Miji languages
{{Short description|Language cluster}}
{{Distinguish|Miju language}}
{{Infobox language
| name = Miji
| altname = Sajolang
| nativename = Dhammai
| region = Arunachal Pradesh, India and Shannan Prefecture, China
| states = India
| ethnicity = Miji people
| speakers = 28,000
| date = 2007
| ref = e18
| familycolor = Sino-Tibetan
| fam1 = possibly Sino-Tibetan?
| fam2 = Hrusish?
| fam3 = Mijiic
| dia1 = East Miji (Namrai)
| dia2 = West Miji (Sajolang)
| iso3 = sjl
| glotto = saja1240
| glottorefname = Sajolang
}}
Miji, also given the dialect names Sajolang and Dhammai, is a dialect cluster traditionally counted as one of the Sino-Tibetan languages that is spoken in Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. The varieties are not particularly close, with only half of the vocabulary in common between the languages of East Kameng District and West Kameng District. Previously classified as Sino-Tibetan languages, Miji and the recently discovered Bangru language may instead form a small independent language family.{{citation|first1=Roger |last1=Blench |first2=Mark |last2=Post |title=(De)classifying Arunachal languages: Reconstructing the evidence |url=http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/South%20Asia/NEI/General/Lingres/Declassifying%20Arunachal.pdf |year=2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526230734/http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/South%20Asia/NEI/General/Lingres/Declassifying%20Arunachal.pdf |archivedate=2013-05-26 }}
Varieties
There are two divergent varieties of Miji:
- Western Miji: spoken in and around Nafra and Thrizino circles, West Kameng District. Western Miji speakers refer to themselves as the Sajalang (sadʑalaŋ) or Dhəmmai (ðəmmai) (Bodt & Lieberherr 2015:70).{{cite journal | surname1 = Bodt | given1 = Timotheus Adrianus | surname2 = Lieberherr | given2 = Ismael | year = 2015 | title = First notes on the phonology and classification of the Bangru language of India | journal = Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area | volume = 38 | issue = 1 | pages = 66–123 | doi = 10.1075/ltba.38.1.03bod | doi-access = free }}
- Eastern Miji: spoken in Lada Circle,Blench, Roger. 2015. [https://www.academia.edu/12657496/The_Mijiic_languages_distribution_dialects_wordlist_and_classification The Mijiic languages: distribution, dialects, wordlist and classification]. m.s. East Kameng District. Eastern Miji speakers refer to themselves as the Nəmrai (nəmrai) (Bodt & Lieberherr 2015:70).
Bangru (treated in a separate article), sometimes called "Northern Miji", is more divergent.
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, Ditchik, 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)Simon, I. M. 1979. Miji Language Guide. Shillong: Directorate of Research, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. 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.
Phonology
=Consonants=
In all Miji varieties the "p" "t" and "k" sounds are always aspirated.{{Cite book |last=Weedall |first=Christopher S. |title=A grammar of West Kameng Sajolang (Miji) (Upper Dzang and Khellong villages) |publisher=Australian National University |year=2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Consonant phonemes |
| colspan="2" |
! Labial ! Dental ! Alveolar ! Palatal ! Velar ! Glottal |
|---|
| colspan="2" | Nasal
| {{IPAlink|m}} | | {{IPAlink|n}} | | {{IPAlink|ɳ}} | {{IPAlink|ɲ}} | {{IPAlink|ŋ}} | |
| rowspan="2" | Plosive
! voiceless | {{IPAlink|pʰ}} | | {{IPAlink|tʰ}} | | {{IPA link|ʈʰ}} | | {{IPAlink|kʰ}} | {{IPAlink|ʔ}} |
| voiced
| {{IPAlink|b}} | | {{IPAlink|d}} | | {{IPA link|ɖ}} | | {{IPAlink|ɡ}} | |
| rowspan="2" | Affricate
! voiceless | | | {{IPAlink|ts}} | {{IPAlink|tʃ}} | | {{IPAlink|tɕ}} | | |
| voiced
| | | {{IPA link|dz}} | {{IPAlink|dʒ}} | | | | |
| rowspan="2" | Fricative
! voiceless | {{IPAlink|f}} | {{IPAlink|θ}} | {{IPAlink|s}} | {{IPAlink|ʃ}} | {{IPA link|ʂ}} | | {{IPAlink|x}} | {{IPAlink|h}} |
| voiced
| {{IPAlink|v}} | {{IPAlink|ð}} | {{IPAlink|z}} | {{IPAlink|ʒ}} | {{IPA link|ʐ}} | {{IPAlink|ʑ}} | | {{IPAlink|ɦ}} |
| rowspan="2" | Lateral fricative ! voiceless | | | {{IPAlink|ɬ}} | | | | | |
| voiced
| | | {{IPAlink|ɮ}} | | | | | |
| colspan="2" | Rhotic
| | | {{IPAlink|r}} | | {{IPAlink|ɽ}} | | | |
| colspan="2" | Approximant
| {{IPAlink|ʋ}} | | {{IPAlink|l}}, {{IPA link|ɫ}} | | {{IPAlink|ɭ}} | {{IPAlink|j}} | {{IPAlink|w}} | |