Hapoli Daka Alyie Atan

[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 inppyokiineto hiila ketogiine.)

Kahii-kakhe biihankiile, alyie anii dore la alyie atu dorhinhe, lembo ho yanu-yanu gubowla 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 miitela dopa 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.”

Auxiliaries in Apatani (?)

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

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?]

Samples of Conversation in Apatani

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

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 aane. [Ram, Laxman and Bharat, all of them, came here.]

(b) Pen soye la pencil soye, dukan hokii riibii. [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 chado. [Akku and Yami have come from Itanagar.]

(c) Akku, Yami nyi, anyuru Ziro chane. [Both Akku and Yami went to Ziro.]

3. -ke le [as]

e.g, (a) Ngo kabow biikele, Tapu aala done. Or, Ngo kabow biikele, Tapu mi, aala dopa kapato. [As I looked across, I saw Tapu coming.]

(b) Ngo, yasan takele ala tabya siito. [I hurt my hand (palm) as I splitted the firewood.]

(c) Tatung aada kiile, bomb boodane. [Just as Tatung came, the bomb explode.]

4. -lyi ho [while]

e.g, (a) Aba, apin diilyi ho lurii siiyo hiidu. [Father tells us not to talk while taking meal.]

(b) Putu chalyi ho, pulyang chape 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 diila lala imineku. [He/She slept after eating meal.]

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

6. hopa [so]

e.g, Ngo, siilo, doctor mi kapa kendo hopa school aalaa 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 achila doto hiika hopa school aama 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 aala doran pa, bus harnu biine. [Bus went off when I was still coming.]

(b) Tatung kedo ranpa, teacher paper mi robiineku. [Teacher snatched away Tatung’s paper when he was still writing.]

(c) Mo, tarii aya doran pa, ripaa biine. [He/She throw away his/her shirt when it was still in good condition.]

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

e.g, Ngo, station ho aachi maran pa, bus harri dane. [Bus started off before I reached the station.]

10. jalo [even if]

e.g, Aba gada biilyi jalo, ngo, cinema kate talyi. [Even if Father scold me, I will go to see movie.]

jalo [either]

e.g, Pen jalo pencil, ako-ako mi, labiihe. [Take either pen or pencil.]

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

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

12. hojalo [still]

e.g, No reng siidu do, hojalo, ngiimi bazar linkun 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 lune, hoja lopa, ngo aka talyi. [Richo told me that the school is closed today, still then, I will go and see.]

INTERROGATIVE WORDS

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?]