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| mapcaption = Khasi-speaking areas
| mapcaption = Khasi-speaking areas
}}
}}
[[File:WIKITONGUES- Sylvia speaking Khasi.webm|thumb|Khasi language by a non-Khasi speaker, recorded in [[India]]]]
'''Khasi''' ({{lang|kha|Ka Ktien Khasi}}) is an [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic language]] spoken primarily in [[Meghalaya]] state in [[India]] by the [[Khasi people]]. It is also spoken by a sizeable population in [[Assam]] and [[Bangladesh]]. Khasi is part of the Austroasiatic language family, and is related to [[Khmer language|Khmer]], [[Palaung language|Palaung]], [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] and [[Mon language|Mon]] languages of Southeast Asia, and the [[Munda languages|Munda]] and [[Nicobarese languages|Nicobarese]] branches of that family, which are spoken in east–central India and in the [[Nicobar Islands]], respectively.
'''Khasi''' ({{lang|kha|Ka Ktien Khasi}}) is an [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic language]] spoken primarily in [[Meghalaya]] state in [[India]] by the [[Khasi people]]. It is also spoken by a sizeable population in [[Assam]] and [[Bangladesh]]. Khasi is part of the Austroasiatic language family, and is related to [[Khmer language|Khmer]], [[Palaung language|Palaung]], [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] and [[Mon language|Mon]] languages of Southeast Asia, and the [[Munda languages|Munda]] and [[Nicobarese languages|Nicobarese]] branches of that family, which are spoken in east–central India and in the [[Nicobar Islands]], respectively.


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(Case marker)-(Demonstrative)-(Numeral)-(Classifier)-(Article)-Noun-(Adjective)-(Prepositional phrase)-(Relative clause), as can be seen from the following examples:
(Case marker)-(Demonstrative)-(Numeral)-(Classifier)-(Article)-Noun-(Adjective)-(Prepositional phrase)-(Relative clause), as can be seen from the following examples:


{| class="wikitable"
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|-
|ar tylli ki sim
| |ar|| tylli|| ki|| sim
|two CL PL bird
|-
|'two birds'}}
| two||classifier||plural||bird
 
|-
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|colspan="7" |'two birds'
|kato ka kynthei kaba wan mynnin
|}
|that:FEM FEM girl FEM-relative come yesterday
{| class="wikitable"
|'that girl who came yesterday'}}
|-
 
|kato ||ka|| kynthei|| kaba|| wan|| mynnin
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|-
|ka kmie jong phi
|that:fem||fem||girl||fem-relative||come||yesterday
|FEM mother of you
|-
|'your mother'}}
| colspan="8"|'that girl who came yesterday'
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| ka|| kmie || jong|| phi
|-
| fem || mother || of ||you
|-
| colspan="4"|'your mother'
|}


====Gender====
====Gender====
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|-
|-
|times, seasons
|times, seasons
|-
|-
|clothes
|clothes
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====Classifiers====
====Classifiers====
Khasi has a classifier system, apparently used only with numerals.  Between the numeral and noun, the classifier ''tylli'' is used for non-humans, and the classifier ''ngut'' is used for humans, e.g.
Khasi has a classifier system, apparently used only with numerals.  Between the numeral and noun, the classifier ''tylli'' is used for non-humans, and the classifier ''ngut'' is used for humans, e.g.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| Don ||ar|| tylli|| ki|| sim|| ha|| ruh.
|-
| there:are||two||classifier||plural||bird||in||cage
|-
|colspan="7" |'There are two birds in the cage.'
|}


{| class="wikitable"
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|-
|Don ar tylli ki sim ha ruh.
| Don ||lai|| ngut|| ki|| Sordar||  ha|| shnong.
|there:are two CL PL bird in cage
|-
|'There are two birds in the cage.'}}
| there:are||three||classifier||plural||chief||in||village
 
|-
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|colspan="7" |'There are three chiefs in the village.'
|Don lai ngut ki Sordar ha shnong.
|}
|there:are three CL PL chief in village
|'There are three chiefs in the village.'}}


===Adjectives===
===Adjectives===
There is some controversy about whether Khasi has a class of adjectives.  Roberts cites examples like the following:
There is some controversy about whether Khasi has a class of adjectives.  Roberts cites examples like the following:
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
| u  ||briew|| ba-bha
|u  briew ba-bha
|-
|MASC man REL-good
| masc||man||rel-good
|'a good man'}}
|-
 
|colspan="7" |'a good man'
|}
In nearly all instances of attributive adjectives, the apparent adjective has the prefix /ba-/, which seems to be a relativiser.  There are, however, a few adjectives without the /ba-/ prefix:
In nearly all instances of attributive adjectives, the apparent adjective has the prefix /ba-/, which seems to be a relativiser.  There are, however, a few adjectives without the /ba-/ prefix:


{| class="wikitable"
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|-
|u  'riew sníew
| u  ||'riew|| sníew
|MASC man bad
|-
|'a bad man'}}
| masc||man||bad
|-
|colspan="7" |'a bad man'
|}


When the adjective is the main predicate, it may appear without any verb 'be':
When the adjective is the main predicate, it may appear without any verb 'be':
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
| U ||ksew|| u|| lamwir.
|U ksew u  lamwir.
|-
|MASC dog MASC restless
| masc||dog||masc||restless
|'The dog is restless.'}}
|-
|colspan="7" |'The dog is restless.'
|}


In this environment, the adjective is preceded by an agreement marker, like a verb.  Thus it may be that Khasi does not have a separate part of speech for adjectives, but that they are a subtype of verb.
In this environment, the adjective is preceded by an agreement marker, like a verb.  Thus it may be that Khasi does not have a separate part of speech for adjectives, but that they are a subtype of verb.
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The following are examples of prepositional phrases:
The following are examples of prepositional phrases:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| ka|| kmie || jong|| phi
|-
| fem || mother || of ||you
|-
| colspan="4"|'your mother'
|}


{| class="wikitable"
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|-
|ka kmie jong phi
| u ||slap || u|| ther|| na||  ka|| bneng
|FEM mother of you
|-
|'your mother'}}
| masc || rain || masc||pour||from||fem||sky
 
|-
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
| colspan="7"|'Rain poured from the sky.'
|u slap u ther na ka bneng
|}
|MASC rain MASC pour from FEM sky
|'Rain poured from the sky.'}}


===Verbs and verb phrases===
===Verbs and verb phrases===
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The masculine and feminine markers /u/ and /ka/ are used even when there is a noun phrase subject (Roberts 1891:132):
The masculine and feminine markers /u/ and /ka/ are used even when there is a noun phrase subject (Roberts 1891:132):
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
| Ka  ||miaw|| ka|| pah.
|Ka  miaw ka pah.
|-
|FEM cat FEM meow
| fem || cat || fem || meow
|'The cat meows.’}}
|-
| colspan="4"|'The cat meows.’
|}


====Tense marking====
====Tense marking====
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====Copulas====
====Copulas====
The copula is an ordinary verb in Khasi, as in the following sentence:
The copula is an ordinary verb in Khasi, as in the following sentence:
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
| U ||Blei|| u|| long|| jingïeid.
|U Blei u long jingïeid.
|-
|MASC God MASC be love
| masc || God || masc || be||love
|'God is love’}}
|-
| colspan="5"|'God is love’
|}


====Causative verbs====
====Causative verbs====
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Word order in simple sentences is subject–verb–object (SVO):
Word order in simple sentences is subject–verb–object (SVO):


{| class="wikitable"
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|-
|U ksew u bam doh.
|U ||ksew|| u||  bam|| doh.
|MASC dog MASC eat flesh
|-
|'The dog eats meat.’}}
| masc || dog || masc || eat||flesh
|-
| colspan="5"|'The dog eats meat.’
|}


However, VSO order is also found, especially after certain initial particles, like hangta 'then' (Rabel 1961).
However, VSO order is also found, especially after certain initial particles, like hangta 'then' (Rabel 1961).


{| class="wikitable"
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|-
|hangta la ong i khnai ïa ka Naam
|hangta|| la|| ong|| i|| khnai|| ïa|| ka|| Naam
|then PAST say dimin mouse ACC FEM Naam
|-
|'Then said the (little) mouse to Naam ... '}}
|then || past|| say||dimin||mouse|| accusative||fem||Naam
|-
| colspan="8"|'Then said the (little) mouse to Naam ... '
|}


====Case marking====
====Case marking====
Sometimes the object is preceded by a particle ya (spelled ia in Roberts 1891).  Roberts says "ia, 'to', 'for', 'against' implies direct and immediate relation.  Hence its being the sign of the dative and of the [[accusative case]] as well"
Sometimes the object is preceded by a particle ya (spelled ia in Roberts 1891).  Roberts says "ia, 'to', 'for', 'against' implies direct and immediate relation.  Hence its being the sign of the dative and of the [[accusative case]] as well"


{| class="wikitable"
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|-
|U la ái ia ka kitab ia nga.
|U ||la|| ái||  ia|| ka|| kitab|| ia|| nga.
|MASC PAST give ACC FEM book ACC me
|-
|'He gave the book to me.'}}
| masc || past || give || accusative||fem||book||accusative||me
|-
| colspan="8"|'He gave the book to me.'
|}


It appears from Roberts (1891) that Khasi has [[differential object marking]], since only some objects are marked accusative.  Roberts notes that nouns that are definite usually have the accusative and those that are indefinite often do not.
It appears from Roberts (1891) that Khasi has [[differential object marking]], since only some objects are marked accusative.  Roberts notes that nouns that are definite usually have the accusative and those that are indefinite often do not.
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Khasi has a passive, but it involves removing the agent of the sentence without putting the patient in subject position.  (A type called the 'non-ascensional passive').  Compare the following active-passive pair (Roberts 1891) where the patient continues to have accusative case and remains in the object position:
Khasi has a passive, but it involves removing the agent of the sentence without putting the patient in subject position.  (A type called the 'non-ascensional passive').  Compare the following active-passive pair (Roberts 1891) where the patient continues to have accusative case and remains in the object position:


{| class="wikitable"
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|-
|Ki dang tháw ia ka íng da ki dieng..
|Ki ||dang|| tháw|| ia|| ka|| íng||  da|| ki|| dieng..
|PL contin build ACC FEM house with PL wood
|-
|'They are building the house with wood.'}}
| plur || contin || build || accusative||fem||house||with||plur||wood
|-
| colspan="9"|'They are building the house with wood.'
|}


{| class="wikitable"
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|-
|Dang tháw ia ka íng.
|Dang|| tháw|| ia|| ka|| íng.
|contin build ACC FEM house
|-
|'The house is being built.'}}
| contin || build || accusative||fem||house
|-
| colspan="9"|'The house is being built.'
|}


This type of passive is used, even when the passive agent is present in a prepositional phrase:
This type of passive is used, even when the passive agent is present in a prepositional phrase:
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|La || lah || pyniap|| ia|| ka|| masi|| da|| U Míet.
|La lah pyniap ia ka masi da {U Míet}.
|-
|PAST PFV kill ACC FEM cow by {{{no gloss|U}} Miet}
| past || perfective || kill || accusative||fem||cow||by||U Miet
|'The cow was killed by U Miet.'}}
|-
| colspan="9"|'The cow was killed by U Miet.'
|}


====Questions====
====Questions====
Yes-no questions seem to be distinguished from statements only by intonation:
Yes-no questions seem to be distinguished from statements only by intonation:


{| class="wikitable"
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|-
|Phi kit khoh Til?
|Phi|| kit||  khoh||  Til?
|you {are carrying} {a basket} Til?
|-
|'Will you take a basket, Til? Phin shim ka khoh, Til?}}
|you||are carrying|| a basket||Til?
|-
| colspan="8"|'Will you take a basket, Til? Phin shim ka khoh, Til?


|}
Wh-questions don't involve moving the wh-element:
Wh-questions don't involve moving the wh-element:
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|u|| leit|| shaei?
|u leit shaei?
|-
|MASC go where
|masc||go||where
|Where is he going?'}}
|-
| colspan="8"|Where is he going?'
|}


====Embedded clauses====
====Embedded clauses====
Subordinate clauses follow the main verb that selects them (Roberts 1891:169):
Subordinate clauses follow the main verb that selects them (Roberts 1891:169):
{| class="wikitable"
 
|-
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|Nga ||tip||  ba|| phi||  la|| leh|| ia|| kata.
|Nga tip ba phi la leh ia kata.
|-
|I know that you PAST do ACC that
|I||know||that||you||past||do||accusative||that
|'I know that you have done that'}}
|-
| colspan="8"|'I know that you have done that'
|}


Relative clauses follow the nouns that they modify and agree in gender:
Relative clauses follow the nouns that they modify and agree in gender:


{| class="wikitable"
{{interlinear|lang=kha|indent=3
|-
|Ka {samla kynthei} ka-ba wan mynhynnin ka la iáp.
|Ka|| samla kynthei|| ka-ba|| wan|| mynhynnin|| ka|| la|| iáp.
|FEM girl FEM-relative come yesterday FEM PAST die
|-
|'The girl who came yesterday has died.'}}
|fem||girl||fem-relative||come||yesterday||fem||past||die
|-
| colspan="8"|'The girl who came yesterday has died.'
|}


==Syntax==
==Syntax==
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