LANGUAGE IN INDIA

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Volume 23:4 April 2023
ISSN 1930-2940

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A Comparative Analysis of Pronominal Systems in War Khasi and War Jaiñtia:
Varieties of Khasi

Rymphang K. Rynjah, Ph.D. and Saralin A. Lyngdoh, Ph.D.

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative study of the pronominal systems in War Khasi and War Jaiñtia, two varieties of the Khasi language spoken in the War district of Meghalaya, India. The study aims to investigate the similarities and differences between the pronominal systems of the two varieties. We analyse the pronominal markers used in War Khasi and War Jaiñtia, their distribution across different sentence types and positions, and their pragmatic functions. Our findings reveal that War Khasi and War Jaiñtia share common pronominal features and can also function as subject clitics in addition to strong pronouns. Pronouns that occur in the object position are pure strong pronominals. When functioning as subject clitics, they are hosted by categories such as verbs and adjectives. Personal pronoun particles have significant grammatical roles and form a limited set of elements. These particles have syntactic functions as Person, Number, and Gender Agreement Markers (PNG Ag.) for agreement and concord in a sentence. There are also important differences, such as the use of different reflexive and reciprocal markers and varying pronominal forms across different sentence types. The implications of this study are: first, it contributes to the understanding of the pronominal systems of Khasi and related languages; and second, it has practical implications for language documentation and preservation efforts in the region. By highlighting the specific features and variations in the pronominal systems of War Khasi and War Jaiñtia, our research can inform language teaching and learning strategies and support efforts to maintain linguistic diversity in the region.

Keywords: Khasi, War-Khasi, War-Jaiñtia, comparative study, pronominals, pragmatic functions.

Introduction

The Khasi language family, spoken in the northeast region of India, comprises of several closely related varieties with subtle variations in their linguistic systems. Two such varieties are War Khasi and War Jaiñtia, which are spoken in the East Khasi Hills district and the Jaiñtia district of Meghalaya. Although these varieties are related, they differ in terms of their pronominal systems. Pronominals, which include personal pronouns, possessive pronouns, reflexive pronouns, and others, play a crucial role in communication and help in conveying information about the subject and object of a sentence, gender, number, and other grammatical features.

In this comparative study, we examine the pronominal systems of War Khasi and War Jaiñtia, exploring their similarities and differences. Our research is motivated by the need to better understand the linguistic diversity and variation in the Khasi language family, and to shed light on the factors that shape pronominal systems in these varieties. Specifically, we analyse the pronominal markers used in these varieties, their distribution across different sentence types and positions, and their pragmatic functions. By comparing the pronominal systems of War Khasi and War Jaiñtia, we aim to contribute to the broader understanding of linguistic variation and change in Khasi and other related languages.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Rymphang K. Rynjah, Ph.D.
rymphangrynjah@gmail.com
North-Eastern Hill University

Saralin A. Lyngdoh, Ph.D.
saralyngdoh@gmail.com
North-Eastern Hill University
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