Ralte language
{{Short description|Mizo language of India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox language
|name=Ralte
|region=India
|ethnicity=34,000 Ralte, Mizo
|speakers=900
|date=2007
|ref=e26
|familycolor=Sino-Tibetan
|fam2=(Tibeto-Burman)
|fam3=Kuki-Chin
|fam4=Northeastern
|iso3=ral
|glotto=ralt1242
|glottorefname=Ralte
}}
Ralte is a Kuki-Chin language of India. Fewer than a thousand Ralte people speak the language.
Geographical distribution
Ralte is spoken in the following locations (Ethnologue).
- Mizoram (mainly Aizawl district, and also scattered in Lunglei district and Chhimtuipui district)
- Manipur
- Jampui Hills, North Tripura district, Tripura
Vocabulary
Below are comparative Swadesh lists of Ralte, Mizo, and Tedim from Otsuka (2016).
| class="wikitable sortable"
! No. !! Gloss !! Ralte !!Tedim ! Mizo | ||||
| 1. | I | kei˩ | kei˩˥ | kei˩˥ |
| 2. | thou | naŋ˩ | naŋ˩˥ | naŋ˩˥ |
| 3. | he | a˩maʔ˥ | a˥maʔ˩ | a˥maʔ˩ |
| 4. | we | kei˩muʔ˥ | kou˥˩ | kei˩nī˥˩ |
| 5. | you | naŋ˩muʔ˥ | nou˥˩ | naŋ˩nī˥˩ |
| 6. | they | a˩muʔ˥ | a˥māu˥˩ | an˩nī˥˩ |
| 7. | this | hī˩hiʔ˥ | hiʔ˥ | hei˥˩hi˥ |
| 8. | that | tou˩˥hiʔ˩ | tuaʔ˥ | kʰā˥˩kʰa˥ |
| 9. | here | hi˩tou˥˩vaʔ˩ | hiaʔ˥ | he˥taʔ˩ |
| 10. | there | tou˥˩vaʔ˩ | huaʔ˥ | so˥taʔ˩ |
| 11. | who | kū˩˥hā˩˥ | kua˥˩ | tu˩ŋē˥˩ |
| 12. | what | ī˩˥hā˩˥ | baŋ˥˩ | e˩ŋē˥˩ |
| 13. | where | kʰoi˥˩aʔ˩hā˩˥ | koi˩˥aʔ˩ | kʰoi˥˩aʔ˩ŋē˥˩ |
| 14. | when | ī˩˥tik˩lāi˥˩ | cik˩ciaŋ˥˩ | eŋ˩tik˩lāi˥ |
| 15. | how | ī˩tin˥˩hā˩˥ | baŋ˥˩cī˩ | eŋ˩tin˥ŋē˥˩ |
| 16. | not | ou˥˩ | lou˥˩ | lou˩ |
| 17. | all | a˩rēŋ˩in˥˩ | a˩vek˥pī˩˥ | a˩vāi˩˥ |
| 18. | many | tam˩ | tam˩˥ | tam˩˥ |
| 19. | some | a˩kʰen˥˩ | pōl˧xat˥ | a˩ṭʰen˥ |
| 20. | few | tōm˥˩ | tōm˧ | tlēm˥ |
| 21. | other | daŋ˩ | daŋ˩˥ | daŋ˩˥ |
| 22. | one | pa˩kʰat˥ | xat˩ | pa˩kʰat˩ |
| 23. | two | pa˩niʔ˥ | niʔ˩ | pa˩n̥niʔ˩ |
| 24. | three | pa˩tʰum˥˩ | tʰum˧ | pa˩tʰum˥ |
| 25. | four | pa˩lī˥˩ | lī˧ | pa˩lī˥ |
| 26. | five | pa˩ŋā˥˩ | ŋā˧ | pa˩ŋā˥ |
| 27. | big | lian˩˥ | lian˥˩ | lian˩ |
| 28. | long | sāu˩ | sāu˩˥ | sei˥ |
| 29. | wide | zāu˥˩ | zai˩˥ | zāu˥ |
| 30. | thick | saʔ˩ | saʔ˩ | cʰaʔ˩ |
| 31. | heavy | hit˩ | ɡik˩ | rit˩ |
| 32. | small | nēu˩ | nēu˩˥ | tē˩˥ |
| 33. | short | tōi˩ | tom˩˥ | tōi˩˥ |
| 34. | narrow | zīm˥˩ | toi˩˥ | zīm˥ |
| 35. | thin | pan˥˩ | pā˩˥ | pan˥ |
| 36. | woman | mei˩˥sia˩ | nu˩mei˩ | m̥mei˩cʰia˥˩ |
| 37. | man | pa˩sal˩ | pa˩sal˩˥ | mi˩pā˩ |
| 38. | human | mi˩hiŋ˥˩ | mi˥hiŋ˧ | mi˩ɕiŋ˥ |
| 39. | child | nau˥˩paŋ˩ | nāu˧paŋ˩˥ | nau˥paŋ˩˥ |
| 40. | wife | zī˥˩ | zī˧ | nu˩pui˩˥ |
| 41. | husband | pa˩sal˩ | pa˩sal˩˥ | pa˩sal˩˥ |
| 42. | mother | nū˩ | nū˩˥ | nū˥˩ |
| 43. | father | pā˩ | pā˩˥ | pā˥˩ |
| 44. | animal | ham˥˩sā˩ | ɡam˧sā˩˥ | ram˥sā˥˩ |
| 45. | fish | sa˩ŋā˩ | ŋa˥sā˩˥ | sa˩ŋ̊ŋā˥˩ |
| 46. | bird | sa˩vā˩ | va˥sā˩˥ | sa˩vā˥˩ |
| 47. | dog | ui˩ | ui˩˥ | ui˩˥ |
| 48. | louse | hik˩ | hik˩ | ɕik˩ |
| 49. | snake | hūl˥˩ | ɡūl˧ | rūl˥ |
| 50. | worm | caŋ˥˩pāt˩ | luŋ˩˥ | caŋ˥pāt˩˥ |
| 51. | tree | tʰiŋ˩ | siŋ˩˥ | tʰiŋ˩˥ |
| 52. | forest | ham˥˩nuai˩ | ɡam˧lak˥ | ram˥n̥nuai˩˥ |
| 53. | stick | tiaŋ˩ | ciaŋ˩˥xut˩ | tiaŋ˩˥ |
| 54. | fruit | haʔ˥ | ɡaʔ˩ | raʔ˩ |
| 55. | seed | cī˩ | xāi˥˩cī˩˥ | tʰlāi˩cī˥˩ |
| 56. | leaf | naʔ˩ | teʔ˩ | n̥naʔ˩ |
| 57. | root | zuŋ˩ | zuŋ˩˥ | zuŋ˩˥ |
| 58. | bark | tʰiŋ˩hōŋ˥˩ | siŋ˩˥hōŋ˧ | tʰiŋ˩hōŋ˥ |
| 59. | flower | pāk˥˩ | pāk˧ | paŋ˩pār˥ |
| 60. | grass | kiak˩ | lou˧pā˩˥, kiak˩˥ | l̥lo˥bet˩ |
| 61. | rope | kʰāu˥˩ | xāu˧ | ɕui˩zēn˥ |
| 62. | skin | vun˩ | vun˩˥ | vun˩˥ |
| 63. | meat | sā˩ | sā˩˥ | sā˥˩ |
| 64. | blood | tʰī˩ | sī˩˥ | tʰī˩˥ |
| 65. | bone | huʔ˩ | ɡuʔ˩ | ruʔ˩ |
| 66. | fat | sa˩tʰāu˩˥ | sa˥tʰāu˥˩ | sa˩ɕiak˥˩ |
| 67. | egg | tui˥˩ | tūi˧ | tui˥ |
| 68. | horn | kī˩ | kī˩˥ | kī˥˩ |
| 69. | tail | mei˩ | mei˩˥ | mei˩˥ |
| 70. | feather | mul˩ | mul˩˥ | m̥mul˩˥ |
| 71. | hair | sam˩ | sam˩˥ | sam˩˥ |
| 72. | head | lū˥˩ | lū˧ | lū˥ |
| 73. | ear | beŋ˥˩ | bil˩˥ | beŋ˥ |
| 74. | eye | mit˩ | mit˩ | mit˩ |
| 75. | nose | nāk˩˥ | nāk˥˩ | n̥nār˥ |
| 76. | mouth | kam˥˩ | kam˧ | kā˥ |
| 77. | teeth | hā˥˩ | hā˧ | hā˥ |
| 78. | tongue | lei˥˩ | lei˧ | lei˥ |
| 79. | nail | tin˩ | cin˩˥ | tin˩˥ |
| 80. | foot | kēŋ˩pʰaʔ˥ | xe˩pēk˩˥ | ke˩pʰaʔ˩ |
| 81. | leg | kēŋ˩ | xē˥˩ | kē˩ |
| 82. | knee | kʰūp˩ | xūk˩˥ | kʰūp˥˩ |
| 83. | hand | kʰut˩ | xut˩ | kut˩ |
| 84. | wing | tʰā˩˥ | xā˥˩ | tʰlā˩ |
| 85. | belly | dul˩˥ | ɡil˧pī˩˥ | dul˩ |
| 86. | guts | hil˥˩ | ɡil˧ | rīl˥ |
| 87. | neck | ŋōŋ˥˩ | ŋōŋ˧ | ŋ̊ŋōŋ˥ |
| 88. | back | nuŋ˥˩zāŋ˥˩ | nuŋ˧zāŋ˧ | n̥nuŋ˥zāŋ˥ |
| 89. | breast | nōi˩ | nōi˩˥ | n̥nu˩tē˩˥ |
| 90. | heart | luŋ˥˩ | luŋ˧ | luŋ˥ |
| 91. | liver | tʰin˩˥ | sin˥˩ | tʰin˩ |
| 92. | to drink | nē˩ | dōn˧ | in˥ |
| 93. | to eat | cā˩ | nē˩˥ | ei˥ |
| 94. | to bite | pet˩ | pet˩ | seʔ˩ |
| 95. | to suck | cōp˥˩ | tōp˩˥ | fōp˥˩ |
| 96. | to spit | sia˥˩ | sia˩˥ | cʰāk˥˩ |
| 97. | to vomit | luak˩ | lua˥˩ | luak˥˩ |
| 98. | to blow | sēm˥˩ | mūt˧ | cʰēm˥ |
| 99. | to breathe | tʰō˩ | nāk˧ | tʰō˥˩ |
| 100. | to laugh | nī˥˩ | nūi˧ | nui˥ |
| 101. | to see | mū˩˥ | mū˥˩ | m̥mū˩ |
| 102. | to hear | tʰei˩˥ | zā˩˥ | ɕia˩˥ |
| 103. | to know | tʰei˩˥ | tʰei˥˩ | ɕia˩˥ |
| 104. | to think | ŋaiʔ˩tuaʔ˩ | ŋaiʔ˩sun˥˩ | ŋaiʔ˩tuaʔ˩ |
| 105. | to smell | nam˩˥ | nam˥˩ | n̥nīm˩ |
| 106. | to fear | lāu˩ | lāu˩˥ | l̥lāu˩˥ |
| 107. | to sleep | ip˩ | iʔ˩mū˧ | mū˥ |
| 108. | to live | hiŋ˥˩ | hiŋ˧ | ɕiŋ˥ |
| 109. | to die | tʰī˥˩ | sī˧ | tʰī˥ |
| 110. | to kill | tʰat˩ | tʰat˩ | tʰat˩ |
| 111. | to fight | thawh˥˩ | lāi˩˥, ki˩sual˩˥ | sual˥ |
| 112. | to hunt | ham˥˩ suak˥˩ | ɡam˧ vāk˩˥ | ram˥ vāk˥˩, ram˥ cʰuak˥˩ |
| 113. | to hit | vua˩˥ | vua˥˩ | vua˩ |
| 114. | to cut | tan˩ | tan˩˥ | tan˩˥ |
| 115. | to split | tʰēr˩ | bāl˩˥kēk˩˥ | tʰlēr˩˥ |
| 116. | to stab | sun˩˥ | sun˥˩ | cʰun˩ |
| 117. | to scratch | hiat˩ | xuat˩˥ | hiat˥˩ |
| 118. | to dig | lāi˩˥ | tou˩˥ | lāi˩, cou˩˥ |
| 119. | to swim | tui˩˥ leuʔ˩ | tūi˩˥ pēk˧ | tui˩˥ l̥leuʔ˩ |
| 120. | to fly | lēŋ˥˩ | lēŋ˧ | tʰlōk˥˩ |
| 121. | to walk | lēŋ˥˩ | lam˩˥ siau˥˩ | lēŋ˥ |
| 122. | to come | hoŋ˩ kel˥˩ | oŋ˩˥ pai˧ | lo˩ kal˥ |
| 123. | to lie | lum˩˥ | lum˥˩ | lum˩ |
| 124. | to sit | kʰuŋ˥˩ | tū˧ | ṭhū˥ |
| 125. | to stand | diŋ˥˩ | diŋ˧ | diŋ˥ |
| 126. | to turn | vik˩ | pei˩˥ | vir˩˥ |
| 127. | to fall | tā˩˥ | kia˥˩ | tlā˩ |
| 128. | to give | pia˩ | pia˩˥ | pē˩ |
| 129. | to have | nei˩˥ | nei˥˩ | nei˩ |
| 130. | to squeeze | hekˀ˩ | sūk˧ | herˀ˩ |
| 131. | to rub | nōt˩ | nōt˩˥ | nōt˥˩ |
| 132. | to wash | sil˩˥ | sil˩˥ | sil˩ |
| 133. | to wipe | sōp˩ | sōp˩˥ | ɕū˩ |
| 134. | to pull | bot˩ | kāi˥˩ | pot˩ |
| 135. | to push | sōn˩ | sōn˩˥ | nam˩˥ |
| 136. | to throw | dēŋ˥˩ | dēŋ˧ | paiʔ˩ |
| 137. | to tie | kanʔ˩ | hēn˧ | suiʔ˩ |
| 138. | to sew | kʰui˥˩ | xū˧ | ṭʰui˥ |
| 139. | to count | siar˥˩ | sim˧ | cʰiar˥ |
| 140. | to say | soi˩ | ɡēn˩˥ | soi˩˥ |
| 141. | to sing | sā˩˥ | sā˥˩ | zāi˥ |
| 142. | to play practical jokes | ciam˩˥niʔ˩dūn˩˥ | ki˩ciam˥˩nui˩˥ | in˩fiam˥ |
| 143. | to float | lāŋ˥˩ | lām˧ | lāŋ˥ |
| 144. | to flow | luaŋ˥˩ | luaŋ˧ | luaŋ˥ |
| 145. | to freeze | kʰaŋ˩ | xal˥˩ | kʰaŋ˥˩ |
| 146. | to swell | vūŋ˥˩ | bōk˧ | vūŋ˥ |
| 147. | sun | nī˥˩ | nī˧ | nī˥ |
| 148. | moon | tʰā˩˥ | xā˥˩ | tʰlā˩ |
| 149. | star | āk˥˩sī˩˥ | āk˧sī˥˩ | ar˥sī˩ |
| 150. | water | tui˩ | tūi˩˥ | tui˩˥ |
| 151. | rain | huaʔ˩ | ɡuaʔ˩ | ruaʔ˩ |
| 152. | river | lui˩˥ | lūi˥˩ | lui˩ |
| 153. | lake | dīl˩ | tūi˩˥lī˧ | dīl˩˥ |
| 154. | sea | tui˩fin˩riat˩ | tūi˩˥pī˥ | tui˩fin˥˩riat˥˩ |
| 155. | salt | cī˩˥ | cī˥˩ | cī˩ |
| 156. | stone | suaŋ˩ | suaŋ˩˥ | luŋ˩˥ |
| 157. | sand | tiau˥˩ | seʔ˩nēl˩˥ | tiau˥ |
| 158. | dust | vāi˥˩vut˩ | lei˩˥vui˧ | vai˥vut˩ |
| 159. | earth | lei˩ | lei˩˥ | lei˩˥ |
| 160. | cloud | sūm˩ | mei˧ | cʰūm˩˥ |
| 161. | fog | ro˩˥mei˩ | xo˥mui˧ | ro˩mei˩˥ |
| 162. | sky | vān˩˥ | vān˥˩ | vān˩ |
| 163. | wind | tʰī˥˩ | huiʔ˩ | tʰlī˥ |
| 164. | snow | vūk˥˩ | vūk˧ | vūr˥ |
| 165. | ice | vūk˩kʰal˩ | tūi˩˥xal˥˩ | vūr˥kʰal˥˩ |
| 166. | smoke | mei˩kʰū˩ | mei˩˥xū˩˥ | mei˩kʰū˥˩ |
| 167. | fire | mei˩ | mei˩˥ | mei˩˥ |
| 168. | ash | vāp˩ | vut˩ | vāp˩˥ |
| 169. | to burn | kāŋ˩˥ | kāŋ˥˩ | kāŋ˩ |
| 170. | road | lam˩pui˩ | lam˩˥ | koŋ˥ |
| 171. | mountain | tāŋ˥˩ | mual˧ | tlāŋ˥ |
| 172. | red | san˥˩ | san˧ | sen˥ |
| 173. | green | hiŋ˥˩ | eŋ˧ | ɕiŋ˥ |
| 174. | yellow | eŋ˥˩ | nāi˧pāk˧ | eŋ˥ |
| 175. | white | vāk˥˩ | kāŋ˧ | vār˥ |
| 176. | black | dum˥˩ | vom˧ | dum˥ |
| 177. | night | zān˩˥ | zān˥˩ | zān˩ |
| 178. | day | nī˥˩ | nī˧ | nī˥ |
| 179. | year | kum˩˥ | kum˥˩ | kum˩ |
| 180. | warm | lum˥˩ | lum˧ | lum˥ |
| 181. | cold | dāi˩˥ | vot˩ | vōt˥˩ |
| 182. | full | dim˩ | dim˩˥ | kʰat˩ |
| 183. | new | tʰar˥˩ | tʰak˥ | tʰar˥ |
| 184. | old | lui˥˩ | lui˧ | hlui˥ |
| 185. | good | pʰā˩˥ | hoiʔ˩ | ṭʰā˩ |
| 186. | bad | sual˩ | sia˩˥ | sual˩˥ |
| 187. | rotten | muat˩ | muat˩˥ | ṭoiʔ˩ |
| 188. | dirty | bolˀ˩loʔ˩ | nīn˥˩ | bolˀ˩l̥loʔ˩ |
| 189. | straight | ŋīl˥˩ | taŋ˧ | ŋīl˥ |
| 190. | round | bial˥˩ | bēm˩˥ | bial˥ |
| 191. | sharp | hiam˥˩ | hiam˧ | ɕiam˥ |
| 192. | dull | bil˩ | mōl˩˥ | bil˩˥ |
| 193. | smooth | nāl˩ | nāl˩˥ | nāl˩˥ |
| 194. | wet | nom˥˩ | kōt˩˥ | huʔ˩ |
| 195. | dry | kou˥˩ | keu˧ | rou˥ |
| 196. | correct | dik˩ | mān˧, dik˩ | dik˩ |
| 197. | near | nāi˩ | nāi˩˥ | n̥nāi˩˥ |
| 198. | far | lam˩lā˩ | ɡam˧lā˩˥ | l̥lā˥ |
| 199. | right | tak˩lam˩ | tak˩lam˩˥ | a˩diŋ˩˥lam˩˥ |
| 200. | left | a˩vei˩lam˩ | vei˩˥lam˩˥ | a˩vei˩˥lam˩˥ |
| 201. | at | aʔ˩ | aʔ˩ | aʔ˩ |
| 202. | in | aʔ˩ | aʔ˩ | aʔ˩ |
| 203. | with | tuah˩ | toʔ˩ | nēn˩ |
| 204. | and | leʔ˩ | leʔ˩ | leʔ˩ |
| 205. | if | cʰun˥˩ | leʔ˩ | cʰuan˥ |
| 206. | because | a˩vāŋ˩in˥˩ | a˥hiʔ˩ciaŋ˩˥in˧ | a˥vāŋ˩in˥ |
| 207. | name | miŋ˥˩ | min˧ | m̥miŋ˥ |
References
{{Reflist}}
- Otsuka, Kosei. 2016. [http://hdl.handle.net/10108/85074 A Basic Vocabulary and a Text of the Ralte Language]. Asian and African Languages and Linguistics 10. 325–344.
- Otsuka, Kosei. 2019. [http://hdl.handle.net/11094/71637 Verb stem alternation in Ralte]. GENGO BUNKA KENKYU (STUDIES IN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE), Graduate School of Language and Culture Osaka University 45. 161–178.
- Otsuka, Kosei. 2021. [http://lg.let.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/ariake/21-02.pdf A phonological comparison of Ralte and Proto-Kuki-Chin]. ARIAKE Kumamoto University Linguistic Papers 20. 21–38.
{{Sino-Tibetan languages}}
{{Kuki-Chin–Naga languages}}
{{Languages of Northeast India}}