Meitei language#IGNOU

Meitei belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages.{{Cite web |title=Meitei {{!}} Ethnologue Free |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mni/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=Ethnologue (Free All) |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language {{!}} Manipuri language {{!}} Meitei, India, Tibeto-Burman {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manipuri-language |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}

During the 19th and 20th centuries, different linguists tried to assign Meitei to various sub-groups. Early classifier George Abraham Grierson (1903–1924) put it in Kuki-Chin, Vegelin and Voegelin (1965) in Kuki-Chin-Naga, and Benedict (1972) in Kuki-Naga. Robbins Burling has suggested that Meitei belongs to none those groups.{{Cite web |title=A History of Manipuri Language – Indian Institute of Advanced Study |url=http://iias.ac.in/events/a-history-of-manipuri-language/ |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=iias.ac.in |publisher=Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India |language=en-US}} Current academic consensus agrees with James Matisoff in placing Manipuri in its own subdivision of the Kamarupan group—a geographic rather than a genetic grouping. However, some still consider Meitei to be a member of the Kuki-Chin-Naga branch.{{Cite web |title=Glottolog 4.8 – Manipuri |url=https://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/mani1292 |access-date=2023-11-18 |website=glottolog.org}}

File:Yumbanlol (Yumpanlol) - a 6th century Classical Meitei language copper manuscript text - in Meetei script - works on sensuality & relationship between husbands & wives and how to run a household in Ancient Kangleipak civilisation state.jpg, written in Meitei script.]]

The Meitei language has existed for at least 2000 years.

According to linguist Suniti Kumar Chatterjee, the ancient Meitei literature dates back to 1500 to 2000 years before present.{{Cite book |last=Chatterji |first=Suniti Kumar |author-link=Suniti Kumar Chatterji |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32096/page/n187/mode/2up |title=Kirata-jana-krti |date=1951 |publisher=The Asiatic Society, Digital Library of India; Internet Archive |location=Kolkata |publication-date=1951 |pages=157, 158 |language=en |quote=... The beginnings of this Old Manipuri literature (as in the case of Newari) may go back to 1500 years, or even 2000 years, from now. ...}}

The earliest known Meitei language compositions is the ritual song Ougri ({{Script|Mtei|ꯑꯧꯒ꯭ꯔꯤ}}), which was used in religious and coronation ceremonies of Kangleipak. It may have existed before the Common Era.{{Cite book |last=Ayyappappanikkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KYLpvaKJIMEC&pg=PA329 |title=Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections |date=1997 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-0365-5 |pages=326–329 |language=en |author-link=Ayyappa Paniker}} Numit Kappa {{Meitei|ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ ꯀꯥꯞꯄ|t=The Shooting of the Sun}}, a religious epic that tells the tale of how the night was divided from the day, was also composed in the first century.{{Cite book |last1=Wouters |first1=Jelle J. P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YseEEAAAQBAJ&q=Numit+Kappa+1st&pg=PT473 |title=The Routledge Companion to Northeast India |last2=Subba |first2=Tanka B. |date=30 September 2022 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-63699-4 |pages=473 |language=en}}

Poireiton Khunthok {{Meitei|ꯄꯣꯢꯔꯩꯇꯣꯟ ꯈꯨꯟꯊꯣꯛ|t=The Immigration of Poireiton}} is a 3rd-century narrative work describing the establishment of a colony in Kangleipak by a group of immigrants led by Poireiton, the younger brother of the god of the underworld.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Khelchandra Ningthoukhongjam |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466183/page/n121/mode/2up?view=theater |title=History Of Old Manipuri Literature |publisher=Digital Library of India |others=Manipur University Library, Imphal |location=India |pages=121, 122 |language=en, mni |chapter=Poireiton Khunthokpa}}

The Yumbanlol, a copper plate manuscript was composed in the 6th century or 7th century CE for the royal family of Kangleipak. It is a rare work of dharmashastra, covering sexuality, the relationships between husbands and wives, and instructions on how to run a household.{{Cite web |others=Manuscript Treasures of India, Ministry of Culture, Government of India |title=Vijñānanidhi: National Mission of Manuscripts |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/34231921/manuscript-treasures-of-india-national-mission-for-manuscripts/88 |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=Yumpu |pages=88, 89 |language=en}}

The Khencho ({{Script|Mtei|ꯈꯦꯟꯆꯣ}}), an early Meitei work of poetry was composed by the beginning of the 7th century CE.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Khelchandra Ningthoukhongjam |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.466183/page/n97/mode/2up |title=History Of Old Manipuri Literature |publisher=Digital Library of India; Internet Archive |others=Manipur University Library; North Eastern States Libraries |location=India |pages=97, 98 |language=mni |chapter=Khencho |author-link=Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra}} Although it is obscure and unintelligible to present-day Meiteis, it is still recited as part of the Lai Haraoba festival.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiBkAAAAMAAJ |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1996 |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |location=India |pages=14, 15 |language=en, mni |chapter=The Early Period (Ritual Songs)}}

One of the best-preserved early Meitei language epigraphic records is a copper plate inscription dating to the reign of King Khongtekcha ({{reign|c. 763|773|era=CE}}).{{Cite book |last=Devi |first=Yumlembam Gopi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gxqeDwAAQBAJ&q=8th%20century%20copper%20plate%20inscription%20manipur&pg=PA25 |title=Glimpses of Manipuri Culture |date=16 June 2019 |isbn=978-0-359-72919-7 |pages=25 |publisher=LP |language=en}} During the same time period, Akoijam Tombi composed the Panthoibi Khonggul ({{lang|omp|{{Script|Mtei|ꯄꯥꯟꯊꯣꯏꯄꯤ ꯈꯣꯡꯀꯨꯜ}}|}}), an account of the romantic adventures of the deified Meitei princess Panthoibi.{{Cite book |last=Devi |first=Dr Yumlembam Gopi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gxqeDwAAQBAJ&dq=panthoibi+khongul&pg=PA119 |title=Glimpses of Manipuri Culture |date=16 June 2019 |publisher= Lulu.com|isbn=978-0-359-72919-7 |pages=119 |language=en}}

File:The first page of Loyumba Silyen (Loiyumpa Silyel) - 11th-12th century Classical Meitei language Constitution of the then Kangleipak civilisation state - in traditional Meetei Mayek writing system (Manipur State Archives).jpg

In 1100 CE, a written constitution, {{meitei|ꯂꯣꯏꯌꯨꯝꯄ ꯁꯤꯜꯌꯦꯜ|la=Loyumba Shinyen}}, was finalised by King Loiyumba ({{reign|c. 1074|1112|era=CE}}) of Kangleipak. It was a codification of the proto-constitution drafted by King Naophangba in 429 CE.{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vO-vtI8NuxIC&dq=loyumba+shinyen+final+document&pg=PP2 |title=Manipur: Treatise & Documents |date=1993 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-399-5 |pages=2 |language=en }}{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9eYC4tjzyi4C&dq=loyumba+shinyen+written+constitution&pg=PA304 |title=Law and Society: Strategy for Public Choice, 2001 |date=1991 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-271-4 |pages=304 |language=en}}

Before 1675 CE, the Meitei language experienced no significant influence from any other languages.{{Cite web |title=A History of Manipuri Language – Indian Institute of Advanced Study |url=http://iias.ac.in/events/a-history-of-manipuri-language/ |access-date=17 November 2023 |website=iias.ac.in |publisher=Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India |language=en-US}} Beginning in the late 17th century, Hindu influence on Meitei culture increased, and the Meitei language experienced some influences from other languages, on its phonology, morphology (linguistics), syntax and semantics. At the same time, the Hinduised King Pamheiba ordered that the Meitei script be replaced by the Bengali-Assamese script.

File:ANDRO INSCRIBED STONE.jpg ({{reign|1759|1762|1763|1798}}), erected at Andro, Imphal East, Manipur]]

In 1725 CE, Pamheiba wrote Parikshit, possibly the first piece of Meitei-language Hindu literature, based on the story of the eponymous king Parikshit of the Mahabharata.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Ch Manihar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yiBkAAAAMAAJ |title=A History of Manipuri Literature |date=1996 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-0086-9 |location=India |page=135 |language=en}}

{{Further|States of India by Meitei speakers}}

The majority of Meitei speakers, about 1.5 million{{cite web |title=Census Tables |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/census-tables |website=Census of India |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=15 February 2024 |date=2011}} live in the Indian state of Manupur. Meitei is the official language of the Government of Manipur as well as its lingua franca.{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manipuri-language |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=Britannica |language=en}} File:Map of Barak Valley.jpg

There are nearly 170,000 Meitei-speakers in Assam, mainly in the Barak Valley, where it is the third most commonly-used language after Bengali and Hindi.{{Cite journal |last=Mishra |first=Awadesh |date=1 January 1999 |title=The Manipuris in the Barak Valley: A Case Study of Language Maintenance' |url=https://www.academia.edu/1059019 |journal=Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area}} Manipuri is also spoken by about 9500 people in Nagaland, in communities such as Dimapur, Kohima, Peren and Phek. Meitei is a second language for various Naga and Kuki-Chin ethnic groups.

File:Sylhet in Bangladesh.svg

There are around 15,000 Meitei speakers in Bangladesh{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} mainly are in the districts of Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj and Habiganj in the Sylhet Division of Bangladesh. In the past, there was a Meitei speaking population in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Comilla also.{{Cite web |title=Textile Bdesh Myanmar 3 |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Arts_and_Culture.Mutua_Bahadur_Art_Collection.Textile_Bdesh_Myanmar_3 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=www.e-pao.net}} Manipuri is used as a second language by the Bishnupriya Manipuri people.

Myanmar has a significant Meitei speaking population in the states of Kachin and Shan and the regions of Yangon, Sagaing, and Ayeyarwady, among others.{{Cite web |title=Manipuri in Myanmar 1 |url=http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Arts_and_Culture.Mutua_Bahadur_Art_Collection.Manipuri_in_Myanmar_1 |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=e-pao.net}}

According to the Ethnologue, the alternative names of Meitei language are Kathe, Kathi, Manipuri, Meetei, Meeteilon, Meiteilon, Meiteiron, Meithe, Meithei, Menipuri, Mitei, Mithe, Ponna.

The name Meitei or its alternate spelling Meithei is preferred by many native speakers of Meitei over Manipuri.Chelliah (1997: 2) The term is derived from the Meitei word for the language Meitheirón (Meithei + -lon 'language', pronounced {{IPA|/mə́i.təi.lón/}}).{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=H. Surmangol |date=2006 |title=Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary. Meitei |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/sharma_query.py?qs=%EA%AF%83%EA%AF%A9%EA%AF%87%EA%AF%A9&searchhws=yes |access-date=30 July 2022 |website=dsal.uchicago.edu}} Meithei may be a compound from mí 'man' + they 'separate'. This term is used by most Western linguistic scholarship. Meitei scholars use the term Meit(h)ei when writing in English and the term Meitheirón when writing in Meitei. Chelliah (2015: 89) notes that the Meitei spelling has replaced the earlier Meithei spelling.Chelliah (2015: 89)

The language (and people) is also referred to by the loconym Manipuri. The term is derived from the name of the state of Manipur. Manipuri is the official name of the language for the Indian government and is used by government institutions and non-Meitei authors. The term Manipuri is also used to refer to the different languages of Manipur and to the people. Additionally, Manipuri, being a loconym, can refer to anything pertaining to the Manipur state.

Speakers of Meitei language are known as "Kathe" by the Burmese people, "Moglie" or "Mekhlee" by the people of Cachar, Assam (Dimasas and Assamese) and "Cassay" by the Shan people and the other peoples living in the east of the Ningthee River (or Khyendwen River). "Ponna" is the Burmese term used to refer to the Meiteis living inside Burma.{{Cite news |last=Gangte |first=Priyadarshini M.|url=http://www.thepeopleschronicle.in/daily/english/1781|title = Evolution of Meetei state- Emergence of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba |work=The People's Chronicle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119084314/http://www.thepeopleschronicle.in/daily/english/1781 |archive-date=19 January 2021 |access-date=21 March 2022}}

The Meitei language exhibits a degree of regional variation; however, in recent years the broadening of communication, as well as intermarriage, has caused the dialectal differences to become relatively insignificant. The only exceptions to this occurrence are the speech differences of the dialects found in Tripura, Bangladesh and Myanmar.{{cite book |last1=Thoudam |first1=P. C. |title=Demographic and Ethnographic Information: Problems in the analysis of Manipuri language |date=2006 |publisher=Central Institute of Indian Language}} The exact number of dialects of Meitei is unknown.{{cite journal |last1=Haokip |first1=P. |date=April 2011 |title=The Languages of Manipur: A Case Study of the Kuki-Chin Languages |journal=Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=86–118}}

The three main dialects of Meitei are: Meitei proper, Loi and Pangal. Differences between these dialects are primarily characterised by the extensions of new sounds and tonal shifts. Meitei proper is considered to be the standard variety—and is viewed as more dynamic than the other two dialects.{{Cite web |title=Meitei {{!}} Ethnologue |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mni/ |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=Ethnologue |language=en}} The brief table below compares some words in these three dialects:{{cite book |last1=Ningoma |first1=M. S. |title=Manipur Dialects |date=1996 |publisher=Sealang Projects}}

Devi (2002)Devi, L. Manimala. 2002. A comparative study of Imphal, Andro, Koutruk and Kakching dialects of Meiteiron. (Doctoral dissertation, Canchipur: Manipur University; 273pp.) compares the Imphal, Andro, Koutruk, and Kakching dialects of Meitei.

{{Further|Meitei classical language movement|Meitei associate official language movement}}

Meitei is the sole official language of the Government of Manipur, and has been an official language of India since 1992.{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language and alphabets |url=https://omniglot.com/writing/manipuri.htm |website=omniglot.com}}

Meitei language was the court language of the historic Manipur Kingdom,{{Cite book |last=Sanajaoba |first=Naorem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CzSQKVmveUC&dq=manipuri+court+language&pg=PA290 |title=Manipur, Past and Present: The Heritage and Ordeals of a Civilization |date=1988 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-853-2 |pages=290 |language=en}} and before it merged into the Indian Republic.{{Cite book |last=Chishti |first=S. M. A. W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YMcxSM_ZO30C&dq=Manipuri+court+language&pg=PA282 |title=Political Development in Manipur, 1919–1949 |date=2005 |publisher=GPH |isbn=978-81-7835-424-8 |pages=282 |language=en}} The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, recognised Meitei as one of the major advanced Indian literary languages in 1972, long before it became an official language in 1992.

In 1950, the Government of India did not include Meitei in its list of 14 official languages.{{Cite web |title=English Releases |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=5928 |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=pib.gov.in}} A language movement, spearheaded by organisations including the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad and the All Manipur Students' Union demanded that Meitei be made an official language for more than 40 years, until Meitei was finally added to the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India in 1992.{{Cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=C. Joshua |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=daMpNcQKkjMC |title=Constraints in Development of Manipur |last2=Gopalakrishnan |first2=Ramamoorthy |last3=Singh |first3=R. K. Ranjan |date=2001 |publisher=Regency Publications [for Policy Alternatives for the North-East and Conflict Elimination Awareness] |isbn=978-81-87498-30-8 |pages=54–55 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language in 8th Schedule By Jeet Akoijam |url=http://e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=MeiteiMayek.Manipuri_language_in_8th_Schedule_By_Jeet_Akoijam.html |access-date=2022-08-26 |website=e-pao.net}}

Meitei became an associate official language of Assam in 2024,{{cite news |title=Assam recognises Manipuri as associate official language in four districts |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/assam-recognises-manipuri-as-associate-official-language-in-four-districts-101708770769105.html |access-date=29 April 2024 |work=Hindustan Times |date=24 February 2024 |language=en}} following several years of effort by the Meitei associate official language movement to protect the identity, history, culture and tradition of Manipuris in Assam.{{Cite web |title=Manipuri as associate official language in Assam Sanajaoba approaches Sonowal |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2020/9/24/Manipuri-as-associate-official-language-in-AssamSanajaoba-approaches-Sonowal-.html |website=www.thesangaiexpress.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language should be one of Assam's associate official languages: AAMSU |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/9888/manipuri-language-should-be-one-of-assams-associate-official-languages-aamsu |website=Imphal Free Press |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Laithangbam |first=Iboyaima |date=27 September 2020 |title=Assam to look into demand to include Manipuri in list of associate languages |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/minister-to-look-into-demand-to-include-manipuri-in-the-list-of-associate-languages-of-assam/article32707194.ece |issn=0971-751X}}

The Meitei language is one of the 13 official languages of the India used to administer police, armed services, and civil service recruitment exams.{{Cite web |title=Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh lauds SSC for deciding to conduct the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff examination 2022 in 13 regional languages in addition to Hindi and English for the first time |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1892439 |access-date=25 January 2023 |website=www.pib.gov.in |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Manipuri among 13 regional languages approved for CAPF exam |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/manipuri-among-13-regional-languages-approved-for-capf-exam |access-date=19 April 2023 |website=Imphal Free Press |language=en}}

The Press Information Bureau of the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting publishes in 14 languages, including Meitei.{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Imphal Free |author-link=Imphal Free Press |title=PIB website has news in regional languages now – KanglaOnline |url=http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/pib-website-has-news-in-regional-languages-now/ |access-date=25 January 2023 |language=en-US}}

Meitei is a language of instruction in all in the educational institutions in Manipur. It is one of the 40 instructional languages offered by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), controlled and managed by the Ministry of Education.{{Cite web |title=CBSE {{!}} Academics Unit : Curriculum/Syllabus |url=https://cbseacademic.nic.in/curriculum.html |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=cbseacademic.nic.in}} Meitei is taught as a subject up to the post-graduate level in Indian universities, including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Gauhati University, and the University of North Bengal.{{cite journal |last1=Devi |first1=S. |date=May 2013 |title=Is Manipuri an Endangered Language? |url=http://www.languageinindia.com/may2013/rebikameitheiendangeredfinal.pdf |journal=Language in India |volume=13 |issue=5 |pages=520–533}}{{Cite book |last=Bareh |first=Hamlet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XScmdGvMf7IC&dq=Manipuri+national+language&pg=PA80 |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India |date=2001 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-790-0 |pages=80 |language=en}} Indira Gandhi National Open University teaches Meitei to undergraduates.{{cite web |last1=NEWS |first1=NE NOW |title=Manipur: Meitei language to be introduced in IGNOU syllabus, says union minister |url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/manipur/manipur-meitei-language-to-be-introduced-in-ignou-syllabus-says-union-minister.html |website=NORTHEAST NOW |access-date=18 February 2024 |date=21 August 2023}}

Meitei language instruction has been offered in the lower primary schools of Assam since 1956.{{Cite news |last=Laithangbam |first=Iboyaima |date=27 September 2020 |title=Assam to look into demand to include Manipuri in list of associate languages |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/minister-to-look-into-demand-to-include-manipuri-in-the-list-of-associate-languages-of-assam/article32707194.ece |access-date=18 March 2023 |issn=0971-751X}} The Board of Secondary Education, Assam offers secondary education in Manipuri.{{Cite web |date=17 March 2023 |title=Assam HSLC Exam Routine 2023 Revised: SEBA To Conduct All Class 10 Language Papers Including English On April 1 |url=https://www.india.com/education/assam-hslc-exam-routine-2023-revised-seba-to-conduct-all-class-10-language-paper-including-english-on-april-1-after-assamese-paper-leak-himanta-biswa-sarma-5950004/ |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=India.com |language=en |quote=In addition to Assamese, the other MIL subjects are Bengali, Bodo, Hindi, Manipuri, Hmar, Nepali, Mizo, Khasi, Garo, Karbi and Urdu.}} The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council of Assam offers both Meitei-language schooling and instruction in Meitei as a second language.{{Cite web |title=AHSEC complete syllabus for HS 2nd year |url=https://ahsec.assam.gov.in/index.php/hs-2nd-year-syllabus/ |website=ahsec.assam.gov.in}}

Since 2020, the Assam Government has made an annual grant of {{INR Convert|5|l|year=2020}} to the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad (Manipuri Language Council). It also invested {{INR Convert|6|c|year=2020}} in the creation of a corpus for the development of the Meitei language.

The Department of Manipuri of Assam University offers education up to the Ph.D. level in Meitei language.{{Cite web |title=Manipuri Department |url=http://www.aus.ac.in/manipuri-department/ |access-date=18 March 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=5 literary bodies bat for Manipuri language in Assam |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2020/8/3/5-literary-bodies-bat-for-Manipuri-language-in-Assam.amp.html |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=www.thesangaiexpress.com |language=en |quote=Moreover, Manipuri in MA and PhD courses are offered at Assam University, Silchar.}}{{Cite web |title=AAMSU demands Associate Official Language status to Manipuri language |url=https://www.time8.in/aamsu-demands-associate-official-language-status-to-manipuri-language/ |website=www.time8.in |quote=Several universities, notably Assam University and Silchar University, provide Manipuri language courses.}}

Since 1998, the Government of Tripura has offered Meitei language as a "first language" subject at primary level in 24 schools throughout the state.{{Cite web |title=MANIPURI {{!}} DIRECTORATE OF KOKBOROK & OTHER MINORITY LANGUAGES |url=https://kokborokoml.tripura.gov.in/manipuri#:~:text=The%20government%20of%20Tripura%20has,notified%20schools%20throughout%20the%20state. |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=kokborokoml.tripura.gov.in}}

In December 2021, Tripura University proposed to the Indian Ministry of Education and the University Grants Council (UGC), regarding the introduction of diploma courses in Meitei, along with international languages like Japanese, Korean and Nepali.{{Cite web |date=23 December 2021 |title=Tripura University proposes introduction of diploma courses in Japanese, Korean, Nepali and Manipuri languages |url=http://www.indiatodayne.in/breaking-news/story/tripura-university-proposes-introduction-diploma-courses-japanese-korean-nepali-and-manipuri-languages-411046-2021-12-23 |access-date=18 March 2023 |website=India Today NE |language=hi}}

The exact classification of the Meitei language within Sino-Tibetan remains unclear. It has lexical resemblances to Kuki and Tangkhul.{{cite book |last1=Post |first1=Mark W. |last2=Burling |first2=Robbins |author2-link=Robbins Burling |year=2017 |orig-year=First published 2003 |chapter=The Tibeto-Burman Languages of Northeastern India |editor1-last=Thurgood |editor1-first=Graham |editor1-link=Graham Thurgood |editor2-last=LaPolla |editor2-first=Randy J. |editor2-link=Randy LaPolla |title=The Sino-Tibetan Languages |edition=2nd |publisher=Routledge |pages=23, 232–233 |isbn=978-1-138-78332-4}}

The Meitei language is a tonal language. There is a controversy over whether there are two or three tones.{{cite journal |last1=LaPolla |first1=Randy J. |author-link=Randy LaPolla |year=2000 |title=Book review: A grammar of Meitei, by S. L. Chelliah |journal=Lingua |publisher=Elsevier |volume=110 |issue=4 |pages=299–304 |doi=10.1016/s0024-3841(99)00037-6}}

Meitei distinguishes the following phonemes:{{cite book |last1=Chelliah |first1=S. L. |title=Meitei Phonology |date=1997 |publisher=Mouton de Gruyter |pages=17–21}}

Consonants

Vowels

Note: the central vowel /ɐ/ is transcribed as <ə> in recent linguistic work on Meitei. However, phonetically it is never [ə], but more usually [ɐ]. It is assimilated to a following approximant: /ɐw/ = [ow], /ɐj/ = [ej].

A velar deletion is noted to occur on the suffix -lək when following a syllable ending with a /k/ phoneme.

Meitei has a dissimilatory process similar to Grassmann's law found in Ancient Greek and Sanskrit, though occurring on the second aspirate.Chelliah (1997) Here, an aspirated consonant is deaspirated if preceded by an aspirated consonant (including {{IPA|/h/, /s/}}) in the previous syllable. The deaspirated consonants are then voiced between sonorants.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}

{{interlinear|indent=3

|/tʰin-/ + /-kʰət/ → /tʰinɡət/

|pierce {} upward {} {pierce upwards}

|}}

{{interlinear|indent=3

|/səŋ/ + /kʰom/ → /səŋɡom/

|cow {} udder {} milk

|}}

{{interlinear|indent=3

|/hi-/ + /-tʰok/ → /hidok/

|trim {} outward {} {trim outwards}

|}}

File:Depiction of the Puya Mei Thaba (Burning of the Meitei texts) ordered by Meitei King Pamheiba (AKA Garib Niwaj or Gopal Singh) under the influence of Bengali Hindu missionary Shantidas Gosai (AKA Shantidas Goswami or Shantidas Adhikari).jpg

The Meitei script ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯩꯇꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ}}|Meitei mayek|label=none}}){{Cite journal |last1=Khuman |first1=Yanglem Loijing Khomba |last2=Devi |first2=Salam Dickeeta |last3=Singh |first3=Ch. Ponykumar |last4=Devi |first4=H. Mamata |last5=Singh |first5=N. Ajith |date=1 December 2022 |title=A benchmark dataset for printed Meitei/Meetei script character recognition |journal=Data in Brief |language=en |volume=45 |pages=108585 |doi=10.1016/j.dib.2022.108585 |pmid=36426059 |pmc=9679442 |bibcode=2022DIB....4508585K |issn=2352-3409 }} is one of the official scripts of the Indian Republic. Meitei mayek is also known as Kanglei script {{meitei|ꯀꯪꯂꯩ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ|kanglei mayek|label=no}}{{Cite book |last1=Noni |first1=Arambam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OzjbCgAAQBAJ&q=Kanglei+script+Meetei+Mayekuz8AhVlSWwGHeUtCqoQ6AF6BAgFEAM&pg=PA223 |title=Colonialism and Resistance: Society and State in Manipur |last2=Sanatomba |first2=Kangujam |date=16 October 2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-27066-9 |pages=223, 235, 237 |language=en}} or kok sam lai script {{meitei|ꯀꯣꯛ ꯁꯝ ꯂꯥꯏ ꯃꯌꯦꯛ|la=kok sam lai mayeke|label=no}}, after its first three letters.{{Cite web |title=মণিপুরদা লোলয়ান চঙলকপা অমদি মীতৈ ইয়েক্না থোঙজিন্দা ৱারৌজনা লেপ্লরবদা ! |url=http://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/17.02.2022-B5.pdf |website=hueiyenlanpao.com |language=mni}}{{Cite web |date=11 December 2022 |title=Lost and revived: The story of Meitei script |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/meitei-script-manipur-history-8317655/ |access-date=6 March 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} Its earliest known appearance is on 6th century coins.{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&q=Manipur%208th%20century%20copper%20plate%20inscription%20Manipur&pg=PA142 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1987 |isbn=978-81-260-1803-1 |pages=142 |language=en}} It was used until the 18th century, when it was replaced by the Bengali script, and then revived in again massively in the 20th.{{Cite news|last=Laithangbam|first=Iboyaima|date=23 September 2017|title=Banished Manipuri script stages a comeback|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/banished-manipuri-script-stages-a-comeback/article19743482.ece|access-date=6 March 2023|issn=0971-751X}} In 2021, the use of Meetei Mayek to write Manipuri was officially adopted by the Government of Manipur, alongside Bengali script.{{Cite web |title=GAZETTE TITLE: The Manipur Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2021 |url=http://manipurgovtpress.nic.in/en/details_gazzete/?gazette=658 |access-date=6 March 2023 |website=manipurgovtpress.nic.in}}

The Roman alphabet has been used in medium for teaching basic Meitei as a second language teaching by the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur.{{Cite news |date=25 January 2023 |title=Manipur HSLC Date Sheet 2023: BSEM Class 10 time table released, exam begins March 16 |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/manipur-hslc-date-sheet-2023-bsem-class-10-time-table-released-exam-begins-march-16/articleshow/97300318.cms?from=mdr |access-date=6 March 2023 |issn=0971-8257}}{{Cite web |last=SNS |date=10 January 2019 |title=Manipur Board Class 12 (HSC) and Class 10 (HSLC) Timetable 2019 available online at manipureducation.gov.in {{!}} Check now |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/manipur-board-class-12-hsc-and-class-10-hslc-timetable-2019-available-online-at-manipureducation-gov-in-check-now-1502723456.html |access-date=6 March 2023 |website=The Statesman |language=en-US}} More recently, the Board has issued a directive that no more Manipuri textbooks using the Latin alphabet be published.{{cite web |title=MEELAL lauds BSEM order : 04th feb24 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=https://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=44..040224.feb24 |website=e-pao.net |access-date=15 February 2024}} Meitei language editions of the Bible in Roman script are very commonly used by the Christians in Manipur.{{Cite web |title=The Birth of Jesus Manipuri Roman Mayek CB |url=https://bibleforchildren.org/PDFs/manipuri_roman_mayek/36_The_Birth_of_Jesus_Manipuri_Roman_Mayek_CB.pdf |website=bibleforchildren.org}}

The Naoriya Phulo script is a constructed script, invented by Laininghan Naoriya Phulo (1888–1941). It shares many similarities with Devanagari and Bengali script.{{Cite web |title=নাওরিয়া ফুলো : ঋষি অমা - এলাংম দীনমনী |script-title= |url=http://hueiyenlanpao.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/12.11.2019-B7.pdf |work=hueiyenlanpao.com |language=mni |publication-place=India}} It was championed by Apokpa Marup, but never widely adopted.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Wahengbam Ibohal |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.463276/page/n501/mode/2up?q=Naoriya+phullo |title=The History Of Manipur |publisher=Digital Library of India |others=Internet Archive |location=India |pages=501 |language=en }}

Sentences in the Meitei language use the subject–object–verb word order (SOV). For example, in the sentence Ei chak chai (ꯑꯩ ꯆꯥꯛ ꯆꯥꯢ), which translates to I eat rice, the gloss is "ei" (I), "chak" (rice), "chai" (eat).

Nouns and pronouns are marked for number in Meitei. The plural is indicated by the suffixes -khoi (for personal pronouns and human proper nouns) and -sing (for all other nouns). Verbs associated with the pluralised nouns are unaffected. Examples are demonstrated below:{{cite journal |last=Singh |first=S. Indrakumar |date=November 2013 |title=Agreements in Manipuri |url=http://www.languageinindia.com/nov2013/indrakumaragreementsmanipurifinal.pdf |journal=Language in India |volume=13 |issue=11 |pages=216–231}}

When adjectives are used to be more clear, Meitei utilises separate words and does not add a suffix to the noun. Examples are show in the chart below:

Compound verbs are created by combining root verbs each ending with aspect markers. While the variety of suffixes is high, all compound verbs utilise one of two:{{cite journal |last1=Devi |first1=M. Bidyarani |date=May 2014 |title=Compound Verbs in Manipuri |url=http://www.languageinindia.com/may2014/bidyaranimanipuricompoundverbsfinal.pdf |journal=Language in India |volume=14 |issue=5 |pages=66–70}}

Aspect markers appear as suffixes that clarify verb tense and appear at the end of the compound verb. Overall, the formula to construct a compound verb becomes [root verb] + [suffix] + [aspect marker]:

Compound verbs can also be formed utilising both compound suffixes as well, allowing utterances such as pithokningle meaning "want to give out".

{{Further|Meitei numerals}}

{{Main|Ancient Meitei literature|Meitei literature}}

File:The classical Meitei epic of the "Numit Kappa", written in ancient Meitei language (in archaic Meitei script).jpg, a Classical Meitei 1st century epic based on Meitei mythology and religion.]]

The Khamba Thoibi Sheireng, a poem of 39,000 verses composed by Hijam Anganghal Singh and first published in 1940 ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯈꯝꯕ ꯊꯣꯏꯕꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡ}}|Poem on Khamba Thoibi}}){{Cite book |last=George |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA29 |title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1992 |isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 |location=India |pages=29 |language=en}} is regarded as the national epic of the Manipuris.{{Cite book |last=George |first=K. M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA258 |title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems |date=1992 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-7201-324-0 |location=India |pages=258 |language=en |quote=H. Anganghal Singh's Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (Poem on Khamba Thoibi, 1940) is a national epic of the Manipuris based on the story of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. The poet composes the whole epic in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads sung by minstrels or bards popular in Manipur.}}{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1186 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |pages=1186 |language=en}} It is a classical Meitei language epic poem based on the ancient romantic adventure tale of Khamba and Thoibi of Moirang. It is regarded as the greatest of all Meitei epic poems.{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA1573 |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1988 |isbn=978-81-260-1194-0 |location=India |pages=1573 |language=en |quote=His best work, Khamba Thoibi sheireng, in 39,000 lines on the story of 'Khamba and Thoibi' was started in 1939 and the composition was completed in 1940.}}{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Sisir Kumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Sheireng&pg=PA190 |title=A History of Indian Literature: 1911–1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=2005 |isbn=978-81-7201-798-9 |pages=190 |language=en |quote=His epic Singel Indu was published in 1938 which was followed by his magnum opus Khamba Thoibi Sheireng (1940), a poem of 39000 lines, considered to be the 'national' epic of the Manipuris, written in the Pena Saisak style of folk ballads.}}{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gL_8DwAAQBAJ&dq=Khamba+Thoibi+Seireng&pg=PA1582 |title=AKASHVANI: Vol. XL. No. 35 ( 31 AUGUST, 1975 ) |date=31 August 1975 |publisher=All India Radio (AIR) |location=New Delhi |pages=1582 |language=en}}

The Meitei classical language movement seeks to gain recognition for Meitei as one of the Classical Languages of India.{{Cite web |title=Government must take concrete step for recognition of Manipuri as classical language |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/manipur/government-must-take-concrete-step-for-recognition-of-manipuri-as-classical-language |website=Imphal Free Press |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=IANS |date=20 August 2016 |title=Classic language status for Manipuri demanded |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/classic-language-status-for-manipuri-demanded-116082000690_1.html}}{{Cite web |date=21 August 2019 |title=Manipur Govt Begins Efforts for Inclusion of Manipuri Among 'Classical' Languages |url=http://www.indiatodayne.in/breaking-news/story/manipur-govt-begins-efforts-inclusion-manipuri-among-classical-languages-397876-2019-08-21 |website=India Today NE |language=hi}}

Various annual events are organised to promote, protect and develop Meitei language, in the sovereign states of India and Bangladesh in particular as well as in other parts of the world in general.

• Manipuri language day ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯂꯣꯟꯒꯤ ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ}}|Manipuri Lon-gi Numit}}) is observed annually on 20 August, commemorating the day in 1992 when Manipuri was made one of the official languages of India.{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Th Suresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kbu_AwAAQBAJ&dq=meitei+language+day&pg=PA24 |title=The Endless Kabaw Valley: British Created Visious Cycle of Manipur, Burma and India|pages=24~25 |date=2 June 2014 |publisher=Quills Ink Publishing |isbn=978-93-84318-00-0 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Coleman |first1=Daniel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eu8cTROu4LcC&dq=meitei+language+day&pg=PA131 |title=Countering Displacements: The Creativity and Resilience of Indigenous and Refugee-ed Peoples |last2=Glanville |first2=Erin Goheen |last3=Hasan |first3=Wafaa |last4=Kramer-Hamstra |first4=Agnes |date=26 April 2012 |publisher=University of Alberta |isbn=978-0-88864-592-0 |pages=131 |language=en}}
• Manipuri poetry day ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯁꯩꯔꯦꯡꯒꯤ ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ}}|Manipuri Sheirenggi Numit}}), is an annual literary event that promotes Meitei language poetry and the traditions of Meitei literature.{{Cite web |title=St Joseph University, Nagaland observes Manipuri Poetry Day 2022 |url=https://www.ifp.co.in/poetry/st-joseph-university-nagaland-observes-manipuri-poetry-day-2022 |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=Imphal Free Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Manipuri Poetry Day 2021 celebrated : 22nd oct21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=14..221021.oct21 |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=e-pao.net}} Events are held in Manipur and in and by Meitei-speakers in Northeast India and West Bengal.{{Cite web |last=Ajit |first=Sh |title=Manipuri in Kolkata observes "Manipuri Poetry Day" – Imphal Times |url=https://www.imphaltimes.com/news/item/15818-manipuri-in-kolkata-observes-manipuri-poetry-day |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=www.imphaltimes.com |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Manipuri Poetry Day 2021 celebrated |url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2021/10/21/IMPHAL-Oct-21Department-of-English-St-Joseph-University-Nagaland-in-collaboration-with-Fiction.html |access-date=9 March 2023 |website=www.thesangaiexpress.com |language=en}}
• The Manipuri Language Festival ({{langx|mni|{{Script|Mtei|ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯂꯣꯟꯒꯤ ꯀꯨꯝꯃꯩ}}|Manipuri Lon-gi Kummei}}) is an annual cultural event that aims to protect and develop of the Meitei language, script and culture in Bangladesh.{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Jibon |date=14 May 2022 |title=কমলগঞ্জে মণিপুরি ভাষা ও সংস্কৃতি উৎসব |url=https://dailyjalalabad.com/2022/05/186017/ |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=দৈনিক জালালাবাদ {{!}} Daily Jalalabad |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |title=কমলগঞ্জে মনিপুরী ভাষা উৎসব উদযাপিত |url=https://www.bangla-times.com/2023/03/10/%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%80-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%89%E0%A7%8E/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=www.bangla-times.com |language=en-US}}

{{Further|Meitei input methods}}

In 2021, Rudali Huidrom, a Manipuri researcher of the EBMT/NLP laboratory, Waseda University, Japan, created a text corpus named "EM Corpus" (shortened form of "Emalon Manipuri Corpus"). It is the first comparable text to text corpus built for Meitei language (mni) and English language (eng) pair from sentences. The writing system used for Meitei language in this corpus is Bengali script. It was crawled and collected from thesangaiexpress.com – the news website of "The Sangai Express", a daily newspaper of Manipur from August 2020 to 2021. In version 1, she created the monolingual data, having 1,034,715 Meitei language sentences and 846,796 English language sentences. In version 2, she created the monolingual data, having 1,880,035 Meitei language sentences and 1,450,053 English language sentences.{{Cite web |title=Machine translation of English-Manipuri made possible : 13th oct21 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=35..131021.oct21 |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=e-pao.net}}{{Cite web |title=Ema-lon Manipuri Corpus (including word embedding and language model) – ELRA Catalogue |url=http://catalog.elra.info/en-us/repository/browse/ELRA-W0316/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=catalog.elra.info}}

EM-ALBERT is the first ALBERT model available for Meitei language. EM-FT is also FastText word embedding available for Meitei language. These resources were created by Rudali Huidrom and are now available at free of cost at the European Language Resources Association catalogue (ELRA catalogue) under CC-BY-NC-4.0 licence.

File:Google Translate - English to Meiteilon (Manipuri) - "What is your name?" - Screenshot.jpg translating a sentence from English language into Meitei language]]

On 11 May 2022, Google Translate added Meitei-language (under the name "Meiteilon (Manipuri)") during its addition of 24 new languages to the translation tool. The writing system used for Meitei language in this tool is Meitei script.{{Cite web |date=12 May 2022 |title=Assamese, Meiteilon (Manipuri) and Mizo language has been added to Google translate, moment of pride for Northeastern India! – NE India Broadcast |url=https://neindiabroadcast.com/2022/05/12/assamese-meiteilon-manipuri-and-mizo-language-has-been-added-to-google-translate-moment-of-pride-for-northeastern-india/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=11 May 2022 |title=Google Translate adds support for Assamese, Mizo and Manipuri languages – Eastern Mirror |url=https://easternmirrornagaland.com/google-translate-adds-support-for-assamese-mizo-and-manipuri-languages/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=easternmirrornagaland.com |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |date=12 May 2022 |title=Google Translate gets support for 24 new languages including Assamese, Mizo and Manipuri |url=https://www.time8.in/google-translate-gets-support-for-24-new-languages-including-assamese-mizo-and-manipuri/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |website=TIME8 |language=en-US }}

The following is a sample text in Modern Meitei of the Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (by the United Nations):{{Cite web |title=Manipuri language and alphabets |url=https://omniglot.com/writing/manipuri.htm |access-date=12 August 2022 |website=omniglot.com}}{{efn|The Meitei-language translation of the passage of the Article 1 has two foreign words present, "ꯏꯖꯖꯠ" ("iːdʒət") and "ꯍꯛ" ("hə́k"), meaning "dignity" and "rights" respectively, as given in the source website. The original Meitei-language terms for "dignity" and "rights" are "ꯏꯀꯥꯏ ꯈꯨꯝꯅꯕ" ("í.kai kʰum.nə.bə") and "ꯐꯪꯐꯝ ꯊꯣꯛꯄ" ("pʰəŋ.pʰəm tʰok.pə") respectively.}}

{{blockquote|

{{lang|mni|{{script|Mtei|ꯃꯤꯑꯣꯏꯕ ꯈꯨꯗꯤꯡꯃꯛ ꯄꯣꯛꯄ ꯃꯇꯝꯗ ꯅꯤꯡꯇꯝꯃꯤ, ꯑꯃꯗꯤ ꯏꯖꯖꯠ ꯑꯃꯁꯨꯡ ꯍꯛ ꯃꯥꯟꯅꯅ ꯂꯧꯖꯩ ꯫ ꯃꯈꯣꯏ ꯄꯨꯝꯅꯃꯛ ꯋꯥꯈꯜ ꯂꯧꯁꯤꯡ ꯁꯦꯡꯏ, ꯑꯐ ꯐꯠꯇ ꯈꯪꯏ, ꯑꯗꯨꯅ ꯑꯃꯅ ꯑꯃꯒ ꯂꯣꯏꯅꯕ ꯃꯇꯝꯗ ꯃꯆꯤꯟ ꯃꯅꯥꯎꯒꯨꯝꯅ ꯂꯣꯏꯅꯒꯗꯕꯅꯤ ꯫}}}} (in Meitei script)

{{lang|mni|মিওইবা খুদিংমক পোকপা মতমদা নিংতম্মী, অমদি ইজ্জৎ অমসুং হক মান্ননা লৌজৈ । মখোই পুম্নমক ৱাখল লৌশিং শেঙই, অফ ফত্তা খঙই, অদুনা অমনা অমগা লোইনবদা মচীন মনাওগুম্না লোইনগদবনি ।}} (in Bengali script)

{{lang|mni|Mioiba khudingmak pokpa matamda ningtammi amadi ijjat amasung hak mānnana leijei, makhoi pumnamak wākhal loushing shengi, apha phatta khangi, aduna amana amaga loinabada machin manāogumna loinagadabani.}} (Roman transliteration)

{{lang|mni|{{IPA|míːójbə kʰud̯íŋmək pókpə mət̯ə̀md̯ə níːŋt̯ə̀mmi, əməd̯i iːdʒət əməʃùng hə́k màːnənə lɐ̀jdʒɐ̀j. məkʰój púmnəmək wakʰə̀l lə̀wʃiŋ ʃèŋi, əpʱə̀ pʱə́ːt̯ə kʰə́ŋi, əd̯unə əmənə əməgə lòjnəbəd̯ə mət͡ʃìn mənáwgùmnə lójnəgəd̯əbəni'}}}} (IPA transliteration).

{{langx|en|All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.}} }}

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• Meitei language in India
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• List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Meitei
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• List of Yuva Puraskar winners for Meitei
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• Vikaspedia

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• 1. A Short History of Kangleipak (Manipur) Part-I, by Chingtamlen, 2005
• 2. A Short History of Kangleipak (Manipur) Part-II, by Chingtamlen, 2007
• 3. A Short History of Kangleipak (Manipur) Part-III, by Chingtamlen, 2008
• 4. The Meetei and the Bishnupriya, by Chingtamlen, 2008

• Brara, N. Vijaylakshmi. (1998). Politics, society, and cosmology in India's North East. Delphi: Oxford University Press.
• Budha, W. (1992). Indigenous games of the Meiteis. Manipur: Wangkeimayum Publications.
• Kshetrimayum, Otojit. (2014). Ritual, Politics and Power in North East India: Contexualising the Lai Haraoba of Manipur. Delhi: Ruby Press & Co.
• Singh, M. Kirti. (1988). Religion and culture of Manipur. Delhi: Manas Publications.
• Singh, M. Kirti. (1993). Folk culture of Manipur. Delhi: Manas Publications.
• Singh, Saikhom Gopal. (2014). The Meeteis of Manipur: A Study in Human Geography. Delhi: Ruby Press & Co.

• Bhat, D. N. S.; & Ningomba, S. (1997). Manipuri grammar. Munich: Lincom Europa.
• Chelliah, Shobhana L. (1990). Experiencer subjects in Manipuri. In V. M. Manindra & K. P. Mohanan (Eds.), Experiencer subjects in South Asian languages (pp. 195–211). Stanford: The Center for the Study of Language and Information.
• Chelliah, Shobhana L. (1992). Tone in Manipuri. In K. L. Adams & T. J. Hudak (Eds.), Papers from the first annual meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society 1991 (pp. 65–85). Tempe, AZ: Arizona State University.
• Chelliah, Shobhana L. (1992). Bracketing paradoxes in Manipuri. In M. Aronoff (Ed.), Morphology now (pp. 33–47). Albany: State University of New York Press.
• Chelliah, Shobhana L. (1994). Morphological change and fast speech phenomena in the Manipuri verb. In K. L. Adams & T. J. Hudak (Eds.), Papers from the second annual meeting of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society 1992 (pp. 121–134). Tempe, AZ: Arizona State University.
• Chelliah, Shobhana L. (1997). A grammar of Meitei. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. {{ISBN|0-19-564331-3}}.
• Chelliah, Shobhana L. (2002). Early Meitei manuscripts. In C. I. Beckwith (Ed.), Medieval Tibeto-Burman languages: PIATS 2000: Tibetan studies: Proceedings of the ninth seminar of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, Leiden 2000 (pp. 59–71). Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.
• Chelliah, Shobhana L. (2002). A glossary of 39 basic words in archaic and modern Meitei. In C. I. Beckwith (Ed.), Medieval Tibeto-Burman languages: PIATS 2000: Tibetan studies: Proceedings of the ninth seminar of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, Leiden 2000 (pp. 189–190). Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.
• {{cite journal |last1=Chelliah |first1=Shobhana L. |year=2004 |title=Polysemy through metonymy: The case of Meitei pi 'grandmother' |journal=Studies in Language |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=363–386 |doi=10.1075/sl.28.2.04che}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Chelliah |first1=Shobhana L. |s2cid=130962163 |year=2015 |title=Is Manipur a linguistic area? |journal=Journal of South Asian Languages and Linguistics |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=87–109 |doi=10.1515/jsall-2015-0004}}
• Singh, Ningthoukhongjam Khelchandra. (1964). Manipuri to Manipuri & English dictionary.

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• {{Cite web |title=Meetei Mayek |url=http://tabish.freeshell.org/eeyek/ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=tabish.freeshell.org}}
• {{Cite web |title=Manipuri/Meiteilon/Meithei |url=http://tabish.freeshell.org/eeyek/mani_intro.html |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=tabish.freeshell.org}}
• {{Cite web |title=Manipuri language and alphabets |url=https://omniglot.com/writing/manipuri.htm |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=omniglot.com}}
• {{Cite web |title=Learn to speak Manipuri |url=http://tabish.freeshell.org/manipuri/ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=tabish.freeshell.org}}
• {{Cite web |title=Learn Manipuri |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=education.Learn_Manipuri.html |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=www.e-pao.net}}
• {{Cite web |title=Meetei Mayek keys |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.meetei_mayek_keys.html.. |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=www.e-pao.net}}
• {{Cite web |title=Meetei Mayek Poems |url=http://www.e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=MeiteiMayek.meetei_mayek_Poems.html../ |access-date=21 August 2022 |website=www.e-pao.net}}

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