Konyak Grammar

2010·13 MB·English

by  K S Nagaraja

KONYAK GRAMMAR
Central In stitutc of Indian Lanoua1!CS
e
~
Publicauon No. 594
40 and counting ~ertes
Cifncml Fditon
P1ot: l/dava \Jaray;ma Smgh
Prof R.1jesh Sachdeva
r:. .
llaJI.'\ ltwn
Dr. K. Snniva!)chan.a
~1r. Kashjap Mankodi
u
KONYAK GRAMMAR
K.S. 1'\agaraja
Central Institute of Indian Languages
Manasagangotn Mysorc
IND1A
Konynk Gr.1m mar
K. s \wlznn•_ .,
fir.;,t Ptlblic;hed: March 21110
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1-'or furlht-r informution coiHact:
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Foreword
,_,.to
'To plan languag,c plan society·
R L{ 'rWf!t:r ( 1Y 89)
Kouynk is llne ,lf th~ Tibcto-Burman !anguagl.~ of ~onh..:a~t india
spoken hy a prummenl and pflw.:rll..l 'a~:1 t.ibnl communit~ \\oith the
sume n<Jrnc \\hose anccstml tcmtof) .;pun~ the '\lfon District uf
Nagaland hut \\hose 'iprcnd is O\'Cr \'iii,Jges m Myanmar as .,,dJ. It i:.
taught m tht: ~Ch()(l], nf ~agJI: ·u.l he ''nly sial(' in lndrt \\hid right
fmm its Jnceplion had the cowa>.:,c wtd wisdom to imroduct> :~11 itc; tritx•l
mother tongucs jn the Jomain ot pnmnry education. as c:nvis11med m all
rmportant language pohl·' d(ll'l1111~nt., hut. 1\adl)'. only sddom pr<H.:tiecd
by a rnarMit~ nlth.: ot1er ... t:ru::-..
Konyak Iii....: o.;nmc ,,tJH.:r larg..: Nuga language!- wrth ''' ~:r a hundred
thoU5and Sfll!ill..t.'r., -Ao. Angami.. &rna an~. Luth:t bdng tlte uthl'H\~
supported b: the st:..t~..: !;''' cmm~o·nt nt post prim,uy stage as \\t!ll. 'J\..,·o
otlicial post" -n l:mt•ua1-'~ tllliccr u..; \\dl as u l<mgtutg~ a-.o;istunt -wcrc
cn:atcd to lt)(1h: alter the gn)\\th and dc,.dcpment of the lnngu:1ge. Thl'
litl'mtuh: commit:. .. ~ comprising of' imponnnt 1.:ducmed communll~
leaders guidt>d ils growth ln thling s.r1 th..: ~late gm·crran..:nt h.td crafkJ u
language polic)· where Engb~.1-th~: cho:.cn oft1dal Language- was lO grow
alongside the moth\!r tongu.;:-, 1(1 tlJrthcr their quc:-.1 fnr J multilingual
~ocict) where tntdition nnd modcrnit~,: could l'llCxist I hc:y thc11 turned o
CUL to t::n~ure thdr ohj~ctive:; an~ rcuJI/ed.
Cll' .t.h been in.IIIH:J -.u.r the Je\ehrpn1ent of the \lagn
languages,,, varimh. -.wg ...~ form L'r tilllr tle,~adl'" l1 tlu. hl!ginrring it was
or
the r~arch team the •.:ar) 1970::, whi~.:h did det.tiled exemplary field
work to tlm:ument th..: languagc~·Lhrougl .tuLI111 rcct11tling and
transcription- and t.hcn \\Cnt on to Jcst.:zibc lh..:ir g.ramm.tr anJ prmJul·c
dit:L iormries nlon~ wilh Phonc.:t1c tl.·adc-rs. Il•e missionarv :~eal \'as
evident in ubund;,ncl: and the cnui.!J\ nur """" 1 l contribute -111\HUd!:i tht
production of literacy materials through. bcncr primers and readers thilt
could be u.seJ in tl· e education. Many nf thl' \'.ork" \\ crl' published by the
r
In sututc and rcmam ull date: the onh m31L'Tiab li1r lhl.! ,;oJi licat.lon ()
tlw~ lunguagcs and creation of a corp~s that could be riglufttJh called as
or
llllJWilanl phiiS\:Ci m lh.: d.:\ ;:i(1pltll.'lll ianguag~-.•s. Th.:- native sp...:ak\!1:> til
Jrr•m
thl.' l~i'll:!ll(ll,!~ "t.:rc inn1l\'~d right U1c l~ginning. for Cll L \~ amcd the
('Oilllllunlt\ 10 have the la:-t \HIId tn I 11.: prodUi.:tilln untl ni:Ult\f!eilll'lll \f
lungu.J.g..: nllltuial.;. and its own pm1~ss:on<11 cxpcrtb..: \\l1" w lx
11i ilt:..f~nc:d 'l<> tht: cummL.nit}. l'he nmn~cring cil\.lft of lhli-.e carl) ) ~ar:.
h..:lped cr~:atc a parddigm or' [angmJgc dcvc](lpmenl ~'her'-" l:mguagc
policy and planning was shaped througb ~rass n>ob pruticipation from
hdm'w in the framework uf ~II fX'Wl:ffi1\!fll of tribnb. That arproach has
hccn 'iUSLained tlll date hlr ,. \\.IS t.:\'nh.eJ thmugh arduous labour and
unJet.stunding of lunguag..:~. \\'hich \\ ·re not l.ecn onl) u.., 11strumenb uf
tomtmmicutitm. h 1 al-sn as r-:)Xlsitr~ri~" nftmditiontl kn,w.kdgc, \·aiul·s
ami \' tsdom that hnd been shnped by culrure over cemurics to become
intrinsic ct1mponent~ ol world \'it=\\'~.
!'he pn.:~cnt grammar i~ on..: such prot!ud \"hid1 I(Jr "om~: n:ullons
lay bmicd i11 the m3ml"ttipts c,f ~ estct ye-ars thL1t C(1u!d !l\1t ~;;:~ th(' liJ,;IIt
of dny for d~cadc..:s. But it dues gh c me StlmC s:Jtisfnctton t. • ri till~ sc~
this hook c.:mcrgc thruugh l!fli)rl-. <lf the n.'.'>t~an.:hL'r f~1r the linrul';ts in thl'
I iocto Bur111an \\Odd \WuiJ b~: dl."lightcd w h.J.\~ t'n~o: uh•rc: .J.I...J.Ut!'mi~
\\0r~ or' OllC of the ksscr kmmn languag~..,, since J-...on)aJ.. Jm.,_ rl.!ma ned
unexplored or ·undc~cri~d' tor ~ t>,uo; ':)omc lingui~B; l"lclieve tl \\1t .
bring to the loR· tlm:.e bJ:.Luncal hngut:,llc Lu.::; that J-...tm;tuk mu; ha\1!
with Rodo rdatl'd languages ;md ctdd 11llplll1ant limb-. to thL' f~unil) trc~.:
111 l,mguage"' wi1h :..ever,ll ~uhgroups. Th~ complexity of lingmsnc
divn:-.it) Wld the l:Jrgc 1111gu1:-.tiL Jts~mc..:c I!VI!Il het'.l.ct:n g~.:1lg_raphically
prnximat~ mcmb~.:r" h:111 lir-;t ntr ;!Ucd .md thtn ..:h:\lkn~~.-J man) .1
linguist to provide lor cxplanmions. and indl\ td:lLll dc-,cnpnon~ .nrc
e.,uemdy impPrtant dl!\ 'c~.:~ for that.
We lOJl(: it "ill hJvc another important mk (lf promoting .m
lt'ltk rstanding b(t\\~Cll tlv.: COllUlKIJl \lwrdw cl fonn!i u.-.c:d Ill text hooks
,·w
Jnd the lllJny g('ngraphacol il'tJcs-SlHlll' ••f '' 1-JKh ru'-' mutually
Utllnldligihk- thul \\ould assist in the gnmth of langu~gc pcd.tg.ogy
practiCes that -;u.'>Lilln lm!;ui.,lic diq:rsit~. Krnwledge about lunguage in
rarticulur temh. -.~hich !:m.munars proviJc. cnhanc~.: w~;nai\C.: llc>..ibilit)
and mttJ-hngu1s11c nwmene~s. and C\ c 1 promote o better P"rspec:tive lor
second lu.nguagc lt.:aming. (;rammors .tbu hring llUI the uni\·cr~al
p1n p1.' til'" nf bnguagc which cullld -sh tpc Jnguugt: ll'cluwll'JJ.~ \L'JHUIC'-
al l3t~r <;i3~C!I Ot gTO\\lh rllf that re.'lSOn aJtme :>UCh dc~criptiot ., ,, I.
..,·ahmbk for .-II of u~ uml the-ir pott•ntial "iH lx: r~ulocd Curth~r :1s um
knO\\ lnlge of other lankU.I\,!1.' ad' an-.:c: ...
It is tll) L-nrnest h<1p.:: thi' \\ork \\ill ~c n:L~i\1.'1.1 well h) th~
n.~.n,Jber., of the.- Konyak l!ommunity in parti1.ulw, b'o, the pcoph: uf
1\lag<tlanJ in vener.1l and b) ,,II other :;chdars w l11 1 rt'a 't7\! th\! "alue ot
rninstakm~ work that lin)IIJJSIS ~·ngagi: in I .un sure Prllft.-:-;. ..o r
1\..S.,.'lgarnp \\OUid \\l!lcurh.. : all ~o.omment., ·rom atl) qunncrs that al"l'
directed 10\\tmb the i nprmemcm ofthc \\otk.
s. .
J•rHf. Raje-sb chdel :a
Otr1.~tor tn d ilr_gt:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The prc~mt wor~ is the tCSult of a purt of the work done during my fi. .: td
rTifl<. ro ~mdy Kony.1k langullgc during 19i5, 197'7 ami 1978 in Mon di:.tri~..t of
Nu~nJ:md.
I aut highly t;ra~cful to 41111 "'ho fta,~ u:..,i!tted me in mZlll~ '"'a)~ in
C\ltllplcling lhe proJect. In fl<tnic~lur, the go\enwnnt of~'agaiJnd :.hOI\<d gre.:lt
illter~t in thi:. ~utk .md •. .,~i;ted me thmul!h ih \'8riou~ a~,Ct1Ctc' Slm
SheichiM K""n) .aL.. the th~: 1 Kouyal lauguilgl: Oflkcr uf the Utrecloratc ot'
J"ducation. Koh1m::1 happtly cnme t(lmnrd to hcl[l rne 111 my Y.orl.. aud I 11111
ittlkhtcJ 111 hint tor all the valu.sblc hd p. Shn TI .C llitn..lique, the then Ueputy
lnspcet()f ~._,J ~dl{X\1-. lor Mlltl dist1 ic1 and his ~ ik \1r., illlndiqu~:. ,.,ere
c:..:tremdy ~ner01·c; in providin1: pll ni.~o..~sa~· us~i!>ttln(;C .. Juring my ticlJ trip:-;
und I twppi ly &ckno'' ledge the 5peciall'Me rhe~ h1d talrn (•f m~ i11 h>OL.illo, .titer
m~ stay in the fteld and ullthe. uppcrt :hcv h.1d C\ll!nt~l (Lllll\ worl ill general.
I am lhanL.tul to my tnfonnant<., \hr 'Aiin~::tu\g "nnyn.l\, P. A11gutun~
Kclll)Uk und He>Jn,! l-.011~ak. hut tc:r \\h,1rn the \IOrk ,,.,u'cl n ... t haw hcc:n
cnmplrred fhe1r p.:-r~c,-:mu~:c uruJ ~ccn mtcn:st in th~.: pn)Jcd c:nnbi..:J m.: 111
t:'Cltllplc.lc the work.
or
I CXpli.>S'i Ill)' d~cp ~n~ gratitude to Dr. D.P. PaUilllO)ak. !ltc th~n
Director. CliL. fN Jlf'O' 1\llrtJ:. me.: thi:. UJ>PQrtumly lo \\otl.. un tim lan,tuagc. lntn
r
inJc.-bt-.:d lo Dr. /\11!1UI'13IIIt, the Lhcn deputy Diru:tor, Clll.., I'Qr his constant
elllllllr.t~Cmcnt and ~UidliOCC Which ~re.ttl) ra~,.jJj;,tll.d in the ulnlpldlOil of thi-.
pflli..:d I am grall:hr Ill him for going through the man11 1..rlpt aplf for the
'<ltl~ble suggestion 111 JrrCpanng the pre ·..:0"'\'
Aho. I am hi£hl~ grateful to Prot. R.1jec;h '.1chd-:'-n. Director in dunrgc.
\\hfl IO•'k pcrwnaJ inten.'SllO cc lh;, '"ork thmugh
I. a '-I but not least. I Jm rlun~ h•l 10 Ill) friend) and ..:ollcBouc~ ti1r th..:ir
\'aluthlc ~u~clolion; and ~upport
ur
I 'lllCercl~ th.anl.: th{ 1:.0 Opt'r.JUOD and !.Upp;ut all the odmini~tratiH.'
stuff iu tal..:ng pero;onal intci'C"it '" s~eing tlli:. "on. tl11~h. particularly,
I >r. K.Srmi' as.acharya uthl the ~tofT of the C Ill. Pre ... , Ji,r th ~ir pain t<lking cfTott.
CONTENTS
Foreword
,.,,
\d lllh\ ledr~n~ent
-\1"'-,;\·tatmt s
Inn.; :ot toon
s
I. Pho11olo~
I. I t'J.onenu. .. hi \'ent ory lo
1.2 llllbtrJt 1111 o)l conrr:tsrs 7
1.3 lkSl:rTJI' ,,,, 1ol ·.pt.:cll sounob
1.<4 Phoncntll ril!'> r hu• ..n
1.5 rh<lllt:tll:drill·
.2. .'\lor 11hnlu~~
2.0 lntroc!uuion
l I Murpholog:('ol processl!s
ll :'\olLJO rnorphu'•\S}'
2 3 1\d)Cd!Ves
2 4 Verb u otphnlogy
2 5 Ad\'t:tbs. 10!'
2.(1 1'3111::1..:.; II'}
J. S} ntll"< 12J
J.U loenenl rcm:trl.:s 123
J.l. Nocn ph.r:lse 12)
J.~. Verb phrao:es I 14
3.3. /\d\crhutl phr:~~~s 111
3.4. C'l:ms.::s l·ll
3.5. Si!lltC"l1\.:C.s 1:>1
Kotty;Jk Ortho~r .. ploy 171
Appcmlicc:~ 177
Relen:ntc-. I 1
,,