Mara language


Mara is a Kuki-Chin language spoken by Mara people, mostly the Tlosai tribe living in 30 villages of Chhimtuipui district, southern Mizoram, India; 9 villages in Thantlang District, Chin State, Burma; and several more in Matupi District, Chin State, Burma.
The Mara languages belong to the Kuki-Chin branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The speakers of the languages are also known as Mara. Shendu is a colonial name.
Mara is a recognised language in the Mara Autonomous District Council school curriculum. Mara is a compulsory subject for all schools up to class VII under the Board of School Education, MADC.

Written script

A written script for Mara was first created in 1852 by Captain S.R. Tickell. Further scripts were invented in 1869 by Captain T.H. Lewin, in 1908 by Rev. F.W. Savidge and by R.A. Lorain.

Mara alphabet (capital letters)

A, AW, Y, B, CH, D, E, F, H, I, K, L, M, N, NG, O, Ô, P, R, S, T, U, V, Z

Mara alphabet (lowercase letters)

a, aw, y, b, ch, d, e, f, h, i, k, l, m, n, ng, o, ô, p, r, s, t, u, v, z

Mara diphthongs

ao, yu, ai, ei, ia, ie, ua

Grammar

Plurals

The plural form of a noun is formed by affixing one of the following terms to the end of the noun:
  • zy
  • zydua
  • nawh
  • sahlao
Today the Mara language has its own alphabet; words inside brackets show author N.E. Parry's transliterations from 1937.

Pronouns

Singular
  • 1st person: keima, kei - I
  • 2nd person: nâma, na - you
  • 3rd person: ano, a or ama' - he, she, it
Plural
  • 1st person: eima - we
  • 2nd person: nâmo, nâma - you
  • 3rd person: âmo - '''they'''

Possessive Pronouns

Singular
  • Keima, ei - my
  • Keima eih, kei eih - mine
  • Nâma, na - thy
  • Nâma eih, na eih - thine
  • Ama, a - him, her, it
  • Ama eih, a eih - his, hers, its
Plural
  • Keimo - our
  • Keimo eih - ours
  • Nâmo - your
  • Ahyrai - anyone
  • Ahy tlyma - someone, a certain one
  • A tlâhpi - some... others
  • A hropa - another, others
  • Ama zydua ta - '''all'''

Phonology

Consonants

Vowels