2. "Mao (Naga) language and alphabet". omniglot.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
3. "Mao (Naga) language and alphabet". omniglot.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
4. "Meitei | Ethnologue". Ethnologue. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
5. Giridhar, P. P. (1994). Mao Naga Grammar. Mysore: Central Institute of Indian Languages.

v t e Sino-Tibetan branches
Western Himalayas (Himachal, Uttarakhand, Nepal, Sikkim)	West Himalayish Tamangic Newaric Newar Baram–Thangmi Kiranti Dhimalish Dhimal Toto Lhokpu Lepcha Greater Magaric Magaric Magar Kham Chepangic Chepang Bhujel Raji–Raute Dura–Tandrange
Eastern Himalayas (Tibet, Bhutan, Arunachal)	Bodish Tibetic East Bodish Tshangla Basum Nam? Gongduk ʼOle Tani Chamdo
Myanmar and Indo- Burmese border	Karbi Kuki-Chin Mruic Mru Hkongso Pyu Taman "Naga" Ao Angami–Pochuri Meitei Tangkhulic Zeme Sal Boro–Garo Konyak Jingpho–Luish
East and Southeast Asia	Sinitic Bai Tujia Nungish Karenic Gong Kathu Cai–Long Caijia Longjia Luren Burmo-Qiangic Qiangic Gyalrongic Ersuic Naic Lolo-Burmese Mondzish Burmish Loloish
Dubious (possible isolates) (Arunachal)	Hrusish Hruso Mijiic Kho-Bwa Puroik Miju–Meyor Songlin Greater Siangic Siangic Koro Milang Idu–Taraon
Proposed groupings	Central Tibeto-Burman Kuki-Chin–Naga Macro-Bai Mahakiranti Rung Tibeto-Burman Tibeto-Kanauri
Proto-languages	Proto-Sino-Tibetan Proto-Tibeto-Burman Proto-Loloish Proto-Karenic Proto-Min Proto-Hakka
Italics indicates single languages that are also considered to be separate branches.

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• Angami–Pochuri languages
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