Larong language
{{Short description|Sino-Tibetan language}}
{{Infobox language
|name=Larong
|altname=Zlarong
|pronunciation=
|states=China
|region=Zogang County, Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet
|speakers=
|date=
|ref=
|familycolor=Sino-Tibetan
|fam2=(unclassified);
Qiangic ?
|fam3=Chamdo
|iso3=
|glotto=zlar1234
|glottorefname=Zlarong
}}
Larong or Zlarong (autonym: {{IPA|la˥ rɔ˥}}; Tibetan name: {{IPA|la˥ ruŋ˥}}) is a recently documented Sino-Tibetan language spoken in Zogang and Markam counties of southeastern Chamdo, Tibet. It was recently documented by Zhao (2018)Zhao, Haoliang. 2018. [http://hdl.handle.net/2433/235318 A brief introduction to Zlarong, a newly recognized language in Mdzo sgang, TAR]. Proceedings of the 51st International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics (2018). Kyoto: Kyoto University. and Suzuki & Nyima (2018).Suzuki, Hiroyuki and Tashi Nyima. 2018. [http://hdl.handle.net/2433/235308 Historical relationship among three non-Tibetic languages in Chamdo, TAR]. Proceedings of the 51st International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics (2018). Kyoto: Kyoto University. Zhao (2018) tentatively classifies Zlarong as a Qiangic language.
Names
Larong is referred to by the Changdu Gazetteer (2005)Xizang Changdu Diqu Difangzhi Bianzuan Weiyuanhui 西藏昌都地区地方志编纂委员会 (2005). Changdu Diquzhi 昌都地区志. Beijing: Fangzhi Chubanshe 方志出版社. as Rumei 如美话, as it is spoken in Rumei Township 如美乡, Markam County.
Zhao (2018) reports the autonym {{IPA|la˥rɔ˥}} and the Tibetan exonym {{IPA|la˥ruŋ˥}} for the speakers. Their language is referred to as {{IPA|mə˥kə˥}} by speakers, and by Tibetans as {{IPA|ma˧˩ke˥˧}} (Zhao 2018).
Nyina & Suzuki (2019) report the autonym m̥a55, which is identical to the Drag-yab autonym also reported by them (m̥a55 ~ ma55).
Jiang (2023) refers to the language as Laronghua (拉茸话).{{cite journal|url=http://www.tibetology.ac.cn/2023-02/28/content_42276501.htm |last=Jiang |first=Huo 江荻 |title=Linguistic diversity and classification in Tibet 西藏的语言多样性及其分类|journal=Zhongguo Zangxue 中国藏学|volume=6|via=Chinese Tibetology Center 中国藏学研究中心|date=2022|access-date=2023-03-16}}
Locations
- Renguo Township 仁果乡, Mdzo sgang County 左贡县 (Suzuki & Nyima 2018; Zhao 2018), including the village of Phagpa 坝巴村
- Cuowa Township 措瓦乡, Markam County 芒康县
- Rumei Township 如美镇, Markam County 芒康县 (Changdu Gazetteer 2005), including the village of Tangre Chaya 达日村
- Qudeng Township 曲登乡, Markam County 芒康县 (two villages)
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Township, County !! Villages | |
| Renguo Township 仁果乡, Dzogang | Dongba 东坝村, Deqinggang, Zuoke 左科村, Xindi 新德村, Shalong 沙龙村 (Sano), Paba 坝巴村, Jiaka 加卡村, Languo 兰果村, Woba, etc. |
| Cuowa Township 措瓦乡, Markham | Tongsha 通沙村, Wuba, Zhongri 仲日村, Kuzi 库孜村, Taya 它亚村, Dangreqiaya, etc. |
| Rumei Town 如美镇, Markham | Rumei 如美村, Zhuka 竹卡村, Lawu 拉乌村, and Dari 达日村 |
| Qudeng Township 曲登乡, Markham | Qudeng 曲登村 and Dengba 登巴村 |
A computational phylogenetic analysis by Jiang (2022) shows that Rumei (如美话) to be the most divergent Chamdo, and is not closely related to the Larong dialect (拉茸话) of Zogang County (左贡县).
Dialects
Larong is spoken in four townships in the Larong valley, along the Lancang River (also known as the Zla chu or Lachu River in Tibetan). The four townships are:{{cite journal|author1=Tashi Nyima|author2=Hiroyuki Suzuki|date=2019|title=Newly recognised languages in Chamdo: Geography, culture, history, and language|journal=Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area|volume=42|issue=1|pages=38–81|issn=0731-3500|doi=10.1075/ltba.18004.nyi|s2cid=198090294 |doi-access=}}
- Ringo (Chinese: Renguo)
- Tshonga (Chinese: Cuowa): Larong villages are Tshonga, Rushul, Thosa, Thaya, Drori, and Kuze
- Rongsmad (Chinese: Rumei): Larong speakers in entire town
- Choedan (Chinese: Qudeng): Dempa (Chinese: Dengba) and Choedan village clusters, both Larong-speaking
The dialect spoken in Ringo and Tshonga differs from that of the dialect spoken in Rongsmad and Choedan.
Classification
Suzuki & Nyima (2018) note that Zlarong (Larong) is closely related to two other recently documented Sino-Tibetan languages of Chamdo, eastern Tibet, namely Lamo and Drag-yab (spoken in southern Zhag'yab County).
Phonology
Suzuki & Nyima (2018) report the following phonemes from the Tangre Chaya dialect of Larong.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | ! rowspan="2" | Labial ! colspan="2" | Alveolar ! rowspan="2" | Retroflex ! rowspan="2" | Palatal ! rowspan="2" | Velar ! rowspan="2" | Uvular ! rowspan="2" | Glottal |
| plain |
|---|
| rowspan="2" |Nasal
| {{IPA link|m̥}} | {{IPA link|n̥}} | | | {{IPA link|ȵ̊}} | {{IPA link|ŋ̊}} | {{IPA link|ɴ̥}} | |
| voiced
| {{IPA link|m}} | {{IPA link|n}} | | | {{IPA link|ȵ}} | {{IPA link|ŋ}} | {{IPA link|ɴ}} | |
| rowspan="3" |Plosive/ Affricate ! tenuis | {{IPA link|p}} | {{IPA link|t}} |{{IPA link|ts}} | {{IPA link|ʈ}} | {{IPA link|tɕ}} | {{IPA link|k}} | {{IPA link|q}} | {{IPA link|ʔ}} |
| aspirated
| {{IPA link|pʰ}} | {{IPA link|tʰ}} |{{IPA link|tsʰ}} | {{IPA link|ʈʰ}} | {{IPA link|tɕʰ}} | {{IPA link|kʰ}} | {{IPA link|qʰ}} | |
| voiced
| {{IPA link|b}} | {{IPA link|d}} | {{IPA link|dz}} | {{IPA link|ɖ}} | {{IPA link|dʑ}} | {{IPA link|g}} | {{IPA link|ɢ}} | |
| rowspan="2" |Continuant
| | | {{IPA link|s}} | | {{IPA link|ɕ}} | {{IPA link|x}} | {{IPA link|χ}} | {{IPA link|h}} |
| voiced
| | | {{IPA link|z}} | | {{IPA link|ʑ}} | {{IPA link|ɣ}} | {{IPA link|ʁ}} | {{IPA link|ɦ}} |
| rowspan="2" |Approximant
| | {{IPA link|l̥}} | | | | | | |
| voiced
| {{IPA link|w}} | {{IPA link|l}} | | | {{IPA link|j}} | | | |
| Colspan="2" |Trill
| | {{IPA link|r}} | | | | | | |
Prenasalisation and preaspiration appear as a preinitial.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! ! colspan="2" |Back |
| Close
|{{IPA link|i}} |{{IPA link|ʉ}} |{{IPA link|ɯ}} |{{IPA link|u}} |
|---|
| Close-mid
|{{IPA link|e}} |{{IPA link|ɵ}} | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|o}} |
| Mid
| |{{IPA link|ə}} | colspan="2" | |
| Open-mid
|{{IPA link|ɛ}} | | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|ɔ}} |
| Open
|{{IPA link|a}} | | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|ɑ}} |
Suzuki & Nyima (2018) report that each vowel has a creaky and nasalized counterpart.
Syllable structure: cCGV
Tones are high and rising. The first two syllables of each word act as the tone bearing unit. The second syllable is occasionally out of the tone bearing unit.
Vocabulary
Zhao (2018: 1-3) lists the following Zlarong words.
| class="wikitable" sortable"
! Gloss !! Zlarong | |
| name | mɛ˥ |
| medicine | rɛ˥˧ |
| cloth | rɛ˩˧ |
| ice | ndza˥ |
| you | ȵo˥˧ |
| horse | rɛ˥˧ |
| road | rə˩˧ |
| blood | sɛ˥˧ |
| meat | tɕʰi˩˧ |
| urine | pi˩˧ |
| snow | wi˩˧ |
| water | tɕi˥ |
| smoke | mu˥kʰu˥ |
| wind | ma˧˩mi˥ |
| cloud | ndə˥rə˥ |
| belly | wu˩˧ |
| white | tʂʰɔ̃˧˩tʂʰɔ̃˥˧ |
| black | ȵi˧˩ȵi˥˧ |
| red | nɛ˥nɛ˥˧ |
| yellow | nɛ˥nɛ˥˧ |
| short | wɛ˧˩wɛ˥˧ |
| wide | pʰa˥pʰa˥˧ |
| thick | mbo˧˩mbo˥ |
| fish | ȵɛ˩˧ |
| sand | tɕy˧˩mɛ˥˧ |
| doctor | mɛ̃˥pɛ˥˧ |
| ground | sɛ˥˧ |
| zero | lɛ˥kɔ˥ |
| one | ti˩˧kʰi˥ |
| two | nɛ˧˩ji˥˧ |
| three | sɔ̃˩˧ |
| four | ɣə˩˧ |
| five | ŋa˩˧ |
| six | tɕʰu˩˧ |
| seven | ȵɛ˩˧ |
| eight | ɕɛ˩˧ |
| nine | ŋgo˩˧ |
| ten | a˥kõ˥ |
References
{{reflist}}
- Zhao, Haoliang. 2018. [http://hdl.handle.net/2433/235318 A brief introduction to Zlarong, a newly recognized language in Mdzo sgang, TAR]. Proceedings of the 51st International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics (2018). Kyoto: Kyoto University.
{{Sino-Tibetan languages}}
{{Na-Qiangic languages}}