tanii agun lusa

E-book on Apatani Language

2011-09-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

An ebook- ‘A Guide to Simplified Apatani’- is finally here. It’s a compilation of various posts of this blog with necessary adaptation to meet the immediate need of handy guide on Tanii agun. Comments and feedbacks of visitors of the blog have been looked into and changes have been made wherever necessary.

Naming of mithuns

2010-11-09T05:33:00.000-08:00

Naming of mithuns in Apatani are based on the patterns of colours on their skin. Male and female with similar pattern of colours may have different names. Male names generally start with ‘ta’ as starting syllable and that of female with ‘ya’ as starting syllable. However, there are some patterns of colour for which the bearer have a name irrespective their gender. Following are the illustrations of some common names:

Letters and Spelling System in Apatani

2010-10-06T20:05:00.000-07:00

English alphabet is being employed to write Apatani for two obvious reasons:

It is known well to all literate Apatanis; and
It is quite convenient, as well, to write Apatani with slight customization of phonological rules of English.

For the purpose of writing Apatani with English alphabets, following points have been considered and used in this blog:

All the consonants, that is, b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y and z, sound as in English.
Combinations of consonants such as ch, kh, ng and double consonants (nn, tt etc.) are used specifically as in check, Sikh, ring, sinner and attend respectively
Vowels are a, e, i, o, u – as in English, plus two additional vowels e and ii which are unique to Apatani

Each vowel in Apatani has a unique sound-

‘a’ as in America
‘e’ as in set

**‘e’ as in tader /tad...r/ (means intestinal worm in Apatani), taker (star)

‘i’ as in sit, India etc

‘o’ as in pot, old etc

‘u’ as in bush

‘ii’ as in siibin /s…bin/ (means goat in Apatani)

**[e may be replaced by e for convenience of writing and typing and its use in words are understood from context.]

Apatani being a tone language, all the speech sounds mentioned above except e have variant forms depending on length, pitch and aspiration of the vowel. These variant forms are represented in words with certain combination of letters which are nearest to the sound represented in English words with similar combinations of letters.

Representation of speech sounds on basis of length, pitch and aspiration:

Variants of vowel sound a:
a /as in Papa, ask/ e.g, apu (flower), owpa (about to cut work with spade), ane (mother)
aa /as in aag (fire), raat (night) in hindi/ e.g, aane (came), owpaa (remove by cutting with spade)
ah /as in ah!/ e.g, miinah (too busy in doing something), owpah (chance of working with spade/ chance to find something while working with spade)

Variants of vowel sound e:
e /as in pen, pet, set/ e.g, ene (shot), tape (pumkin)
ay /as in pay, day, ray/ e.g, tapay (leech)
eh /as in Eh!/ e.g, niipeh (pierce across)

Variants of vowel sound i:
i /as in pin, sin, dim/ e.g, inne (went/ walked), alyi (air, wind), tito (pour)
ee /as in deep, deem, heed/ e.g, eemi (floor by the fireplace), alyee (arrow)
ie /as in eerie, Barbie doll/ e.g, riemi (spider), alyie (pig)
ih [short and rising as in oh, eh etc.] e.g, tihto (rub as in lighting match sticks)

Variants of vowel sound o:
o /as in open, over, old/ e.g., opaa (leave), rowto (pull), atobo (grand father/father in law)
ow /as in row, bow, low/ e.g., owne (cut with spade), rotow (spacious)
oh /as in oh!/ e.g., moh (he/she)

Variants of vowel sound u:
u /as in bush, put/ e.g., tune (kicked)
oo /as in too, loose, root/ e.g., toone (picked)
uh /as in huh!/ e.g., tuhne (plucked)
ooh /as in pooh!/ e.g., toohne (pushed)

*Variants of vowel sound ii:
ii e.g, siine (died) /s...ne/
iiw e.g, siiwne (scratched) /s.....ne/, aniiw (leaf)
iih e.g, aniih (hurry, haste)

*for pronunciation of variants of speech sounds 'ii', comparison may be drawn with that of variants of speech sound 'o'.

Letter n when written in the middle (not preceding a vowel) or in the end of a word, becomes nasal n (ñ) - similar to bhindu in Hindi as in nahin (no), ankhen (eyes) etc.

Hapoli Daka Alyie Atan

2010-09-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

[Click here for English translation of the post]

1. Traffic police ka whistle saniin mi tapalala ngo cycle domoto. Mo ngiimi stand daka board mi nyakinne. Hiika board ho ‘PIGS FIRST, PLEASE!’ (Alyi mi inpyowkiineto hiila ketogiine.)

Kahii-kakhe biihankiile, alyie anii dore la alyie atu dorhinhe, lembo ho yanu-yanu gubola done. Yapa kone, scooter domobiitola dola, ngiimi kagebiidola lune, “Ngunu ka traffic police si miidijako miido.”

2. Ngo school inpa inlyi ho, alyie atu tonge nallah ho guladopa kapato. “Sir, inka alyie atan mi food-poison hoikenmasii ha?” Ngo ngunuka health-hygiene teacher mi takato.

“Ma,” moh lune. “Siika alyie atan si ano hendi-nyadu. Mohlu ayamanii chemical atan mi la kacho-tanii atan mi diiliigiilalala, miyu atan mi diikenendupa hiila, alyo ho giikunkiinedu.”

3. Gandhi Market daka haman-sanii pyuko ho, ngo alyie anii dorngohe bazar miiteladopa kapato. Mohlu kone heter basket biimane. “Inka atan basket biimapa bazar miitepayu ha?” Ngo ngiika ajin mi takato.

“Nokoda piidima ke!” Ngiika ajin hii lune. “No chinma po mohluka ere hii iche heter potelama?”

4. Ane alyie lyikanuhe ja balu miiniipa ajobiine. “Miyu mi ya ajomapa, alyie atan mi niimpa ajobiidu?” Ngo Ane mi takato.

“No chinmapa ke,” Ane lune. “Balu so yalang acho-acho do. Ngunu dipe lo owalaama. Alyie atan ka nyago hii ano alerdo. Mohlu kiidi mi bulldozer hiilyan durlaado.”

5. Aba, alyie lyinii atu kone riibiila giiri ho atiibiine. Ane, alyie mi ka giiri ho ka atiiniimi hennga-henkhala done. “Silo-biilyo, siika modern anyan ho, whu ja alyie mi giiri ho atiidu?” Ane, Aba mi lubiila done. “Hapoli ho ka animal-right activist atan ka nyimaniin niipa luck ayado. Hiilamakoda no achu-amyo mi ka miiha-miikha ko hopa, siisi patu ho dudo.”

Aba knii miichi! Mo chindo Ane mi lurii la lunu-luna-lupakendo hiila. Aro roye, Aba ngiinyi alyie mi giiri hokii pyakobitoku. Aba ngiimi howang ho pika biidola lune, “Silo-biilyo, Hapoli ho, alyie atan ka alo ke lodokunii.”

Preposition in Apatani

2010-07-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

Preposition is a word or group of words that relates its object to another word in the sentence. [As defined in J.E Warner�s Business English for Carrier].

In Tanii agun, unlike in English, preposition is used after noun or pronoun (object).

List of prepositions with example:

ho : on, at, in, to e.g., Table ho kitab do. [Book is on the table]; Ngo siisi Hapoli ho da. [I am now at Hapoli]; Rajesh, Simla ho dudu. [Rajesh lives in Simla.]. Ama, Itanagar ho tone/ Ama, Itanagar tone. [Ama went to Itanagar.]

ura ho : inside e.g., Bakos ura ho tarii done./ Tarii hii bakos ura ho done. [The cloth is inside the box]

ago ho : outside e.g., Ude ago ho habun do. [It is cool outside the house]

liipa ho : in between e.g., Hong, Bulla nyika liipa ho Hari lemba do. [Hari village is in between Hong and Bulla.]

hata ho/hii : in front of e.g., Nobin, Tamo hata hii/ho da. [Nobin stands in front of Tamo.]; No Nobin hata ho dato [You stand in front of Nobin.]

kiilin ho : behind e.g., Tallo, Tapa kiilin ho aado.[Tallo is coming behind Tapa.]

hawo ho : above/ up in e.g., Putu hawo ho ude kone do. [There is a house up in the hill]

ikko ho : beneath/ under e.g., Sanii ikko ho dumosa. [Let�s take rest under the tree.]

akkan ho : below

agin ho/pa : with e.g., Ngo Tamer agin pa aadu. /Ngo Tamer agin ho aato (I came with Tamer]

pa : for, about e.g., (Ngo)Siika tarii mi Anya pa riibii-talyi. [I will buy and take this shirt for Anya]: (Ngo)Siika tarii mi Anya pa riichi. [I will buy this shirt for Anya]; Ngiika aalyi ho 3:30 pa miine. [When I came it was about 3:30]

hopa : by, through e.g., Lembo hopa aato [Come by road]

hokii : from e.g., Ngo lemba hokii tolyi. [I come (down) from village]

mi : to/ at e.g., Akki mi yalan kooto. [throw stone at the dog]; Simi Kobin mi bito. [give it to Kobin]

Words that confuse

2010-05-13T11:46:00.000-07:00

aaba              to come together

aba                father

abaa              put load on something

aban              elders(male)

abaan            burning pain

aabi               come on other behalf

aabie             convenient way or means of coming

abbi               movement

abi                 pants/ skirt

abie               sufficient

abu                many/ numerous/ lot

aboo             cylindrical

aachi             will come

achi               sister in law

achchi           1. pain, 2. very much

aado              has come/ coming

adow             far/ distant

aadu              come

adu                make sound

addu              hurt one’s feet by stepping on something, feel something under feet

aajo               benefit of coming

ajo                 pay for work or services

ajjo                carefully and slowly, fond

ajoo              week

ajju                apearance (of people)

aalyi              coming

alyi                air, wind

alyee             arrow

alyie              pig

alo                 1. day, 2. to drop

alow              bone

allo                salt

aako             place of coming

akko             short or small height

ako               one

aama            do not come

ama              mother

amma           to infect or rub something off to/from something

aami             cat

ami               elder sister

amie             eye

ammi            tail

aane             came

ane               mother

aanii             one who come

anii               mother

aniih             hurry, haste

aniiw            leaf

aapo            1. come out in front, 2. did (someone)come? e.g, Moh aapo? [did he come?]

appo            body

aari              come in turn

ari                cost/ price of something

arie              to string together (as in necklace of beads)

arri               to lay foundation of building

aato             came

ato               grand father/ father in law

atto              ones own, self

aya              good, fair, nice, lovely

ayaa            flesh

babo           assist in carrying load

babbo         pole erected during myoko

baaro         large (flat object)

baro           brother

bido           giving, give

biedo         flowing, flow

bo              to move across, e.g., bone [moved across]

bow           to pull, e.g., bowne [pulled]

bu              to pull out weeds etc.

boo           to burst

cha            to go up

chaa          to split something with knife/sword

che            to argue e.g., chene [argued]

chay          1. to cut (as with scissor) e.g., chayne [cut]; 2. to be pressed from two sides, sandwitch

                  e.g., chayne [pressed something from two sides.]; achay [tight]

chi            to bite

chie          motion in one direction in air or water (as in swimming or moving spear)

chih          extinct

chu          to spit

choo        move infront or direction of head (when something is lying)

da            to stand

daa          to step

du            to sit

doo          v. offer to sell something e.g., doola-do [making enquiry if someone is willing to buy something]

doo          n. collection of rice grains ready for husking

ene           shot

enne         simply

heene        beaten with stick

hine           felt with hand

hinne         pinched

hoi             to happen (borrowed word from Assamese)

hoyee        feeling free from burden or hardship

ji                melt

jih              black

jo              to carry

jow           to cut

ku             ask, e.g., kune [asked]

koo           throw, e.g., koone [threw]

kapyo       good looking, beautiful

kapyow    look/see first/earlier

kappyow first

lusa           let (us) speak

loosa        1. different groups or herds; 2. one set each (for two or more)

mene        searched

menne      killed

monne      chased

mowne     moved head sidewise

moh ne     was him

nenne       smelled

neneh         bruising

nene       scrubed or hurt due to friction

pa            to cut

paa          to find other’s lost thing

paro        fowl
parow     widening something by cutting

pene        shouted (slogan or war cry)

penne      1. built; 2. transferred properties etc. to legal heir

pen-nehe how many (house, hut or building)

pi             to cut (by sawing action)

pee          to bark (as of dog)

ri               to throw

rie             to stitch

rii              to buy

riiw           to perch (as of birds)

sii             1. to die; 2. cow

siiw          to scratch

sone         1. played; 2. cracked joke; 3. to have affair e.g., nyimun sone [have affair with girl]

sonne        to move on pole or rope with help of hand

sone-he     how many (rope, stick, pen, thread etc.)

tango        /ta-ngo/ part of something (music etc.) that has not been listen or heard

tanggo       /tang-go/ thing to drink

tanngo       /tan-ngo/ left over drinks (water, juice etc,)

tangoh        stop listening

tanngoh      stop drinking

ta               to hear, listen

taa             1. to cut (with spade, axe); 2. to bite (as of snake)

tarne          to bend or to break something by bending

taarne        puss

tu              to kick

tuh            to pluck

too            to pick

tooh          to push

Sentence Structure in Apatani

2010-05-11T11:14:00.000-07:00

Basic sentence patterns in Apatani:

· subject + verb

1. Akki peedo. [dog (is) barking]

2. Ngo luchi. [I shall speak.]

· subject + direct object + verb

1. Ngo lemba chachi (I shall go to village)

2. Ngo lemba chalaa-kendo. (I can go to village)

3. Paat siibin chilo-biine. (Tiger hunted down a goat.)

· subject + direct object + object complement + verb

1. Anku hime mi imi-la-dopa kapa-biine. [Anku found the child asleep.]

· subject + indirect object + direct object + verb

1. Tapu ngiimi pen sonye-he babi. [Tapu brought me two pen.]

· subject + subject complement

1. Yubbey doctor. [Yubbey (is) a doctor.]

2. Lampung hime chikho kone. [Lampung (is) a clever boy.]

· subject + subject complement + verb

1. Lampung hime chikho do. [Lampung is a clever boy.]

Counting or Number Words in Apatani: Revisited

2009-08-25T07:00:00.001-07:00

Counting or the number words in Apatani are very elaborate. There are different number words for different classes of objects based on their structural affinity. There may also be a system of number words specific for a particular object.

The number words, other than the one used for man, consist of two parts- the root word and the number marker. The root word may be derived from either the starting syllable or the ending syllable of the name of an object or the name of an object representing certain structural form. The number markers are the suffixes indicating the numbers which are derived from the number words used for the man. For example, the number word which means two pots in Apatani is ‘piichan channye-he’.

Besides, the number words differ for their noun form (name of number used for counting) and adjective form (words used for describing the quantity) e.g. chankun (noun form) and channge (adj. form) are used for a pot.

Some common root words:

[Table 1]

Root Words	Derived from (word)	Used for
Chan	Piichan (pot)	Pot
Chen	Not known	Bundle of flat object
Boo	Aboo (cylindrical)	Cylindrical objects like bamboo, pipe etc.
Bar	Not known	Currency note
Ber	Not known	Clothes, blanket, quilt, mat etc.
ta	Pata (flattened object)	Flattened objects(of wood, metal), paper, book etc.
tu	Not known	Span of stick, meter stick etc
Da	Not known	Foot step
Go	Not known	Hand span
Dor	Not known	All four footed animals, birds (other than chicken), motor vehicles
Ro	Paro (chicken)	Hen, cock
Gar	Agar (bund demarcating paddy field)	Paddy field
ngo	Not known	Land plot like bije, sadi, moreh etc
Gii	Yagii (basket carried by head)	Baskets like yagii and raju
Po	Yopo (basket carried by hand), sanpo (wooden log)	Yopo (baskets), harpo (bucket), wheel, wooden log and other large cylindrical object
Ra	Lera (racksack), yara (basket for male to carry firewood)	Lera, yara
Kho	Yakho (stick)	Sticks of all kind
So	Yaso (cane, rope)	Yaso, yai, all kinds of rope, threads, long thin rods (iron rod, cane rod), wire, scrawling animals (snake, earthworm), also pen, pencil etc
Ko	Kobyan (bracelet)	Bracelets, bowl etc
Ku	Paaku (plate)	plate
Pu	Papu (egg)	Spherical objects like egg, ball etc.
Pen	Pen verb root (to construct, build)	Houses, huts, buildings
Per	Not known	Seeds (bean, gram, pea, rice etc.), small pebbles, sand grain etc.

Number Markers (suffixes indicating numbers):

[Table 2]

Numbers	Counting (noun form)	Describing quantity (adj. form)
One	~kun	~e / ~ye / ~nge **
Two	~nyi	~nye-he
Three	~hing	~hing-he
Four	~pi	~pe-he
five	~ngo	~ngo-he
Six	~khii	~khii-he
Seven	~kanu	~kanu-he
Eight	~pinyi	~pinyi-he
Nine	~kowa	~kowa-he
Ten	~lyan	~lyan-he

Formation of number words:

Number words are formed by combination of the root word and the number marker. The formation of the two forms of number words is shown in following table [table 3a & 3b]:

[Table 3a]

Marker (n)	Root Words
Marker (n)	Boo	Dor	chan
~kun	Bookun	Dorkun	Chankun
~nyi	Boonyi	Dornyi	Channyi
~hing	Boohing	Dorhing	Chanhing
~pi	Boopi	Dorpi	Chanpi
~ngo	Boongo	Dorngo	Channgo
~khii	Bookhii	Dorkhii	Chankhii
~kanu	bookanu	Dorkanu	Chankanu
~pinyi	Boopinyi	Dorpinyi	Chanpinyi
~kowa	Bookowa	Dorkowa	Chankowa
~lyan	Boolyan	Dorlyan	Chanlyan

[Table 3b]

Marker (adj.)	Root Words
Marker (adj.)	Boo	Dor	chan
~e / ~ye / ~nge **	booye	dore	channge
~nye-he	Boonye-he	Dornye-he	Channye-he
~hing-he	Boohing-he	Dorhing-he	Chanhing-he
~pe-he	Boope-he	Dorpe-he	Chanpe-he
~ngo-he	Boongo-he	Dorngo-he	Channgo-he
~khii-he	Bookhii-he	Dorkhii-he	Chankhii-he
~kanu-he	Bookanu-he	Dortkanu-he	Chankanu-he
~pinyi-he	Boopinyi-he	Dorpinyi-he	Chanpinyi-he
~kowa-he	Bookowa-he	Dorkowa-he	Chankowa-he
~lyan-he	Boolyan-he	Dorlyan-he	Chanlyan-he

** [incase of the number word which means one (adj. form) in Apatani, the marker ~e/ ~ye/ ~nge are combined with the root word depending upon the last letter of the root word i.e. /~ye/ is used with the root word ending in vowel letter, /~e/ is used with the root word ending in letter ‘r’ and /~nge/ is used with the root word ending in letter ‘n’ (‘n’ nasalized).]

Greetings: As Expressed in Apatani

2009-06-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

There are no direct greeting words in Apatani such as ‘Good morning’, ‘Good evening’ and so on. Greetings are expressed indirectly by asking questions. Let’s get familiar with such expressions in Apatani:

1. You are going somewhere and saw a people/ group of people (sitting, standing, working etc.) on your way, and you are first to greet him/ her/ them, then you may ask-

Q (i): Knii miidu? What are you doing?

A: Ene dasu da. Noh inpa? Nothing. Just standing. Where are you going?

-OR: Ene dusu du. Noh hokii? Nothing. Just sitting. Where are you from?

-OR: Narun miilyan du. Noh inte he? Putting the fences in order. Where have you been?

-OR: Balu miidu. Bazaar hokii ha? Working in garden. From market?

Q (ii): Dasu da ha? You are there (not gone anywhere)?

A: IIn. Noh inpa? Yes. Where are you going?

2. You are sitting, standing, working etc. and you saw someone going past (heading away from his/ her house); you may ask-

Q : Noh inpa? Where are you going?

A: Bazaar linchi. Nunu knii miidu? Going out to the market. What are you (group of three or more people) doing?

-OR: Sote do. Hiila dasu da ha? Roaming. Just standing?

-OR: Lemba bochi. Balu ha miido nii? Going (across) to the village. Working (in the garden)?

-OR: Hao dalyi chachi. No-no? Going up there. What about you?

-OR: Tamo ko bopa. No sobo tama ha? Going (across)to Tamo’s place. Won’t you go there?

3. You are sitting, standing, working etc. and you saw someone going past (coming back towards his/ her house); you may ask-

Q (i): Noh hokii? Where you from?

A: Bazaar hokii nyan. Knii miidu? From market. What are you doing?

-OR: Itanagar tonii. Ude ha miiti donii? Been to Itanagar. Doing repairing works (of house )?

-OR: Sote nii. Noh inpa? Been roaming. Where are you going?

-OR: Soyi-somo tate he. Niinyi knii miidu? Just been roaming around. What are you (two of you) doing?

Q (ii) Noh inte he? Where have you been?

A: School innii. Noh school inma po? Been to school. Didn’t you go to school?

Q (iii) Knii biilyi? What are you bringing?

A: Haman-sanii iche biilyi. Bringing some vegetables.

4. You are at home, in the compund of your house, at office or you are in some place- someone enters there, you may greet him/ her/ them with the following question:

Q: Alyi ha? You are coming?

A: IIn. Dusu dulo. Yes. You are home (not gone anywhere)?

-OR: Nunu abuje po? You all are here?

-OR: Niinyi sii ha dusu dunii? Only you (two) are sitting?

-OR: Nunu po. so ato. So it’s you (group of three or more)? Come here.

5. You enter someones place and you are the first to greet, then you may ask the following questions-

Q (i) Knii miidu? what are you doing?

A: Alyi ha? You are coming?

-OR: Niinyi po. ato. You two? Come.

Q (ii) Dusu du ha? You are home (not gone anywhere)?

A: IIn. Alyi ha? Yes. You are coming?

Q (iii) Nunu abuje po dunu? You all are here?

A: IIn, hiila nyan. Ngunu kii so dukun ako done niin. Paya pacho alyi nii. Yes, we are. We had a meeting here. It’s very nice you come here.

6. You are in a shop and someone familiar to you enter the shop as well, you may greet him/ her with this question- Alyi ha?

7. You enter a shop and you saw someone familiar to you already there buying things, you may ask the following questions-

Q (i) Adu ha? or Ado ha?or Nunu adu ha? or Niinyi adu ha?

Q (ii) Ado lo? or Nunu ado lo? or Niinyi adolo?

Q (iii) Bazaar miido ha? or Bazaar miidu ha?

8. You are talking on telephone, apart from ‘hello’ you start talking with one of these questions- Aya siido lo?/ Aya dusu dulo? / Knii miidu?

Disclaimer: The content in this post and other posts in my blog space are purely based on my observation and understanding of the Tanii language, difference in views from other authors and their works that one may come across in this post and in the other posts of the blog shall by no means be misconstrued as an act of discredit to any author and their works. Besides, I employ common-place Apatani for spelling things in the blog so readers discretion are sought. Readers are encouraged to follow spelling patterns used in Apatani Dictionary by Habung Donyi.

Confusing Words - 1(edited)

2009-04-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

(This post has been rewritten to incorporate the scheme of spellings employed by Habung Donyi in his dictionary which are enclosed under parenthesis in red letters e.g, [abi].)

There are some groups of words in Apatani which sound quite distinct while speaking but we tend to write them with same spellings thus causing confusion while reading and writing. However, Habung Donyi has done some work on it while compiling his dictionary, the Apatani Dictionary: let’s write in Apatani. Inspite of the good effort, lot need to be done to make the the group of letters that represent the tone or sound of a syllable to be consistent. Such as, a sound of a syllable containing aspiration (sound of h) in between a consonant and a vowel (as in abhi) and in the end of a word (as in abih, opah etc); sound of double vowel such as ee, ie, oo etc., in a syllable have to be worked out.

Some of them are given below with hint on phonetics (based on my understanding) [(simplified form) capital letter(s) for stressed syllable e.g., /A-bi/ ]:

abi:

/A-bi/ come on behalf of other; [abi]

/ab-bi/ movement [?]

/ab-bhi/ sufficient, complete [abee]

/ab-bih/ to make to something to swing [abih]

/a-bhi/ pant, skirt; [abhi]

/A-bie/ preferable to come (to a place, through a route etc) [bie as in barbie doll]; [abie]

** Look at above word ‘abi’, we tend to write word ‘abi’ which means (1) to come on behalf of other; (2) movement; (3) sufficient, complete; (4) to make to something to swing; (5) pant, skirt; (6) preferable to come (to a place, through a route etc)

Can we write the word ‘abi’, respectively, as shown by H. Donyi in his dictionary to avoid confusion while reading and writing? (may be we can discuss to make them more consistent for different words having similar sound unit as in aba (come tpgether), diiba (eat together), inba (go together) etc.)

Let’s look at some more similar words:

aba:

/a-ba/ father [abba]

/A-ba/ come together [aba]

/AB-ha/ put load on something, put something in addition to something that already exist [aba]

ami:

/a-MI/ cat [ami]

/am-mi/ tail [amie]

/a-MIE/ eye [amee]

/a-ku/ uncle (maternal) [akoo]

/A-ku/ come (past pp) [aku]

/A-kuh/ come from/through wrong direction [akku]

alyi

/a-lyi/ (1) air, wind [allyi]

(2) arrow [allyih]

/A-lyi/ coming (here from some where (now)) [alyi]

/a-LYIE/ pig [alyee]

miido

/MII-do/ doing [miido]

/mii-DO/ rain [miidoh]

miine

/MII-ne/ did [miine]

/mii-neh/ (1) touch, (2) hurt [miinne]

kapyo

/KA-pyo/ good to look [kapyo]

/KA-pyoh/ see/look first [?]

/kap-yoh/ first [kappyo*]

*in anglo apatani dictionary HD corrected ‘kapyoh’ into ‘kappyo’

Disclaimer: The content in this post and other posts in my blog space are purely based on my observation and understanding of the Tanii language, difference in views from other authors and their works that one may come across in this post and in the other posts of the blog shall by no means be misconstrued as an act of discredit to any author and their works. Besides, I employ common-place Apatani for spelling things in the blog so readers discretion are sought. Readers are encouraged to follow spelling patterns used in Apatani Dictionary by Habung Donyi.

Lyrics of Popular Apatani Song-2

2009-04-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

Ngunu Lemba Ngiimi Oho Biiko

Ngunu lemba ngiimi oho biiko

ano aya ne ano kapyo ne

Yolyan liipa ho kibo piniin hii

paro-liigo ho ropo khoniin hii

aro konchi ho piita adu niin

alyin kamo ho hime kheniin

piilo hutho ho nyimun yapa ka

gangun beniin hii elu beniin hii

ano tapyo ne ano tapyo ne

Lapang-babo, siigang-siilyi,

dibii-rungo hii gantii-yaso

ali-paho, sadi-sapa hii,

lutii-giira hii sulu-narung

senyi apu hii pudu apu hii

piita apu hii takung apu hii

sembo apu hii bagang rinyo hii

ano kapyo ne, ano kapyo ne

Myoko kazi, murung chanta

dree taku mi lema apin

halyin tasin entii apin mi

diiran sankha mi bachin arhi

sembo armin mi jojuru mi

chido henmun do, chido henmun do

Ngunu lemba ngiimi oho biiko

ano aya ne ano kapyo ne

Siilo kuko da ngo

leyu-siigya mi, si-sukung mi,

ude dokor mi nesu dokor mi

bije hagya mi moreh dalihn mi

anu-barmii mi ate-ata mi

ahi-nyatu mi diinii-barnii

biiniin-nyanii mi baro-manyan mi

kachin keku ma, kachin keku ma

Ngunu lemba ngiimi oho biiko

ano aya ne ano kapyo ne

Singer: Hage Tade

Lyricist: Tage Diibo

Note: This post is a transcript of a recorded song: any inadvertent error is regretted. Also the lyrics of this song is being transcripted from recorded song for the purpose of language study and the owner of this blog is not the copyright owner of this lyrics.

ABOUT THE SONG

This song is an ode to an Apatani village. The poet depicts every facets of village life and its surroundings.

WHAT TO SEE IN THIS LYRICS:

Compound words:

Some common compound words are used in this song with good effect- let’s try to work out their meaning. (Some of them which I am not sure are being left without meaning)

· Yolyan liipa :- midnight

· paro-liigo :- time when rooster crow

· aro konchi :- early morning

· piilo hutho :- moonlit night

· nyimun-yapa :- young people

· Lapang-babo :- general term for traditional symbols of

Apatani

· siigang-siilyi :- ?

· dibii-rungo :- ?

· gantii-yaso :- ?

· ali-paho :- ?

· sadi-sapa :- forest (in general)

· lutii-giira :- grazing ground of mithuns or cows

· sulu-narung :- fences (in general)

· leyu-siigya :- ?

· si-sukung :- ‘si’ a place of spring water where mithun drink water; ‘sukung’ well of potable water. Thus, ‘si-sukung’ means source of drinking water

· moreh dalihn :- narrow strip of land across forest area where owner of the forest lay their traps to catch birds or animals

· anu-barmii :- younger sibblings or younger lots in a community

· ate-ata :- elders

· ahi-nyatu :- ?

· diinii-barnii :- all the wives of an extended family or a clan are known to be 'diinii-barnii'

· biiniin-nyanii :- ‘biiniin’ traditional friend; ‘nyanii’ maternal uncle side of grandparents

· baro-manyan :- friends from other community inheritedfrom parents or grand parents; friends from other community

Try to find English name for following flowers:

senyi apu, pudu apu, piita apu, takung apu, sembo apu and bagang rinyo

Try to find English name for following fruits:

diiran sankha, bachin arhi, sembo arhi and jojuru

Lyrics of Popular Apatani Song -1

2009-04-03T14:06:00.000-07:00

Dopu Doka Ajin

Dopu doka ajin ha

miige tatu ajin ha

ema koter mapa taku ma

manyan macho dola

wui hoter inpa taku ma

aha khiikhii dola

Dopu doka ajin ha

Ngiika apin diigo ho bui giiha bida niin

o tula ho hiiri liiha bida niin

tami une ho mihn diiha bida niin

hurli une ho tarne giiha bida niin

Dopu doka ajin ha

Niimi bilo ngiika riiyi-kiira pa hento

siilo pako da sarie-tamyo kumi no

ngiika sango lenda ka daru-yasi kumi no

hago lenda ka dorii-yamu kumi no

murtu-paku ho kuban nantii kubyo mi

sa-dango ho chilo nantii kubyo mi

Dopu doka ajin ha

Niimi siilo pako da karie-siimi pa hendo ku

niimi koda ngo durie-yalang pa hendo ku

myodi liipa ka diidii-taying pa hendo ku

yasi liipa ka tandii-yasi pa hendo ku

Dopu doka ajin ha

miige tatu ajin ha

ema koter mapa taku ma

manyan macho dola

wui hoter inpa taku ma

aha khiikhii dola

Dopu doka ajin ha

Singer: Gyati Anda

Lyricist: ?

(readers may kindly inform me the name of the lyricist)

WHAT TO SEE IN THIS LYRICS:

This song describe an unfaithful friend. Various metaphors are being used for the purpose of description. Dictionary meaning of metaphor is ‘A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison’. Some of the metaphors in the song are- dopu doka (dokha?) ajin, apin diigo hoka bui guha biniin, riiyi-kiira, daru-yasi, murtu-paku ho kuban niin, myodi liipa ka diidii-taying etc. Do you know their meaning? Can you find some more metaphors in the song? Some of these metaphors are derived from folklore, some from social practice in Apatani society and some from physical world. I just have brief idea about some of the metaphors. Let’s find out: do feel free to comment and join in discussion to elucidate their meanings.

Auxiliaries in Apatani (?)

2009-04-01T09:24:00.000-07:00

It is not clear if there is auxiliary verbs similar to that in English in Apatani. However, some words and marker elements are suggestive of doing function as auxiliary verbs. If at all they are actually auxiliary verbs, there may not be direct correlation with the one found in English as Apatani and English belong to two completely different language families.

I. da, do, du, dane, done, dune, ma, mane, nyima, nyima ne, etc. act similar to ‘be’ auxiliaries in English. In Apatani they also indicate position, posture, existence or state of the subject in question. For example-

da [is (stand)] Tapu insi da. [lit. Tapu there is (standing position).]

Tapu is (standing) there.

dane [was (stand)] Tapu inso ho dane. [lit. Tapu there was (standing position).]

Tapu was (standing) there.

du [is (sit)] Tapu insi du. [lit. Tapu there is (sitting position).]

Tapu is (sitting) there.

dune [was (sit)] Tapu inso ho dune. [lit. Tapu there was (sitting position).]

Tapu was (sitting) there.

do [is/are (lie/exist)] Bazar ho haman do. [lit. In the market vegetable is/are (exist)]

There are vegetables in the market.

done [was (lie/exist)] Bazar ho haman done. [lit. In the market vegetables was/were (exist)]

There were vegetables in the market.

ma [(is) no] Mo Tapu ma. [lit. He Tapu (is) no] He is not Tapu.

mane [(was) no] Ngiika aki kapa niin hii pulu mane. [lit. By me the dog seen white (was) no.] The dog seen by me was not white.

nyima [(is) not (exist)] School ho miyu kone heter nyima. [lit. In the school man one even (is) not (exist.)] There is no one in the school.

nyima ne [(was) not (exist)] School ho miyu kone heter nyima ne. [lit. In the school man one even (was) not exist.] There was no one in the school.

In following conditions ‘be’ auxiliaries are hidden or no ‘be’ auxiliaries are used:

· when subject is personal pronoun

eg, 1. Ngo student. [I student.] I am an student.

2. Ngo Tanii atu. [I Tanii child] I am a Tanii. OR I am an Apatani.

3. Ngunu arda Itanagar to’pa miidu. [We tomorrow Itanagar about to go (down) doing.] We are going to Itanagar tomorrow.

· while making comparison

eg, 1. No mo mi kaye yado. [You to him/her tall (is/are) more(degree)] You are taller than him/her.

2. Apa miilan rumi kaye jado. [Apa all of them tall (is/are) most(degree) ] Apa is tallest among them.

· in interrogative sentences

eg, 1. Lampung whu? [Lampung who?] Who is Lampung?

2. Si nii? [It what?] What is it?

3. No niimpa khe’du? [You why crying?] Why are you crying?

4. Si whu? [He/She who?] Who is he/she?

· in a sentence using present particples

eg, 1. Ngo yasan pa’du. [I firewood cutting.] I am cutting firewood.

2. Tallo lembo si in’do. [Tallo on road walking.] Tallo is walking on road.

II. sii, sii-do, sii-ne, sii-ma, sii-to, etc. act similar to ‘do’ auxiliary in English, e.g,

· Opo ngiinyi a’ba sii. [Opo two of us do come together.] Opo and I do come together.

· Tamo, Tatung nyi in’ba siine. [Tamo, Tatung two (of them) go together did.] Tamo and Tatung did go together. {compare: Tamo and Tatung went together.}

· Niinyi du’ba siito [two of you do sit together.] Both of you do sit together. OR Both of you sit together.

III. mii-do, mii-to, mii-ne, mii-du, mii-ma etc., appear like ‘do’ auxiliary but act similar to ‘be’ auxiliaries as above, e.g,

· Mo school in’pa miido. [He/She school about to go.] He is about to go to school

· Ngo school in’pa miidu. [I school about to go (do)] I am about to go to school.

· Ruja alyi ho ngo apin dii’pa miito. [Ruja when came I about to eat meal (did)] When Ruja came I was about to take meal.

IV. bii, bii-do, bii-lyi, bii-ne, sii-lyi, sii-pa, etc act similar to ‘has/have’ auxilliary in English, e.g,

· Ngo apin diibii-lyi. [I meal have eaten] I have taken (eaten) meal.

· Tara apin diija bii-do. [Tara meal/rice has finished(by eating)]] Tara has finished meal/rice.

· Mo ngiimi kii’bii-ne. [He/She me has punched.] He/She has punched me.

· Ngunu a’ba siilyi. [we come together have] We have come together.

V. kin-do, kendo, talyi, -chi, nen-ne-do, nen-kin-do, nen-kin-ma, nend-ma etc., seem to act similar to ‘shall/will/should/would’ auxiliaries e.g,

· Ngo lemba cha’chi. [I villge will go (up)] I will go (up) to village.

· Tamo agin ho Obing a’bo kendo. [with Tamo, Obing come along will] Obing will come along with Tamo.

· Ngo imi talyi. [I sleep will.] I will sleep.

· Kago mi yasan ta’ke nenne-do. [To Kago firewood entrust (asked) to split would.] Kago would be entrusted (asked) to split firewood. {ta’ke nen ‘allow or entrust to cut/split’ a’ke nen ‘allow to come’}

· Omo mi so a’ke nendma. [To Omo here allowed or asked to come wont.] Omo would not be allowed to come.

The Suffixes and Their Meanings - 1

2009-03-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

The suffixes (marker word elements or morphemes) used after noun, pronoun, verb, adverb or adjective are consistent with the meaning they denote. Some select suffixes are being taken up for their meanings and usages.

Some select suffixes:

ja: completion of something by an action as indicated by the verb e.g, lu'ja [complete something(what one has to say) by speaking], mii'ja [complete something by doing e.g work], dii'ja [complete eating something] etc.

Usage: Mo apin dii'ja biine. Or Mo, apin mi, dii'ja biine. [He/ She has finished the rice by eating.] Compare:- Mo apin dii'bii ne or Mo, apin mi, dii'bii ne. [He/ She has eaten the rice or meal.] Mo apin dii ne. [He/She ate meal or rice.]

khah: completion of something by an action as indicated by the verb such that nothing is left.

Usage: Aki, paku mi, dii'khah biine. [Dog completely removed the food stuck (leftover) on the plate (by eating).] Aki, paku daka apin mi, dii'khah pabii ne. [Dog has completely finished off the rice on the plate (by eating)]

laa: good at doing, capable, can e.g, hen'laa [ good at heart, sensible], mii'laa [capable to do or ability of doing], ka'laa [able to recognise] etc.

Usage: Mo ano hen'laa du. [He is a very kind hearted person.]. Tamo santu cha'laa kendo. [Tamo can climb tree.]

peh: completion of something that is being set to do as indicated by the verb

Usage: Mii'go mi, mii'peh pato. [Do the work to completion.] Putu cha'niin mi, pulyan cha'peh to. [Climb the mountain till the peak is reached.] In'peh pala, in'nge. [Go till the destination is reached.]

thii ( or tii): completion of something supposed to be completed by an action as indicated by the verb e.g, Ngo, sa (tea) mi, tan'thii lakin ma [I cannot finish the tea (by drinking)]

Similar sounding suffixes , as above, with different meaning:

jah (or za): tear off something due to the action indicated by the verb e.g, sar'jah [tear off something by hand (by tearing)], sii'jah [tear off something by scratching], pa'jah [tear off something by cutting] etc

Usage: Tapu ngiika tarii mi sar'jah biine. [Literally:- Tapu did tear off my shirt (by tearing with hand). Tapu has torn off my shirt (by tearing with hand). ]

jah is derived from the word pajah(adj.) [Having edges that are jagged from injury] e.g, tarii-pajah [torn shirt], nyachu-pajah [cleft lips] etc.

kha: wrong or misplaced action

Usage: Mo, ngiimi, tu'kha biine. [He miskicked me (He kicked but did not hit me)]; Ngo ngiiyi mi la'kha to. [I could not take hold of the fish]; Kano ngiika nam mi ke'kha biine. [Kano wrote my name wrongly. (literally:- Kano did write my name wrongly.)]

la: denote continuity of action e.g, mii'la do [doing], dii'la do [eating], a'la done [was coming etc. Kanya apin dii'la do. [Kanya is eating meal.]

pe: ask, seek as indicated by the verb e.g, bi'pe [give], kuh'to pe [ask for (me)], mii'bo pe [assist (me) to do)

Usage: (Ngiimi,) Niika pen mi, bi'lya pe. [Lend me your pen.]

tii: action done

Usage: No knii mii'tii? [What have you done?]

Conversation in Apatani - 1 (continued)

2009-02-28T06:29:00.000-08:00

Samples of day to day conversation:

Sample 16

A: Niika ala mila-niin bo whupe? [Who was that man you shook your hand?]

B: Niido? [When?]

A: Siiro, Gandhi Market ho. [This morning at Gandhi Market.]

B: Siiro, Gandhi Market …? [This morning at Gandhi Market…?]

A: Mope dukan arun ho. Mo monkey cap gii’ne [Near Mope’s shop. He was wearing monkey cap…]

B: Oh, mo Aku Tama nyan- ngunu ude biilyo ho dudu. [Oh, he is uncle Tama – our neighbour.]

Sample 17

A: Inka jiji coat gii’nii bosi Oman aba masu ha? [That man with blue coat is Oman’s father, isn’t he?]

B: IIn, hiila cho. [Yes, he is.]

A: Mo moka aba mi iche heter giima ke an? [She doesn’t resemble her father at all, does she?]

B: Mo aba mi gii’je ma. Mo anii mi nyan tiida bii’ling gii’do niin. [No, she doesn’t. She is exact replica of her mother.]

Sample 18

A: Inka atan si whuya pe Tama ka anii? [Who among them is Tama’s mother?]

B: Chair arun hoka da’nii bosi cho. [The one standing near the chair.]

A: Mo anyi iche heter gii’su make an? [They don’t resemble at all, do they?]

B: Gii’su do nyan. Ka’di la ka’ko ho nyachu, amie nyi kapu siido. [Yes, I think so. Their lips and eyes are similar if you watch them closely.]

Sample 19

A: Nanya niinyi ajin sii nyan an? [Are you and Nanya friends?]

B: IIn. [Yes, we are.]

A: Naku niika ajin ha? [Is Naku a friend of yours?]

B: Ma, ngiinyi ka’laa siiniin kontii sii. [No, not really - he is just an acquaintance.]

A: Naku, Nanya nyi ajin sii ha? [Are Naku and Nanya friends?]

B: IIn, mo anyi ajin siidu. [Yes, I think so.]

Sample 20

A: Inka anyi aba-oho sii ha? [Are they father and son?]

B: IIn, mo anyi aba-oho sii. [Yes, they are.]

A: No mo anyi mi ka’laa du ha? [Do you know them?]

B: Ka’laa ducho. Inka aba bosi ngiika atebo nyan- Aba ka anu. [Of course, I know them. The man is my uncle – Father’s younger brother.]

Sample 21

A: Mo anyi anii-oho siipe ha? [Are they mother and son?]

B: Chin’ma, hiila yu ah? [I’m afraid, I don’t know.]

A: Molu nunu ka colony ho dudu do hiila (ngo) hen’han kiile. [I thought they live in your colony.]

B: Chin’ma, ngo mo lumi ka’pa kaka ma. [I don’t know - I haven’t seen them before.]

Sample 22

A: Mo Tanii miyu ha? [Is he an Apatani?]

B: Hiila pe hen’do. [I think so.]

A: Mo siika colony ho du’du ha? [Does he live here in this colony?]

B: So du’dii ma. [I don’t think so.]

Sample 23

A: Mo anyi mihi-milo siipe ha? [Are they a couple?]

B: Hiila nama hen’pa do. [I don’t think so.]

A: Molu siika colony ho du’du ha? [Do they live here in this colony?]

B: IIn, inka lanchan malo gii’nii bo ude ho nyan du’du nii. [Yes, they live in that house – the roof painted red.]

Sample 24

A: Si niina, nii arhi pe? [What is this, fruit or something?]

B: Siika arhi mi bachin hiila lu’du. Si more ho arhi du. la’do la dii’ka totii ka. [Yes, it is a fruit. We call it Bachin. It’s found in wild. Take some and help yourself.]

A: Dii’pyo doka ah. [Taste good.]

B: Iche bii’nge tiika. Si polytene bag ke. [Take some home. Here – this is polythene bag.]

Sample 25

A: Si jih-kiini pa hiila - no niina dii’du nii? [What are you eating? What’s this black thing?]

B: Tapyo cho. No chin’ma tapo? Hen simi dii’ka to. [It’s Tapyo. Don’t you know? Take this – have a bite.]

A: Si hajmola hiilyan dota ka ah. [It tastes something like Hajmola.]

B: Hiila do nyan. [It is.]

Sample 26

A: Dii’piyo- tan’so nan ela, hang dii’go-tan’go nyima sii ha? [I feel like eating something- do you got something to eat?]

B: Biscuit hoi kendo ha? [Will biscuit do?]

A: Nii jalo hoi kendo ke. [Anything will do.]

B: Ke, du’mo lyato. Ngo ngo sah miito so. [Well sit and make yourself comfortable. I’ll make some tea.]

Sample 27

A: Uro kiilin haya doku taka ah. Hang dii’sii nyima sii ha? [Do you have something to eat? I’m famished.]

B: Apin dii’sa kan. Dining table si jo’to doke. So du’wa to. [Let’s have meal. It’s ready in the dining table. Come sit here.]

A: Siisi loye pa apin diima ranpo? [Why, you haven’t lunched yet?]

B: Ma. Ngo cricket ka’puh siila du’to. [No, I was watching cricket.]

A: Whu jiti biine? [Who won?]

B: India. Khela ka’ji neke! [India. It was an exciting stuff!]

Sample 28

A: Noh in’pa? [Where are you going?]

B: Enepa in’piyo-in’so pasu, no in’te ma ha? [Just going out for a stroll, won’t you join?]

A: Ma, ngo miyu ako kalya la do. [No, I’m waiting for someone.]

B: Ke hoko da. [See you, then.]

A: ke. [See you.]

Conversation in Apatani - 1

2009-01-30T10:32:00.000-08:00

Samples of day to day conversation:

Sample 1

Tapu : Niika armyan knii hiila pe?[What is your name?]

Kano : Ngiika armyan hii Kano. Niikii no? [My name is Kano. Yours?]

Tapu : Ngo Tapu. No, VKV ho masii ha, puri du’nii? [I’m Tapu. Do you study in V.K.V?]

Kano : IIn, hiila cho. No niitan pa chin’du? [Yes, I do. How do you know?]

Tapu :Lonyi lohin kapyo pa, ngo niimi, Taka agin ho, ka’pa to. No uniform gii’to la, dane. [I saw you with Taka some days back. You were on uniform.]

Kano : Oh. Ngiinyi classmate sii nyan. No Taka mi ka’chin du, ha? [Oh. We are classmates. You know Taka?]

Tapu : Mo, ngiika atebo ako ka oho. [He is my cousin.(son of one of my paternal uncle)]

Sample 2

Tapu : Hi, ngo Tapu. [Hi, I’m Tapu.]

Kano : Hi, ngo Kano. [Hi, I’m Kano.

Tapu : Niih school hokii? [From which school?]

Kano : Government secondary school.

Tapu : Tajang, ha? [Tajang?]

Kano : Ma, Hapoli. No no? [No, Hapoli. What about you?]

Tapu : Ngo Frontier school hokii.

Kano : Seminar 10 baji hokii sii mii’kin donii. Kiije arun-are ako da du’mo sa. [Seminar starts on 10. Let’s go and sit somewhere.]

Tapu : Inka restaurant ho a’la sah hejalo tankin mabyo ha? [What about going over to that restaurant and have tea or something?]

Kano : Hii la, mii je sa. kiije.[That’s fine. Let’s go.]

Sample 3

A: Hello, no seminar pa ha, a’du nii? [Hello, you come to attend the seminar?]

B: IIn.[Yes.]

A: Ngo tere hiila a’du. Arun-are so restaurant nyima sii ha? Du’mo la sah heja lo, tan’sa kan. [Me too. Is there any restaurant around? What about going over there and have tea or something?]

B: Inka arun so, ako do. Kiije a’sa. [There is one at that corner. Let’s go.]

Sample 4

A: Hello. Gandhi market noh hope donii? [Hello. Could you tell me where the Gandhi Market is?]

B: Inka lanchan car mi, ka’pa do nyan an? [Do you see that red car?]

A: IIn. [Yes.]

B: Hii market a’gya si domo tola do. [It’s parked just in front of the entrance of the market. ]

A: Paya pacho lu’ko biilyi nii. [Thank you for telling me.]

Sample 5

A: Talya tola. Post office noh hope do’nii ka’laa masu pe ha? [Excuse me. Do you know where the post office is?]

B: Lembo ho parda a’nge- inka lembo pading siiko ho, lachi dalyi bo’nge- lembo ka labi dalyi ho sign board ka’pa todii ke. [Go straight – turn left at the crossing – you will see the signboard in the right side of the road.]

A: Aro pacho. [Thank you.]

Sample 6

A: Talya tola. Old Ziro cha’do koda niitan pape cha’kin donii? [Excuse me. Can you tell me how I can get to Old Ziro?]

B: No bus jalo tempo la’tu lakin do. Hiika atan inka arun so domo du. [You can catch bus or tempo. They stop right over here.]

A: Ngo taxi pai lakin dope ha? [Can I get taxi?]

B: IIn. Hii pa no taxi stand bo’do lyikin do. [Yes. For that, you have to go to taxi stand.]

A: Sokii la ado dope ha? [Is it too far from here?]

B: Ma. Hiimkane ado make. Inka labi dalyi lembo byanyo bosi Para lembo- hopa sida bo’nge, boter ja ho taxi stand mi ka’pa kendo ke. [No. you’ll get there in few minutes. Just over there, from the right side of this road, you’ll find a narrow road, that is Para road – go straight across and you’ll find the taxi stand.]

A: Paya aro pacho. [Thank you.]

Sample 7

A: Excuse me. Old Ziro, sokii la, ano ado dope ha? [Excuse me. Is Old Ziro too far from here?]

B: So kii la 7 KM masa do. [It’s about 7 KM.]

A: Niitan pape cha’kin donii lu’ko laakin dope ha? [Could you tell me how I can get there?]

B: No bus jalo tempo la’tu laakin do. Hiika atan inso domo du- inka dukan ka hata ho- porda tonto dako dukan hata ho. [You can catch bus or tempo. They stop there – just in front of that shop – the one with curtain drawn.

A: Paya aro pacho. [Thank you.]

Sample 8

A: Talya tola. Bus niida har’ne yu ah? [Excuse me. When does the bus leave?]

B: 10:30 ho har’ne do hendo. [I think it leaves at half past ten.]

A: Old Ziro sokii la niimkane na ado donii? [How far is Old Ziro from here?

B: 7 KM masa do. No so a’tu papo a’du nii? About 7 KM. Are you new to this place?

A: IIn. Ngo Itanagar ho du’du. Ziro cha’tu pa cha’du. [Yes. I live in Itanagar- I come here for the first time.]

B: Oh. No Tanii atu sii nyan ah? [Oh. You are an Apatani, if I am not wrong?]

A: IIn, ngo Tanii atu siicho, hojalo, Ziro ronge tere cha’ka ma. [Yes I’m an Apatani, still, I haven’t come and see Ziro, even once earlier.]

Sample 9

A: Excuse me. Bus niida har’ne yu ah? [Excuse me. When does the bus leave?]

B: 9:30 ho har’ne do hendo. [I think it leaves at 9:30.]

A: Abulya niimkane ado do? [How far is Abulya?]

B: 3 KM masa do. [It’s about 3 KM.]

A: Bus bara nehena, ladu nii? [What’s the bus fare?]

B: Bus bara barngo he ladu- Old Ziro cha’su dojalo ayin pasu, lasu dunii. [Bus fare is five rupees- it’s the same even when you go to Old Ziro]

Sample 10

Akha : Tam ba’ri totii ka. [Wake up Tam.]

Tam : Nehe baji do. [What’s the time now?]

Akha : 5:30.

Tam : Nyibya haja doke. Ngiimi imi kiine to. [It’s too early. Let me sleep.]

Akha : Tam oha ba’ri totii ka. No ngiika agin ho bus station ho abo kendo ke.[Come on Tam - wake up. You are coming with me to bus station.]

Tam : Knii, mih in’kin neku po? [Somone leaving or what?]

Akha : Hen’der siidu ha, ngo cho in’kin donii. Ngiika dukhu-pajo mi jo’lii monpii kan. [I’m leaving, fathead! You got to help me carry my luggage and all.]

Tam : No diyobar alo hosu masu ha enna in’kin nennii. Siilo Diyobar ha enna? [But you were leaving on Sunday. Is it Sunday already?]

Akha : Siilo ma niinan! Tam nyibya patii ka- ngiimi bus harnu biilyi ke. [Of course it is! Hurry up Tam – I’m getting late for bus.]

Sample 11

Nanya : Ata, guri tama po? 5:30 doku ka ah. [Ata, won’t you wake up? It’s 5:30 already.]

Yaka : Ho nii hiila? Ngiimi imi kiine to. [So what? Let me sleep.]

Nanya : No aha-ahii biidu po? [Have you forgotten?]

Yaka : Knii mi aha ahii biidu po hiila? [Forgotten what?]

Nanya : No lemba cha’te ma ha- Aku Kano ka, Ayo mi ka, lulii niimi, lu’ko du’pa? [Aren’t going to village to tell Aku Kano’s message to Ayo.]

Yaka : Oh, hiila kendo cho. No ngiika agin ho, cha’bo laakin do ha? [Oh, yes. I have to. Will you come with me?]

Nanya : Hiila san. [OK]

Sample 12

A: Inka milobo si whuna? [Who is that boy?]

B: Niih bo? [Which one?]

A: Tarsi hoka te’da tola danii bo. [The one leaning on the wall.]

B: Mo Tapu ka anu. Ngo armyan mi aha-ahii biido. [He is Tapu’s brother. I forgot his name.]

Sample 13

A: No inka car hoka, du’nii bo miyu mi, ka’laa du ha? [Do you know that man in the car?]

B: IIn. Mo Obing ka aba. [Yes. He is Obing’s father.]

A: Radhe Obing ka ha? [Radhe Obing’s?]

B: IIn. [Yes.]

A: Hopa lo. Ngo niitan payu ngiimi ka’laa donii hen’han kiile. Mo, ngiimi, ngiika lemba hokii ka to’lyi ku ho, gari pa ba’gii ku. Mo, ngii mi, noh ho da’du, knii mii du, hii la ta’ka ne. Momi, ka’pa tonii hiilyan-hiilyan hensu to, whu ya pe hiila hen’der kuma to. [That’s why. I wondered how he knew me so well. He gave me lift yesterday when I was returning from village. He asked me where I’m now, what I’m doing and all. I thought I’ve seen him somewhere but could not make out who he is.]

B: Mo, Obing hiilyan, lu’ju-lu’myo aya do, ano so’la-ngar’la duta. [He is a nice fellow – polite and humorous – just like Obing.]

A: Obing noh hona da’du kunii? Mo mika ka’pa kuma nii ano adoh duku. Kami japa ka’pa kuniin hii ngo hen do nii nyango duku do. Mo siisi knii mii’du ku? [By the way, where is Obing? I haven’t seen him for ages now. The last time we met was – I think – five years back. What is he doing now?]

B: Mo siisi Shillong ho law puri la da. [He is now in Shillong, studying law.]

Sample 14

A: Inka pulu tarii gii’nii bo nyimii mi ka’laa du ha? [Do you know that girl with white shirt?]

B: Ma, ngo ka’chin ma. Niimpa? [No, I don’t. Why?]

A: hiila sii. Ngo momi ka’pa tonii hiilyan do. [Simply. I think I saw her somewhere.]

Sample 15

A: Inka cycle har’nii bo milobo si whu na? [Who is that boy – riding a bicycle?]

B: No ka’chin mapo? Mo Tubin nyan. [Don’t you recognise him? He is Tubin.]

A: Tubin hiin? Ngo ta’je maka ah. Mopa iche heter ka’ma. Momi sensii riika pa hiila si ngo biinyan vacation ho ka’pa siito nii. [He is Tubin? I don’t believe. He doesn’t look like him. He was lean and thin when I saw him the last vacation.]

Connectors

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Some words which function as connectors to join words, clauses or sentences are listed below:

1. la [and]

e.g, (a) Ram, Laxman la Bharat, miilanru so a’ne. [Ram, Laxman and Bharat, all of them, came here.]

(b) Pen soye la pencil soye, dukan hokii rii’bii. [Buy a pen and a pencil from shop.]

2. nyi [and (used for two people)]

e.g, (a) Ram, Laxman nyi ngiika ajin. [Ram and Laxman are my friends.]

(b) Akku, Yami nyi, Itanagar hokii cha’do. [Akku and Yami have come from Itanagar.]

3. -ke le [as]

e.g, (a) Ngo ka’bo biike le, Tapu a’la done. Or, Ngo ka’bo biike le, Tapu mi, a’la dopa kapa to. [As I looked across, I saw Tapu coming.]

(b) Ngo, yasan ta’ke le ala ta’bya siito. [I hurt my hand (palm) as I splitted the firewood.]

4. -lyi ho [while]

e.g, (a) Aba, apin dii’lyi ho lu’rii siiyo hiidu. [Father tells us not to talk while taking meal.]

(b) Putu cha’lyi ho, pulyang cha’pe kendo. [While climbing mountain one shall move till the peak is reached. Or(literally), While climbing mountain one shall reach the peak.]

5. lala/ hela [after]

e.g, (a) Mo apin dii’la lala imi neku. [He/She slept after eating meal.]

(b) Ngo, so, apin dii’te hela ato. [I came here after I had my meal.]

6. hopa [so]

e.g, Ngo, siilo, doctor mi kapa kendo hopa school a’laa kenma. [ I shall see doctor today, so, I shall not be able to come to school.]

7. hiika hopa [therefore]

e.g, Ngo, biilyo, doli achi’la doto hiika hopa school a’ma to. [Yesterday I was suffering from sickness, therefore, I did not come to school.]

8. (-do/du/da) ranpa or doran pa[when something is still in process]

e.g, (a) Ngo a’la doran pa, bus har’nu biine. [Bus went off when I was still coming.]

(b) Tatung ke’do ranpa, teacher paper mi ro’bii neku. [Teacher snatched away Tatung’s paper when he was still writing.]

9. maran pa / -ma ranpa [before something is being done]

e.g, Ngo, station ho a’chi maran pa, bus har’ri dane. [Bus started off before I reached the station.]

10. jalo [even if]

e.g, Aba ga’da biilyi jalo, ngo, cinema ka’te talyi. [Even if Father scold me, I will go to see movie.]

jalo [either]

e.g, Pen jalo pencil, ako-ako mi, la’bii he. [Take either pen or pencil.]

11. -ja lopa/ jalo pa [even after]

e.g, Diiro miima siija lopa, ngiika une hen’pyo yama. [My wound is not healing even after applying medicine.]

12. hojalo [still]

e.g, No reng siidu do, hojalo, ngiimi bazar lin’kun pe. [You must be feeling tired, still, please accompany me to the market.]

13. hoja lopa [still then]

e.g, Richo ngiimi school nyima ke hiila lu’ne, hoja lopa, ngo a’ka talyi. [Richo told me that the school is closed today, still then, I will go and see.]

INTERROGATIVE WORDS

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Followings are the principle interrogative words in Apatani:

*Apatani*	*English*
whu	who
knii (or nii)	what
niida	when (future)
niido	when (past)
niih	which
noh	where
niitan	how (manner, feeling)
nehe	how (number)
niimkane	how (size, amount, quantity)
niimpa	why e.g, Mo niimpa a’ma ne? [Why did not he come?]
-no	what about {based on the noun or pronoun that precede e.g., No-no? [What about you?] ; Mo-no? [What about him] or Insi-no? [What about that?]}
ha	is/ do/ have/ will/ can etc., based on the noun or the pronoun or the modifier word that precede. eg, Mo ha? [Is it him?]; No mii’chi ha? [Will you do?]; No ngiimi ka’chin du ha? [Do you know (recognize) me?] etc.
-ko dano	what if e.g, Ngo a’ko dano? [What if I come?]

Derived Interrogative Words:

When the principle interrogative words are followed by some markers or words , their meanings get modified and the derived forms of interrogative words are formed, details of which are given below:

Apatani	English equivalent
whu	who eg, Insi whu a’do?[Who is coming there?]
whuyu	who (enquiry about someone) e.g, Whuyu momi mii’ne nii?[Who(is the one who) beat him?]
whumi	to who or whom e.g, Siika tarii mi whumi bi’kin do? [To who shall this shirt be given?
whupa	for who / whom eg, Siika tarii si whupa? [This shirt is for whom?]
whuka	whose (interro. pron.) e.g, Si whuka tarii? [Whose shirt is this?]
whukii	whose (interro. adj.) e.g, Siika tarii si whukii? [Whose is this (shirt)?]
whuka agin	with who e.g No whuka agin ho du’chi? [With who shall you sit / stay?]
whuko	at whose (place) e.g, No whuko ho du’te he? [At whose place did you stay?]
whupe	who’s (the particular someone)e.g, Inka hime si whupe? [Who’s that child?]
whuna	who’s that or who’s there. Insi whuna? [Who’s that?] or Insi whuna khe’do nii? [Who’s crying there?]
whutii	who among (you, they or them) e.g, Nunu whutii a’ba sii? [Who among you did come together?]
whuya pe	who (he, she, you or they) is/are e.g, No whuya pe? [Who are you?(polite way of asking someone of their identity)]
knii ( or nii)	what e.g, No knii mii’du? [What are you doing?]
knii yu	what (enquiry about something) e.g, Insi kniiyu mii’do nii? [What’s happening there?]
knii mi	(to) what e.g, No knii subject mi B.A ho la’to? [What subjects did you take for B.A?]
knii pa/ knii payu	(for) what e.g, Inka ude atan si knii mii’ko payu? [What are those houses for?]
knii ka	(of) what (kind) e.g, Hii knii ka o? [What (kind of) wine is that?]
knii kii	of what e.g, Hiika o hii knii kii? [What is that wine (made) of?]
knii na	What’s (the something that happen) e.g, Niika ala mi knii na mii’bii nenii? [What has happened to your hand?] or Knii na? [What’s the matter?]
knii pe	what’s (the something) e.g, Insi knii pe gu’do nii? [What’s crawling there?]
niih	which e.g, Niih hii niika tarii? [Which is your shirt?]
niih bo	which one e.g, Niih bo hii niika tarii? [Which one is your shirt?]
niih boyu	which one (enquiry) e.g, Niih boyu moka lu’myo niinhii? [Which one is the one reserved by him?]
niih mi	(to) which e.g, No niih mi kaji do? [(to)Which do you like?]
niih pa	(for) which e.g, Niih photo pa no frame me’du? [You are looking frame for which photo?]
niih ka	(of) which e.g, Si niih tarii ka lako? [This button is of which shirt?]
niih kii	(of) which e.g, Siika lako si niih tarii kii? [Which shirt’s button is this?]
niih ho	in/ on/ at which e.g, Niih ude ho no Tallo mi kapa to? [In which house did you saw Tallo?]
niih hokii	from which (place) e.g, Niih dukan hokii no papu rii’bii? [From which shop did you buy egg?]
niih hoka	of which (place) e.g, Siika apu si niih sanii hoka gii’nii? [This flower is of which plant?]
niih hopa	for which e.g, Siika blackboard si niih class hopa? [This blackboard is for which class?]
noh	where e.g, No noh in pa? [Where are you going?]
noh yu	where (enquiry) e.g, Mo noh yu in’ne nii? [Where did he go?]
noh ho	(to) where place) e.g, Noh ho in’pa? [Where are you going?]
noh hoka	(of) where e.g, Inka miyu si noh hoka du’nii na? [Where do that man stays?]
noh hokii	(from) where e.g, Mo noh hokii a’do? [Where is he coming from?]
noh hopa	from where (direction); for where (place) e.g No noh hopa a’du? [From where are you coming?] or Inka abya si noh hopa yu ba’lii giido nii? [That ladder is brought for where?]
noh na	where (place of happening) e.g, Noh na aki pi’do nii? [Where’s the dog barking?]
niida -kin do/ nii dakin do	when will e.g, Molu niida a’kin do? [When will they come?]
niida pa	when one is going to do or for when one is keeping something e.g, Talu homework mi niida mii’pa yu? [When is Talu going to do homework?] or Mo nii dapa yu homework mi atii biido nii? [For when is he keeping his homework?]
niido	when (past) e.g, Mo niido a’ne? [When did he come?]
nii dokii	since when e.g, Mo nii dokii Ziro ho du’du? [Since when she lives in Ziro?]
niitan	how (feeling) e.g, No siisi niitan do? [How are you (feeling) now?]
niitan pa	how (manner) e.g, No so niitan pa a? [How did you come here?]
nehe	how (numbers) e.g, Niikii pen sone he do? [How many pen do you have?]
niimkane	how (size/quantity) e.g, Siitii hii niimkane kaye ne? [How large was the elephant?]

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Words for ‘here’ and ‘there’ in Apatani

here	there
[near the speaker]	[away from both the speaker and addressee]	[away from the speaker but near the addressee]	[far away from both the speaker and the addressee]
I. so / siika so	inso / inka so	ho / hiika ho	into so / into ho
II*. si / siika si	insi / inka si	hii / hiika hii	into si

Case I: so, sika so, inso, inka so, ho, hiika ho and into so / into ho tell where an action happened or about to happen e.g,

1. Command: So a’to. [Come here.]

2. Past event: Inso Ato ka ude hii done. [The house of Grand father was located there (don’t exist now)]; Hiika ho ngo ngiika cell phone mi ba’pah siito. [I lost my cell phone there (over there by your side).]

3. Future event: Into so arda ngunu bo’sa. [Let’s go there tomorrow.]

Case II: si, siika si, insi, inka si, hii, hiika hii and intosi tell where someone or something is in state of doing something (at time of speaking or writing) e.g,

1. Kano insi da. [Kano is standing there.]

2. Lopa hii hiika hii do. [The stick is lying there.]

3. Aki hii into si du. [The dog is sitting there.]

4. Yam insi a’la do. [Yam is coming there.]

5. Into si piita ako go’do. [A bird is flying there.]

*[si, siika si, insi, inka si, hii, hiika hii and intosi are also used as demonstrative pronouns depending on their usages (see Demonstrative Words)]

Note.

1. si, siika si, insi, inka si, hii, hiika hii and intosi are always used with present participle.

2. The verbs da, do and du (as in examples 1 to 3 above) are special case of present participles (do not require markers to form one as in a’la do).

3. Lopa hii literally means ‘stick in question’; thus, hii when followed a noun (when not used as hiika lopa hii) behaves as definite article ‘the’ in English (yet to be verified if it applies in all condition).

DEMONSTRATIVE WORDS

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	Demonstrative words
	Case I	Case II	Case III	Case IV
Demon-strative pronoun	si (this) Si ngiika ude [This is my house.] siika si (this) Siika si ngiika ude. [This is my house.]	insi (that) Insi ngiika ude. [That is my house.] inka insi (that) Inka insi ngiika ude.[That is my house]	hii (that) Hii ngiika ude. [That is my house.] hiika hii (that) Hiika hii ngiika ude. [That is my house.]	intosi (that) Into si ngiika ude. [That is my house.] intodakii si Into dakii si ngiika ude. [That is my house.]
Demon-strative adjective	siika (this) 1. Siika ude si ngiikii. [This house is mine] 2. Siika ball mi ngiimi la’to pe. [Take this ball for me.]	inka (that) 1. Inka ude si ngiikii. [That house is mine] 2. Inka ball mi ngiimi la’to pe. [Take that ball for me.]	hiika (that) 1. Hiika ude hii ngiikii. [That house is mine] 2. Hiika ball mi ngiimi la’to pe. [Take that ball for me.]	intodaka (that) 1. Into daka ude hii ngiikii. [That house is mine] 2. Into daka ball mi ngiimi la’to pe. [Take that ball for me.]

Case I. The thing spoken about is close to both the speaker and the addressee.

{eg, Siika ude… [This house(the one near us)] }

Case II. The thing spoken about is at some distance from both the speaker and the addressee. {eg, insi… [that (the one over there at some distance from us)] }

Case III. The thing spoken about is close to the addressee but at some distance from the speaker. {eg, hii …[that (the one over there by your side)] }

Case IV. The thing spoken about is at far away from both the speaker and the addressee. {into si…[that (the one there at far horizon]}

Note: Siika si, inka si, hiika hii and into dakii si are preferred to their counterparts si, insi, hii and intosi when one tries to be more specific.

Plural forms of demonstrative (pronouns) words:

*Singula*r	*Plural*
si, siika si	siika anyi si [these(for two)]/ siika atan si [these(for many)]
insi, inka insi	inka anyi si [those(for two)]/ inka atan si [those(for many)]
hii, hiika hii	hiika anyi hii [those(for two)]/ hiika atan hii [those(for many)]
into si, into dakii si	into daka anyi si [those(for two)]/ into daka atan si [those(for many)]