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INTRODUCTION
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| Tibeto-Burman
is one among the four language families of India. The other three
are Indo-Aryan, Dravidian and Austro-Asiatic. Grierson observes that
Tibeto-Burman languages stand out as a distinct family as compared
with Tai and Chinese (Grierson, 1966, p.5). Tai and Chinese follow
the subject-verb-object order whereas Tibeto-Burman languages use
subject-object-verb order. The Tibeto-Burman languages are rich in
certain areas of vocabulary. For instance, distinct words are found
for different kinds of rat, bamboo, basket, etc. in Atapani. There
is no grammatical gender. Grammatical categories like case, number,
etc., are expressed by free words added after the noun rather than
by bound morphemes suffixed to the noun. They are thus like adjectives
and follow the head noun. |
| Grierson
classifies the Abor-Miri and Dafla in North Assam group. "The
Abor-Miris and Daflas speak dialects which are so closely related
that they can justly be considered as one and the same speech form
(Grierson, 1966, p.568). The names Abor, Miri, and Dafla are names
used by |
| Assamese
for the tribe which inhabits the mountains between the Assam valley
and Tibet. Daflas call themselves nyi-sing, i.e., sing men" (Ibid,
585). There is a group of Daflas who call themselves Bagni (Ibid,
585). The Apatanis are closely related to Nyi-sing. |
| Benedict
(1972) gives the following schematic chart for Sino-Tibetan languages
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| Apatanis
belong to the Abor-Miri-Dafla group. It is closely related to Dafla
who call themselves Nishi. Similarities are noticed at phonological,
grammatical and lexical level (See, Nishi Grammar - forthcoming).
Apatanis are concentrated in South Central Region of Subansiri district
of Arunachal Pradesh (See, the map). Nishis are their immediate neighbours.
The area is knows as Apatani plateau and is about 26 sq.km. It is
surrounded by steep mountain ridges on all sides. The district headquarters
is located in this plateau. According to a legend prevalent among
them, the plateau was a lake prior to their inhabitation. Their population
is 12888 persons (M: 5746, F: 6342) (1971 Census). Out of 12888 persons
there are only 724 literate persons. The sexwise break up is M: 724,
F: 76. The capital of the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh is
also located in Subansiri district. Mr. Simon’s "Apatani - An
Introduction" is the only book available on the language. |
| The materials
for the present work were collected during my field work in Apatani
plateau, during October-December, 1975 and April-June 1977. Messrs.
Khoda Gyati (Reru village) and Tatu Tayung (Mudan Tage village) were
my principal informants. Mr. Gyati was a student of the Government
High School, Ziro. He was working as a part-time employee at the Electrical
Office in Old Ziro. His exact age is not known. He was staying in
his village with his family members. Mr. Tayung was also a student
of the Government High School, Ziro. He was the Secretary of the Apatani
Youth Association. His exact age also is not known. I have discussed
certain problems covered in the present study with Messrs. Hage Tadde
(Cycleshop owner), Tasso Sai, Dani Duri (Medical student), Michi Tagia,
Kago Chanda, Hage Tatum, Hage Tatung and Nani Challa (School Teacher). |
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