CHAPTER VI

LANGUAGE

The languages of all the clans dealt with in this monograph, except the Lakher, are very similar, and also bear a strong resemblance to those of their neighbours.

Dr. Grierson, in the "Linguistic Survey of India," uses the term "Kuki-Chin" to describe all the languages spoken by the clans I have dealt with and their cognates, but he adds:--"Meithei-Chin would be a better appellation, as the whole group can be sub-divided into two sub-groups, the Meitheis (Manipuris) and the various tribes which are known to us under the names of Kuki and Chin." Dr. Grierson considers that all the Kuki-Chin languages belong to the Burmese branch of the Tibeto-Burman family, and he subdivides them as follows:--

I. Meithei,* [17] or Manipuri.

II. Chin languages--

1. Northern group: Thado, Sokte,* Siyin,* Ralte, and Paite or Vuite. 2. Central group: Tashon,* Lai,* Lakher, Lushai, Banjogi,* and Pankhu.* 3. Old Kuki group: Rhangkhol, Bete (Biate), Hallam, Langrong, Aimol, Anal, Chiru, Lamgang, Kolren (Kolhen), Kom, Purum, Mhar (Hmar or Khawtlang), and Cha.* 4. Southern group: Chinme,* Welaung,* Chinbok,* Yindu,* Chinbon,* Khyang or Sho,* Khami.*

With reference to the connection between the different clans, Dr. Grierson writes:--"The terms Old Kuki and New Kuki are apt to convey the idea that the tribes so denoted are closely related to each other. But that is not the case. Not only do their customs and institutions differ considerably, but their languages are separated by a large group of dialects in the Lushai and Chin Hills, and the so-called New Kukis (Thados) are, so far as we can see, a Chin tribe, most closely connected to the inhabitants of the northern Chin Hills, while the Old Kukis are related to tribes more to the south."

The account of the causes of the Old and New Kuki incursions into Cachar, given in Part I, Chap. I, Section 3, which was written before I had read Dr. Grierson's book, agrees entirely with his conclusions.

A detailed account has been given in Part I of the Lushai language, and, considering the full manner in which the dialects of all these tribes have been dealt with by Dr. Grierson in the "Linguistic Survey of India," it seems superfluous to attempt to give outlines of them, and therefore I propose only to draw attention to the many points of similarity between them. The works I have consulted are:--"The Linguistic Survey of India," Vol. II, Part III, Lorrain and Savidge's "Grammar and Dictionary of the Lushai Language," Mr. T. C. Hodson's "Grammar and Small Vocabulary of Thado," and the appendix to Lieutenant Stewart's "Notes on Northern Cachar," 1855.

In going through Mr. Hodson's vocabulary of the Thado language, the first thing that struck me was the absence of the letter R. Further examination showed that where R is used in Lushai and certain other languages G or Gh is substituted in Thado. Many instances of this will be found in the following comparative vocabulary.

In many cases F in Lushai, Rhangkhol, and Langrong is replaced by Ch, sometimes softened into S in Thado, Manipuri, and some Old Kuki dialects. I have so far only found the following examples, but the material at my disposal is very insufficient, and I have no doubt that, given complete vocabularies, many more would be found:--

"Fa" in Lushai, "cha" in Manipuri and Thado, meaning "child."

"Far-nu" in Lushai and Langrong, "char-nu" in Aimol, Kolhen and Lamgang, "sar-nu" in Chiru, Kom, and Hallam, meaning "sister."

"Fak" in Langrong, "chak" in Manipuri, "cha" in Aimol, Anal, Kolhen, Lamgang, "shak" in Chiru, meaning "to eat." In Lushai we have "chaw-fak-hun," "rice-eat-time." Until I found that "fak" meant "to eat" in Langrong, the Lushai equivalent for dinner-time had always puzzled me, as the Lushai word for "to eat" is "ei."

"Fawp" in Lushai, "chop" in Thado, "chup" in Purum, meaning "to kiss."

"Fang" in Bete, "chang" in Thado, meaning "paddy," while "fang" in Lushai means "a grain."

"Fep" in Lushai, "chep" in Thado, meaning "to suck," as sugar-cane.

"Feh" in Lushai, "to go to the jhums," "feh" in Rhangkhol, "to go"; "che" in Thado, Aimol, and Anal, and "chatpa" in Manipuri have the same meaning.

"Fing" in Lushai, "ching" in Thado, "singba" in Manipuri, mean "wise."

"Fu" in Lushai, "chu" in Thado mean "sugar-cane."

"Fang-hma" in Lushai, "fung-mat" in Bete, "chung-mai" in Thado, mean "a pumpkin."

N in Lushai sometimes becomes "shi" in Lai or Haka dialect, as "ni" in Lushai and "shi" in Lai, meaning both "to be" and "aunt."

G and K are often interchanged and also R, L, and N.

In Lushai we have "lung" meaning both "stone" and "heart," while in Manipuri we have "nung" meaning "stone," and though "heart" is translated by "puk," we have "nung-siba" "to be sad," evidently composed of "nung" and "siba," "to die," and also "nung-ngaiba," meaning "happy," showing that "nung" once meant heart.

In many of these languages, similar words are used but have slightly different meanings. For instance, "shang" in Lushai means "tall," while in Thado and Manipuri we have "sang" meaning "long."

"Leng" in Lushai means "to stroll," and "lengba" in Manipuri means "to walk," but is only used of important personages who would be likely to move slowly and in a dignified manner.

In Lushai "shat" means "to cut," but as a Lushai's house consists of timber and bamboos, he always uses "shat" when he speaks of building a house, and we find "sha" in Thado and "saba" in Manipuri mean "to make," "to build."

In Lushai the verb "ni," "to be," is conjugated completely, but in Manipuri "ni" means "is" and has no other tenses.

Manipuri: Ma ai-gi i nau ni. Lushai: Ama ka nau a ni. English: He my younger brother he is.

The following comparative vocabulary gives in the first two columns the Thado and English words as given by Mr. Hodson. The first word in the column of remarks is always Lushai, and where it has not exactly the same meaning as the Thado word the correct meaning is given; then follow, where necessary, the equivalents in other dialects.

About one word in every three given in Mr. Hodson's vocabulary has been found to resemble closely the Lushai word having the same or a similar meaning. Mr. Hodson's vocabulary has no pretensions to be a complete dictionary of the Thado language. Were such available I believe the number of similar words in the two dialects would be found to be even greater. As regards the Old Kuki dialects the information available is not sufficient to make a thorough comparison. It is clear that they are very closely allied to Lushai and Thado and to each other. The connection between Manipuri and what Dr. Grierson calls the Chin languages will, I believe, be found on further enquiry to be closer than at first appears.

COMPARATIVE VOCABULARY OF THADO AND LUSHAI LANGUAGES, WITH NOTES ON THE OTHER CHIN LANGUAGES AND MANIPURI OR MEITHEI.

THADO. ENGLISH. LUSHAI AND REMARKS.

A Fowl Ar. Old Kuki dialects, Ar. A-eng or Turmeric Ai-eng. Beteh, Aishel. A-yeng Ai Crab Ai. Beteh, Iae. A-le True, right Awle, all right. Ashi Star Arshi. Old Kuki dialects the same. Ban Arm Ban. Bat To owe Bat. Be To beat a drum Beng. Be Pulse Be, all sorts of peas and beans. Bon To wrestle Buan. Bong Cow Se-bong. Bong-hlo Mud Bol-hlawh. Bu Paddy Buh. Chem Dao Chem. Same in Old Kuki dialect. Chep To suck Fep. Chi Salt Chi; and in Old Kuki dialects also. Chok To buy Chawk. In most Old Kuki dialects, Chok or Chak, and Purum has Lei, which is the commoner word in Lushai. Da To spread Da, to put. Chol Tired Chawl, to rest when tired. Cham Level Cham. Dang Other Dang. Dai-tui Dew Dai. Dangka Silver Tangka. Deng To beat Deng, to pound, to hammer. Ding To stand Ding. Di Correct Dik. Doi Magic Doi; and in Old Kuki dialects. Doi Weak Doih, cowardly. Dui To love Duh, to like, to desire. Dum Tobacco Dum-ei, Dum-bawm, tobacco box; but the usual word is Vai-hlo. Eng Yellow Eng. Ga Fruit Ra; also Beteh. Gam-la Distant Ram, country; Hla, distant. In Old Kuki dialects, La, Hla, and Lak. Gam-mang Forest Ram. The Lushai Hills being covered with forest, Ram means both country and forest. Mang appears in the Manipuri, U-Mang. Ge To pass the night Ria(k). Cf. Manipuri. Lek. Gel Hail Rial. Manipuri, Lel. Ghai Pregnant Rai. Ghal Enemy Ral. Manipuri, Lal; Beteh, Ral. Ghi Heavy Rit. Beteh, Rik. Ghin Sound Ring, loud. Ghop Lean Rawp, to become thin, to waste away. Ghu A bone Ru; also in Manipuri and Old Kuki dialects. Ghu A thief, to steal Ru; also in Beteh. Ghul A snake Rul; also in Old Kuki dialects. Manipuri, Lil. Gim To worry Rim, tired, toilworn. Go A bamboo Ro, a particular sort of bamboo. Go To cremate Rawh, to heat, to roast. Ha Tooth Ha, and in all Old Kuki dialects. Hal To set fire to Hal; also in Beteh. Ham Blow through Ham, to play a wind instrument. Hao Rich Hao-sak; the k is nearly silent. He To know Thei to be able; Hre or Hriat, to know. Manipuri, Heiba, to know how to do. Hem Sharp Hriam. Hem To soothe Thlem, to pacify. Hla Month, the moon Thla; and Manipuri and Old Kuki dialects, Tha or Thla. Hla Wing Thla. Hla Song Hla. Hling To suffice Tling-tlak, to complete. Hlut To enter Lut. Hon Garden Huan. Hot To shake Hot, to stir with spoon. Hui A dog Ui. Hui or Ui in Manipuri and all Old Kuki dialects. In House In; and in all Old Kuki dialects. Kal To climb Kal, to go; also in Langrong. Kalson To walk Kan Dry Kang, to dry up. Manipuri, Kangba. Kap To shoot Kap. Kel Goat Kel; and in all Old Kuki dialects. Ket To be broken Keh. Kha Bitter Kha. Kha Chin Kha, the lower jaw. Khel buk Thigh Khel, side of upper part of thigh. Khoi Bee Khoi. Khom To collect Khon. Manipuri, Khom-silba. Khong Drum Khuang. Kho-shi To feel cold Khua a shik. Khu Cough Khuh. Khubu Knee Khup. Manipuri, Khuk-u; Beteh, Rakhuk. Khut Hand Kut. Rhangkhol, Gut; all other Old Kuki dialects and Manipuri, either Khut or Kut. Keng Leg Ke. Keng bai Lame Ke bai. Ki Horn Ki. Manipuri, Chi or Ji; Beteh, Raki. Ko To call Ko; and the same in Manipuri. In most Old Kuki dialects, Ko, Koi, or Kai. Kol a phe To lighten Kawl a phe; and the same in Beteh. Kong The waist Kawng, the loins. Korka A door Kongkhar. Ku Village Khua. Manipuri, Khul. Variations of this are found in all dialects. Ku To cover Khum. Manipuri, Khumba. Khul A hole Khur; and in Old Kuki dialects. Kum Year Kum. Manipuri, Kumsi, this year. All Old Kuki dialects have Kum. La To take Lak, with almost silent k. In all Old Kuki dialects the word is very nearly the same. It also has the meaning to bring, and so may be compared with the Manipuri Lak pa, to come. Lai Middle, navel Lai; and in Beteh also. Lai To dig Lai, to dig, to hoe. Laili Writing, the art Lai-shuih, paper, reading and of reading and writing. Cf. Manipuri, Lairik writing laishuih, writing materials, and Kachcha Naga, Laishi. Lam Direction Lam. Cf. Manipuri, Lom or Rom. Lambi Road Lam-lian, though Kong, or Kal-kong is the general word, Lam-lian being generally used for a made road as compared with a path. In Manipuri, Lambi; and in most Chin and Old Kuki dialects, either Lam or Lampi. Le Tongue Lei. This word with very slight variations is found in Manipuri, Old Kuki, and all Chin dialects. Le Earth Lei. Cf. Manipuri, Leipak, earth, country. Lei-chung Bridge Lei, Lei-lawn. Lei-ka White ant Lei-kha. Manipuri, Leisau. Len Net Len. Len Big Lian, contracted into Len. Beteh, Lien. Cf. Manipuri, Turel or Turen--i.e., Tui, water, and Len, big, though water in Manipuri is Ising. Leng To fly Leng, to stroll or float in the air. In Manipuri the word means to walk, but is only used of the Rajah or very important persons. Lim Form, shape Hlim, shadow, shape, picture. Lo Jhum, cultivation Lo. This is another word which is found in nearly every dialect. Lo Medicine, drug Hlo. Lo Suffix of Lo, not. negation Loi Buffalo Loi, Cf. Manipuri, Iroi; Beteh, Siloi. Lu Head Lu. Common to all Chin and Old Kuki dialects. Cf. Manipuri, Luchingba, principal. Lui Old Hlui; also in Beteh. Lum Hot, as water Lum. Lung Heart disposition Lung; also in most Old Kuki dialects. Mai Face Hmai. Manipuri, Mai, and Beteh, Hmai. Maiche Vegetables Mai, a pumpkin. Man Price Man. Common to Manipuri, Chin, and Old Kuki dialects. Mang Dream Mang; also in Manipuri. Mang To lose, to be Mang, to die out; Mang ang, to be spoilt upset in mind. Manipuri, Mangba, to lose; Manghalba, to spoil. Mao Woman Mo, a bride, daughter-in-law. Me Fire Mei, another universal word. Me Tail Mei; also in Manipuri. Me Cloud Ro-mei, haze. Me-hol Charcoal Mei-hol. Me-khu Smoke Me-khu. Me-tai Widow Hmei-thai. Mel Appearance Hmel, face, appearance. Min Name Hming. Manipuri, Ming. Min Ripe Hmin. Mi Person Mi. This word is found in all the dialects under consideration. Mit Eye Mit, which with very slight variations is found in all dialects. Mol Hill Mual, a hill, a spur of a hill. Mom To chew Hmom, to put into the mouth whole. Mu Hawk Mu. Mu Beak Hmui, beak, upper lip. In most Old Kuki dialects, Mur. Mu To see Hmu. Similar word used in all Old Kuki dialects except Anal, Purum, and Lamgang. Mul Feather, hair, Hmul. fur Mu mul Moustache Hmui hmul. Mut To sleep Mut, lie down, sleep. Na Leaf Hna. In Manipuri and Beteh, Na. Na Nose Hnar. Manipuri, Chin, and Old Kuki very similar. Na Ill Na, pain. Manipuri, Na. Nai Near Hnai. Manipuri, Nakpa; Chin and Old Kuki dialects, Nai or similar words. Nal Slippery Nal. Manipuri, Nalba, slippery, smooth. Nam To smell Nam. Manipuri, Namba; Beteh Num. Nam A strap for Hnam. carrying loads Nau Younger brother Nau. Found in Manipuri and in many or sister Old Kuki dialects, sometimes Nai. Nem Soft Nem, also in Beteh. Nga Five and Fish In all Chin and Old Kuki dialects, Manipuri. Ngai To be customary Ngai; has many meanings. Ngoi Fishing weir Ngoi. Ngol Mad, foolish Ngol-tawt, obstinate, uncontrollable. Manipuri, Ngaoba. Ni Sun, day Ni. In all Chin and Old Kuki dialects and in Manipuri, we have. Ni Aunt Ni; also in most Old Kuki dialects. Noi To laugh Nui. Manipuri, Nokpa; Beteh, Inui. Nom To wish Nuam, contracted into Nom. Nau-shen Baby Nau-shen. Nu Mother, female Nu, in nearly all these dialects. suffix. Appears in Manipuri in Nupi, woman, and "I cha nupi," my child female--i.e., daughter. Nupi is especially interesting because it combines both the Lushai female suffixes Nu and Pui. Nunga After, behind Nunga. Most dialects very similar. Cf. Manipuri, Back, Namgan. Nunga Girl Nula. Ole Alligator Awle. Beteh, Ove. Pa Father, and male Pa, in all these dialects and suffix Manipuri. Pa-gong A widower Parol; note the change of g into r. Pasal A male Pasal, a husband; Pasal-tha (man good), a brave man, hero. The word is used for man in several Old Kuki dialects. Paten The creator Pathian. With very slight variations common to all these clans except Manipuris. Pe To give Pe. Very similar terms in all these dialects. Manipuri, Piba. Pengpulep Butterfly Phengphehlep; Beteh Phelep. The Lushai may be Pheng, flat; Phe-phe, to move; Hlep, a slice. Phai Level Phei. Pho To dry in the sun Pho. In Manipuri the word has the same meaning and also means paddy. Phung Clan Phung-chang, fellow-clansman. Phut To place upright Phun. in the ground Pi Grandmother Pi. Pi Feminine suffix Pui. Found in many Old Kuki for animals. dialects. In Manipuri, "bi" is the feminine termination of adjectives. Pi Suffix denoting Pui. Common in one form or other to great. nearly all these dialects. Po To carry Paw, to carry on the back. Pol Straw Pawl. Pon Cloth Puan. The word in Chin and nearly all Old Kuki dialects is either the same or very similar. Pu Grandfather Pu; and in Manipuri and all Chin and Old Kuki dialects. The word has also other meanings, such as maternal uncle. Pu To carry on the Puak, to carry on the back. shoulder. Manipuri, Puba, to carry. Pum Body Pum, belly. Manipuri Puk. There is a curious dissimilarity here in most Old Kuki dialects, in which Won or some such word is used for belly. Pum Raft Pum. Sa Animal Sa. The word is used generally for wild animals. In Lushai it is prefixed to the names of wild animals and to those of such domestic animals as are not indigenous. Thus, Sa-kor, a horse; Sa-kei, a tiger; while Kel, a goat, Shial, a mithan, Ui, a dog, have no prefix. Sa is used in the same manner in Manipuri--Sagol, a horse; Sangamba, an otter; Saji, a barking deer, &c. The word is found in Old Kuki dialects. Sam Hair Sam. In Manipuri, Chin, and Old Kuki. Sang Tall Shang. Manipuri, Sangba, long. Sang Thousand Shang. Beteh, Shang. Sa-ku Porcupine Sa-kuh. Manipuri, Sa-bu. Sanga Wild cat Sa-nghar. Sat To cut Shat, to chop. Sat Hot, of weather Sha. Manipuri, Saba. Sha To build Shat, to cut. As all buildings and bridges were originally of timber, building meant cutting, and a Lushai always says, "In ka shat," "I build a house." In Manipuri, Saba means to make or build. Shai Elephant Sai. She To say Shoi. Shelda Mithan Shiel, but in conjunction She; Shepui, full-grown cow, mithan. Shem To make Shiam. Manipuri, Semba. Shi To be cold Shik. Shil To wash the body Sil, to wash. Soi, with To converse Thu, word; Shoi, to say. "tu" Shok A slave Sal is the Lushai for a slave; but Suak, found in so many names, evidently means slave (v. Part I, Ch. IV, p. 6). All Old Kuki dialects have very similar words for slave or servant. Sum Goods Sum. This word seems only to be found in Langrong among Old Kuki dialects. In the other dialects we find Nenun, Nei, Neina, which correspond to the Lushai Nei, to own; or Lal or Ral. Lal in Lushai means chief--i.e., the rich man; Cf. Hausa--in Lushai, rich, and in Thado, a chief. Sunga Within Chhunga. Tam Many Tam. In Aimol, Chiru, Kolhen, Kom, and Purum, Tam is a plural suffix. Tangka Rupee, silver Tangka. Tangval A young man Tlangval. Tat To kill That. Manipuri, Hatpa. Te To be permitted; Thei, to be able. to be able Tha New Thar. Beteh, Thur. Thal Arrow Thal. Manipuri, Tel; Beteh, Thul. The Edible fruit Thei. Manipuri, Hei. Thi Blood Thi. Beteh, Thi; Manipuri, I. Thi Iron Thir. Thing Tree Thing. Cf. Manipuri, Sing, firewood. Thou Fat Thao. Cf. Manipuri, Mahau, fat, grease, and Thau, oil. Ti To die Thi. Cf. Manipuri, Si-ba. Ti To say Ti. In most Old Kuki dialects, The. Tin Finger nail, claw Tin. Tou A fly Tho-shi, a mosquito. Tui Water Tui. Ti, Tui, or Dui in all Chin and Old Kuki dialects. Cf. Manipuri, Tu-ren (Tui-len), a river. Tunge Nowadays Tuna, now. Tu Grandchild Tu. is found in this sense through all these dialects. Ve Left (direction) Vei. Manipuri, Woi. Vo To beat Vuak, or Vel. Aimol, Ve; Kolhen, Wel; Kom, Wuk; Purum, Wel; Lai (Haka), Vel; Siyin, Vat. Vok Pig Vok. Manipuri, Ok. Vok or Wok are found in all Chin and Old Kuki dialects. Wan The sky Van. Wa-phol The pied hornbill Va-pual. Va is a prefix denoting bird, employed as Sa is with animals. Wa is used in the same way in Thado. Wat Leech Vang-vat. Wompi Bear Sa-vom. Manipuri, Sa-wom. Wu To stink Uih. Wun Skin Vun. Manipuri, Un. Wut Ashes Vut. Manipuri, Ut. Ya-cha To be ashamed Zah-thlak, shameful. Yan Night Zan. Yeng Yellow Eng. Ying Dense, as jungle Zim. Yao To complete Zaw. Yu To sell Zuar. Yu Rice beer Zu, a word found in one form or other throughout the Hills.

NOTES

[1] 1 Lung = stone; thlan = grave; "vai" may mean "foreign" or be short for "vai phei," the name of an old Kuki clan.

[2] Vide p. 99 of Colonel P. R. Gurdon's Monograph on the Khasi People.

[3] Compare Major Playfair's The Garos, page 114, where the word "marang" is said to have the meaning of "unlucky" and "unlawful."

[4] For a somewhat similar instance of trying to ward off cholera, vide Khasi Monograph, p. 35.--P. R. G.

[5] "Suak" or "Suok" in most old Kuki dialects and in Thado means a slave.

[6] Can the fear of his heirs neglecting to put up a memorial stone have originated the "stone hauling" customs so distinctive of Maram and Angami Nagas?

[7] The Ralte clan is described in Part II, Chap. II.

[8] See above as to windows, page 27.

[9] Cf. "Manipur Festival," Folklore, Vol. XXI, No. I.

[10] Compare the Synteng custom of beh-dieng-khlam.--P. R. G.

[11] a is merely the masculine termination. Hrangchal-a is a man's name, Hrangchal-i a woman's. The terminations are often omitted when it is known who is meant.

[12] Cf. the Purum tale of the eclipse given on p. 183.

[13] At the wedding the bridegroom has to kill half the number of pigs that are killed by the bride's family, thus:--

Bride's family, 5 pigs killed; the bridegroom kills 3 pigs = 8 pigs. Bride's family, 10 pigs killed; the bridegroom kills 5 pigs = 15 pigs.

[14] The amount of price in these columns are all equal to one another in value and the bridegroom chooses only one out of each price according to what he has.

[15] If the "Pupa" wishes for these prices to be paid he has to go to the bridegroom's house after the marriage (some other day) and kill a big pig. Then the prices have to be met quickly, or at least some of them, and the bridegroom also has to go to the "Pupa's" house and kill a pig in exchange for the pig that was killed for him. If the "Pupa" is dead (or when dead) his children can claim the prices in his stead.

[16] The death-due upon a woman is heavier than that upon a man. The death-due upon a prosperous man is more than that upon a poor man.

[17] Clans marked * are not dealt with in this monograph.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Lushei Kuki Clans, by John Shakespear