Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Miji languages

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Native to
  
India

Native speakers
  
6,500 (2001)

Ethnicity
  
Miji people

ISO 639-3
  
sjl

Region
  
Arunachal Pradesh, India

Language family
  
possibly Sino-Tibetan (Hruso), or a language isolate

Miji (autonym: Dmay), also Dhammai or Sajolang, is a cluster of possibly Sino-Tibetan languages in Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. "Dialects" include at least two distinct languages, which are not particularly close, with only half of the vocabulary in common between the languages of East Kameng District and West Kameng District. Long assumed to be Sino-Tibetan languages, they may be a small independent language family.

Contents

Varieties

There are 3 varieties of Miji.

  • Western Miji: spoken in and around Nafra Circle, West Kameng District
  • Eastern Miji: spoken in Lada Circle, East Kameng District
  • Northern Miji (= Bangru?): spoken in Sarli Circle, northern East Kameng District

    • Distribution

    According to Ethnologue, Miji is spoken in the following areas of Arunachal Pradesh.

  • West Kameng District, Nafra circle, Bichom and Pakesa river valley – 25 villages including Debbing, Dichik, Rurang, Nachinghom, Upper Dzang, Naku, Khellong, Dibrick, Nizong, Najang, Zangnaching, Chalang, Nafra, and Lower Dzang
  • East Kameng District: Bameng and Lada circles – Wakke, Nabolong, Kojo, Rojo, Sekong, Panker, Zarkam, Drackchi, Besai, Naschgzang, Sachung, Gerangzing, Kampaa, Salang, Pego, and Dongko villages

    • I.M. Simon (1979:iii) lists the following Miji villages from the Census of 1971.

  • 1. Chalang [Cinlang]
  • 2. Díbín [Díbín]
  • 3. Ditchik [Dícik]
  • 4. Dzang [Dzang]
  • 5. Jangnachin [Zanachin]
  • 6. Khazolang
  • 7. Khelong
  • 8. Laphozu
  • 9. Mathow
  • 10. Nakhu
  • 11. Nachibun
  • 12. Nizung
  • 13. Rurang

    • Smaller hamlets include Dishin [Dícin], Devrik [Dívih], Diyung [Diyong], Nazang [Natsang], Nanthalang, and Otung [Uthung]. Some Mijis have also live in Aka villages such as Dijungania, Buragaon, Tulu, Sarkingonia, and Yayung.

    Blench (2015), citing Ramya (2012), lists the Bangru (Northern Miji) villages Bala, Lee, Lower Lichila, Upper Lichila, Machane, Milli, Molo, Nade, Namju, Palo, Rerung, Sape, Sate, Wabia, and Walu’, as well as Sarli Town.

    In China, Bangru (transcribed in Chinese as Bengru 崩如) is spoken in the area of Bixia 比夏, southern Longzi County 隆子县, Shannan Prefecture 山南地区, Tibet — in the villages of Jieli 结列, Baluo 巴洛, Xiade 夏德, Li 利, Lilaqi 利拉齐, and Gelangge 嘎朗洛 (Li 2003). Bangru is also spoken by many of the nearby Sulung people, who live in San'an Qulin Township 三安曲林乡 of Longzi County. Names of Bangru include ləʔ31 wai55 (autonym), pɤn31 ru55 (Bangni exonym), and bu33 zuai55 bi33 (Sulung exonym). There are also 6 people living in Douyu Village No. 1 (斗玉一村) on the Chinese side. There are about 1,600 Bangru people as of 1980, and about 2,000 as of 2003.

    Consonants

    In all Miji languages the "p" "f" "t" and "k" sounds are always aspirated.

    Tones

    The Miji languages have a relatively simple tonal system with only two tone: high and low. There is a third rising tone but it is so scarcely used that in some of the languages it is disregarded completely.

    References

    Miji languages Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA