Mara language

Mara is a Kuki-Chin language spoken by Mara people, mostly Tlosaih tribe living in 30 villages of Chhimtuipui district, southern Mizoram, India and the adjacent villages in Burma.

Mara
Mara (Tlosaih)
Pronunciation[m̥ara]
Native toMizoram, India; Burma
EthnicityMara people
Native speakers
(ca. 400,000 cited 1994–2011)[1]
Dialects
  • Tlosaih Siaha(lingua franca)
  • Tlosaih Saikao
  • Tlosaih Tokalo
  • Tlosaih Kiasie
Latin
Official status
Official language in
 India (Mara Autonomous District Council,Mizoram)
Language codes
ISO 639-3mrh
Glottologmara1382[2]

The Mara (Tlosais) languages belongs 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 School curriculum of Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC). Mara is a compulsory subject for all schools up to Class VII (Middle School) under Board of School Education, MADC.

Demographics

ochebi, Zophei(Ahnai/Vytu, Bawipa and Asah/Leita), Senthang(Khuapi/Saith a), Lautu(Awhsa/Kahno) & Saté

  • Tribes: Zophei, Lautu, Senthang, Tlosai, Hlaipao and Haw Thai

Orthography

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 (small 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:

  • zy (zeu)
  • zydua (zeu-dua)
  • nawh
  • sahlao (sha-hlawh)

Words inside bracket were how a foreign author N.E. Parry (1937) wrote according to his understanding of the sound. But now the Maras have their own alphabet and the correct usages are put up there.

Interrogative words in Mara

What : Khâpa, Khâpa e, Khâpa maw Where : Khataih lâ, Khataih liata How : kheihta, kheihawhta, Khatluta, Kheihta maw How much? : Khazie? How long? : Khachâ e, Khachâ maw? When : Khatita, khatita e, Khâpa nota, nota, tita, nahta, pata, Conj. thlaita, khati nota Why : Khazia, Khazia-e, Khazia maw, Khâpa vâta Why not : Khazia a châ vei chheih aw Whose : Kheihawhpa, Kheihawhpa he, Kheihawhpa-e, Kheihawhpa maw, ahy he maw Which : Kheihawhpa, Kheihawhpa he, Kheihawhpa-e, Kheihawhpa maw, ahy he maw Friend : Viasa Male Friend : Viasa Paw Female Friend: Viasa Nô Walk/Go : Sie (Phei ta Sie) Run : Arâ, â râ Sleep : Amô, Azia, Apazawh, â mô, â zia, â pazawh See : Mo, hmô Sit : Â tyuh, atyuh Stand : Â duah, aduah Jump : Â pathluah, apathluah Hit : Â chô, achô Eat : Nie Drink : Doh

Pronouns

Singular:

  • 1st person-keima or kei I
  • 2nd person-nâma or na You
  • 3rd person-ano or a or ama' He,She,It

Plural:

  • 1st person-eima We
  • 2nd person-nâmo, nâma You
  • 3rd person-âmo They

Possessive Pronouns

  • Singular
  • Keima, ei - my.
  • keima eih, kei eih - mine.
  • Nâma, na - Thy(You)
  • Nâma eih, na eih - Thine(Yours)
  • Ama, a - Him, Her, It.
  • Ama eih, a eih - His, Hers, Its.

*Plural.

  • Keimo - Our.
  • Keimo eih - Ours.
  • Nâmo - Your.`
  • Ahyrai - Any one.
  • Ahy tlyma - Some one, a certain one.
  • A tlâhpi - Some . . . others.
  • A hropa - Another, others.
  • Ama zydua ta - All.
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References

http://www.marasaw.com/?m=1

  1. Mara at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
  2. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2017). "Mara Chin". Glottolog 3.0. Jena, Germany: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
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