| Dagur | |
| Nativename: | Даор Усуву Daor Usuwu (Hailar) Dagur Kel (Qiqihar) |
| States: | China, Mongolia |
| Region: | China |
| Speakers: | China 91,000 |
| Date: | 1999 |
| Ref: | e18 |
| Familycolor: | Altaic |
| Fam1: | Serbi–Mongolic? |
| Fam2: | Mongolic |
| Script: | Latin script, Mongol script (Historically) and Cyrillic script[1] |
| Iso3: | dta |
| Glotto: | daur1238 |
| Glottorefname: | Dagur |
| Notice: | IPA |
| Ethnicity: | Daur |
| Pronunciation: | pronounced as /[daɔr usuɣu]/ |
| Also Known As: | Daghur, Dahur, Daur |
| Lc4: | dta zby |
The Dagur, Daghur, Dahur, or Daur language, is a Mongolic language, as well as a distinct branch of the Mongolic language family,[2] and is primarily spoken by members of the Daur ethnic group.
There is no written standard in use, although a Pinyin-based orthography has been devised; instead the Dagur make use of Mongolian or Chinese, as most speakers know these languages as well.[3] During the time of the Qing dynasty, Dagur was written with the Manchu alphabet.[4]
Dagur is a Mongolic language consisting of five dialects:[5]
Dagur phonology is peculiar in that some of its dialects have developed a set of labialized consonants (e.g. pronounced as //sʷar// 'flea' vs. pronounced as //sar// 'moon'),[7] while it shares palatalized consonants[8] with most Mongolian dialects that have not been developed in the other Mongolic languages. It also has pronounced as //f//, which is, however, limited to loan words.[9] Word-final short vowels were lost[10] and historically short vowels in non-initial syllables have lost phoneme status.[11] Dagur is the only Mongolic language to share this development with Mongolian (i.e. Mongolian proper, Oirat, Buryat). Due to the merger of pronounced as //ɔ// and pronounced as //ʊ// with pronounced as //o// and pronounced as //u//, vowel harmony was lost.[12] According to Tsumagari (2003), vowel harmony is still a productive synchronic phonotactic aspect of Dagur in which initial syllable long vowels are divided into "masculine" (back), "feminine" (front), and neutral groups. Likewise, suffixal long vowels must agree in harmonic group with the root.
| Front | Central | Back | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| short | long | short | long | short | long | ||
| Close | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | |||
| Mid | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | |
| Open | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | |||||
| Labial | Alveolar | Postalveolar | Velar | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stop/ Affricate | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | ||||
| pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | |||||
| Fricative | f | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | ||||||
| Nasal | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | |||||||
| Trill | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | |||||||||||
| Lateral | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | |||||||||||
| Semivowel | pronounced as /ink/ | pronounced as /ink/ | |||||||||||
| Contextual forms | Transliteration | International Phonetic Alphabet | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial | Medial | Final | Latin | Cyrillic | |||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| — | pronounced as /link/ | ||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| — | pronounced as /link/ | ||||||
| — | pronounced as /link/ | ||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| | pronounced as /link/ | ||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
| pronounced as /link/ | |||||||
Dagur has a pronominal system that distinguishes between first person plural inclusive pronounced as //bed// and exclusive pronounced as //baː// and, even more archaic, it distinguishes between third person singular pronounced as //iːn// and plural pronounced as //aːn//.[13] While the phoneme pronounced as //t͡ʃ// (< pronounced as /
Dagur has a fairly simple tense-aspect system consisting of the nonpast markers -pronounced as //bəi// and (marginally) -pronounced as //n// and the past forms -pronounced as //sən// and (marginally) pronounced as //la// and the non-finite imperfective marker -pronounced as //d͡ʒa//-. These may be inflected for person. The attributive particle forms are limited to –pronounced as //ɡʷ// (< Written Mongolian -γ-a) for imperfective aspect and future tense, -sən (< -γsan) for perfective aspect, -pronounced as //ɡat͡ʃ// (< -gči) for habituality (instead of -daγ which used to fulfil this function) and -pronounced as //mar// for potential and probable actions. It has acquired a highly complex converbal system containing several innovations. Notably, -mar which is a participle in Mongolian serves as a converb as well.[17]
| Genitive | -ei | Added to words ending in a consonant (except j, q, x) | битегейbiteg + ei → bitegei | of the book |
| хелегейheleg + ei → helegei | ||||
| адусейadus + ei → adusei | ||||
| аолэйaol + ei → aolei | of the mountain | |||
| -ii | Added to words ending in j, q, x | кайчийkaiq + ii → kaiqii | of shears | |
| оржийorj + ii → orjii | ||||
| тульшийtulx + ii → tulxii | ||||
| -i | Added to words ending in a short vowel | морийmori + i → morii | of the horse | |
| новуйnowu + i → nowui | of the dog | |||
| дангайdanga + i → dangai | of smoke | |||
| -yi | Appended to words ending in long vowels and diphthongs | акааийakaa + yi → akaayi | older brother's | |
| касооийkasoo + yi → kasooyi | of iron | |||
| даоийdao + yi → daoyi | of the song | |||
| Accusative | Same as genitive case | |||
| Locative | -d | Added to the stem (if ending in a consonant d, t, k, s, j, q, x add an appropriate vowel before -d) | ширээдxiree + d → xireed | on the desk |
| хорвудhorwu + d → horwud | in/on the cabinet | |||
| тосодtos + d → tosod | in the oil | |||
| Sociative | -aar, -eer, -oor | Added to words ending in consonants (except j, q, x) according to vowel harmony | сарпаарsarp + aar → sarpaar | using chopsticks |
| лэкээрlek + eer → lekeer | ||||
| топоорtopoor + oor → topooroor | using an axe | |||
| -ier | Added to words ending in j, q, x | онкиэрonq + ier → onqier | using a knife | |
| оржиэрorj + ier → orjier | ||||
| -ar, -er, -or | Added according to vowel harmony to words ending in short vowels | дангаарdanga + ar → dangaar | using smoke | |
| галиэрgali + er → galier | using fire | |||
| мориэрmori + er → morier | using a horse | |||
| новуорnowu + or → nowuor | using a dog | |||
| -yaar, -yeer | Added according to vowel harmony to words ending in long vowels and diphthongs | чолоояарqoloo + yaar → qolooyaar | using a stone | |
| касоояарkasoo + yaar → kasooyaar | using iron | |||
| Ablative | Same as sociative case | The ablative form is sometimes -aas, -ees, -oos, -ies, -as, -es, -os, -yaas, -yees. | ||
| Comitative | -tii | Added to the word stem | акаатийakaa + tii → akaatii | together with older brother |
| эвээтийewee + tii → eweetii | together with mom | |||
| Terminative | -qaar, -qeer | Added to the word stem according to vowel harmony | соочаарsoo + qaar → sooqaar | up to the armpits |
| сакчаарsak + qaar → sakqaar | up to the ankles | |||
| 1st | Singular | mini | жакминиjakmini | my stuff/thing |
| хорооминиhoroomini | my finger | |||
| Plural (exclusive) | -maani | себмааниsebmaani | our teacher | |
| Plural (inclusive) | -naani | себнааниsebnaani | our teacher | |
| 2nd | Singular | -xini | васкалшиниwaskalxini | your clothing |
| Plural | -taani | гэритааниgeritaani | your home | |
| 3rd | Singular | -ini | агини agini | his brother |
| -yini | экээйиниekeeyini | his sister | ||
| Plural | -inaani | этэвуйнааниeteewuinaani | their grandmother | |
| -yinaani | ачайинааниaqaayinaani | their father |
| 1st | Singular | -яа-yaa | -гаан, -гээн-gaan, -geen | |
| -гаамини-gaamini | ||||
| -гэмини-geemini | ||||
| Plural (exclusive) | -гаамани-gaamaani | |||
| -гээмани-geemaani | ||||
| Plural (inclusive) | -гааннаани-gaannaani | |||
| -гээннаани-geennaani | ||||
| 2nd | Singular | -гаание-gaanie | (word stem) | -гааншини-gaanxini |
| -геение-geenie | -гээншини-geenxini | |||
| Plural | -гаантие-gaantie | -ту-tu | -гаантаани-gaantaani | |
| -геентие-geentie | -геентаани-geentaani | |||
| 3rd | Singular & plural | -тгай-tgai | -гаанини-gaanini | |
| -гээнини-geenini |
| Present future tense | -bei | идбей (иден)idbei (iden) | (he) will eat |
| -n | яобей (явун)yaobei (yawun) | (she) will go | |
| Past tense | -sen | идсенidsen | (she) ate |
| яосенyaosen | (he) went |
| 1st | Singular | -wei(-w) | Би харивей.Bi hariwei(hariw). | I return. |
| -nbi | Би харинби.Bi harinbi. | I return. | ||
| Plural (exclusive) | -waa | Баа хариваа.Baa hariwaa. | We return. | |
| -nbaa | Баа харинбаа.Baa harinbaa. | We return. | ||
| Plural (inclusive) | -wdaa | Бид харивдаа.Bid hariwdaa. | We return. | |
| -ndaa | Бид хариндаа.Bid harindaa. | We return. | ||
| 2nd | Singular | -beixi(-bxi) | Ши харибейши.Xi haribeixi. | You return. |
| -nxi | Ши харинши.Xi harinxi. | You return. | ||
| Plural | -beitaa (-btaa) | Таа харибейтаа.Taa haribeitaa (haribtaa). | You return. | |
| -ntaa | Таа харинтаа.Taa harintaa. | You return. |
| 1st | Singular | -senbi | Би харисенби.Bi harisenbi. | I returned. |
| Plural (exclusive) | -senbaa | Баа харисенбаа.Baa harisenbaa. | We returned. | |
| Plural (inclusive) | -sendaa | Бид харисэндаа. Bid harisendaa. | We returned. | |
| 2nd | Singular | -senxi | Ши харисенши.Xi harisenxi. | You returned. |
| Plural | -sentaa | Таа харисентаа.Taa harisentaa. | You returned. |
| -j | Indicates parallel actions | Ийчиж ужсенби.iiqij ujsenbi. | I went to see (it). | |
| -jie (dii) | Indicates that two actions are performed simultaneously | Саожие (дий) усвулжьжабей.Saojie (dii) uswuljjabei. | (She) sits while talking. | |
| -aar, -eer, -oor | Indicates that the behavior occurred successively | Гараар ирсэн.Garaar irsen. | (He) came out. | |
| Энкуер яосэн.Enkuer yaosen. | (She) ate it. | |||
| -jii | Signifies the end of the act | Ужьжий яосэн.Ujjii yaosen. | (He) left after reading (it). | |
| Иджий яо!Idjii yao | Let's eat and (then) go. | |||
| -n ...-n | Indicates behaviors that occur together | Гуйн кариен яосэн.Guin karien yaosen. | (He) jumped and bounced away. | |
| -mkii,-mklii | Indicates that the behavior occurs immediately | Мадемький (мэдемький) ичсэн.Medemkii (medemklii) iqsen. | (She) went as soon as (she) knew it. | |
| -mder | Indicates that the behavior occurs immediately | Медемдерь (меднмкьлий) ичсэн.Medemder (medemklii) iqsen. | (She) went as soon as she knew it. | |
| -wueter | Indicates readiness | Елвуетерь медсен.Elwueter medsen. | (She) will know as soon as (he) says it. | |
| -aajaar, -eejeer (-eejaar), -oojaar | Indicates simultaneous act | Бариежаараа алдсэн.Bariejaaraa aldsen. | (He) grabbed it and let it go. | |
| -rsaar, rseer | Indicates continuation and recurrence of behavior | Элерсеерь араан болсен.Elerseer araan bolsen. | How many times have you said it? | |
| -aas, -ees, -oos | Express the condition of the behavior | Элеесшини укубей.Eleesxini ukubei. | If you say so, I'll give it to you. | |
| -tgai q | Indicates concessive act | Учийкэн аатгай чукаатий.Uqiiken aatgai qukaatii. | Small but wise. | |
| -worg, -wuar | Indicates the act to follow | Хийвуерь тортсен.Hiiwuer tortsen. | (She) decided to do (it). | |
| -gaanie, -geenie | Expresses purpose | Уйгеени игсен.Uigeenie igsen. | (He) went to see (it). | |
| -tel | Indicates behavioral boundaries | Яотельмини аасен.Yaotelmini aasen. | (He'll) be there until (she) leaves. | |
| -tlaa(-tlaanie), tlee(-tleenie) | Expresses choice | Элтлеение хиисехдь уль денген.Eltleenie hiisehd ul dengen. | It's better to do (so). | |
| -maak(-maaken), meek(-meken) | Indicates the proximity of behavior | Ванамаак (ванамаакен) болсен.Wanamaak (wanamaaken) bolsen. | (It's) about to fall. |
| 1st Person | 2nd Person | 3rd Person | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| singular | plural | singular | plural | singular | plural | |||
| exclusive | inclusive | |||||||
| Nominative | бийbii | биэдеbiede | бааbaa | шийxii | тааtaa | ингing | аангaang | |
| Genitive | миний minii | биэднийbiednii | маанийmaanii | шинийxinii | таанийtaanii | инийinii | аанийaanii | |
| Dative | намдnamd | биэдендэbiedende | маандэmaande | шамдxamd | таандэtaande | ямд (инд)yamd (ind) | аандэaande | |
| Accusative | намийnamii | биэднийbiednii | маанийmaanii | шамийxamii | таанийtaanii | ямийyamii | аанийaanii | |
| Ablative | намаасэnamaase | биэденаасbiedenaas | маанаасmaanaas | шамаасэxamaase | таанаасtaanaas | ямаасyamaas | аанаасaanaas | |
| Instrumental | намаарэnamaare | биэдэнаарbiedenaar | маанаарmaanaar | шамаарэxamaare | таанаарtaanaar | ямаарyamaar | аанаарaanaar | |
| Comitative | намтий namtii | биэдентийbiedentii | маантийmaantii | шамтийxamtii | таантийtaantii | ямтийyamtii | аантийaantii | |
It is estimated that out of Dagur's entire language vocabulary, over half is Mongolic in origin.[20] Additionally, while Dagur has over 50% common Mongolic vocabulary, it has borrowed 5[21] to 10% of its words from Chinese, as well as 10% of its words from Manchu, and a small number vocabulary borrowed from Evenki[22] and Russian – leaving about 20% vocabulary that is specific to Dagur only.[23]
Dagur retains quite a few archaic Mongolic words, and although they are not commonly found in the modern Mongolic languages, they do appear in Middle Mongol sources, like the Hua-Yi yiyu and the ‘Secret History’. These words include:[24]
All basic numerals are of Mongolic origin.
| English | Classical Mongolian | Dagur (Hailar) | Dagur (Qiqihar) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One | Nigen | Нэкэн Neken | Neke | |
| 2 | Two | Qoyar | Хойир Hoir | Hoyir | |
| 3 | Three | Ghurban | Гуарбан Guarban | Guarbe | |
| 4 | Four | Dorben | Дурубун Durbun | Durbu | |
| 5 | Five | Tabun | Таавун Taawun | Taawu | |
| 6 | Six | Jirghughan | Жиргөө Jirwoo | Jirgoo | |
| 7 | Seven | Dologhan | Долөөн Doloon | Doloo | |
| 8 | Eight | Naiman | Найман Naiman | Naime | |
| 9 | Nine | Yisun | Йсэн Isen | Yise | |
| 10 | Ten | Arban | Харбан Harban | Harbe |