Drag-yab language

Drag-yab is a Sino-Tibetan language recently documented by Suzuki & Nyima (2018, 2019).[1][2] It is spoken in the southern half of Zhag'yab County, Chamdo, eastern Tibet.

Drag-yab
Zesong, sMa, rMa
m̥a55
Native toChina
RegionZhag'yab County, Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet
Sino-Tibetan
Language codes
ISO 639-3–
Glottologdrag1234

Suzuki & Nyima (2018) document the dialect of Drag-yab spoken in the village of Razi 热孜村 in Xiangdui Town 香堆镇, Zhag'yab County.

Names

Drag-yab is referred to by the Changdu Gazetteer (2005)[3] as Zesong 则松话, and is reported by Changdu (2005) to be spoken in Zesong 则松乡 and Bari 巴日乡 townships of Zhag'yab County.

The language is also referred to as both sMa and rMa.[2] Nyima & Suzuki (2019) report the autonym m̥a55 (or ma55), which is identical to the Larong autonym, also reported by them (m̥a55).[2]

Jiang (2022) lists Mang 芒话 and Maji 玛吉话 as Drag-yab (Chaya 察雅) varieties.[4]

Classification

Suzuki & Nyima (2018)[1] note that Drag-yab is closely related to two other recently documented Sino-Tibetan languages of Chamdo, eastern Tibet, namely Lamo and Larong. Their relationship outside of this group, the Chamdo languages, within the Sino-Tibetan family is still uncertain.

Phonology

Suzuki & Nyima (2018)[1] report the following phonemes from the Razi dialect of Drag-yab.

Labial Alveolar Retroflex Palatal Velar Uvular Glottal
plain sibilant
Nasal voiceless m̥ n̥ ȵ̊ ŋ̊ ɴ̥
voiced m n ȵ ŋ ɴ
Plosive/
Affricate		 tenuis p t ts ʈ tɕ k q ʔ
aspirated pʰ tʰ tsʰ ʈʰ tɕʰ kʰ qʰ
voiced b d dz ɖ dʑ g ɢ
Continuant voiceless s ɕ x χ h
voiced z ʑ ɣ ʁ ɦ
Approximant voiceless l̥
voiced w l j
Trill voiceless r̥
voiced r

Prenasalisation and preaspiration appear as a preinitial.

Front Central Back
Close i ʉ ɯ u
Close-Mid e ɵ o
Mid ə
Open-Mid ɛ ɔ
Open a ɑ

Suzuki & Nyima (2018) report that each vowel has a creaky and nasalized counterpart.

Syllable structure: cCGV

Tones are high and rising. The first two syllables of each word act as the tone bearing unit. The second syllable is occasionally out of the tone bearing unit.[1]

Geographical distribution

Drag-yab is spoken in 6 townships, along different river valleys within the Lancang (Lachu) River watershed. These include Maiqu, Kaqu, Lasongqu, Guidaqu, and Changqu.[2]

  • Byams mdun Town (Chinese: Xiangdui 香堆镇): mostly Drag-yab speakers
  • Dzongsar Township (Chinese: Zongsha 宗沙乡): mostly Drag-yab speakers
  • Palri Township (Chinese: Bari 巴日乡): all Drag-yab speakers
  • Khuda (Chinese: Kuoda 扩达乡): mostly Drag-yab speakers
  • Atshur Township (Chinese: Azi 阿孜乡): mostly Drag-yab speakers
  • Rongdrub Township (Chinese: Rongzhou 荣周乡): Drag-yab speakers are mainly located in Maidui Village

Drag-yab villages by township:[2]

Township, CountyVillages
Xiangdui Town 香堆镇, Drag-yabRezi 热孜村, Kunda 坤达村, Daba 达巴村, Xuelong 学龙村, Laxi 拉西村, and Dangduo 当佐村
Rongzhou Township 荣周乡, Drag-yabMaidui 麦堆村, Zuotong 佐通村, and Zere
Kuoda Township 扩达乡, Drag-yabZeran, Gangba, Gangka 岗卡村, Zuoduo, etc.
Zongsha Township 宗沙乡, Drag-yabYuergang, Lasong 拉松村, etc.
Azi Township 阿孜乡, Drag-yabmost villages in the township
Bari Township 巴日乡, Drag-yabBaie, Luosong 罗松村, Zesong, Zhuoba, Xiongre 雄然村, etc.

References
  1. Suzuki, Hiroyuki and Tashi Nyima. 2018. Historical relationship among three non-Tibetic languages in Chamdo, TAR. Proceedings of the 51st International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics (2018). Kyoto: Kyoto University.
  2. Tashi Nyima; Hiroyuki Suzuki (2019). "Newly recognised languages in Chamdo: Geography, culture, history, and language". Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area. 42 (1): 38–81. doi:10.1075/ltba.18004.nyi. ISSN 0731-3500.
  3. Xizang Changdu Diqu Difangzhi Bianzuan Weiyuanhui 西藏昌都地区地方志编纂委员会 (2005). Changdu Diquzhi 昌都地区志. Beijing: Fangzhi Chubanshe 方志出版社.
  4. Jiang, Huo 江荻 (2022). "Linguistic diversity and classification in Tibet 西藏的语言多样性及其分类". Zhongguo Zangxue 中国藏学. 6. Retrieved 2023-03-16 – via Chinese Tibetology Center 中国藏学研究中心.
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