Ao Mongsen (included under ISO 639-3 code: njo)

Ao Mongsen is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the northeastern state of Nagaland, India. It belongs to the Ao branch of the Central Naga subgroup, which is part of the Tibeto-Burman language family. While Ao Mongsen does not have a separate ISO 639-3 code, it is included under the broader Ao language code (njo). Similarly, it has not been assigned a distinct Glottocode but is included under the Ao Glottocode (aona1235).

The Ao language group comprises three main varieties: Ao Chungli, Ao Mongsen, and Changki (sometimes regarded as a closely related variety of Ao Mongsen). Additionally, other languages spoken in Nagaland, such as Sangtam, Yimkhiung, and Lotha, are related to the Ao branch though not dialects of it. Ao Mongsen has approximately 104,000 speakers (2011 Census) and is primarily spoken in 30 villages within the Mokokchung district of Nagaland, India.

Sociolinguistic Profile

Most Ao Mongsen speakers are bilingual or multilingual, with proficiency in Ao Chungli (the standardized variety of Ao community), Nagamese (a creole and lingua franca of Nagaland), English, and occasionally Hindi. Ao Mongsen is primarily used in informal settings, such as family interactions and community activities. While it remains a living language, its status is considered vulnerable due to the growing influence of Nagamese and English, particularly among younger generations.

The dominance of Ao Chungli in literature, education, and religious practices further marginalizes Ao Mongsen. Despite this, Ao Mongsen holds significant cultural importance as a repository of the Ao Naga identity, oral traditions, and folklore. It plays a vital role in preserving the community's history, myths, and rituals. Notably, all traditional folksongs are sung in Mongsen, regardless of whether the speaker primarily uses Chungli, Mongsen, or Changki.