Native to India Ethnicity Zekhring people ISO 639-3 zkr | Region Arunachal Native speakers 900 (2002–2007) | |
Language family Sino-Tibetan
(unclear; possibly East Bodish or Midzuish)
Zakhring | ||
Zahkring (also Eastern Mishmi, Zaiwa, or Meyor) is a small Sino-Tibetan language of Arunachal Pradesh in India.
Contents
Zakhring has been classified as a Midzuish language. However, it appears that Midzu may not be Sino-Tibetan, whereas Zakhring clearly is. Blench and Post (2011) think that it is an East Bodish language that has been influenced by Midzu or other divergent languages of the region.
A closely related language called Zha (Zhahua 扎话) is spoken in China.
Landi (2005:164) also notes that Zakhring has some surprising similarities to Miju.
Names
Li (2001) reports that the Zakhring have no actual autonym, but are referred to by the neighboring Taraon, Kaman, Idu, and Tibetan peoples by various names.
Kaman exonym for the Tibetan people of Bomi County 波密县 is si31 dut55 pu55. The Taraon refer to the Tibetans as la31 ma35, while the Kaman refer to the Tibetans as de31 loŋ55.
Distribution
In China, Zakhring is spoken in Songgu 松古村, Lading 拉丁村, and Tama 塔玛村 villages in Lower Zayü Township 下察隅乡, Zayü County 察隅县, Tibet.
In India, Meyor communities are found in the following 15 villages of Kibthoo Circle and Walong Circle of Anjaw District, Arunachal Pradesh. The total population of the villages numbered 376 as of May 2001 (Landi 2005:1).