Hmar
is distinct in possessing a good stock of indigenous
vocabulary. It is interesting
to note that it possesses a host of words to refer to
various kinds of ailment many of which are known to
other developed Indian languages by their western names
only. Hmar is equally rich in having a good collection
of words to name various insects, plants and herbs which
are unfamiliar to the neighboring Dimasa and Meithei
languages. It has its own words for various expressions
concerning law and administration whereas other Indo
Aryan languages of the region have only borrowed Perso-Arabic
words for such expressions. Hmar, of course, has borrowed
in recent times few words from Hindi for the for the
purpose of trade and commerce. |
Hmar
is characterised by not giving up much of its features
by convergence. Its convergence with Assamese and Bengali,
the neighboring Indo-Aryan languages is almost nil.
Its convergence with Dimasa, Jaintia, Mikir, Meithei
and various Naga dialects of the parent Tibeto-Burman
stock is also indistinct. It has neither taken much
nor given any of the linguistics characteristics to
the languages of the surrounding areas. This has happened
perhaps because of the discrete pattern of habitation
of the Hmars specially in Assam and Manipur coupled
with their conscious efforts of maintaining linguistic
identity and a strong sense of self assertion. |
