Saihriem language explained

Saihriem
Also Known As:Faihriem, Sairiam, Sairiem, Sairhem, Saihriam, Syriem, Sairang
Nativename:Saihriem/Syriem/Sairang
States:India
Region:Cachar District of Assam
Ethnicity:Faihriem
Speakers:500–700
Date:2011
Ref:[1]
Familycolor:Sino-Tibetan
Fam2:(Tibeto-Burman)
Fam3:Kuki-Chin
Fam4:Central
Iso3:none
Glotto:syri1242
Glottorefname:Syriem

The Saihriem (Faihriem, Syriem) language is spoken by a mixture of the Saihriem/Faihriem people- a sub tribe of Hmar group of tribes of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo and other ethnically closely related people such as the Aimol, Kuki, Vaiphei, in four neighbouring villages (Noxatilla, Bagbahar, Balisor, Nagathol & Saihriemkhuo villages) around Dwarbond in Bojalenga Block of Cachar District, Assam.

It is critically endangered, with the people who still speak the language numbering a few hundreds only. It was recorded wrongly as Sairang in the Census of India, 1901 and there were mere 71 speakers of the language at that time. It belongs to the Kuki-Chin branch of the Tibeto-Burman family of languages.

Basic vocabulary

Saihriem languageEnglish
Engame i hming?What is your name?
Ke hming chu Lala a eh.My name is Lala.
Ka lawm ie.Thank You
I dam naw?How are you?
Ka dam ie.I am fine.
TuiWater
BoruokAir
RileiSoil
Nga fish
Ar (sa)chicken(meat)
Vawksapork
Sehrâtsabeef
Kêlsamutton
Dailawlentils
ZingkarMorning
KhawlawiEvening
SawngkawlShirt
Tatuompants
Hmarchachilli
SamataraiOrange
ThinghnatuiTea
Lungsiet taka tui mi pek ta.Please give me water.
Lungsiet taka bu mi pek ta.Please give me food (rice).
Lungsiet taka an mi pek ta.Please give me curry (side dish) vegetable / meat.
Engame ka pek sik che?What will I give you?
Engam?What?
Engtika?When?
Engasik?Why?
Khawtiengam?Where?
Engtinam?How?
Imuttui.Sleep well. (The equivalent of "Good Night".)
Engtinam Aizawl se ka ti?How do I go to Aizawl?
Ma hi engza man ame?What is the price of this?
Dam taka se rawh ou.Safe journey

Numbers

0Biel
1Inkhat
2Phahni
3Inthum
4Inli
5Ringa
6Kiruk
7Sari
8Kiriet
9Kuo
10Sawm
20Sawmhni
30Sawmthum
40Sawmli
50Sawmnga
60Sawmruk
70Somsari
80Sawmriet
90Sawmkuo
100Zakhat
200Zahni
300Zathum
400Zali
500Zanga
600Zaruk
700Zasari
800Zariet
900Zakuo
1000Sângkhat
10000Sîngkhat
100000Nuoikhat
1000000Maktaduoi
10000000Vaibelsie
100000000Vaibelsietak
1000000000Tlukledingawn

Names of weeks

Sl. No.EnglishSaihriem
1SundayPathienni
2MondayThawṭanni
3TuesdayThawleni
4WednesdayNilâini
5ThursdayNingani
6FridayZirtawpni
7SaturdayInrinni

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://lingweb.eva.mpg.de/numeral/Syriem-Fyriem.htm Syriem numerals