Pi Lia Don Khen Niangg Taang Zomi

Zokam Tonology and Orthography:

Lia Don Khen Niangg’ Hong Nusiat

Dahpihna
le
Thumeizom Zolai Vai
Gelhtu: Taang Zomi
Zomi National Congress (ZNC) President Pu Tg. Chin Sian Thang’ zi Pi Lia Don Khen Niangg
in hong nusiatna hang-a a dah a kap ahi a omlai a innkuanpihte i dahpih ciat-a, Topa in hehnepna
na pia ding hi, ci-in i um hi.

Ama’ hong nusiat thu hong kisuahsaknate pawlkhat-ah, “Pi Don Khen Niang” ci-in hong kigelh-
a, pawlkhat-ah “Pi Don Khen Niangh” ci-in hong kigelh hi. Amah pen, pumpi mahmah-a a mu
ngei, a thei ngei lote in a min a kician-in thei lo ding ci-in ngaihsun ka hih manin, a min a maan a
kitheih ding deihsakna ka nei hi. Bang hang hiam cih leh, ZNC thu a kisuut sim-in, Pu Tg. Chin
Sian Thang’ min genkhiat loh phamawh ding-a, a zi’ min zong genkhiat hong kul thei ding hi.
Tangthu a maan-a a kitheih nadingin, min vai, k’ong gen nuam hi.

Tedim khuapi Lawbual Veeng-ah ka om lai-un, pa Kam, nu Cing (Pu Tg. Kham Za Kam, Pi Lia
Sawmh Cing)-te tawh kiveeng khat bek lo-in, inn kizom-a a teeng ka hi uh hi. Ka neu lai-un, a
tanu nihna pen “u Khen Niangg” /¯uː ˋxɛn ˇnɪɑːŋ/ ka ci uh hi. Ama’ nau ahi u Khan Dim (Lia
Vung Khan Dim) le ka u Ciinbuai (Lia Ning Khan Ciin) kikhan’gual uh-a sang kah khawm uh hi.

U Khen Niangg a thei ngei lo, amah tawh a kiho ngei lote in. “Don Khen Niang” a’ihke’h “Don
Khen Niangh” cih min a muh uh ciangin, /ˋdɒn ˋxeːn ¯nɪɑːŋ/ a’ihke’h /ˋdɒn ˋxeːn ˋnɪɑːŋ/ sa
ding uh hi.

Hih mun-ah “Don” bek maan-in a dangte maan lo hi.

“Lia Don Khen Niang” a’ihke’h “Lia Don Khen Niangh” sung-a “Don” pen “Pi Lia Don Khaw
Cing” (Pu Tg. La Cin Khup’ zi), “Pi Lia Don Ngaih Dim” (Sia Tg. Thawng Khen Pau’ zi),
“Sianu Lia Don Ngaih Lian” (Rev. Dr. Tungg Za Pau’ zi) cih minte-a om “Don” /ˋdɒn/ tawh a
awsuah kibang hi. Tua pen, a aw tom-in nuaikiat hi.

“Lia Don Khen Niang” a’ihke’h “Lia Don Khen Niangh” sung-a “Khen” pen, mi tampi tak in,
“Col. Tg. Khen Za Mung”, “Rev. Dr. Khen Za Sian”, “Sia Thang Khen Pau” cih minte sung-a om
“Khen” /ˋxeːn/ tawh a awsuah a kibang sa ding uh hi. Tua pen, a aw sau-in nuaikiat hi.

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 Taang Zomi Pi Lia Don Khen Niangg

A maan taktak-in, “Lia Don Khen Niang” a’ihke’h “Lia Don Khen Niangh” sung-a “”Khen” pen
“Tg. Langh Khen Thang” (Lailui) sung-a “Khen” /ˋxɛn/ tawh kibang-a, “Maj. Khan Nen Pau”
(Saizang) sung-a “Nen” /ˋnɛn/ tawh kivalaak hi. A aw tom-in nuaikiat hi.

“Khen” /ˋxeːn/ (aw sau, nuai kiat) le “Khen” /ˋxɛn/ (aw tom, nuaikiat) a laimalgawm a tuam
tuak-in nei thei leeng, a kitel khial lo ding, ahi hi.

“Khen” /ˋxeːn/ (aw sau, nuai kiat) pen “Kheenh” ci ding maw, “Kheen” ci ding?
The Most Rev. Dr. Tg. Lian Kheenh Thang
The Most Rev. Dr. Tg. Lian Kheen Thang

“Khen” /ˋxɛn/ (aw tom, nuaikiat) pen “Khenh” ci ding maw, “Khen” ci ding?
Lia Don Khenh Niangg
Lia Don Khen Niangg

A maan, a hoih a theite in, na theihna uh n’ong hop ding uh, ka ut hi.

“Lia Don Khen Niang” sung-a “Niang” pen “Dr. Lia Go Lun Niang” (Major Tg. Mang Za Mung’
zi), “Lia Gloria Niangbawi” (Lia Gloria Chiinlianniang; India lam-a lasa siam), “Pi Lia Niang Za
Dim” (Pu Tg. Thang Za Kam’ zi) cih minte-a “Niang” /¯nɪɑːŋ/ tawh a kibang kisa kha thei ding
hi. A aw sau-in pheipai hi.

“Don Khen Niangh” sung-a “Niangh” pen Zomi minte-ah kinei ngei lo hi. A min nung-ah “h”
kibehlap ahih manin /ˋnɪɑːŋ/ hi leh kilawm hi. A aw sau-in nuaikiat hi.

Min nung-ah “h” a kibehlapte pen, a aw nuaikiat lahna ahi hi. 1 Gentehna: numei Vung /¯vʊŋ/ (a
aw tom, pheipai); pasal Vungh /ˋvʊŋ/ (a aw tom, nuaikiat); numei Cing /¯t͜ sɪŋ/ (aw tom, pheipai);
numei Cingh (Sihzang) /ˋ͜t͜ sɪŋ/ (a aw tom, nuaikiat).

A maan taktak-in, “Lia Don Khen Niangg” cih ding hi-a, tua “Niangg”2 pen “Sianu Lia Niangg
Khan Ciin” (Rev. Dr. Kam Khaw Thang’ zi), “Pi Lia Cing Go Niangg” (Pu Tg. Tual Khaw
Mang’ zi), “Pi Lia Niangg Za Dim” (Pu Tg. P. Khup Za Cin’ zi) cih minte-a “Niangg” /ˇnɪɑːŋ/
tawh a kibang ahi hi. Aw sau-in, tungkah kuuikik hi.

Zolai (Written Zokam) a hoih seemseem na’ng ngaihsun khawm ngeeingaai ni.

1 Aw nuaikiat ciaptehna-a “h” a kizat pen a pan masa kua hiam, bang kum-a a pat hiam, cih ka thei kei hi. 1966
kum lai pawl-in kizangh khin zo hi, cih bang khat-in ciamteh miilmial ing.

2 Aw tungkah kuuikik ciaptehna-a laimung (consonant) nih kizomsak (Suann, Niangg, Kimm, Tungg, etc.) pen Tg.
Ginkhatsuan in Cope Topa’ hong bawlsak “inn” tawh a kivalaak dingin, 1973-1980 sungin hong pankhia hi.

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NUNGTHUAP (Appendix)
Hih a tung-a ka laigelh, a kitel zawk deuh na’ng-in, gencianna tomno khat bawl pak ni.

1. Tones (Awkaih; Awsuah Saang-Niam)

Tone (1) [ˇ]: Tungkah Kuuikik. e.g., sa /ˇsɑː/ (meat); ne /ˇneː/ (eat); si /ˇsiː/ (blood); sia
/ˇsɪɑː/ (damaged); zo /ˇzɒʊ/ (win); lo /ˇlɒʊ/ (cultivation plot); tui /ˇtuːi/ (water).

Tone (2) [ˊ]: Kahto. e.g., Na pai na? /ˊnɑː/; vaphual /ˊvʌ ˊpʰuːal/; A khe /ˊxeː/ kitan hi; Pai
ciat ni /ˊniː/; Na ut uh hiam? /ˊhɪɑːm/; Uiluut /ˇ ʊɪˊluːt/ a veii hi /ˊhiː/; Aksi /¯ɑːk ˊsiː/ (star).

Tone (3) [¯]: Pheipai. e.g., na /¯nɑː/ (painful); ni /¯ni/ (sun); lo /¯lɒʊ/ (grass; weed); zo
/¯zɒʊ/ (gualnuam khawm); u /¯u:/ le nau /¯nɑːu/; aktui /¯ɑːk ¯tuːi/ (eɡɡ)

Tone (4) [ˋ]: Nuaikiat. e.g., hehneem (console) /ˋhɛɁ ˋneːm/; iim /ˋiːm/ (keep something
secret)/; lo /ˋlɒʊ/ (not); um /ˋʊm/ (believe).

2. Vowel Length (Awmung Sauna)

<x> grapheme; orthographic character; spelling (laimalgawm; laimal). Hih pen, “aw” (sound)
hi lo hi.
/x/ phoneme (awbul). Hih pen “aw” (sound) hi-a, laimal hi lo hi.
ːLength Mark [Definitely long (kician tak-a sau)]
Definitely Long (Sau peelmawh): /ɑː/, /eː/, /iː/, /ɔː/ uː/
Lonɡ (Sau): /ɑ/, /e/, /i/, /ɔ/, u/,
Definitely Short (Tom): /ʌ/, /ɛ/, /ɪ/, /ɒ/, /ʊ/
Creaky (Tawng): /ʌʔ/, /ɛʔ/, /ɪʔ/, /ɒʔ/, /ʊʔ/
Reduced (Laklawh): /ʌ̥/, /ɛ̥/, /ɪ̥ /, /ɒ̥/, /ʊ̥/

A. Monophthongs (Khat Guak a Tangg-om Awmung)

(1). a
(1) Long (Sau) <aa> /ɑː/ː Mi tampi khualzin uh aa /¯ɑː/, khuano khat-ah a taam /¯tɑːm/ uh hi.
(2) Short (Tom) <a>/ʌ/: Mi tampi /ˇtʌm ˇpiː/ khualzin uh aa, khuano khat /ˋxʌt/ -ah a taam uh
hi.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <ah> /ʌʔ/: Dahpa /ˋdʌʔ ˋpɑː/ a heh mahmah /ˋmʌʔ ˋmʌʔ/ hi.
(4) Reduced (Laklawh) <a> /ʌ̥/: Dahpa a /ˊʌ̥/ heh mahmah hi. Topa ka /ˋkʌ̥/ muang hi. Pu Tg.

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 Taang Zomi Pi Lia Don Khen Niangg
Thawng Za /zʌ̥/ Khup na thei hia?

(2) e
(1) Long (Sau) <ee> /eː/: Muhdahna nei kei beek leeng /ˇbeːk ˊleːŋ/, hoih ding hi.
(2) Short (Tom) <e> /ɛ/: Kitotna mun-ah pai het /ˊhɛt/ kei /ˇkɛi/ in.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <eh> /ɛʔ/: Dahpa a heh /ˋhɛʔ/ mahmah hi.
(4) Reduced (Laklawh) <e> /ɛ̥/: Heel khe /ˋxɛ̥/ zezeen aw ee! (Tonzang Pau). Hih bawngno le
/ˊlɛ̥/ si eiǃ

(3) i
(1) Long (Sau) <ii> /i:/: Miiksi /ˋmiːk ¯siː/ thanuam mahmah hi /ˋhiː/.
(2) Short (Tom) <i> /ɪ/: Na mit /ˋmɪt/ si lecin /ˊleː ˋt͜ sɪn/, khua na mu kei ding hi.

(3) Creaky (Tawng) <ih> /ɪʔ/ Na meh tui nih /ˋnɪʔ/ sin. Hih /ˊhɪʔ/ thu phamawh lo hi.
(4) Reduced (Laklawh) <i> /ɪ̥ / Khitui /ˊxɪ̥ ˇtu:i/ luang zeen-a i /ˊɪ̥ / Hausapa kiang-a i /ˊɪ̥ / thuum
hi ve’n, i /ˊɪ̥ / nget a ngah hi /hɪ̥ / pah lo ding i /ˊɪ̥ / hia?

(4) o
(1) Long (Sau) <aw> /ɔː/: Gamlak-ah mi tawm /¯tɔːm/ bek om hi.
(2) Short (Tom) <aw/o> /ɒ/: Gamlak-ah mi tawm bek om /ˇɒm/ hi.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <awh> /ɒʔ/: Na mawhna /ˋmɒʔ ¯nɑ/ kisiik in.
(4) Reduced (Laklawh) <aw/o> /ɒ̥/: Dr. Tg. Kam Khaw /ˊxɒ̥/ Thang na thei hia? Dr. Tg. Vum
Kho /ˊxɒ̥/ Hau ee?

(5) u
(1) Long (Sau) <uu> /uː/: Singkung phuuk /ˇpʰuːk/ kei in.
(2) Short (Tom) <u> /ʊ/: / Uiphuk /ˇʊɪ ˋpʰʊk/ khat ka mu hi.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <uh> /ʊʔ/: Amaute in hotkhiatna a ngah uh /ʊʔ/ hi.
(4) Reduced (Laklawh) <u> /ʊ̥/: Utong /ˊʊ̥ ¯tɒŋ/ le ukeeng /ˊʊ̥ ˊkeːŋ/ na mu ngei hia?

B. Diphthongs (A Kihual Khawm Awmung Nih)

(01) ai
(1) Long (Sau) <aai> /ɑːi/: Bawng in leeng kaai /ˋkɑːi/ hi.
(2) Short (Tom) <ai>: /ʌɪ/: Koi-ah pai /¯pʌɪ/ ding na hia?
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <aih> /ʌɪʔ/: Gup tuam paih /ˋpʌɪʔ/ tuam nei ke in.

(02) au
(1) Long (Sau) <aau> /ɑːu/: Hun sau /ˇsɑːu/ nawn lo hi.
(2) Short (Tom) <au>: /ʌʊ/: Na tha neih zah-in awngh au-au /¯ʌʊ ¯ʌʊ/ kei in.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <auh> /ʌʊʔ/: Hauh /ˋhʌʊʔ/ ding a ut lo, om lo hi, kici hi.

(03) ei

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 Pi Lia Don Khen Niangg Taang Zomi
(1) Long (Sau) <eei> /eːi/: Amaute in huhna a ngah uh ciangin, a nuam keei /¯keːi/ uh hi.
(2) Short (Tom) <ei>: /ɛɪ/: Eite /ˇɛɪ ˇteː/ in Pasian i um hi.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <eih> /ɛɪʔ/: Neih /ˋnɛɪʔ/ le lamh a kicing i nei hia?

(04) eu
(1) Long (Sau) <eeu> /eːu/: Na sum kep, eeu /¯eːu/ kha kei o!
(2) Short (Tom) <eu>: /ɛʊ/: Hih nungak a aw eu /ˇɛʊ/ mah si ee.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <euh> /ɛʊʔ/: Kuamah peuhmah /ˋpɛʊʔ ˋmʌʔ/ in Thu um leh, hin’
tawntungna ngah ding uh hi.

(05) ii
(1) Long (Sau) <iii> /iːi; iːʲ/: Hih pa dawngg iii-iai /¯iːʲ ¯iɑːi/ si ee!
(2) Short (Tom) <ii>: /ɪɪ; ɪʲ/: Tui a kia akno hehpih huai khiikhiai /¯xɪʲ ¯xɪʌɪ/ si ee.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <iih> /ɪɪʔ, ɪʲʔ/: Ippi sung-ah buhtang dim iih-eih /ˋɪʲʔ ˋɛɪʔ/ hi.

(06) iu
(1) Long (Sau) <iiu> /iːu/: Tua naupang lau lo-in, singg ka kuam-ah na tu liiuliau /ˊliːu ˋliɑːu/
hi.
(2) Short (Tom) <iu>: /ɪʊ/: Beem sung-ah vaimim tangg kisungg iu-eu /¯ɪʊ ¯ɛʊ/ hi.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <iuh> /ɪʊʔ/: Naupangno ommawh lua ahih manin kiuh /ˋkɪʊʔ/ thuak hi.

(07) oi/awi
(1) Long (Sau) <awi> /ɔːi/: Sawi /sɔːi/ taai lo-in, tang tak pai ni.
(2) Short (Tom) <oi>: /ɒɪ/: Koi /ˇkɒɪ/ mun-ah na upna koih na hi hiam?
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <oih> /ɒɪʔ/: Koi mun-ah na upna koih /ˋkɒɪʔ/ na hi hiam?

(08) ou/awu
(1) Long (Sau) <awu> /ɔːu/: Nang va pai ta awu /ˊɔːu/ leh!
(2) Short (Tom) <o/ou>: /ɒʊ/: Zomi /¯zɒʊ ˇmiː/ ka hi hi. Lo /ˇlɒʊ/ ka kho /ˇxɒʊ/ hi.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <oh/ouh/> /ɒʊʔ/: Na nu le na pa’ thu, na man’ loh /ˋlɒʊʔ/ phamawh hi.

(09) ui
(1) Long (Sau) <uui> /uːi/: Tua nupi nu, nuui /¯nuːi/ zeel, kap zeel-in a om hi.
(2) Short (Tom) <ui>: /ʊɪ/: Ui /ˇʊɪ/ le zawhngeu koi na deih zaw hiam?
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <uih> /ʊɪʔ/: Zan hal-a na ngasa, uih /ˋʊɪʔ/ ta ahi hiam?

(10) uu
(1) Long (Sau) <uuu> /uːu, uːʷ/: Amah pai kuukuu /¯kuːʷ ¯kuːʷ/ hi.
(2) Short (Tom) <uu>: /ʊʊ, ʊʷ/: Siikkual khat hong tuuk suk kuukuu /¯kʊʷ ¯kʊʷ/ hi.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <uuh> /ʊʊʔ, ʊʷʔ/: Bungpi khat hong kitat suk kuuhkuuh /ˋʊʷʔ ˋʊʷʔ/ hi.

(11) ia
(1) Long (Sau) <iaa> /iɑː/: Piakkhiatna /ˇpiɑːk ˇxiɑːt ¯nɑː/ thu kihanthot kul lai i hia?

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 Taang Zomi Pi Lia Don Khen Niangg
(2) Short (Tom) <ia> /ɪʌ/: Siapa khua dang-ah a piat /ˋpɪʌt/ (transfer) ciangin, sangnaupangte a
dah uh hi.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <iah> /ɪʌʔ/: Kumpi tung-ah siah /ˋsɪʌʔ/ (tax) na pia nai hia?
(4) Reduced (Laklawh) <ia> /ɪʌ̥/ Na cil sia khia /ˊsɪʌ̥ ˋxɪʌ̥/ ke’n. (=Na cil se khe /ˊsɛ̥ ˋxɛ̥/ ke’n.)

(12) ua
(1) Long (Sau) <uaa> /uɑː/: Amah muang /¯muɑːŋ/ in.
(2) Short (Tom) <ua>: /ʊʌ/: Puansilh niikteen’ n’ong guat /ˋɡʊʌt/ manin nuam ing.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <uah> /ʊʌʔ/: Suahtaakna /ˋsʊʌʔ ˇtɑːk ¯nɑː/ kideih ciat hi.
(4) Reduced (Laklawh) <ua> /ʊʌ̥/ː Na thu gen, hi lua /ˊlʊʌ̥/ si! (=Na thu gen, hi law /ˊlɒ̥/ si!)

C. Triphthongs (A Kihual Khawm Awmung Thum)

(1) iai
(1) Long (Sau) <iaai> /iɑːi/: Amaute a pai khawm liailiai /¯liɑːi ¯liɑːi/ uh hi.
(2) Short (Tom) <iai>: /ɪʌɪ/: Mi golpa hong pai iai-iai /¯ɪʌɪ ¯ɪʌɪ/ veh ee.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <iaih> /ɪʌɪʔ/: Guahmal neu hong zu phiaihphiaih /ˋpʰɪʌɪʔ ˋpʰɪʌɪʔ/ veh ee.

(2) iau
(1) Long (Sau) <iaau> /iɑːu/: Mihaupa in kuamah awlmawh lo-in a pai liauliau /ˊliɑːu ˋliɑːu/
hi.
(2) Short (Tom) <iau>: /ɪʌʊ/: Mi golpa hong pai iau-iau /¯ɪʌʊ ¯ɪʌʊ/ hi.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <iauh> /ɪʌʊʔ/: Nasep siauh /ˋɪʌʊʔ/ (apply for) na sawm hia?

(3) uai
(1) Long (Sau) <uaai> /uɑːi/: Amau teng mah kizui luailuai /¯luɑːi ¯luɑːi/ ve uh aw!
(2) Short (Tom) <uai>: /ʊʌɪ/: Amah a pai khuaikhuai /¯xʊʌɪ ¯xʊʌɪ/ hi.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <uaih> /ʊʌɪʔ/: Mite in guaih /ˋɡʊʌɪʔ/ ding ut-in na a seem uh hi.

(4) uau
(1) Long (Sau) <uaau> /uɑːu/: No na pai khol uau /ˊuɑːu/; kei hong nung pai ning ei.
(2) Short (Tom) <uau>: /ʊʌʊ/: Vompi khat a pai thuauthuau /¯tʰʊʌʊ ¯tʰʊʌʊ/ hi.
(3) Creaky (Tawng) <uauh> /ʊʌʊʔ/: Sakol khe ging guauhguauh /ˊɡʊʌʊʔ ˋɡʊʌʊʔ/ hi.

[Hun ngah ciang-a zop lai ding.]

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