Mao language (Manipur)

Mao, also known as Sopvoma, is a Sino-Tibetan language of Angami–Pochuri linguistic sub branch.[2] It is spoken primarily in Senapati district, northwestern Manipur and in Nagaland, India. It is similar to Angami.[3] The speakers of this language use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.[4]

Not to be confused with Mao languages or Southern Mao language.

Mao
Sopvoma, Emela, Mao' La
Mao written in Meitei script
Pronunciationmau
Native toIndia
RegionNagaland, Manipur
EthnicityMao Naga, Poumai Naga
Native speakers
240,205 (2011 census)[1]
Sino-Tibetian
Dialects
  • Paomata
Official status
Recognised minority
language in
India
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
nbi – Mao
pmx – Poumai
Glottolognaga1397
ELPMao Naga

Phonology

Consonants
Labial Dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive voiceless p t̪ t k
aspirated pʰ (t̪ʰ) tʰ kʰ
voiced b d̪ (ɡ)
Affricate voiceless p͡f t͡s t͡ʃ
aspirated (p͡fʰ) t͡ʃʰ
voiced b͡v d͡z d͡ʒ
Fricative voiceless f s ʃ h
voiced v z ʒ
Nasal m n ŋ
Trill voiced r
voiceless ʰr̥
Lateral l
Approximant (w) j
  • /t͡ʃʰ/ and /w/ only rarely occur, and with /t͡ʃʰ/ only occurring in word-initial position.
  • The pre-aspirated voiceless /ʰr̥/, may have a word-initial allophone of [ʂ], [ʂ] rarely occurs phonemically.
  • [ɡ] only occurs marginally from loanwords.
  • /t̪, p͡f/ in word-initial position may be heard as [t̪ʰ, p͡fʰ] in free variation, rarely as phonemic.
  • /h/ may have an allophone of [x] word-initially, word medially in free variation. [x] rarely occurs as a phoneme.
  • /m/ before a central vowel /ɨ/ can have an allophone of a labiodental [ɱ].
  • /n/ before high vowel sounds can have an allophone of a palatalized [nʲ].

Vowels
Front Central Back
Close i ɨ u
Mid e (ə) o
Open a
  • [ə] only occurs inter-morphemically.
  • /ɨ/ can be heard as rounded [ʉ] in free variation.
  • In word-initial position, /i, u/ can be lowered to [ɪ, ʊ].
  • /e, o/ can be lowered to [ɛ, ɔ] in word-final position.[5]

References
  1. "Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues – 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  2. "Mao (Naga) language and alphabet". omniglot.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  3. "Mao (Naga) language and alphabet". omniglot.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  4. "Meitei | Ethnologue". Ethnologue. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. Giridhar, P. P. (1994). Mao Naga Grammar. Mysore: Central Institute of Indian Languages.


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