Konyak languages explained

Konyak
Also Known As:	Northern Naga
Region:	India
Familycolor:	Sino-Tibetan
Fam1:	Sino-Tibetan
Fam2:	Tibeto-Burman
Fam3:	Sal
Child1:	Konyak–Chang
Child2:	Tangsa–Nocte
Glotto:	kony1246
Glottorefname:	Konyak
Protoname:	Proto-Northern Naga

The Konyak languages, or alternatively the Konyakian, Northern Naga, or Patkaian^[1] languages, is a branch of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken by various Naga peoples in southeastern Arunachal Pradesh and northeastern Nagaland states of northeastern India. They are not particularly closely related to other Naga languages spoken further to the south, but rather to other Sal languages such as Jingpho and the Bodo-Garo languages. There are many dialects, and villages even a few kilometers apart frequently have to rely on a separate common language.

Proto-Northern Naga, the reconstructed proto-language of the Konyak languages, has been reconstructed by Walter French (1983). The linkage of the Konyak and Jingphaw languages with Boro–Garo languages suggests that Proto-Garo-Bodo-Konyak-Jinghpaw, which is Sal-speaking people also known as Brahmaputran-speaking people, entered Assam from somewhere to the northeast. It has been proposed that the Proto-Garo-Bodo-Konyak-Jinghpaw language was a lingua franca of different linguistic communities, not all of whom were native speakers, and that it began as a creolized lingua franca.

Languages

Konyak–Chang:

• Konyak
  • Chang Wancho
• Phom
• Khiamniungic
  • Khiamniungan
  • Leinong
  • Makyam
  • Ponyo

Tangsa–Nocte

• Tangsa (Tase)
  • Muklom
  • Pangwa Naga
  • Ponthai
  • Tikhak
• Nocte
• Tutsa

Ethnologue 17 adds Makyam (Paungnyuan), while Glottolog adds a Khiamniungic branch within the Konyak-Chang branch. Makyam is most closely related to Leinong (Htangan) (Naw Sawu 2016:6).

Classification

Below is a classification of the Northern Naga (Konyak) languages by Hsiu (2018) based on a computational phylogenetic analysis.^[2]

• Northern Naga
  • Makyam
    • Kuku Nokkone
    • Makyam, Khale, Santung
  • Nuclear Northern Naga
    • Khiamniungic group
      • Leinong
        • Anbaw, Hwi Thaik
        • Wan Ton Tha Mai
        • Nok Nyo Kha Shang
        • Lahe (subgroup): Lahe, Khamti, Long Kyan Nok Kone
      • Ponyo-Gongwan
        • Ponyo (subgroup): Ponyo Nok Inn, Lang Kheng
        • Gongwan
      • Khiamniungan
    • Konyak-Wancho-Tangsa
      • Konyak-Wancho
        • Lao
        • Konyak
        • Kyan
        • Wancho
          • Wancho (Lower Wancho Hill)
          • Wancho (Upper Wancho Hill), Karyaw
          • Chuyo, Gaqkat
        • Phom
        • Chang (?)
      • Tangsa
        • Tikhak (subgroup): Tikhak, Longchang, Yongkuk, Muklom
        • Jugli
        • Shangvan (subgroup): Shangvan, Meitei, Haqcyeng, Ngaimong
        • Pangwa (subgroup): Kyahi, Mungre, Shanke, Chamchang, Lochang, Dunghi, Moshang, Rera, Lungri, Cholim
        • Halang (subgroup): Lama, Halang, Haqkhi, Bote
        • Ringkhu (subgroup): Gaqyi, Shokrang, Henching, Rasa, Lakki, Ringkhu, Khalak, Shangti, Lungkhi, Kochung
        • Gaqha
        • Kotlum (subgroup): Kotlum, Raqnu, Aasen, Drancyi, Gaqlun
        • Kon-Pingku (subgroup): Kon, Pingku, Nyinshao
        • Sansik
        • Champhang (subgroup): Nahen, Thamkok, Lumnu, Champhang
        • Nocte-Tutsa (subgroup): Haqkhun, Tutsa, Ponthai, Hawi, Nocte, Haqsik, Haqchum, Yangno, Haqman

Phom belongs to the Konyak-Wancho branch. Chang may have originally been a Konyak-Wancho language that was heavily influenced by Ponyo-Khiamniungan-Lainong. The homeland of Northern Naga is placed in the Lahe Township area.^[2]

References

• French, Walter T. 1983. Northern Naga: A Tibeto-Burman mesolanguage. Ph.D. Dissertation, The City University of New York.
• Stirn, Aglaja, and Peter van Ham. 2003. The hidden world of the Naga: living traditions in Northeast India and Burma. Munich: Prestel.
• Saul, Jamie D. 2005. The Naga of Burma: Their festivals, customs and way of life. Bangkok, Thailand: Orchid Press.
• George van Driem (2001) Languages of the Himalayas: An Ethnolinguistic Handbook of the Greater Himalayan Region. Brill.

External links

• Classifying Konyak and other Naga languages

Notes and References

1. 56th International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics, 10-12 October 2023. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. 2023. A First Description of Wolam Ngio, a Khiamniungic Language of Nagaland and Myanmar. van Dam. Kellen Parker. Thaam. Keen.
2. Web site: Hsiu. Andrew. Northern Naga (Konyak). Sino-Tibetan Branches Project. 2018. 2023-03-09.