LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 14:1 January 2014
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Syllable in Mao

Elangbam Manimohon Meitei, Ph.D. Student

Abstract

The speakers of Mao language is known as Mao. Mao villages are located in Senapati district of Manipur. The Language of the Mao is one of the Naga-Kuki groups of Tibeto-Burman language family.

The present paper studies the syllabic structure of Mao language. The syllable has an important role in phonology as a constituent that represents significant groups of segments. In this language, there are three (3) types of syllables, i.e., monosyllabic, disyllabic and polysyllabic. The monosyllabic words are limited in number. But disyllabic and polysyllabic words are abundantly found. For example, kosa ‘cat’, piku ‘comb’, koso ‘wing’, kolakhe ‘fox’ sem?ki ‘malaria’ and ut?kat?m?i ‘cultivators’, etc. Generally open syllables are maximum in number than the closed syllable.

Key words: monosyllabic, disyllabic, polysyllabic, open syllable and closed syllable.

Introduction

Mao is a small tribe inhabiting in the Senapati district, the northern part of Manipur. It is 62 miles far away from Imphal by road on the National Highway 39. It is one of the oldest hill stations of Manipur and its area is blessed with a rich flora and fauna. Maos live a simple life very close to nature and are also agrarian.

The speakers of Mao language are known as Mao. They belong to the Mongoloid racial group. The language they speak is one of the Naga-Kuki groups of the Tibeto-Burman language family. A few scholars like G. A. Grierson (1903) included Mao in the Naga-Kuki Group of the Tibeto Burman language family. Benedict PK (1972) described that Mao belongs to the Naga group of Sino-Tibetan language family. And Robert Shafer (1974) also describes Mao a language of the Luhupa unit in the eastern branch under Old Kukish Section of Burmic Division of the Sino-Tibetan. According to Scot Delancy (1987), Mao belongs to the Naga Group under the Assam Burmese section of the Tibeto-Burman Language family.

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

Elangbam Manimohon Meitei, Ph.D. Student
Department of Linguistics
Manipur University
Imphal-795003
Manipur
India
manimeitei8@gmail.com
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