Mara language
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Hatnote". Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".<templatestyles src="Template:Infobox/styles-images.css" />Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". Mara (Script error: No such module "Lang".; Script error: No such module "IPA"., Script error: No such module "Lang".; Script error: No such module "IPA".) is a Kuki-Chin language spoken by Mara people, mostly the Tlosai tribe living in 30 villages of Chhimtuipui district, southern Mizoram, India and the adjacent villages in Myanmar (Burma).
The Mara (Tlosai) languages belong to the Kuki-Chin branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The speakers of the languages are also known as Mara (Tlosais).
Mara is a recognised language in the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC) school curriculum. Mara is a compulsory subject for all schools up to class VII (middle school) under the Board of School Education, MADC.
Written script
A written script for Mara was first created in 1852 by Captain S.R. Tickell.[1] Further scripts were invented in 1869 by Captain T.H. Lewin, in 1908 by Rev. F.W. Savidge and by R.A. Lorain.[1]
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 (lowercase 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
Grammar
Plurals
The plural form of a noun is formed by affixing one of the following terms to the end of the noun:
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Today the Mara language has its own alphabet; words inside brackets show author N.E. Parry's transliterations from 1937.
Interrogative words in Mara
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- What: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Where: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- How: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- How much?: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- How long?: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- When: Script error: No such module "Lang". Conj. Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Why: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Why not: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Whose: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Which: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Friend: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Male Friend: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Female Friend: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Walk/Go: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Run: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Sleep: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- See: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Sit: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Stand: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Jump: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Hit: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Eat: Script error: No such module "Lang".
- Drink: Script error: No such module "Lang".
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Pronouns
Singular
- 1st person: Script error: No such module "Lang"., Script error: No such module "Lang". - I
- 2nd person: Script error: No such module "Lang"., Script error: No such module "Lang". - you
- 3rd person: Script error: No such module "Lang"., Script error: No such module "Lang". or Script error: No such module "Lang". - he, she, it
Plural
- 1st person: Script error: No such module "Lang". - we
- 2nd person: Script error: No such module "Lang". - you
- 3rd person: Script error: No such module "Lang". - they
Possessive Pronouns
Singular
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - my
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - mine
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - thy (you)
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - thine (yours)
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - him, her, it
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - his, hers, its
Plural
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - our
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - ours
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - your
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - anyone
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - someone, a certain one
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - some . . . others
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - another, others
- Script error: No such module "Lang". - all
Phonology
Consonants
- A glottal stop [ʔ] may occur in onsets as a result of morphological combinations.
- /t/ can be dental as [t̪] before /ɑ/ or /i/.
- /k/ can also be heard as uvular [q] before /ɑ/ or /i/.
- /s, z/ when preceding /i/ can be heard as alveolo-palatal [ɕ, ʑ].
- Pre-aspiration can also be heard among nasals as [ʱm, ʱn].[2]
Vowels
- Sounds /o/ and /ɑ̝/ can be heard in free variation as [ɔ, ɐʊ] and [ʌ].[2]
References
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External links
- The Mara people
- Maraland: The Home of the Maras on the internet
- A grammar and dictionary of the Lakher language, by Fred W. Savidge (1908) (Scanned at Internet Archive)
- Mara language on Ethnologue
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