Northern Andamanese language


Northern Andamanese is the critically endangered native language of North Andaman Island. It is closely related to Akakede and seems to have consisted of four mutually intelligible dialects: Akachari, Akakhora, Akabo, and Akajeru. Jeru is the only one with speakers remaining.
When the North Andamanese people were resettled to Strait Island, a koiné developed from the resulting mixture of dialects. It went extinct in the early 2000s.
For more specific information, see the individual dialects.

Great Andamanese ''koiné''

Great Andamanese koiné is based primarily on Jeru, with lexical and grammatical influence from other Northern Andamanese dialects.

Phonology

Vowels

The Great Andamanese koiné has a seven-vowel system.
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Consonants

Grammar

It is a head-marking polysynthetic and agglutinative language with a SOV pattern. It has a very elaborate system for marking inalienability, with seven possessive markers reflecting different body-divisions. These markers appear as proclitics that classify a large number of nouns as dependent categories.

Vocabulary

Koiné vocabulary:
GlossGreat AndamaneseDevanagari
nestaarachaआराचा
houseflyijibuईजीबू
snake ulukhuऊलूखू
chilliekajiraएकाजीरा
deerairenऐरेन
fishing netochoओचो
axeauloऔलो
snailkalatopकालाटौप
dugongkauroingकौरौईञ
coconutkhiderखीदेर
roadngortoङौरतौ
betelnutchaumचौम
dolphinchoaचोआ
batjibetजीबेट
fishnyureञूरे
herontakaटाका
tonguethatatठातात
sunsetdiuडीऊ
black pigdirim raaडीरीम राऽ
leaftaichतौच
dewthunथून
scorpiondikiraseniदीकीरासेनी
mosquitoniphoनीफो
mushroompataपाता
crowphatkaaफाटका
frogphorubeफोरूबे
ropepharakoफाराको
green turtlebelotauroबेलोटौरौ
grey pigeonmiritमीरीत
roostermauchoमौचौ
strewn leavesyephaay taichयेफाऽय तैच
bambooratरैट
tusked male pigratairlautoरातैरलौतो
smokelepलेप
fireluro, wuroलूरो, वूरो
waist jewelleryshirbeleशीरबेले
snakeshubiशूबी
crocodilesarekateyoसारेकातेयो
White-bellied Sea-Eaglekaratchomकरटचोम
Pacific Golden Plovercheleleचैलेले
Oriental Honey Buzzardtaulom-tut-bioटौलोम-तूत-बीओ
Whimbrelchautotचौटोट

  • Column in yellow denotes loanword derived from Hindi

    Place names

Vocabulary:
Contemporary namePresent Great Andamanese name
Andaman IslandsMarakele
South Andaman IslandSorobul
Little AndamanIlimu Tauro
Strait IslandKhringkosho
Havelock Island Thi Lar Siro
Interview IslandBilikhu Tara Phong
Neill Island Tebi Shiro
Baratang IslandBoa
Bluff IslandLurua
Landfall IslandMauntenga
Long IslandBol Phong
Inglis IslandJirikta Phong
Port BlairLaotara Nyo
DiglipurThitaumul
MayabunderRet Phor
Saddle PeakPuluga Chang