Sopvoma language

Sopvoma or Mao is a Sino-Tibetan language of Angami–Pochuri linguistic sub branch. It is spoken primarily in Senapati district, northwestern Manipur and in Nagaland, India. It is similar to Angami. According to Ethnologue (2009), the Paomata dialect may be the same as Poumei (Poumai) Naga, which has received a separate ISO code.

Not to be confused with Mao languages or Southern Mao language.

Mao
| Sopvoma, Emela, Mao' La |
Mao written in Meitei script
Pronunciationmau
Native toIndia
RegionNagaland, Manipur
EthnicityMao Naga, Poumai Naga
Native speakers
240,205 (2011 census)[1]
Sino-Tibetian
Dialects
  • Paomata
Official status
Recognised minority
language in
India
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
nbi – Mao
pmx – Poumai
Glottolognaga1397
ELPMao Naga

See Mao Naga Language for further details.

Mao is somewhat similar to the Sino-Tibetian languages in terms of grammar and style of use.

Unlike English it is a phonetic and tonal language. Spoken mainly by the Mao Nagas

A story referring to the Angami peoples and the Mao peoples (Not to be confused with China's ex-chairman) shows how the two amicably split into the north and south (i.e. Nagaland, Manipur), also showing why the two languages are similar.

The script has been lost for years, following a story where a mouse/mice ate the script written on animal-skin causing the script to be lost and ultimately leading to illiteracy in the area, therefore the Latin script has been used (Which hasn't been an accurate way to display the tonal language).

Phonology

Consonants
Labial Dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive voiceless p t̪ t k
aspirated pʰ (t̪ʰ) tʰ kʰ
voiced b d̪ (ɡ)
Affricate voiceless p͡f t͡s t͡ʃ
aspirated (p͡fʰ) t͡ʃʰ
voiced b͡v d͡z d͡ʒ
Fricative voiceless f s ʃ h
voiced v z ʒ
Nasal m n ŋ
Trill voiced r
voiceless ʰr̥
Lateral l
Approximant (w) j
  • /t͡ʃʰ/ and /w/ only rarely occur, and with /t͡ʃʰ/ only occurring in word-initial position.
  • The pre-aspirated voiceless /ʰr̥/, may have a word-initial allophone of [ʂ], [ʂ] rarely occurs phonemically.
  • [ɡ] only occurs marginally from loanwords.
  • /t̪, p͡f/ in word-initial position may be heard as [t̪ʰ, p͡fʰ] in free variation, rarely as phonemic.
  • /h/ may have an allophone of [x] word-initially, word medially in free variation. [x] rarely occurs as a phoneme.
  • /m/ before a central vowel /ɨ/ can have an allophone of a labiodental [ɱ].
  • /n/ before high vowel sounds can have an allophone of a palatalized [nʲ].

Vowels
Front Central Back
Close i ɨ u
Mid e (ə) o
Open a
  • [ə] only occurs inter-morphemically.
  • /ɨ/ can be heard as rounded [ʉ] in free variation.
  • In word-initial position, /i, u/ can be lowered to [ɪ, ʊ].
  • /e, o/ can be lowered to [ɛ, ɔ] in word-final position.[2]

Our Father (Sample)
English Emela

Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven
Give us today our daily bread
And forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin
Against us
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil
Amen

Rahche kobu akhrumei pfu
Ni zhu sii peno amothu sii solo
Ni movuji sii movu pilo
Rache sibviio ojiphe hi-e
Ni modo sii moso pilo
Chithuni taveii sii izho akhrumei
yi pio
Ea akhrumei no i pile soma kowu mei yi kokhei kapi
tibviio i no sokama sii kokhei pio
I ye kothei le motho pisho ana kashi
le siino I ye pfophrapio
Adeitili movuji, kokhrokoko ea amane sii chisa
nizhi se
Amen

Tones

There are 4 tones and a neutral tone:

References
  1. "Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues – 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  2. Giridhar, P. P. (1994). Mao Naga Grammar. Mysore: Central Institute of Indian Languages.


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