LANGUAGES OF THE MEY [SHERDUKPEN] CLUSTER...1. Introduction The Mey [=Sherdukpen] languages spoken...

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LANGUAGES OF THE MEY

[SHERDUKPEN] CLUSTER

WORKING DOCUMENT ONLY

[Preferably don’t use before consulting me]

Roger Blench Kay Williamson Educational Foundation 8, Guest Road Cambridge CB1 2AL United Kingdom Voice/ Ans (00-44)-(0)7847-495590 Mobile worldwide (00-44)-(0)7967-696804 E-mail [email protected] http://www.rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm

Pasighat, 25 November, 2012

Comparative Mey wordlist Roger Blench. Main text

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACRONYMS AND CONVENTIONS........................................................................................................... 2 1. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 3 2. DATA ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Mey of Rupa........................................................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Mey of Shergaon.................................................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Sartang of Rahung ................................................................................................................................ 4

3. TRANSCRIPTION ..................................................................................................................................... 6 BODY PARTS ................................................................................................................................................. 1 PERSONS, FAMILY ...................................................................................................................................... 3 HOUSES AND ARCHITECTURE ............................................................................................................... 4 HOUSEHOLD ITEMS ................................................................................................................................... 5 Dress ............................................................................................................................................................. 6 Tools etc........................................................................................................................................................ 7

WEAVING....................................................................................................................................................... 8 AGRICULTURE............................................................................................................................................. 8 CROPS ............................................................................................................................................................. 8 FOODS............................................................................................................................................................. 9 Stimulants .................................................................................................................................................. 10

PLANTS......................................................................................................................................................... 10 DISEASE........................................................................................................................................................ 10 PROFESSIONS............................................................................................................................................. 11 TRADE........................................................................................................................................................... 11 WARFARE.................................................................................................................................................... 11 FISHING ETC............................................................................................................................................... 12 RELIGION .................................................................................................................................................... 12 SOCIAL TRANSACTIONS......................................................................................................................... 13 FESTIVALS................................................................................................................................................... 13 NATURAL WORLD .................................................................................................................................... 13 COMMUNICATIONS.................................................................................................................................. 15 METALS........................................................................................................................................................ 16 PLANT PARTS ............................................................................................................................................. 16 WILD PLANTS............................................................................................................................................. 16 ANIMAL PARTS.......................................................................................................................................... 16 ANIMALS...................................................................................................................................................... 17 Domestic ..................................................................................................................................................... 17

WILD ANIMALS.......................................................................................................................................... 17 Mammals.................................................................................................................................................... 17 Insects ......................................................................................................................................................... 18 Reptiles etc. ................................................................................................................................................ 19 Fish ............................................................................................................................................................. 19

ABSTRACTS................................................................................................................................................. 19 PRONOUNS .................................................................................................................................................. 19 NUMERALS.................................................................................................................................................. 20 ADJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................................... 22 COLOURS..................................................................................................................................................... 26 VERBS ........................................................................................................................................................... 26 ADVERBS...................................................................................................................................................... 36 Place............................................................................................................................................................ 36 Directions ................................................................................................................................................... 36 Time............................................................................................................................................................ 36 Adverbs of manner.................................................................................................................................... 37

EXCLAMATIONS........................................................................................................................................ 38

Comparative Mey wordlist Roger Blench. Main text

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DERIVATION OF PROFESSIONS AND VERBAL NOUNS ................................................................. 38 REFERENCES.............................................................................................................................................. 38

TABLES

Table 1. Comparison of Sherdukpen cluster languages with Monpa and CTB 5 Table 2. Bugun-Mey cognates 6 Table 3. CTB-Kamengic cognates 6

ACRONYMS AND CONVENTIONS

# quasi-reconstruction

* regular reconstruction

AD Anno Domini BP Before present

C consonant

C1 first consonant

IPA International Phonetic Association

N nasal

Mey Comparative wordlist Roger Blench Working draft only

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1. Introduction

The Mey [=Sherdukpen] languages spoken in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India. They are generally treated as Tibeto-Burman languages and as part of the ‘North Assam’ group (e.g. Bradley 1997; Robbins Burling 2003). The Mey, who live west of the Bugun, are in the valley of the Tengapani river south of Bomdila. The name is a construct, from the settlement of Shergaon and ‘Tukpen’, apparently a Monpa name for Rupa. The correct name for Sherdukpen is Mey and the language Mey nyuk. The main published source is Dondrup (1988) which is based on the Shergaon dialect and is of variable reliability. So far unrecorded is the dialect of Rupa, which is surprisingly different from Shergaon. Additional data on Sherdukpen is included in Abraham et al. (2005), which also sets out data from a language he calls ‘Sartang’, spoken in six villages in Nafra and Dirang circles in West Kameng. These people have also been called ‘But Monpa’ in previous literature, and there was a population of 348 in 1981, although the current estimate is around a thousand. Two more languages falling under the general rubric of ‘Monpa’ are Chug and Lish. The Chug are found only in Chug village, a few miles from Dirang, and had a population of 483 in 1971. The Lish live in three villages in the same area, and there were 1567 people recorded in 1981. The Ethnologue (2009) says the following; ‘The Lish, But, and Chug dialects [of Monpa] differ from the others, resembling Aka, Miji, and Sherdukpen languages’. Accordingly it classifies these languages with Eastern Kiranti [!]. Even accepting this dubious classification of Monpa, which looks distinctly Bodish, the concept of specific languages ‘resembling’ such a mixed grab-bag is unlikely.

2. Data

2.1 Mey of Rupa

The only published data on Mey of Rupa is the grammar sketch in Grewal (1997: 61 ff.). A wordlist and sample sentences were recorded from Mrs. Nyima in Pasighat and Naharlagun over several days in January 2011 and re-recorded in Rupa subsequently through the kind offices of Dr. Karma Dorje and his family.

2.2 Mey of Shergaon

Map 1. Mey of Rupa and Shergaon

The original source document was Dondrup (1988) which is the Shergaon dialect. However, the Rupa dialect, recorded here turns out to be very different. The correct name for the Sherdukpen people is Mey and their language is Mey Nyuk.


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2.3 Sartang of Rahung

The wordlist was recorded in Rahung on 21st January, 2011, with the kind assistance of the Gaon Bura of Rahung.

Bugun and Sherdukpen are languages spoken in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh. The Bugun, also known as Cowa (=Khowa), numbered 800 in 1981, living in some ten villages. The Bugun language has been barely documented. The only published source is Dondrup (1990); some phonetically transcribed data appears in the Appendix to Abraham et al. (2005) and Madhumita Barbora of Tezpur University has recorded a wordlist and sample sentences as part of an unpublished study of the phonology. Dondrup (1990) is orthographic and should be used with care. A Bugun wordlist was recorded in 2010 and it is used in the data cited here. The Sherdukpen, who live west of the Bugun, are in the valley of the Tengapani river south of Bomdila. The name is a construct, from the settlement of Shergaon and ‘Tukpen’, apparently a Monpa name for Rupa. Apparently the correct name for Sherdukpen is Mey and the language Mey nyuk. The main published source is Dondrup (1988) which is based on the Shergaon dialect and is of variable reliability. So far unrecorded is the dialect of Rupa, which is surprisingly different from Shergaon; field materials are given in the Appendix. Additional data on a Mey lect is included in Abraham et al. (2005), which also sets out data from a language he calls ‘Sartang’, spoken in six villages in Nafra and Dirang circles in West Kameng. These people have also been called ‘But Monpa~Boot Monpa’ in previous literature, and there was a population of 348 in 1981, although the current estimate is around a thousand (Dondrup 2010). Two more languages falling under the general rubric of ‘Monpa’ are Chug and Lish. The Chug are found only in Chug village, a few miles from Dirang, and had a population of 483 in 1971. The Lish live in three villages in the same area, and there were 1567 people recorded in 1981. The Ethnologue (2009) says the following; ‘The Lish, But, and Chug dialects [of Monpa] differ from the others, resembling Aka, Miji, and Sherdukpen languages’. Accordingly it classifies these languages with Eastern Kiranti [!]. Even accepting this dubious classification of Monpa, which looks distinctly Bodish, the concept of specific languages ‘resembling’ such a mixed grab-bag is unlikely.


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The text of Abraham et al. (2005) makes a case for treating Sartang, Chug and Lish as separate languages, and as a consequence they are assigned three-letter codes in the most recent Ethnologue, and thus have probably gained ISO status. This is not supported by the comparative wordlist in Table 1, which shows that, allowing for variations in transcription, Chug and Lish are hardly even dialects of one another, while Sartang is very similar to Sherdukpen. Surprisingly, Rupa is quite distinct from the language of Shergaon.

Table 1. Comparison of Sherdukpen cluster languages with Monpa and CTB

Gloss CTB Tawang Chug Lish Sartang Rupa Shergaon

One *g-t(y)ik tʰi hin hin han han han Two *g-ni-s nei niʃ ɲes niʃ ɲik ɲit Three *g-sum sum om ʔum um uŋ uŋ Four *b-ləy bli psi pʰəhi pʃi bsi phsi Five *b-ŋa leŋa kʰa kʰa kʰu kʰu kʰu Six *d-ruk gro ʧyk ʧʰuʔ ʧy kit ʧuk Seven *s-nis ŋis his ʃis siʔ sit sit Eight *b-r-gyat get saɾgeʔ saɾgeʔ sarʤe sarʤat sargyat Nine *d-gəw ḓǔgu ṱʰikʰu ṱʰikʰu tʰekʰe dʰikʰi tʰikʰi Ten *gip ʧih̥ ʃan ʃan sou sõ sõ Head *d-bu-s got kʰloʔ kʰoloʔ kʰruʔ Nose *na, *naar nah̥ heŋpʰoŋ hempoŋ apʰuŋ nəfuŋ nupʰuŋ Eye *mik meloŋ kʰum kʰumu kʰaʔby kivi khibi Mouth *mka kʰa kʰoʧu hoʧok ʧʰo nəʧaw niʧaw Ear *r-na nelǎp kʰutʰuŋ kʰutʰuŋ kʰətʰyŋ gtʰiŋ kʰutʰuŋ Tongue *s-l(y)a leh̥ loi loi le lapon laphõ Tooth *swa wah̥ hintuŋ ʃiŋtuŋ nitʰiŋ tokʧe nuthuŋ Arm *g-lak lah̥ hut hu ik ik ik Leg *kaŋ lemi lai lei le la la Stomach *grwat kepa hiliŋ hiɲiŋ fəriŋ sliŋ siriŋ Bone *rus roʃba ʃukuʃ ʃukuʃ skiʔ skik skit Blood *s-hywey kʰra hoi hoi he ha ha Sun *nəy plaŋ nami nami nimiʔ nini nini Moon *s-la lei atnamba namba namluʔ namblu namblu Star *s-kar karma karma karma ʧyʤy zik ʧuzuk Man *r-min mih̥ pədəŋ bǔḓǔn ʤiriŋ ʃirin ʤuhu Woman *mow ǎmah dʰudma esma ʤymy kʰre ʤimi ʤimi Dog *kʷəy kʰi watʰi watʰi petʰe btʰa pʰitʰa Pig *pwak pʰa ʃiabaʔ ʃaba swaʔ swok swag Tiger *k-la ʧěn lapʧa pʰuyam pʰuŋ pʰuŋ phõ Water *ti(y) ʧi kʰu kʰau kʰow kʰo kʰo Fire *mey meh̥ bei bei be ba ba Tree *siŋ, *sik ʧyaŋ ʃiŋ hiŋ hiŋ siŋtiŋ hiŋ tʰuŋ Leaf *r-pak palǎp ulaʔ ulap arap alap alap Name *miŋ meŋ biŋ biŋ aʤen Eat *dzya sasuh̥ ʧʰa ʧa he ʧuva, kuva ʧuwa, kuwa

It can be clearly stated that faulty methodology and the confusion of ethnic and clan classifications have allowed the manufacture of non-existent languages. Shergaon, Rupa, Sartang, Chug and Lish form a single extremely close dialect complex which has no discernible relation to Kiranti or Monpa. On the broader question of whether Bugun and the Mey are related to one another, Table 2 shows some cognates apparent from the short wordlist in the appendix. A more in-depth search is likely to uncover great numbers. Where there is a plausible, if not certain relationship with CTB, I have marked this in the second column. Abraham et al. (2005) report that some older Bugun spoke Sherdukpen as a language of


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intercommunication. It is conceivable this might account for some similarities but is unlikely to have resulted in this type of replacement of basic lexicon.

Table 2. Bugun-Mey cognates

Gloss CTB Bugun Shergaon

Two + ɲeŋ ɲit Three + ɨm uŋ Five kua kʰu Nine + dige tʰikʰi Ten suŋwa sõ Head kʰruk kʰruk Nose epʰuŋ nupʰuŋ Mouth ʃyam niʧaw Ear ekʰɔ̃ khuthuŋ Leg loe la Child ani nunu Pig + wak swag Water kʰo kho Fire boe ba Tree + hiŋmua hiŋ tʰuŋ Leaf arap alap Eat + ʧʰa ʧuwa, kuwa

On the broader question of whether Bugun and the Mey complex are Sino-Tibetan, neither language shows many cognates with CTB and some of those are doubtful or possible loans, such as ‘pig’ and ‘iron’. The extremely low number of Tibeto-Burman cognates could just as easily be explained by borrowings as by genetic affiliation. I therefore conclude that Bugun-Mey is an isolated small phylum, pending further investigation. It is tentatively dubbed Kamengic, pending a more suitable reference name. Table 3 shows the possible CTB cognates identified.

Table 3. CTB-Kamengic cognates

Gloss CTB Sartang Sherdukpen

Culture Iron *syal sẽ Dao *sta handu Banana none musuŋ n/a Arum, taro *grwa n/a Millet none gicam Paddy ʧuaʔri nise Rice ʧu nudob Cooked rice he

3. Transcription

This version of the wordlist uses symbols taken from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). To read them easily they can be converted as follows;

ʤ j ɔ open ‘o’ as in ‘pot’ ʧ c, ch ə like ‘ir’ in English ‘bird’ ŋ ng ˜ nasalisation. Sounds like the vowel in French vin. ɲ ny

Doubled vowels means the vowel is long, or drawn out


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Tables have been designed for complete wordlists and they will slowly get filled in as I transcribe my materials.

Body parts

Gloss Rupa Sher-

gaon

Sartang Chug Lish Bugun Comment

ankle le kʰrok pu arm ik èík hut hu wa ʧyo back likeʰ snagǔŋ ʤʸap lispo haduŋ beard suŋk(ə)ra máù man belly sliŋ sriŋ hiliŋ hiɲiŋ lui sio blood ha(a) hoi hoi əfoy body ki, li ɭey lus mama lis mamu syaw bone skik skik ʃukuʃ ʃukuʃ əzɛŋ brain əɲi mzaw breast yiŋ nǐŋ niɔŋ breath bik ʨɔ lu bɔ msʨya buttocks bəteŋ la ʃu brə̌ calf la ʧɔ̌ [?] cheek koptaŋ duŋpa chest miaw muwuu lu tɔ̀ɔ́ chin gamde gàmtì kamduŋ hiŋkur ʧam skaw ear gtʰiŋ ktèíŋ kʰutuŋ kʰutuŋ kʰɔ̃ɔ̃ elbow ik li ik ɭey ʧiʔ huʤulu wa ʤuŋ entrails ala alɛ̌ lui syaw eye kivi kabə̀ɯ́ kʰum kʰumu ɲɛp eye-brow kibi ʧaŋ eyelid kibi skuk face bo doŋpo zə̀í doŋpa doʔ mzia faeces1 ya yɛ̌ ẽĩ fat oyo ayùú ʧakpa ayo eyòó finger ik ʧi ik amúŋ brama hu sada finger, index

ik mini wa tsɛn

finger, fore ik mo finger, middle

ik ʧuŋ

finger, ring foot, see leg

lè par lai lei

forehead bəkaw mkèɯ́ kùáŋ goitre draw gum siɲi ʃiněŋ hair gəzaŋ gzǎŋ kʰuʃaŋ kʰsaŋ ka ʤyɔm hand see arm

ik brɔn wa tian

head kʰrǔk kʰrǔ kʰloʔ kʰolo kʰruk

1 dung, excrement, manure, shit, stool


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Gloss Rupa Sher-

gaon


heart zli luŋtʰaʔ luŋtʰaʔ ɛliŋ heel la ki intestines jaw kidney sliŋ kravi krabə̀ɯ́ knee la fìkǒm kolokpa ley klopa lɔk myɛk lap dẽ leg la lě lai lei loai pĩã ? lip bəʧaw skuk ʧakěy liver aʧẽẽ aʧĩ̌ əʧiŋ lungs sliŋ sruk ɾii marrow anìí ihyuŋ mole zik mouth nəʧaw ʨʨǒ kʰoʧu hoʧok ʧyam nail hut ʧʰuŋ hut ʧʰiŋ navel zliŋbra ɾii neck ortoŋ ktǔŋ hendoŋ hiŋtʰoŋ yùŋá nipple nǐŋ brɔn nose nəfuŋ mapǔn heŋpʰoŋ hempoŋ əfuŋ palm ik ʧapar ik par hut pʰara hu pʰala penis lok lo pubic hair smi la man pupil kibi aram pus anɔ rib hereʰ hrẽ̀ĩ́ izɛŋ saliva taa tɛɛ ʨan scalp kapliŋ scrotum shoulder ləpaʰ pnǐŋ habɨm skin skuk sku ʃakʰo ʃakʰo ʃaw kuŋ spleen sle sùsùrù əsiŋ lyɔŋ stomach (internal)

karbu ? hiliŋ hiɲiŋ lui

sweat ? ku ʧik bu nam ʧʰanami namliŋ haɲu wa tear kibi ənɔ kabɯ mɔhɔ̃ mkʰo thigh ləpu là fǔ la fɔ thumb ikbo wa nua toe le brɔn loai psɛn tongue lapon lɛ̌ loi loi ɾii tooth tokʧe ptə̀íŋ hintuŋ ʃiŋtuŋ sɲɛn urine zi ʥǐ kaʧe vagina ʧopi tabe vein ha tok hɛ tùún ɾɾɛŋ waist mo kʰap kʰiŋ lɛ̀ tɔ̀tɔ̀k bǒ wrist iʧé wa tɔŋ


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Persons, family

Gloss Rupa Shergaon Sartang Chug Lish Bugun Comment

adult ʤuɲu ancestor asu bachelor mlea flea aunt atiŋ ʧìá ga mno bastard dafla boy ʤuhu ʤhǔ ba fuə brother biki aʥɛ̌ ga fuə brother-in-law ara arě ga baw but also husband,

people of other tribes

child nini anǐ anǐ clan ruŋ corpse co-wife, first co-wife, second daughter dimi dəmǐ damu ʤumu ga dmi elder brother ada ada elder sister aʷ ʔawu enemy family pʰudu

mudu

father aʧi afuə (high caste) father apɔ, abɔ abòò apa aba (low caste) father and son pʰudu father and sons pʰuduta father-in-law azaŋ kʰèyá ga kən fathers and sons pʰudukʰĩĩ friend rok gɔ knuŋ loʔ loʔ ga gyaŋ girl ʤimi ʤimǐ dmi grandfather asu asǔ ga ʧin grandmother ebi ga moy (high caste) grandmother ayo ayǒ (low caste) grandson ʧidu ʧidǔ ga ʧaw grand-daughter afuə ga ʧaw husband man ʤiriŋ pədəŋ bǔḓǔn married man married woman mother emi amùù ama ama amuə mother and daughter

mudu

mother and daughters

muduta

mother-in-law aɲi siŋyǎ ga moy mothers and daughters

mudukʰĩĩ

neighbour korpo kɔrpǔ ga hɔs po old man ʤiman àzɛ́ʔ àsɔ́ priɔŋ old woman ʤohomat ʤhòóm mriɔŋ orphan parent pʰamɔ


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person maŋma budihin person specifier -du suffix (vocative) relatives ɲi ʧan sister məriŋ anɛ̌ ga mi nuə sister-in-law azu azǔ ga fìí son du adǔ ʧaʔla kuʧʰi ka ti fuə uncle aʧe ga fnu village chief tʰik abɔ village informer kaʧuŋpɔ villager tʰikpɔ widow mureŋ msyuŋ widower pʰureŋ wife əyu ayǔ uya uya woman dʰudma esma you children ninidu young girl ʤonʤi ʤəmzi mlea young man ʤiɲu ʤinǐ flea younger brother kʰuʧi anuŋ younger sister ʤumu ʔonuma youth

Houses and architecture

Gloss Rupa Shergaon Sartang Chug Lish Comment

altar rapsa animal stable tɔbloŋ cattle pan ceiling below grain-store zǒ apex of two wooden posts yǎm sǒŋ post, vertical dǐŋ pǒŋ centre-post dǐŋ mǔ bamboo planks grali bamboo straight yǎm rɔ́ door kǎw kotam kutʰuŋ eaves yǎm za fence kʰyiŋ gɔr firewood house kɔstɛ lǒŋ

kǐŋ

floor sɔŋ kɛʔ granary yǔk2 gɔ́ ground floor lɔ̌ŋ kǐŋ guest place kʰrǔk hearth brop house [bɔŋ kʰi]

yam wam wam

kitchen ʧoko ladder to ceiling zo lətə̌̃

2 This is the name of the large basket for grains


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latrine hùḿblóŋ middle floor yam əlǐŋ partition bɛ̀rʧɛ́ plank pʰaŋtʰiŋ plank, vertical wood buk sǐŋ post kǒ post, centre diŋ mǔ kǒ poultry yard ʧay yǎm rafter loŋ bu ʧe rafter, crossways dǒk sǐŋ roof yǎmbá roof of bamboo tám pə̀lá room kǎm tǐŋ steps outside house dostoŋ stone & mud base mǒŋ top floor zǒ tray over hearth ba kʰyə̌ santak veranda dzuŋ dzokʰiŋ village tʰik tʰʸup luŋpa wall above ceiling of bamboo yǎm tǔ ʧikpa ʧikpa window I kǎw du koʧuŋ ɲalo window II yǎm cluŋ koʧuŋ ɲalo wooden planks above stone and mud base

wǒwǒ

Household items

alcohol jar tikəli bamboo container grǔŋ bamboo jar plaŋ basket for rice duŋ te [?] basket for vegetables po zǔŋ basket for vegetables duŋ yǔŋ basket for produce duŋ keŋ basket for firewood ok dǔŋ firewood basket hiŋ yuŋ [?] bed, wooden frame tsoŋgo bedclothes tõskǒm bedding yoham beer-filter ʧuŋ broŋ su blanket neloʔ neloʔ book peʧa bottle, leather kanda < Hindi bottle, glass sisa bottle, leather for spirits tsǔŋ zǔŋ bowl, brass for water dǐk bowl, bronze mdǐr box, wooden gǎm


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box tǐŋ brass vessel taw broom ʧʰamʧʰaraŋ ʧanʧəri candle boʧua boʧua clay pot tiklǐŋ comb nũ̌ cooking pot haza daŋza curry spoon daŋzari distilling vessel frying pan kʰyǎ gourd jar for soya beans ruwɔ <Assamese kettle dǎmbé lamp ʧaki <Assamese mat tõ matchbox bǎsáp mattress tõ̌ needle psi psi paper ʃigu ʃigu pillow skǒm kʰukʰum kʰumu plate skàm rice spoon hazari rice-pounder sǔm tsɔ̌nkɛ́ root of pine for torch ba bìʧí shelf prě sieve kapʨi spoon ʧkǒ ʧʰoi ʧʰobi woven strainer for beer tǒʔ cloth for strainer bruŋ su strainer, part kozɛr tea-glass kaptoŋ thread haʷŋ hwaŋ trivet brup zizi winnowing tray kàú

Dress

bangle triŋ belt mukɔp cap gtuŋ helmet, cap gurdum clothing, cloth tutʰuŋ,

wad wad

dress zdik ear-ring helmet zeŋ gtʰuŋ

[?]

head-dress ɲiŋ zaŋtok hide jacket


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male dress sapeʰ men’s outer coat necklace cik naŋ kor raincoat ring ik stop ʧedum ʧaydʔ shoe llu silver ɲiŋ silver belt silver cup ɲiŋ tnɔ silver dao ʧoŋtap women’s coat women’s gown siŋku

Tools etc. Rupa Shergaon Sartang Chug Lish Bugun Comment

arrow mik miʔ miʔ axe pʰlǔ pʰa pʰa bow li li li broom ʧan ʧiriŋ bullet guli < Hindi dao hǎndǔ dao, small hǎndùdù granary hayu gun mcɛ̌ gunpowder hoto gǎní hammer toŋ hoe gɔ̌r ? breksǐŋ ? ʧə̀gìí ? tsóŋ logodǒ knife bra baɾi bali knife, cutting bra vtǔŋ plough gòóŋgá quiver scythe tsǎm pǒ seed, seedling ali shield sickle bra ʧok spade spear zoŋ tiŋkaŋ stick kʰo weeder bra vʤǒ


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Weaving


loom shuttle slay thread cotton wool spin cloth design border weave sew spinning wheel needle scissors embroidered bag carpet blanket cane

Agriculture

Gloss Rupa Sher-

gaon


agriculture rek cutting jungle fallow land field jhum/swidden lurek jungle ʤaŋse kitchen-garden kĩ ʧɔr land sowing wetland cultivation

kʰoo rek

water channel kʰoo roŋdi

Crops

banana msuŋ ʃugun

ayuŋ leysi lisi səŋ

barley pʰlu bean sokpi ambɛ́ mawey cucumber bubuŋ mavùgún bsiə


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Gloss Rupa Sher-

gaon


chili pepper moŋ ɔɔ̃ mɔ̀ɔ́ŋ solu solo ʧalyaw eggplant mantɔ ptòò bandu bantʰu mantòò fruit mlaŋ ɔhɔ agúŋ mlyaŋ garlic moŋ siŋ moŋ ʧìì ɾəʃu maŋ muaŋ ginger moŋ ʧu moŋ ʤǔ gourd law kʧùgún krɔ̌̃ laisag greens pʰeza daŋsòò marɛrɛ lemon mkẽ lime cin maize pʰentʰaŋ pʧĩ̀ĩ́ ʃpɔŋ mango am < Hindi millet gcam kʧǎm ʨɔ̀̃ɔ́̃ millet ʤmùú millet kanʨǐŋ onion ʧooŋ ʤòóŋ ʧoŋ ʧoŋ mɔŋ sʸo orange ʧalup ʧali paddy nse ʨùù niʃəliaʔ niʃik peanut badam maŋkʰa potato ʤu ʤùú ʧəktaŋ ʤatumplu bomaʤiə pumpkin buŋgla maʔplùú abùúŋ rice ndop ʨùù sě nimdi nimdi ɲɛn rice, cooked ʧʰawa hoi ɲɛn ʧo soya bean siyuk su mawe

man

sugar-cane mʧi pʧi məʤu ʧulamiʤu nìrá sweet potato iŋ ʧaga

doŋ ʨuʤùú

taro ʨàʔ ʨʸɔ tomato bilati bɛ̀làhì bìlàhì < Assamese walnut mku mkùú mangòó wheat buku mkuu pʰoʔ pʰoskar ʨu kaw wild fruit mlaŋ ha

Foods

bread pʰem pěm butter mo mɔɔ suwani cheese ʧro ʨʨuu praŋ dry meat su ɔɔ̃ su ɔ̀ɔ̀̃ ipiye kaw egg bʧayuŋ ʧayu huʤoŋ ʔogoŋ ʧɛri fish ɲu ŋùú ŋa ŋa ũã flour nfaʰ nɛhɛ̀ɛ́ food ha meat su sǔ ʃya ʃaʔ ipiyə milk nuʔ ɲyu oil too tòó num num tòó


10

Gloss Rupa Sher-

gaon


salt hũ hũ ha ha sruwə sugar sini ʧini <Hindi

Stimulants

beer, wine pʰak pʰak pʰaʔ pʰak pʰuak ? < Tibetan betel leaf pan alap < Hindi betel nut sali goy — opium kani kanǐ spirits pʰǒt kʰo arɔ́ arɔ́ àrá arɔ́ <

Assamese tobacco tanti takèɯ́ makaw

Plants

Disease


blindness tri boil koŋkoŋ chickenpox cold, to have nkʰo tanba deaf and dumb deafness beŋɔ disease numba dislocated, to become kʰri dipa disordered brain, to have kʰruk goza rapa dysentery, to have yahepa epidemic rimʧak fever, to have dawba feverish, shivering ziŋziŋ fractured, to be gʰa dipa influenza leprosy medicine man man pen medicines man tikʰpo mixture man ointment man pain, to be in numba pill man pimple ringworm scabies konku smallpox tapeworm vomiting


11

worm groŋbi wounded acaw

Professions


blacksmith goldsmith guest hunter labourer painter porter servant shopkeeper smith thief weaver

Trade


customer debt feast hire interpreter leader loan merchandise money price repay security shop

Warfare


cannon captain defeat ransom soldier war


12

Fishing etc.


fishing fishnet fish-trap fishing rod fishing line bait hook boat oar fisherman hunt hunting trap box trap spear trap noose trap

Religion


bad spirit bell chant chief priest cymbal dance drum drum faith flute hand drum monastery offering omen priest priest’s assistant purity sceptre shawm song spirit of agriculture spirit of creation spirit of destruction spirit of jungle spirit of mountain spirit of wealth trumpet war spirit water jug water spirit


13

Social transactions


marriage marriage feast brideprice proposal divorce bridal ceremony birth ceremony grave mourning taboo group outsider verdict fine

Festivals


ʧɛsidam khro ne kʰiksǎbá

Natural world


ashes ba mi ʧa fǔ ʧuba ʧukpʰak big river kʰo dok boulder cave kʰe ʧě wo clay dehek sɔ aʧǔŋ ɲasǎy cliff ʧop ʧǎp sɔ̌p cloud sintìí mukpa toŋti ska maŋ coal ba kʰɔ̃ cold aʧan current darkness cf. night dust duipa ɲogma fire ba(a) bɛ̌ʔ bei bei boay


14


flame flood kʰo raaba fuel firewood, half-burned

ba smu

ground, soil saʔ sa hill lu ice saprə jungle ʤaŋse asɛ̀ɛ́ ʤabum lake kʰo

kʰankʰa ʧòó kʰo lyɛp

lightening nimi va tappa

nimi ve taʔbɔʔ

bruʔ namtaʔbu ha klam

lunar eclipse

march? moon, month

namblu nambrǔ namba at namba habiə

moon, full ʧa saŋku 15th of the month

mountain riwu ʃaʔ ligoŋ hum mud kʰat ʃʰam kʰat ʃam ɲa ʃɛk night, darkness

pʰuŋsaŋ aʧǐ nambooŋ næmi habio

pass peak lu kumu plain plateau hi ihĩ̌ lyɛp pond rain nimi ʧuuma ʧuʧuba namu namu hapiə rainbow pʰaŋ kʰla pʰaŋ rǔŋ tʰoliŋ tʰuŋliŋ hray ya maŋ ridge river maŋ kʰo kʰuma kʰo ɾəŋ riverbank kʰo roŋ sand kvɔ̌ besa beʧa ɲəfali sandy sandy soil mkɔ sea ʧumkʰuki shell sky nimi nimə̀í namduŋ namtuŋ hakuŋ ʧaw slope lɔk lɔk hum ɾəŋ small weeds ʤaŋ smell, odour

smoke ba kʰi ba kə̀í bukʰu bukʰu boay kaw snow nii niyí hayun soil sɔ


15


solar eclipse

sound spring sosi ku ʃɛʔ

bɔʔ kʰagam

star zik ciŋ zə̀í karma karma tsa dyɔŋ karma < Tibetan

stone liŋ ɹǐŋ luŋ luŋ lbaw storm buyuk stream kʰo gdu stump sun nini nimǐ nami nami hnay sunlight niʧik sunrise nini satpa sunset nini

gomba

thatch thunder same dirteʔ namtuŋ

limde

valley gtɔʔ h̬ə̌ kɔrən water kʰo kʰoo kʰyòó kʰu kʰau kʰo water vapour

lɔŋpo

water, stagnant

kʰoo gɔmsi

water, xx kʰo ʤamʧu

waterfall kʃòó kaswɔŋ wave kʰo yappa wind nsom ʧə̌m namʃuŋ namʃuŋ hasam winter tʰon ha kən ʃow

Communications


road lumu huma huma footpath zduŋ lumu huma huma ‘monkey road’ big bridge toʤaŋ suspension bridge footbridge tẽ centre of the road lumu ʧuŋ side of the road lumu asik uphill kanʤuŋ lowland


16

Metals


aluminium hayaŋ brass rɔ mray bronze zɔŋ ltɔ̀ɔ́ gold sĩ ser ser tsan iron sẽ ʃigə silver ɲiŋ ŋui ŋui nman

Plant parts


bamboo ma mɛ̀ɛ́ mey mey mway bark tsiŋ sku hǐŋ ku branch hiŋ apʰoŋ apǎŋ alaʔ alak hǐŋ tǒŋ bud mintu apɔ bush ʤùúŋ sěŋ cane ki ʧìɪ́ ɾay creeper, vine ta kə̀í ma bitɔŋ flower mintu min tùú mentoʔ minto buŋa grass ʤuŋ ʤii sɛŋ fruit əwa uʃu uʃu woy leaf alap tsiŋ arǎp ulaʔ ulap ɾap nut pip aram root tsiŋ ihĩ̌ rawaʔ ley hǐŋ ruŋ pip/stone aram dapa seed alìí li li thorn bzaw bzoo pʰizoʔ pʰeʤok hǐŋ mgyaw tree hiŋ tiŋ hiŋ tʰuŋ hǐŋ ʃiŋ hiŋ hǐŋ trunk wood hiŋ

Wild plants


Animal parts


horn kʰeŋ ʧèíŋ kʰʸaŋ kʰeŋ əriɔŋ hoof ladro ladraw lɔʃɛn tail aɲa anɛ̀ɛ́ nuʸ nuʸ inyoi hump paduŋ mabəp tusk ɲɛ


17


udder fur skuk aman feather mpâŋ pə̀ɯ́ wing ləpaŋ mpâŋ

Animals


Domestic

animal simʧan ʧabəmbə maraw

domestic animal nor hɔ̃bə maraw

horse stu ʃtǔ stuə stallion stu apʰu sepǔ mare stu umu mule gre ass, donkey boŋbi boŋbə̀ɯ́ bɔmbaw cow spu kmǔ [?] ʃoy ʃama sbuə bull suɔ sùɔ́ suwə

puə

calf hududu suwə duə

mithun smu sùúm syɛmwa buffalo zge zèé bʰuŋ bruŋ ʃʤu yak zzi tsəkʤi yak, female yak bri < Tibetan pig swak sùwáʔ ʃiabaʔ ʃaba ʋow boar swak

apʰu

sow swak’mu sheep ska skɛ̌ sʤɔ̀ɔ́ goat zẽ zèĩ́ ʃera sala sfi billy-goat zẽ apʰu nanny-goat zẽ’mu dog btʰa tɛ̀ɛ́ watʰi watʰi ʨay cat ɲambi nambə̌ yaŋmu ɲaŋbu niam hen bʧamu ʧɛmǔ huki wakʰi key

mwa

cock bʧapʰɔ bsetǔ key puə drake gelendi

apʰu

duck gelendi amu

uhɔ̌̃ gilendi aŋso asɔ̀ɔ́

Wild animals

Mammals

barking deer ski sikǐ ʧʧay bat ʧampòó havyap bear stuŋ ʃtù(g)úŋ ʃiyatʰum satʰom stəŋ


18


deer zik zəi ʤaʃiki ʤaʃiki elephant stoŋ su

santoŋ lampuʧʰe saʧila ɲatoŋ

flying squirrel liŋ ʧʧǔ ʧʧiəp fox ʨʨoo ʧalua leopard gùntáʔ ɲafloŋ lion sɛŋgɛ pʰǔŋ gɔ̌ monkey zduŋ tugun ʃedom ? stuŋ musk deer sambaw ʧʧay

maŋ

pangolin san ʤokstu

stəm

porcupine ʃuk vɔ̌ rat stop ʃtə samtu samtu tʰuŋ rhinoceros sèí sambar deer zan zǎn szɔ̌̃ squirrel stop

ʧaŋka ʧʧaŋ

tiger pʰuŋ pʰǔŋ lapʧa pʰuyam mʨuə wild cat saŋgutu saŋdǔ ʤabum

mlyaŋ

wild dog Birds bird hu hu hʷa hʷa fùá crow hɔ’oo amoy sparrow bʧlõ ʤam

tɛrɛ̀ɛ́ fùá hɔ́̃

peacock mawza ? < hornbill hu kě pne gtuŋ vulture hu gɔ̌t kʧam

kiyi

kite ʤakě kʧam wildfowl ʤaŋse

bʧa pʧe fre, əbʋ

nest kok hu kɔ̌k fùə́ ɾúŋ pigeon praw prow fùə́ gtaw

Insects

insect kʰroŋʧuŋ pʰu pʃɔ ant sanʤok sanʤok kʰinʧʰoʔ kʰeʧʰo bee bʧemu ʧaŋ kə

ɯ̌n dʧaw

ʧimun (large)

beeswax, honeycomb

ʧi kʰo ʧʰuʧʰu ʧiʔʧʰwama

butterfly ʧampiŋ ʧampɔr ʧaŋ nuŋ caterpillar klaŋ

riprɯ

centipede


19


cockroach zulu ʧʰiʔduŋ earthworm tɔhɔ datìí firefly honey ʧi ʧii kʰo

dʧaw

housefly bciŋ ʧapǐm pʰu pʰu leech pùɛ́ʔ mosquito kroŋʧuŋ ʧapǐn

ʤɔŋ kroŋʧu koŋʧuŋ ʧimun

spider presuŋ naŋtiri ʃǒŋʃǒŋ

pʰusaŋgumbu saŋkopa

Reptiles etc.

snake bcam pcǎm pʰulu pʰulu frog rigutu riktùú duŋdaʔ duŋta lizard ʧam ʧi

pala lalahuŋ

gecko donʧikʧikpa tortoise baʧirĩĩ́

pɯ

turtle crab ʧadaŋ duli

Fish

fish ɲuu

Abstracts


name biŋ biŋ life death crime peace soul art zoo joking miɲan depth egi war mak place atʰõ work blad

Pronouns


I, me gu gǔ ga ga gòó you noŋ naaŋ ni naŋ nɔ̀ɔ́


20

he, she, it wa, yaa ɛ̌ hoʸ ʔuʸ ʋay she naŋ we ga kte gaɾkaŋpu galu ganga gatɯə you pl. na natě naɾgaŋpu naɾugaŋga natɯə they war atə̌n waɾbaʔ walu ətɯə my guŋ my own gu ʤi

uŋ

our ga uŋ Demonstratives this tagi oʧima ʔuʧʰi these tʰitʰik uʧimagaŋpu ʔuʧʰigaŋga that otʰiyaʔma teʸta those tʰaŋtʰik otʰaʸmagaŋpu teʸtagaŋga Interrogatives How many? ɲipãy abehiŋ ʔapʰin How much? ɲipãy What? muwa abe ʔaza When? adũa Which? ɲa Who? ɲi mi mi Why? murara murarau market

u na ba? why did you go to the market?

Quantity

some alaŋay abelisa azalisi anyone ɲaraŋ all zebdaŋ kaŋpu galugaŋga all gaŋpu whoever whatever many, much zebdaŋ,

maʧaŋ yur meka

nothing ɲiruŋbɛ a little, few

Numerals

Gloss Rupa Sherga

on


one han hǎn hân hin hin ʤyɔ two ɲik ɲǐt ně niʃ ɲes ɲɛ̌ŋ three uŋ ǔŋ ùún om ʔum �̀m four bsi pʰsǐ psì psi pʰəhi bvì five kʰu kʰǔ kʰu kʰa kʰa uwə̌ six kit ʧǔk ʨěy ʧyk ʧʰuʔ ràp seven sit ʃit sǐ, sě his ʃis mlyə eight sarʤat sàrʤát sàrʤɛ́ saɾgeʔ saɾgeʔ mla


21

Gloss Rupa Sherga

on


nine dʰikʰi tʰikʰi tɛ̀kʰɯ́ ṱʰikʰu ṱʰikʰu dge ten sõ sõ sɔ ʃan ʃan sùŋá eleven sahan sɔ lɔ han ʃamʃi

hin ʃamʃi hin sna ʤyɔ

twelve siɲik sɔ lɔ ně ʃamʃnis

ʃamsinɲes

sna ɲɛ̌ŋ

thirteen su uŋ sɔ lɔ ùún sna �̀m fourteen sam bsi sɔ lɔ psì sna bvì fifteen saŋ kʰu sɔ lɔ kʰu sna gua sixteen sai kit sɔ lɔ ʨěy sna rap seventeen sai sit sɔ lɔ sě sna mlya eighteen sa sarʤat sɔ lɔ

sàrʤɛ́ sna mla

nineteen sa dʰikʰi sɔ lɔ tɛ̀kʰɯ́

sna dge

twenty kay, ɲi sɔ̃ kããn kʰeʸ hin

kʰaʸ hin aʧak

twenty-one kay la han twenty-two kay la ɲi thirty kay la sɔ̃ kã̀ lɔ̀ sɔ̌̃ aʧak nɛ ʤyɔ forty kʰa ɲi kã̀ lɔ̀ sna bvi fifty kʰa ɲik la

sɔ̃ kã̀ ɲìk ə̀

sɔ̌̃ sna gua

sixty kʰa uŋ kʰà ùún seventy kʰa uŋ la

sɔ̃ kʰà ùún ə̀

sɔ̌̃

eighty kʰa bsi kʰà bsì ninety kʰa bsi la

sɔ̃ kʰà bsì ə̀

sɔ̌̃

hundred ʤo ay ʤò àn ʤe hin ʤa hin yem ʤa two hundred ʤo ɲik thousand haza traŋ ta

hin toŋta haʤə re ʤa < Hindi

first go pu sa first akʰoŋ sa first kʰruk sa ‘head’ second ʤa li kʰiŋ

ga

last li kʰiŋ sa once ʤora once upon a time

akʰuŋ akʰuŋ

introducer phrase for folktales

twice kor ɲik thrice kor uŋ single handa single acɔ̃ double aɲi


22

Gloss Rupa Sherga

on


double adukmu full pʰiŋdi half likʰe pair cɔ̃ two pairs cɔ̃ ɲik

Adjectives


alive ahaŋ cf. ‘healthy, alive, brave’

alone handa bad bʤabkʰan uʤan nakpapaŋ avia bare legged terkʰoŋ barren, infertile kamu suffix beautiful, charming

aledu

big, wide, broad, thick

adok adoʔ ʔelaŋ

bitter ʧaʔdeʔ ʧakde brave ahaŋ cf. also ‘alive’ broad broken geɾloŋ geʤuʸde can, be able cheap aʤa clean asam clear saŋsaŋ cold aʧan uʧen uʧen ʨay comfortable akit cruel aɲu daily kepɔ dangerous huŋmi dark pʰuŋsaŋ dark pʰuŋsipʰu dead ikʰan deaf beŋa deep agi dogaŋ howdeʔ different abẽ different susu sosoʔ susu different yuŋdaŋ difficult adik difficult adik dirty zapmi dry ɔʔɔ aɹloŋ war dull, faded, bleached

zapmi

dumb ʤuʔum dusty, sandy blaso dutiful easy akitdu empty toŋpabe toŋpa


23


exact, true, correct

kʰrikduŋ

expensive goŋdok expensive, dear runji false ste famous azeŋdok far tʰaoriŋ humauliŋ fast pasa ʃeʃara fat adok ʧayakpa elaŋ also large,

important fat bokpɔk ferocious huŋmi foolish ʤuʔum also ‘dumb’ fresh oho friendly roksi full (basket) asaw psiŋdeʔ ʃiŋde generous good aʤab uʤo nakpa via blad aʤab

good work good-looking, attractive

aɲudu

great, distinguished (man)

ʤiriŋ akʰaw

guilty hard aʧu haughty healthy ahaŋ cf. ‘strong,

alive’ heavy ali uli uli high aʤo hollow hoŋdor honest daŋbu hot aʧik uʧi uʧi ʨɛk humble aʤam hungry kʰamde kʰamde ill, sick natpu important gakdok impossible bloŋma intelligent rikpu aʤap invisible boʧikʰan jolly, smiling saŋledu kind aʤab late yekʰan lay down hinkʰan lay down lekʰan lean azoŋdu least alaŋay left bikʰe ʧoyta ɲimlakpa light in weight aruŋdu yaŋpu yaŋʃo lonely long areŋ uriŋ uliŋ pʰyaŋ lukewarm gamogimi kʰoo


24


gamogimi ba ‘the water is lukewarm’

magical main many, more, very

seʧoŋ

married (man) ayu lu kʰan miserable adik aduk modest muddy guʧũ naked kʰakʰlĩ narrow aʤom pʰaɾakati ʃada native gaʤi native rũʤi near teapkʰo hantaŋ new okʰon ʔohan next li kʰiŋga Northern ʤaŋta old (persons) azek omen omen old (thing) aman old man ʤiman old woman ʤuhumat only open (place) saŋsaŋ nimi saŋsaŋ

ba the sky is clear

pitiable hemitʰeŋ plain, lowland hi poisonous dikpɔ,

dikʧɔ

polite poor azɔ̃ɔ̃, azoŋ private ruŋʤi,

gaʤi, warʤi

ready sarkan rich ʧikpu right side aʧota tʰita huʃu right, correct asaw ripe yuŋkʰan hiyaʔdeʔ ʤomde robust asey rocky siŋsiŋ(ba) rotten ɲaŋoǹloŋ rough asey round (face) gormu round (object) braw lili sacred asam safe atɔ̃ same atu ʧikdabe mahinden shallow tatabe huʔpan sharp aʧaw sharp aʧaw


25


short atuŋdu dɯm shy wankʰan sick silent zizi sincere aroŋ sinful dikpu ʧoŋ slippery kʰley stan slow hasta hasta small aʧandu kati ʃadaʔ smooth aɲidu soft aduŋdu sour ʧumteʔ ʧumpa spicy yeʸdeʔ yeʸdeʔ steep lɔ straight strong ahaŋ cf. ‘healthy,

alive’ stumblingly dakuduku sweating gʧik sweet ʧiri ʔobida sweet aʧi tall aʤo tasty ablo thick atʰak

thin aʧab kempa ʃaladin thin, lean reŋkoŋ thirsty ʧʰoŋ yaŋde tired kor rakpa true asaw ugly (body) azɔ̃ ugly (face) smu azɔ̃ uncleared (field)

asey

useful fan tok kʰan

useless fan btok kʰan

valuable gaktok cf. ‘important’ weak ahaŋ bo i.e. ‘not

healthy’ ki

ahaŋ bo ‘body healthy not’

well aʤab western nobta,

nobʧok

wet asiŋ uʃiŋ uʃiŋ yo asiŋ ba my clothes are wet

whole zebdaŋ wicked tabsi kʰan pʰaɾa elaŋ wide wild wise yonta wise, prophetic kepʰo


26


worst bʤapsaw wrong bʧik lumu bʧikba

romo la I took the wrong road

yearly tuŋgəram zigzag ʧilokʧilik

Colours


black aʧuŋ uʧʰam uʧʰam atʰay blue ɛɹɛ brown pʰekar green oho yaŋ ↓iyaŋ ɛpʰìí red ehek oɾkʰeyaʔ ʔeheʔ ɛʃɛk white azɔ̃, azoŋ yaŋkar yaŋkar amǔŋ yellow aha serbu ʤuŋ ɛʤǒy

Verbs


abandon, leave

ʧoŋ muba

absent, to be bramba abuse riba ache nuŋba acquit act propa admire advise afraid, to be huŋba agree always, do s.t.

menerba

angry, to be zlikba answer arise arrange arrest arrive ashamed, to be

wanba

ask for kimɔ wan kimɔ ask for [for s.t.]

assault assemble assure attack ʧomba attain bad, bjabba


27


harmful, to be bake, cook ha rapa bathe kʰruk

ʧeba ʨǐnbɔ dusput

ʃʰurde ʃʰima

bathe kʰruk ʧẽmba

be, is, are ba be ill nuba beat (person)

mokpa

beat sitpa nɛ̌nbɔ become useless

bʤabba

beg lamba begin, start ʧuba dǔbɔ believe belong gu rapa bend kuŋba bet bind hokpa bite kuba zaʔdeʔ zegde bite remba bitter, to be ʧakba blame riba blaze wotpa ba wotpa the fire is

blazing block, obstruct

daŋba

blow mikpa boil ʧawba ʧʰoʷde ʧʰeʔde borrow kʰiba break (cup) ʧamuba break, snap gatpa breathe in keŋba breathe bik bright, to be wotba bring naaba broadcast seeds

build zeŋba yam zeŋba house is being constructed

burn haaba dede dima bury yiŋba buy ʧaba,

ʧamɔ ʃeʸde ʃeʸde

call gui Roger anba I am called Roger

call kʰan ba carry kʰon

kemba kʰà úŋbɔ

catch zomba cheat, lie wotpa


28


chew ʧapa clean (pot) ʧeymɔ clean field zaŋmɔ also ʤaŋmɔ clear jungle zaymɔ climb up ʤaŋmɔ close hanmɔ hǎnbɔ́ Don’t close dahan,

bahan

closed, to be hanba cold, become

canba ʤo ʧanbɔ the tea is getting cold

collect (money)

dikmɔ

collect kʰrokʰpa comb kimɔ no kimɔ you comb

[your hair] come back keramba come əgɔ ɔŋnibɔ́ luŋdeʔ ʤa taguə command, order

wai andukpa I told him [to go]

complete ʤooŋba condole, offer condolence

duŋam

contribute cook ʧodma ʧakma correct cough ʧikʰan count gekpa cover teŋma crack ʧaŋpa skʰan ʧaŋpa the

plate cracked cross (river) ʧanba cross path, meet

padʰikʰan

crush stone liŋ ʧaaba cut ʧekpa tabunabɔ dapde dapde cut down ʧek

dokpa

damage bʤabba simʧa na rekba

bʤabba ramne animals destroyed the field

dance suba sǔbɔ lindeʔ limda decide defeat punkʰan defend gopkʰan dehusk deliver (child)

keba

deliver (goods)

ʧiba

deny mnuba


29


descend kuta yiba desire ʧepa detest s.t. dirty

zappa

detritus sapsu dibble die iba ǐbɔ iloŋ ʔide iʃa dig ʧokpa ʨɔ̀ʔbɔ́ dirty things zapmi disappoint discuss in a group

ʤuŋba

dishonest, spoiled, worn out

bʤabba

dislike bigiba disobey mnuba cf. ‘deny’ distribute yiba disturb daŋba wa gui daŋbo he is

disturbing me divorce gadipa do propa ledeʔ drag keŋba dream baan deŋ kʰaŋ

aʸdeʔ beŋ kʰaŋ aida

dress yoʧi nini yoʧipa [I] dress the child

drink liŋba liŋmɔ lǐŋbɔ ɲiʷŋdeʔ ɲuŋma naŋ Don’t drink dliŋ, bliŋ drive kipa drunk, to be liŋba earn sakma eat ʧuma ʧubɔ̌ ʧʰadiʔ ʧaba mʧiə eat meat kuba kubɔ̌ eat soft food ʧuba elect ʧeeba embrace yokdipa encircle kiimpa end zokpa enquire zikpa enter ɲanba nɛɲigɔ́ naŋkʰo

wama humaʒa

envy escape tɔndoy escape tomupa evaporate lɔŋpo

sapo the water dried up

exhibit, show

ɲuba

expect moma, momtinba

explain soʧiba extinguish omɔ ba omɔ extinguish


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the fire! fall (tree) gromdupa buyuk a

gromdupa

fall down (object)

hĩmupa ʧaluk hĩmupa the orange fell down

fall down (person)

hĩdipa

fall down (person)

yawdipa

fear kuŋba guŋi kuŋba I am afraid

feel joyful saŋ ledu feel moma fell (tree) gromdupa fill (solid) ʧokpa fill liquid likpa find sawba finish tomba ʥɔ̌ŋbɔ as in ‘the road ends

here’ finish, run out

ʤoŋkpa as substance in a container

float hawba flow hawba kʰo hawba the river

is flowing fly canba ʧɛ̌nbɔ́ ʃeroŋde ʃerbaʔ follow tintenba forget pla uŋpa ŋaʔdade kaɲʤipʰa free s.o. cɔuŋpa fry furious zlikba cf. ‘angry’ gain, profit gather gather together

kʰrokmɔ

get free, escape

tɔuŋpa

get loose tɔndoy give ʧiba ʧibɔ̌ ʃima ʃima pʰii glitter wotpa go, go away uŋmɔ ɔŋbɔ́ uŋdeʔ uŋdeʔ guaʃa go along with, accompany

zi tẽmba

go down far (la)buta i.e. where the river is going

go down kuta go down yiba go out sɛʔ ɔŋbɔ go up far laŋta i.e. towards the

head of the river go up kiŋta grant ʧiba grow siŋba


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guard lanba guide yõcipa as in explain, tell halt ʤawba hang zẽmba harvest hatch (egg) hate blaɲuba duyaŋbaŋ ? have ba hear yopa hama ham help romba hide ukpa both tr. and intr. hit mokpa hit sitpa hold zomba hope tinba hungry hakʰuŋba hunt loba imitate pedakpa imprison zomba inform amba inhale keŋba intend tinba intermix za umpa things mixed

inextricably intoxicate tikpa irrigate join into a group

tokpa

join two things together

ʤorba

journey kẽmba jump ʧawba ʨǒbɔ́ keep inside bag

ʧoba

keep ruba kick la ki rapa toŋmoŋtama litomda kill odukpa ɔʔmɔ ʔide aʔdama ua kiss ʧup rapa kneel knock rumba kow bə rumba

knock on the door know danba iʧeʔ denma laugh zaaba ʤyadeʔ zeʸda lay egg keba bʧa ayuŋ keba the

hen laid an egg learn learn kʰrukʰpa lend kʰiʧiba lick nepa lie, tell zaʔlede haɾʤa lie down kʰinba lift kʰaŋde ʤuŋma


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light s.t. dakba ba dakma light the fire

listen nuba live ʤawba ahaŋ

ʤubɔ́

look after lanba look lanba lost, to be ʤumuba love gadi gade mad, to be rawba make a circle

kʰorhinba

make mistake

make too much noise

ziŋba

make zeŋba ʧɛʔbɔ́ manure marry aʧam

zoŋba

measure ʧoba meet siba ʃìíbɔ́ way sima I met him melt ziba milk ɲiŋ mingle bo umpa misplaced ʤũ dõy mistake bʧikpa

rampa wa bʧikpa rampa he

has made a mistake mix, blend bopa move zeeba need ʧeʔmba obey nuba occupy forcefully, snatch

kʰawba

occupy, be resident

goŋba

omit pla uŋpa open doŋmo Don’t open dodoŋ,

bodoŋ

open (door) dɔ̃ dɔ̃mɔ hŋbɔ́ pack down dammɔ palpitate dukduk

rapɔ

peel hɔ̃mɔ persuade ʤipa pity hẽkʰan play loba leʸde leʸde plough woma pluck ʧiŋmɔ point yɔndaʧi pour likmɔ


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praise tɔpa praise totpɔ pray sɔn tapa prefer giba press down dammɔ prevent s.o. from doing s.t.

gokpa

print par mokpa

par are Tibetan-style scriptures, this expression refers to printing on cloths that hand outside the house

profit promise ʧũʧukpa pull kʰeŋ,

keŋba kʰeŋde kʰeŋma

Don’t pull dkʰeŋ, bkʰeŋ

punish purchase ʧaaba push riba dudeʔ dʷama quake (as earthquake)

kipa

quake kʰikʰan quarrel ya dʰikʰan question zikʰan rain n. nimi kʰo raise kaŋdukpa reach waŋba read kʰropa reap recognise ẽpa regret remember granʤi

rapa

repair repay report sodokpa resemble handa rest ʃiʃoʔlama ʧoʔlama return keramba ride ẽmba ripe, to be yuŋba rise sappa roam around kẽmba roast riba rotten, to be humuba rub niŋba run ʧaaba ko tʰiba ʧamo run to

that side sad, to be zooba


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satisfied, to be

saŋba

save tɔndoy saw seda say amɔ scatter hẽmɔ search samɔ see lanmɔ lɛ̌mbɔ daʸma duʸma sell ʧɔŋram ʧoŋiede ʔoŋtʰama send ʧɔŋmɔ sew ʧakmɔ ʃiŋde ʃiŋdi shake yẽmɔ shame wanba sharpen zimɔ shine wotmɔ shoot rekmɔ shout homɔ show ɲumɔ shut hanmɔ sick, to be nuba sing tamɔ teʸdeʔ teʸdeʔ sit down diŋmɔ duŋʤuma ʤuma Don’t sit didiŋ,

bidiŋ

slander n. ʧarku slap ʧapər sleep ʤiŋmɔ ʤǐŋbɔ mindeʔ minma slip kʰlendipa smell ɲiŋba smoke (cigarette)

keŋmɔ

smoke (meat)

liŋba

snatch kawba sneeze snore snow n. niyi sow loba sow pikpa speak poŋpoŋlede ʔinma spirit, soul ayuk spit kepa stand up kiba kʰiŋgide kʰiŋma stand up ziŋba steal yawba bigulede uma store ruba suffer adik ga surprise hoʧoba surrender surround kʰorhinba swear ʧuŋba sweep house, to

zemɔ


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‘broom’ sweep zepa swim boŋ pʰiŋ

rapa gaŋpaliʒa kʰo boŋ pʰiŋ loba

play in the water take kaŋba haɲi laba ɾia take ʧuuma ʧubɔ take away temo taste ʧaamɔ teach yomba teach yoŋba teach yõʧiba,

yɔ̃ba

tear do dokpa tear ze dukpa tell indeʔ ʔinsma thank aɲo ay

ray

thief diyaw think kinba throw tosadeʔ tosama thunder nimi

hukpa ‘sky thunders’

tie waʔdeʔ duŋma travel kẽmba travel ɲɛkɔr trust lo depa try ruŋɔ turn on light ba waŋ ray turn on

the light twist kipa understand gawba undress tikpa unmatching, be

bkʰrikʰpa

untie sɔ̃ dɔ̃mɔ untie sɔ̃ dukpa urinate zi tɔnba vomit yokpa wail kepa wait ʧɔpa,

zɔpa ʤaʔma laŋma

wake up yo ni bɔ walk ropa wama maɲu want ʧepa wash s.t. ʧẽmba yɔʔ

ʨǐnbɔ ʧʰide ʧʰide

watch over lanba water v. kʰo likpa weave pʰadeʔ dagdeʔ wear yokpa wed aʧam

zoŋba

weed kʰikma kʰibʔde


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weep whistle hiiba wipe biʔdeʔ zuhama wish work ropa leʸ kʰa ledeʔ leka worship kʰuriŋ wrestle write zooba yawn

Adverbs


Place

here tʰ(u)gʰɔ there otaŋgʰə where ɲakʰa hata ʔawa above, on top taŋga under, below praŋgʰɔ beʸta kʰya within, inside eliŋgʰɔ in front keeŋgʰɔ behind likʰiŋgʰɔ up kanjaŋ down gʧẽ outside uhũŋgʰɔ put around kʰoba circle girgir up there laŋta down there buta on this side kɔttɔ on that side taŋta everywhere gaŋ pugʰɔ

Directions

North ʤaŋ South lɔ West nɔp East sal

Time

after likʰiŋgʰɔ afternoon again ʧora always ʧemoʧegaŋ ‘complex

language’ always kepə anytime adũ lati at present ʤisido autumn


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dawn day nini nikrẽ̀ĩ́ namka nemi ha nay day after tomorrow

linlo

day before yesterday

ski niyaw, tulu niyaw

evening ɲaw nami nami ha mʤɔŋ forenoon ɲiru formerly akʰoŋga formerly goga in a moment skiya long ago akʰoŋkʰoŋ midnight nukuʧuŋ habio ʧaw month namlahin namba month, last day

toŋʧin

month, last ten days

nsi

morning ɲiru namsaŋ namsaŋ ha mryɔŋ next year minlu night, last noon, mid-day bəʧan namka now ski rarely adũ ayʧa summer zaal ha lə daw then ʤolaa today tulu tʰala tʰala tomorrow bsaŋ muŋkʰa muŋkʰa tomorrow morning

bsaŋ ɲiru

tonight two days after tomorrow

week dun kʰahin

when adũ adaŋ ʧetoŋ year tuŋ tùgún staw year, last yibutʰibu year, this taŋ butu yesterday diyaw duyu duyu yet lannu dɔ tomhin tom

Adverbs of manner


correctly datikʧaŋ how musiyã loudly katdok ‘voice big’ loudly tatbofa wa tatbofa so i he is

speaking very loudly not beʔe


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quickly aʤupʤup aʤupʤup ʧaanaba I ran quickly

quickly aloʧaŋ quietly, close-mouthed

ʧekʧekdu o wa ʧekʧekdu so de

repeatedly ʧoraʧora slowly anodu suddenly surely datikʧaŋ thus, like this tisidɔ tisidɔ ramɔ do it like this truly datikʧaŋ

Exclamations

Gloss Rupa Shergaon Comment

No! bra Yes! oy

Derivation of professions and verbal nouns


village tʰik btap villager tʰikpɔ wood hiŋ woodcutter hiŋpɔ fish ɲuu fisherman ɲuupɔ art zoo painter zoopɔ war mak warrior makpɔ drink liŋba drinking liŋkʰan drinker liŋkʰanpɔ run ʧaaba running ʧaakʰan runner ʧaakʰanpɔ teach yɔ̃ba teaching yɔ̃kʰan teacher yɔ̃kʰanpɔ

References

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Princeton-Cambridge Series in Chinese Linguistics #2. New York: Cambridge University Press. Benedict, Paul King 1976. Sino-Tibetan: another look. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 96, 2: 167-

197. Bradley, David 1997. Tibeto-Burman languages and classification. In: Tibeto-Burman languages of the

Himalayas. D. Bradley (ed.) 1-72. Pacific Linguistics A-86. Canberra: Australian National University.


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Burling, Robbins 2003. The Tibeto-Burman languages of Northeastern India. In: Thurgood, Graham and Randy J. LaPolla (eds.) The Sino-Tibetan languages. 169-191. London and New York: Routledge.

Button, C.T.J. 2009. A Reconstruction of Proto Northern Chin in Old Burmese and Old Chinese Perspective. Ph.D. School of Oriental and African Studies, London.

Dondrup, Rinchin 2010. An introduction to Boot Monpa. Itanagar: Director of Research, Arunachal Pradesh Government.

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Pradesh Government.

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Linguistics. Grewal, D.S. 1997. The tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. 2 vols. Delhi: South Asia publications. Grierson, G.A. ed. 1909. Linguistic Survey of India. Volume III, 1, Tibeto-Burman family. ? Handel, Zev 2008. What is Sino-Tibetan? Snapshot of a Field and a Language Family in Flux. Language

and Linguistics Compass, 2/3: 422–441. Kennedy, R.S. 1914. Ethnological report on the Akas, Khoas, Mijis and Membas of Tawang. Shillong. Lama, Tashi 1999. The Monpas of Tawang. Itanagar: Himalayan Publishers.

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Lewis, P. ed. 2009. Ethnologue: a guide to the world’s languages. Dallas: SIL. Matisoff, James A. 2003. Handbook of Proto-Tibeto-Burman: system and philosophy of Sino-Tibetan

reconstruction. Berkeley, Los Angeles, & London: University of California Press. Nair, P.T. 1985. The Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. Guwahati: Krishan Kummar.

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LANGUAGES OF THE MEY [SHERDUKPEN] CLUSTER...1. Introduction The Mey [=Sherdukpen] languages spoken...

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Transcript of LANGUAGES OF THE MEY [SHERDUKPEN] CLUSTER...1. Introduction The Mey [=Sherdukpen] languages spoken...