LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 11 : 6 June 2011
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.

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Socio-Linguistic Paradigm of the Aimol

Khawlsonkim Suantak, Ph. D. Scholar

Abstract

Language as a socio-cultural phenomenon has a deep underlying relationship with the society. Correspondingly, the Aimol language is examined in the backdrop of the socio-linguistic ecosystem in which the speakers live, the language is spoken, the context and situation in which it is used. Further, this article also explains the typological features of the language.

Ethnography- A Short Historical Sketch

The Aimols, recognized as one of the Scheduled Tribes of the Indian Union, inhabit three districts in Manipur. Etymologically the name Aimol corresponds to a past habitat of the people whereby the term is derived from the word, 'Ai' denoting ‘wild turmeric’, which is found in abundance in the hill 'Mol'. Thus, Aimol owe its name to such historic mark and is thereafter believed to be known as ‘Aimol’. Among other things, the Aimols trace their origin to Khur, a mythical cave or passage through which all Kuki tribes are said to have emerged from a netherworld. This place is believed to be somewhere in the Southern part of Myanmar bordering China. In fact, some even disagree to this proposition and allege that they must have migrated from the eastern part of China.


Diverse views were set by different scholars regarding the passage of the Aimols. According to Shakespear (1912: 149), the Aimols make their first appearance in the Manipur Chronicle in 1723. Pemberton writes of the "Imole" route from Manipur to Kubo (1835: 56); and Johnstone, following what is apparently the same route to the Kabaw Valley, mentions "Aimole, a village . . . . inhabited by a tribe of that name" in the mountains to the east of Palel (1896:121). The map in the Linguistic Survey of India shows them in the hills to the east of Shugunu, and to the north of the area inhabited by the Purum (Grierson 1904). Shakespear's map locates them in the same general area, but rather further to the north (1912).

The bulk of them are more recently reported in the Palel area to the east of the Logtak Lake, but the largest village, Kha Aimol, is near Bishenpore, on the western side (Bose 1934a: 17; 1934b :8). E.W. Dun (1886) described the hilly village of the Aimol on the Tuisarok river as “the Aimol village at the Aimol peak” and the nearby pathway approaching to Kabaw valley as “the Aimol Pass”.

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

Khawlsonkim Suantak, Ph. D. Scholar
Department of Linguistics
North-Eastern Hill University
Mawlai
Shillong 793022
Meghalaya, India
skimvaiphei@gmail.com
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