Apatani language
Apatani is a Tani language, a branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages, spoken in India.Classification
Post & Kanno and Macario notes that Apatani has various words that do not reconstruct to Proto-Tani, pointing to a possible non-Tani substratum in Apatani. Macario lists the following divergent Apatani forms that do not reconstruct to Proto-Tani.
| Apatani | Proto-Tani | Proto-Tibeto-Burman | Gloss |
| puulye | *ge | *buw, *giian | clothes |
| la- | *han | *graŋ | cold |
| mɨ- | *ryɨ | *day | do |
| sar- | *put | - | foam |
| poteʔ | *brɨŋ | *brɨŋ | full |
| ʔude | *nam | *kyim | house |
| -lya | *grəŋ | - | lean against |
| sar-se | *yak | - | foxtail millet |
| -ɟii | *ɦo-pran | - | orphan |
| huʔ- | *dan | *tur | shake |
| -ko | *təŋ | *twiy | short |
| -be | *pam | *kyam, *wal | snow |
| dàa-cáñ | *ryok | *syam | iron |
| yo | *dɨn | *sya | meat |
| heñ- | *mɨŋ | *səm | think |
Geographical distribution
In Lower Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh, Apatani is spoken in 7 villages in Ziro valley, namely Hong, Hari, Biilla, Dutta, Hija, Mudang-Tage, and Bamin Michi.Phonology
Consonants
Vowels
Writing system
Like many endangered languages, Apatani did not have a standardized orthography until recently, and there was some debate among the Apatanis on which script should be used to transcribe it. In view of this, Tanw Supuñ Dukuñ, the apex Tanii organization, recommended the constitution of the Apatani Language Development Committee. The Apatani Cultural and Literary Society constituted the ALDC to recommend a writing system of the language. A year-long discussion and study by ALDC resulted in the recommendation of an alphabet based on Roman script. The recommendation was accepted by the ACLS and the administrative approval for its use was given by the Tanw Supuñ Dukuñ, or the Apatani Apex Council.Apatani (Tanii) Language Development
Apatani people have been writing Apatani using the Roman alphabet via an English-inspired orthography. What began as a practical means to communicate through writing has now grown into a writing system that has emerged as a means of intergroup communication. Currently, there are initiatives with regard to strengthening the status of the Apatani language in India. The most relevant ones are a revision project by Popi Sarmin Society and LivingDictionaries' Talking Apatani Dictionary. However, these developments signal a positive momentum to raise public awareness regarding the need for Tanii language development and preservation.