Editing Meitei language (section)

== Dialects ==
The Meitei language exhibits a degree of regional variation; however, in recent years the broadening of communication, as well as intermarriage, has caused the [[dialect]]al differences to become relatively insignificant. The only exceptions to this occurrence are the speech differences of the dialects found in Tripura, Bangladesh and Myanmar.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The exact number of dialects of Meitei is unknown.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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 language|standard variety]]—and is viewed as more dynamic than the other two dialects.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meitei {{!}} Ethnologue |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mni/ |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=[[Ethnologue]] |language=en}}</ref> The brief table below compares some words in these three dialects:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ningoma |first1=M. S. |title=Manipur Dialects |date=1996 |publisher=Sealang Projects}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Standard Meitei !! Loi !! Pangal !! English translation
|-
| chaaba || chaapa|| chaaba|| to eat
|-
| kappa|| kapma|| kappa|| to weep
|-
| saabiba|| saapipa|| saabiba|| to make
|-
| thamba|| thampa|| thamba|| to put
|-
| chuppiba|| chuppipa|| chuppiba|| to kiss
|}

Devi (2002)<ref name="Devi2002">Devi, L. Manimala. 2002. A comparative study of Imphal, Andro, Koutruk and Kakching dialects of Meiteiron. (Doctoral dissertation, Canchipur: Manipur University; 273pp.)</ref> compares the [[Imphal]], [[Andro, Imphal East|Andro]], Koutruk, and [[Kakching]] dialects of Meitei.