In this article, dedicated to Phom language, we will delve into a fascinating topic that has captured the interest of people around the world. Along these lines, we will explore the most relevant and impactful aspects related to Phom language, diving into its history, characteristics and current challenges. From its origins to its current situation, we will analyze in depth the importance of Phom language and its influence in different areas. Through this journey, we hope to provide a comprehensive and enriching vision of Phom language, inviting our readers to reflect and learn more about this exciting topic.
| Phom | |
|---|---|
| Native to | India |
| Region | Nagaland |
Native speakers | 54,416 (2011 estimation) |
Sino-Tibetan
| |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | nph |
| Glottolog | phom1236 |
| ELP | Phom Naga |
Phom is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Phom people of Nagaland, north-eastern India. Its speakers are primarily found in Longleng District and in small parts of bordering districts. The Phom language is written in Latin script and consists of 27 letters.
Alternate names for Phom language includes Phom, Phom shah. "Shah" is the Phom word for language. A Morung is called Pang in Phom language and log drums are referred as Shem.
All phonological charts are from Burling (1998).
| Bilabial | Alveolar | Postalveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stop | aspirated | pʰ | tʰ | ||||
| voiced | b | d | |||||
| Affricate | t͡ʃ | ||||||
| Fricative | voiceless | ʃ | h | ||||
| voiced | ʒ | ||||||
| Nasal | m | n | ɲ | ŋ | |||
| Approximant | j | ||||||
A large part of the vocabulary of Phom is inherited from proto-Sino-Tibetan.
| Meaning | Old Chinese | Written Tibetan | Written Burmese | Phom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "I" | 吾 *ŋa | nga | ŋa | ngei |
| "you" | 汝 *njaʔ | – | naŋ | nüng |
| "not" | 無 *mja | ma | ma' | |
| "two" | 二 *njijs | gnyis | hnac < *hnit | nyi |
| "three" | 三 *sum | gsum | sûm | jem |
| "five" | 五 *ŋaʔ | lnga | ŋâ | nga |
| "six" | 六 *C-rjuk | drug | khrok < *khruk | vok |
| "sun", "day" | 日 *njit | nyi-ma | ne < *niy | nyih |
| "name" | 名 *mjeŋ | ming | ə-mañ < *ə-miŋ | men |
| "eye" | 目 *mjuk | mig | myak | mük |
| "fish" | 魚 *ŋja | nya | ŋâ | nyah |
| "dog" | 犬 *kʷʰenʔ | khyi | khwe < *khuy | shi |