Pronunciation [m̥ara] Ethnicity Mara people | Native speakers ca. 55,000 (1994–2001) | |
Language family Sino-TibetanKukishMaraicMara Dialects Tlosaih (lingua franca)Chapi-NgepheHawthai-LocheiZyhno-Heima-LialaiVytu-Zyphei | ||
Mara is a language spoken by Mara people living in 60 villages of Chhimtuipui district, southern Mizoram, India and the adjacent people living in Burma.
Contents
The Mara language belongs to the Kukish branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The speakers of the language are also known as Mara.
Mara is a recognised language in the School curriculum of Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC). Mara is a compulsory subject for all schools up to Class VII (Middle School) under Board of School Education, MADC.
Statistics
Mara Alphabet
Mara Alphabet (capital letters) A, AW, Y, B, CH, D, E, F, H, I, K, L, M, N, NG, O, Ô, P, R, S, T, U, V, Z
Mara Alphabet (small letters): a, aw, y, b, ch, d, e, f, h, i, k, l, m, n, ng, o, ô, p, r, s, t, u, v, z
Mara diphthongs: ao, yu, ai, ei, ia, ie, ua
Plurals
The plural form of a noun is formed by affixing one of the following terms to the end of the noun:
Words inside bracket were how a foreign author N.E. Parry (1937) wrote according to his understanding of the sound. But now the Maras have their own alphabet and the correct usages are put up there.
Interrogative words in Mara
What : Khâpa, Khâpa-e, Khâpamaw
Where : Khataih la, Khataih liata
How : kheihta, kheihawhta, Khatluta, Kheihta rai maw
How much? : Khazie?
How long? : Khachâ e, Khachâ maw?
When : Khatita, khatita-e, Khapa nota, nota, tita, nahta, pata, Conj. thlaita, khati nota
Why : Khazia, Khazia-e, Khazia maw, Khapa vata
Why not : Khazia a châ vei chheih aw
Whose : Kheihawpa, Kheihawpa he, Kheihawhpa-e, Kheihawhpa maw, ahy he maw
Which : Kheihawpa, Kheihawpa he, Kheihawhpa-e, Kheihawhpa maw, ahy he maw
Friend : Viasa
Male Friend : Viasa Paw
Female Friend : Viasa Nô
Walk/Go : Sie (Pheita Sie)
Run : Ârâ
Sleep : Âmô, Âzia, Âpazawh
See : Mo, hmô
Sit : Âtyuh
Stand : Âduah
Jump : Âzaw
Hit : Âchô
Eat : Nie
Drink : Doh
Adjectives
Adjectives are placed before the word they qualify. e.g., A good man) When an adjective is used to complete the predicate of a sentence, a pronominal particle agreeing with the subject is placed before the adjective.
Pronouns
Singular:
Plural:
Possessive Pronouns
*Plural.
The demonstrative pronouns are the same as the double forms of the demonstrative adjectives. There are many indefinite pronouns, e.g.:-