Nishi language

Nyishi (also known as Nishi, Nisi, Nishang, Nissi, Nyising, Leil, Aya, Akang, Bangni-Bangru, Solung) is a Sino-Tibetan language of the Tani branch spoken in Papum Pare, Lower Subansiri, Kurung Kumey, Kra Daadi, East Kameng, Pakke Kesang, Kamle districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Darrang District of Assam in India. According to 2011 census of India, the population of the Nishi speakers is 300,000 approximately. Though there are plenty of variations across regions, the dialects of Nishi, such as Akang, Aya,nyishi(raga), Mishing, Tagin are easily mutually intelligible. With the exception of the rather small in population Bangni-Bangru and Solung Dialects being very different from the formers. 'Nisi' is sometimes used as a cover term for western Tani languages.

Nyishi
Nyishi, Nisi, Nishing
Native to	India
Region	Arunachal Pradesh, Assam
Ethnicity	Nyishi people
Native speakers	298,820 (2011 census)[1]
Language family	Sino-Tibetan Tani Western Tani Nyishi
Dialects	Akang, Aya, Leil, Aka, Bangni, Nishang
Language codes
ISO 639-3	njz
Glottolog	nyis1236

Nishi is a subject–object–verb language.[2]^:80

Origin

The main origin of this language has been pointed out by George Abraham Grierson as ‘Dafla’.[3] He included different varieties under a common name which is known as North Assam group. The varieties are Dafla, Miri and Abor according to him. Daflas used to denote them as ‘Nyi-Shi’. these tribes inhabited between the Assam Valley and Tibet. Then they started to spread in Lakhimpur, Sibsagar and Darrang Districts of Assam. Mr. William Robinson in his notes mentioned that Daflas were spread over a region from 92°50’ to 94° north latitude.

The word nyishi itself means "upland man", and is a compound of nyi ("man") and shi ("highland").[4]^:4

They are probably descendants of peoples who separated from Khasi 4,200 years ago.

Note: Calling Dafla now is a Criminal Offence by the Constitution of India.

Phonology

Nishi is a tonal language that utilizes three tones: rising, neutral, and falling.[2]^:16 These can be applied to all of its vowels, and often can change the word's meaning:

bénam – "to hold"

benam – "to deliver"

bènam – "to vomit"

Vowels

	Front	Central	Back
High	i	ɨ	u
Mid	e	ə	o
Low		a

This is the consonants of Nyishi. Where the orthography differs from the IPA, the orthography is bolded.[2]

		Bilabial	Alveolar	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Stop	voiceless	p	t	c	k
	voiced	b	d	j /ɟ/	g
Fricative			s		kh /x/	h
Nasal		m	n	ny /ɲ/	ng /ŋ/
Approximant			l	y /j/
Tap			r /ɾ/

Grammar

Nyishi distinguishes between number, person, and case. It does not have a gender system, but special affixes can be added to nouns to denote gender.

Pronouns

Personal Pronouns

Person	Singular	Dual	Plural
1st		ŋuiɲ	ŋul
2nd	no	nuiɲ	nul
3rd	mɨ	buiɲ	bul

Vocabulary

Numerals

English	Romanization	Nyishi
One	akin, aking	akin
Two	anyi, enyi	aɲiə
Three	om	oum
Four	api
Five	ang, ango	aŋ(o)

Counting system differs in case of human vs. non-human objects.

References

1. "Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues - 2011". www.censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
2. Abraham, P. T. "A Grammar of Nyishi Language" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
3. Linguistic Survey Of India, Vol. III part I (Tibeto Burman Family) first published almost a century ago
4. Lahiri, Bornini (2013). "Noun Cases in Nyishi" (PDF). New Delhi. Retrieved 14 December 2015.

Further reading

Post, Mark W. (2013). Paper presented at the 13th Himalayan Languages Symposium. Canberra, Australian National University, Aug 9.