Paite language

{{Short description|Sino-Tibetan language spoken in India and Myanmar}} {{more citations needed|date=April 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}} {{Infobox language | name = Paite | nativename = Paite | pronunciation = | states = India, Myanmar | region = Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Chin State | ethnicity = Paite | speakers = 100,000<br/> (80,000 in India) | ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language_MTs.html|title=Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues – 2011|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2018-07-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://blog.cpsindia.org/2016/10/religion-data-of-census-2011-xxxi.html | title=Religion Data of Census 2011: XXXI Mizoram Manipur and Nagaland }}</ref> | familycolor = Sino-Tibetan | fam2 = Tibeto-Burman | fam3 = Central Tibeto-Burman (?) | fam4 = Kuki-Chin–Naga | fam5 = Kuki-Chin | fam6 = Northeastern | script = Latin | iso3 = pck | imagecaption = | glotto = pait1244 | glottorefname = Paite Chin }}

'''Paite''' is a Sino-Tibetan language belonging to the northeastern sub-branch of Kuki-Chin branch. It is spoken by the Paite people in India and Tedim Chins in Myanmar. There are different Paite dialects; some notable Paite dialects are Bukpi, Lousau, Valpau, Dapzal, Tuichiap, Sukte, Dim, Lamzang and Sihzang. The language exhibits mutual intelligibility with the other languages of the region including Thadou, Hmar, Vaiphei, Simte, Kom, Gangte and other languages.<ref name=Singh1>{{cite journal|last1=Singh|first1=Chungkham Yashawanta|title=The linguistic situation in Manipur|journal=Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area|date=1995|volume=18|issue=1|pages=129–134|url=http://sealang.net/sala/archives/pdf8/singh1995linguistic.pdf|access-date=19 June 2014}}</ref>

== Etymology == The term ''Paithe'' originated in the Lushai Hills region. The Lushais used terms ''Pai'' or ''Poi'' to refer to central and southern Chin tribes, who tie their hair up. ''Paithe'' is said to be the plural of ''Pai''.{{sfnp|Kamkhenthang, The Paite|1988|p=7}} The Paite themselves did not accept the term originally, but in 1948, the Paite National Council was formed to obtain the recognition of Paites as a Scheduled Tribe in India. Thus the term came to be accepted.{{sfnp|Kamkhenthang, The Paite|1988|p=9}}

''Paite'' has also the meaning of "people on the move".{{sfnp|Kamkhenthang, The Paite|1988|p=7}}

== Language == *The Paite has its own Alphabet (Paite Laimal) propounded by T Vialphung (1889-1936) in 1903 and was later published in the book "Sintung Bu" in 1945. The alphabet is as below:

A Aw B Ch D E F G Ng H I J K L M N O P R S T U V Z

*This language has simple but long words. Paite is a tonal language and has three tones: High, low, and level. However, the tones are not transcribed in the Latin alphabet. This means that words can look the same but mean different things depending on context and pronunciation. Here are a few words:

Thak – New, Spicy

Sikha – Servant, Ghost

Ngaih – Love, Loud

Bel – Pot (utensil), Early

Thum - Pray, Three

There are still unofficial ways to write tones ( for example, accent marks/diacritics). However, these other ways to write tones are not commonly used.

*The language is included in Tripura's Tribal Language Corpus in which it is recorded that it has 32,626 words.

== Phonology == Paite has 6 monophthongs (a /a/, e /e/, i /i/, u /u/, o /o/, aw /ɔ/) and has 11 diphthongs (ai /ai/, au /au/, ei /ei/, eu /eu/, ia /ia/, iu /iu/, oi /oi/, ou /ou/, ua /ua/, ui /ui/, and yai /jai/). Consonants consist of s, k, l, m, n, ŋ (ng), b, dʒ (j), d, f, g, h, p, r, t, v, and z.

==Sample text== The following is a sample text in Paite of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Paite pau!!English |- |Mi tengteng zalen a piang ihi ua, zah-omna leh dikna tanvou ah kibangvek ihi. Sia leh pha theihna pilna nei a siam I hih ziak un I mihinpihte tungah unauna lungsim feltak I put ngai ahi.

|All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience. Therefore, they should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-10-06|title=Universal Declaration of Human Rights|url=https://www.un.org/en/universal-declaration-human-rights/|access-date=2021-03-07|website=www.un.org|language=en}}</ref> |- |}

There are two major dialects of Paite spoken in Manipur: Lamjang and Dapjal; and 4 minor dialects which are Songtal, Bukpi, Lousau & Kangkap. <ref name="Singh2">{{cite book|last1=Singh|first1=Naorem Saratchandra Singh|title=A Grammar of Paite|date=2006|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-8183240680|page=xviii|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=450Jzejep0AC&q=Paite+language+dialects&pg=PR18|access-date=29 October 2016}}</ref>

==Geographical distribution== Paite is spoken mainly in the following locations (''Ethnologue'').<ref>{{citation |title=Ethnologue, 16th Edition |year=2008 |url=https://archive.org/details/ethnologuelangua0000unse_k9t5 |publisher=SIL International |url-access=registration |via=archive.org}}</ref>

*Manipur: They spread across more than 70 villages in several districts namely Churachandpur district, Pherzawl district, Jiribam district, Chandel district, Tengnoupal district *Mizoram: They live in more than 20 villages across the different districts such as Aizawl district, Champhai district, Saitual district, Khawzawl district. *Assam: Diphu and villages like Khawnuam, Zawlnuam, Suangsang in Karbi Anglong. *Tripura *Chin State, Myanmar (In Myanmar, the language is also known as Tedim Chin, which in turn is also related to the Tedim Township)

== Education and Academic == Paite language can now be taken up as one of the MIL subjects offered in the Three-Year Degree course in Manipur University. The Academic Council of the university in its meeting held on April 22, 2004, gave its approval for the inclusion of Paite as one of the MIL subjects after considering recommendation by the Board of Studies of the School of Humanities, and also in recognition of the richness of the language and its literature including creative writing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paite in MIL list : 06th may04 ~ E-Pao! Headlines |url=https://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=Snipp1.09.060504.may04 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=www.e-pao.net}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=March 2023}}{{verify source|date=March 2023}}

==References== {{Reflist}}<references responsive="0" />

==Bibliography== * {{citation |last=Kamkhenthang |first=H. |title=The Paite, a Transborder Tribe of India and Burma |publisher=Mittal Publications |year=1988 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n7CdTs3Iq78C&pg=PA8 |isbn=9788170990703 |ref={{sfnref|Kamkhenthang, The Paite|1988}}}}

==Further reading== {{Incubator|code=pck}} *Muivah, Esther T. 1993. ''English-Paite dictionary''. Lamka, Manipur: Paite Tribe Council. *Tualkhothang, Naulak. 2003. ''English-Paite dictionary''. Lamka, Manipur: The Tualkhothang Naulak Memorial Trust. *Tawmbing, Chinzam. 2014. ''English-Paite dictionary''. Lamka, Manipur: Hornbill Publication. *Paite Tribe Council. 2013. ''Paite customary law & practices / Paite pupa ngeina dan leh a kizatnate''. Lamka, Manipur: Paite Tribe Council. *Thuamkhopau, T. 2009. ''Paite paunaak leh pau upate''. Manipur: Tribal Research Institute.

==External links== * [https://www.paite.org Paite.org]

Category:Kuki-Chin languages Category:Languages of Assam Category:Languages of Manipur Category:Languages of Mizoram Category:Languages of Tripura Category:Endangered languages of India