The structure of Dimasa: a typological study

297 Pages·2002·6.189 MB·English

by  Kh. Dhiren Singha

THE STRUCTURE OF DIMASA : A TYPOLOGICAL STUDY
Dissertation submitted to Assam University, Silciiarin Partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the award of the degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
in Linguistics.
Kh. Dhiren Singha
(Regd. No. 11385 of 1995-96)
^ u
uperuiior:
DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS
ASSAM UNIVERSITY, SILCHAR
2002
RR fe^f^^rPT
3
(-ii^u; .")) oif'.1!-^)|i( l)iC' ''V\ 1909 <V oinl'lu
i"^i^rav-788 on, awn. MR^I
ASSAM UNIVERSITY; SILCHAR
(ACl.Nl'UM.UNlVl'.KSl IVCONSllTUTKU
UN01-,U AClXni OV 1989)
Silchar 700 Oil, Assam, India
Dated..^.Q.J2, 2.002-
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the thesis entitled 'The Structure Of Dimasa :
A Typological Study \ which is being submitted by Mr. Kh. Dhiren Singha
for (he award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department
of Linguistics, School of Languages of Assam University , is a bonafic/e
research work carried out by him under my supervision and guidance. He
nas fulfilled all the necessary requirements under the Ph.D. ordinance of
the University.
As far as I know, it is his original work and no degree has been
awarded on this topic. It reflects his labour and merit.
This work, fully or partially has not been submitted elsewhere for
award of any other degree.
I consider this thesis fit for its evaluation and I forward it for the
same.
S V A °^ CUATZWVJ^
( PROF. K.P.SINHA) (AWADHESH KUMAR MISHRA)
Head of Department of Linguistics Supervisor, Reader,
And Department of Linguistics
Dean, School of Languages
® : (03842)
Fax : (03842) 7C'802, E. Mail; [email protected]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
/ would like to express my deep sense of gratitude and thankfulness to my supervisor
Dr. Awadeshi Kr Mishra, who, inspite of his busy schedule, helped and encouraged me at every
stage of my research. I am sure that it would not have been possible for me to bnng this research
to the stage of completion without his supervision and keen interest in my work.
I am ever thankful to Prof S. C. Saha, Vice Chancellor of Assam University, Silchar, who in
the first place provided me the opportunity to study Linguistics.
I can never cease to be grateful to Prof. Tapodhir Bhattacharjee, former Dean, School of
Languages, and Prof. Kaliprasad Sinha, Dean^School of Languages, Assam University Silchar,
for their official dealings and encouragement in connection with my research
I am specially thankful to Prof. Anvita Abbi, Centre of Linguistics and English, Jawaharlal
Nehru University New Delhi, for her valuable advice and encouragement.
I owe a great deal of gratitude to the scholars like Dipankar Purkyastha, Head , Deptt. of
English; Mr Ajit Kr Baishya, Deptt. of Linguistics ; Prof Jagmal Singh, Dr Bishwanath Prasad,
Head, Deptt. of Hindi; Dr Raghumani Singh , DrRajen Singh and Dr. Sarat Ch. Singh, Head,
Deptt. of Manipuri for their valuable advice and encouragement.
I wish to thank my friends Utpal Bhattacharjee, Lecturer, Deptt. of Computer Science, and
software engineers like Sadara Mukhurjee, and Raju Khumujam of NERIM, Guwahati for their help
in examining tones in the computer laboratory.
I am indebted to the following persons for their active co-operation and friendly support in
collecting data for my research; Bikash Kersa, Uttam Chand Barman, Motilal Barman,
Phanindra Jindung, Jagadish Barman, Trideep Hagzer, Dhiraj Hagzer, Sadananda Zindung, Madhun
Barman, Shuba Barman, Archana Kersa, Nilu Zorasa, Utpal Zorasa , Swapan Zohon, Subhankar
Warisa, Niken Naiding, Sujoy Hasnu, Sachchal Diphusa, Ram Krishna Hozai. Shail Kr Zindungsa.
Alex Kemprai, Rupshankar Laobangzisa and the students of Dimasa Boys Hostel, Taiapur
I also thank those staff members of Assam University Library Jawaharlal Nehru University
Library New Delhi; Delhi University Library, New Delhi; NEHU Library and Gauhati University,
Library, Gauhati, for their help and cooperation.
Lastly, my sincere thanks go to Mr Monojoy Roy of Ram Krishna Printers, Silchar, who took
immense interest in computer composing of my dissertation.
Dec,2002
Silchar Kh. Dhiren Singha
ABBREVIATIONS
ABI.. = Ablative
ACC. = Accusative
Adj./adj. = Adjective
Adv./adv. = Adverb
Adv.P. = Adverbial Participle
Ag.M. = Agentive Marker
Alv. = Alveolar
C = Consonant
Class. = Classifier
Cond. = Conditional
DAT. = Dative
dcf = determiner
ECV = RxplicatorConipoLind Verb
Emp.P. = Emphatic Particle
Exist. = Existential
FEM./lem. = Feminine
PUT. = Future
GFN/Gen = Genitive
1 lab. = 1-labilual
Indef. = Indefmitc
Inf. = Infinitive
INS = Intensive Marker
INST. = Instrumental
Ini - Intel logative
lit. = literally
[X)C. = Locative
lii
MAS./mas. = Masculine
N = Noun
Ncg. =• Ncgalixc
Neg.Cop. = Negative Copula
NP = Noun Phrase
NOM. = Nominative
Part. = Particular
Parti. = Participle
Perl'. = Perl eel I vc
Pol Imp. M = Polite Imperaii^e Marker
pi. ^ plural
PRF = Present
Prog. = Progressive
Pl.B. = ProtoTibeto-Burman
Q.P = Question Marker
R = Rounded
Rell = Relkxixe
I.H. = libeto-IBurman
UR = Unrounded
V = Verb
V = Vowel
Vd. = Voiced
Verbal/V.N.M. - Verbal Noun Mai kcr
VI = Voiceless
V.P. = Verb Phase
VR. = Verb Root
([) = Zero or null
iv
CONTENTS
Chapter - Page No.
Title page - i
Acknowledgements - ii
Abbreviations - iii-iv
Maps - v-vii
1.0. Introduction - 1—-9
2.0. Literature review - 10--17
3.0. Phonology - 18--78
3.1. Segmental - 18
3.2 Supra-segmentals - 20
3.3. Contrasting pairs - 22
3.4. Distribution of phonemes - 32
3.5. Description of phonemes and distribution
of their positional variants: - 36
3.6. Diphthongs : - 62
3.7. Consonant clusters: - 64
3.8. Syllable - 68
3.9 Morphophonemic: - 75
4.0. Morphology: - 79—179
4.1. Nouns . - 79
4.2. Number - 79
4.3. Pronouns : - 94
4.4. Cases : - 105
4.6. Numerals: - "^
4.7. Classiiier - '-•
4.8. Quantifier: - 127
4.9. Adjectives: - 128
4.10. Verbs - 131
4.11. Tense and Aspect : - 140
4.12. Moods: - 150
4.13. hmphalic Particle - 160
4.14. Adverbs - 161
4.15. Word-formation - 165
5.0. Syntax: - 180-231
5.1. Word order - 180
5.2. Noun phrase - 182
5.3. Verb phrase - 188
5.4. Subordination - 192
5.4.1. Conditional clause - 192
5.4.2. Relative clause - 194
5.4.3. Complement clause - 198
5.4.4. Adverbial clause - 202
5.5. Coordination - 206
5.6. Nominalization - 210
5.7. Topicalization - 211
5.8. Cleftina - 212
5.9. Negation - 213
5.10.hiteiTOgation - 219
5.11. Sentences - 225
6.0. Conclusion - 232
Appendix-1 - 234-248
Appendix -I I - 249-275
Appendix -1 I I - 276—249
7.0. Riliography - 283-290
1.0. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Position of Dimasa in the Tibeto-Burman Language Family:
The Tibeto-Burman is one of the most important branch of
Indo-Chinese group of languages, which,geneaiogically falls under the
Sino-Tibetan or Tibeto-Chinese family of languages (Grierson, 1903).
But the classification of Tibeto-Burman Languages in the Sino-Tibetan
family is still not certain . According to the classification given in his
Linguistic Survey of India, Vol. Ill, Pt. II, Dimasa belongs to the
Bodo (Boro) sub-section of the Bodo-Naga section under the Assam
Burmese group of the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan or
Tibeto-Chinese speech family. But next to Grierson, Robert Shafer
(1966-1968) has been attempted to classify the Tibeto-Burman
languages pointing out a number of discrepancies in that of the
Linguistic Survey of India. As per classification given by Shafer,
Dimasa belongs to the western branch of the Barish section under the
Baric division of the Sino-Tibetan family. Another classification of
Tibeto-Burman languages has been given by Paul Benedict (1972).
Benedict includes Dimasa in the Bodo-Gaio group of the
Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan family. It is clear that the
above three proposals for the classification of Tibeto-Burman languages
have not been agreed each other. In addition the above, there has been a
number of proposals for the subgrouping of Tibeto-Burman Languages
put forward by such scholars as Nishida (1986, 1989), and Matisoff
(1991). But it seems that the situation has not been much improved. Due
to lack of sufficient researches on these languages and dialects, we can
not get the proper division or classification of these languages. It is to be
noted here that the difference of opinions in respect of the classification
of Tibeto-Burman languages can not be ignored. Due to the fact, the
position of Dimasa in the Tibeto-Burman language family is difficult to
fix. But there is no doubt that Dimasa is one of the Tibeto-Burman
languages which has close affinities with languages like, Boro, Lalung,
Sonowal, Rabha, Deori, Garo, Tiperah, Koch, etc.
SINO-TIBETAN OR TIBETO-CHINESE SPEECH FAMILY
Sino-Tibetan Proper Probably early modification of
Sino-Tibetan
Tibeto-Burman Siamese-Chinese Man Karen
Tibetan Hinialayan Assam-Burmese Dai or Thai Chinese or Sinilic
Nort1h-A-ssam
Aka,Abor(Adi), Miri
Dafla,Mishmi etc.
Bodo-Naga Burmese-Kuki-Chin
Kachin-Lolo
r
Bodo(Boro) Naga Kuki-Chin Lolo,Kachin Old Burmese
or Singpho
Boro(kachari),Dimasa, Mikir
Garo, Rabha, Lalung,
Tripra,etc. etc.
Chart I: Classification of the Sino-Tibetan Language
Family (Grierson, 1909-1928)
SINO-TIBETAN
II
Divisions
Sintic Manic Daic Bodic (Tibetan & Burmic Karenic Baric
(Qiinese) (ThaiorTai) its dialects.) (Bunnese etc.)
Sections
Barish Nagish
II
Branches
I
II " II » II
North central Jalpaiguri South central Western Eastern
Units
\\
II II II II II II II
Bodo(Boro) Mets Dimasa Hodzai Tripura Lalung Moran
Chart II : Classification of the Sino-Tibetan Language
Family (Robert Shafer, 1966-1968)
3-