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{{Short description|Tai language of Assam, India}}
{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
| name            = Aiton
| name            = Aiton
Line 13: Line 14:
| fam4            = Northwestern
| fam4            = Northwestern
| script          = [[Burmese script]]<br />(Aiton variation, <br />called Lik-Tai)<ref name=diller>{{cite journal |last1=Diller |first1=Anthony |title=Tai languages in Assam: Daughters or Ghosts |date=1992 |pages=16}}</ref>
| script          = [[Burmese script]]<br />(Aiton variation, <br />called Lik-Tai)<ref name=diller>{{cite journal |last1=Diller |first1=Anthony |title=Tai languages in Assam: Daughters or Ghosts |date=1992 |pages=16}}</ref>
| nation          = {{flag|India}}
| nation          =  
* [[Assam]]
| agency          =  
| agency          = Language Academy
| iso3            = aio
| iso3            = aio
| glotto          = aito1238
| glotto          = aito1238
Line 21: Line 21:
}}
}}


The '''Aiton language''' or '''Tai Aiton language''' is spoken in [[Assam]], [[India]] (in the Dhonsiri Valley and the south bank of the [[Brahmaputra]]).  It is currently classified as a ''threatened'' language, with less than two thousand speakers worldwide.  Its other names include Antonia and Sham Doaniya.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://endangeredlanguages.com/lang/1426|title=Did you know Aiton is threatened?|website=Endangered Languages|language=en|access-date=2017-05-03}}</ref>
The '''Aiton language''' or '''Tai Aiton language''' is spoken in [[Assam]], [[India]], in the [[Dhansiri|Dhonsiri]] Valley and the south bank of the [[Brahmaputra]].  It is currently classified as a threatened language, with fewer than 2,000 speakers worldwide.  Its other names include '''Aitonia''' and '''Sham Doaniya'''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://endangeredlanguages.com/lang/1426|title=Did you know Aiton is threatened?|website=Endangered Languages|language=en|access-date=2017-05-03|archive-date=2022-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218194812/https://endangeredlanguages.com/lang/1426|url-status=dead}}</ref>


== Classification ==
== Classification ==
The Aiton language is a part of the Southwestern branch of the Tai family of languages. There are three other actively spoken languages in this branch: [[Khamti language|Khamti]], [[Phake language|Phake]], and [[Khamyang language|Khamyang]].<ref name=":0">Morey, Stephen. "Tonal change in the Tai languages of Northeast India." Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 28.2 (2005): 139-202.</ref>
The Aiton language is a part of the [[Southwestern Tai languages|Southwestern branch]] of the [[Tai languages|Tai family]] of languages. It is closely related to, and sometimes considered a dialect of, [[Shan language|Shan]]. There are three other actively spoken languages of this branch in Assam: [[Khamti language|Khamti]], [[Phake language|Phake]], and [[Khamyang language|Khamyang]].<ref name=":0">Morey, Stephen. "Tonal change in the Tai languages of Northeast India." Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 28.2 (2005): 139-202.</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
The Tai languages in Assam share many grammatical similarities, a writing system, and much of their vocabulary.<ref>Diller, A. (1992). Tai languages in Assam: daughters or ghosts? In C.J. Compton and J.F. Hartmann (Ed.), Papers on Tai languages, Linguistics, and Literatures, 5-43. Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University.</ref>  The most prominent differences between the languages are their tonal systems.<ref name=":0" />
The Tai languages in Assam share many grammatical similarities, a writing system, and much of their vocabulary.<ref>Diller, A. (1992). Tai languages in Assam: daughters or ghosts? In C.J. Compton and J.F. Hartmann (Ed.), Papers on Tai languages, Linguistics, and Literatures, 5-43. Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University.</ref>  The most prominent differences between the languages are their tonal systems.<ref name=":0" />


According to the oral and written records of the Aiton people, they originated from a place named Khao-Khao Mao-Lung, a Burmese state near the Chinese border.<ref name=":2">Burgohain, Joya. "The Aitons: Some aspects of their life and culture." (2013).</ref> It is generally believed that they came to India about two or three hundred years ago, seeking refuge from oppression.<ref name=":2" />  Despite how long they have been in Assam, many members of the older generations are not fluent in Assamese, the official language of the state.<ref name=":1" />
According to the oral and written records of the Aiton people, they originated from a place named Khao-Khao [[Möng Mao|Mao-Lung]], a Burmese state near the Chinese border.<ref name=":2">Burgohain, Joya. "The Aitons: Some aspects of their life and culture." (2013).</ref> It is generally believed that they came to India about two or three hundred years ago, seeking refuge from oppression.<ref name=":2" />  Despite how long they have been in Assam, many members of the older generations are not fluent in Assamese, the official language of the state.<ref name=":1" />


==Geographic Distribution==
==Geographic Distribution==
Line 38: Line 38:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Aiton Villages (Morey 2005)
|+Aiton Villages (Morey 2005)
!c=01| Tai name
! Tai name
!c=02| Translation of Tai name
! Translation of Tai name
!c=03| [[Assamese language|Assamese]]/[[English language|English]] name
! [[Assamese language|Assamese]]/[[English language|English]] name
!c=04| [[List of districts of Assam|District]]
! [[List of districts of Assam|District]]
|-
|-
|c=01| baan3 nam3 thum3
| {{tonesup|baan3 nam3 thum3}}
|c=02| Flood village (บ้านน้ำท่วม)
| Flood village (บ้านน้ำท่วม)
|c=03| Duburoni
| Duburoni
|c=04| [[Golaghat]]
| [[Golaghat]]
|-
|-
|c=01| baan3 sum3
| {{tonesup|baan3 sum3}}
|c=02| Sour village (บ้านส้ม)
| Sour village (บ้านส้ม)
|c=03| Tengani
| Tengani
|c=04| [[Golaghat]]
| [[Golaghat]]
|-
|-
|c=01| baan3 hui1 luŋ1
| {{tonesup|baan3 hui1 luŋ1}}
|c=02| Big fruit village
| Big fruit village
|c=03| Borhola
| Borhola
|c=04| [[Golaghat]]
| [[Golaghat]]
|-
|-
|c=01| baan3 hin1
| {{tonesup|baan3 hin1}}
|c=02| Stone village (บ้านหิน)
| Stone village (บ้านหิน)
|c=03| Ahomani
| Ahomani
|c=04| [[Karbi Anglong]]
| [[Karbi Anglong]]
|-
|-
|c=01| baan3 luŋ1
| {{tonesup|baan3 luŋ1}}
|c=02| Big village (บ้านหลวง)
| Big village (บ้านหลวง)
|c=03| Bargaon
| Bargaon
|c=04| [[Karbi Anglong]]
| [[Karbi Anglong]]
|-
|-
|c=01| baan3 nɔi2/dɔi2
| {{tonesup|baan3 nɔi2/dɔi2}}
|c=02| Hill village (บ้านดอย)
| Hill village (บ้านดอย)
|c=03| Sukhihola
| Sukhihola
|c=04| [[Karbi Anglong]]
| [[Karbi Anglong]]
|-
|-
|c=01| baan3 saai2
| {{tonesup|baan3 saai2}}
|c=02| Sand village (บ้านทราย)
| Sand village (บ้านทราย)
|c=03| Kalyoni
| Kalyoni
|c=04| [[Karbi Anglong]]
| [[Karbi Anglong]]
|-
|-
|c=01| baan3 saai2
| {{tonesup|baan3 saai2}}
|c=02| Sand village (บ้านทราย)
| Sand village (บ้านทราย)
|c=03| Balipathar
| Balipathar
|c=04| [[Karbi Anglong]]
| [[Karbi Anglong]]
|-
|-
|c=01| baan3 saai2
| {{tonesup|baan3 saai2}}
|c=02| Sand village (บ้านทราย)
| Sand village (บ้านทราย)
|c=03| Jonapathar
| Jonapathar
|c=04| [[Lohit district|Lohit]]
| [[Lohit district|Lohit]]
|}
|}


Line 92: Line 92:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Aiton Villages (Buragohain 1998)
|+Aiton Villages (Buragohain 1998)
!c=01| Village
! Village
!c=02| [[List of districts of Assam|District]]
! [[List of districts of Assam|District]]
!c=03| Year founded
! Year founded
!c=04| No. of houses
! No. of houses
!c=05| Population
! Population
|-
|-
|c=01| Ahomani
| Ahomani
|c=02| [[Karbi Anglong]]
| [[Karbi Anglong]]
|c=03| 1939
| 1939
|c=04| 31
| 31
|c=05| 267
| 267
|-
|-
|c=01| Baragaon
| Baragaon
|c=02| [[Karbi Anglong]]
| [[Karbi Anglong]]
|c=03| 1835
| 1835
|c=04| 39
| 39
|c=05| 359
| 359
|-
|-
|c=01| Balipathar
| Balipathar
|c=02| [[Karbi Anglong]]
| [[Karbi Anglong]]
|c=03| 1898
| 1898
|c=04| 59
| 59
|c=05| 528
| 528
|-
|-
|c=01| Chakihola
| Chakihola
|c=02| [[Karbi Anglong]]
| [[Karbi Anglong]]
|c=03| unknown
| unknown
|c=04| 18
| 18
|c=05| 180
| 180
|-
|-
|c=01| Kaliyani
| Kaliyani
|c=02| [[Karbi Anglong]]
| [[Karbi Anglong]]
|c=03| Man era 1239
| Man era 1239
|c=04| 15
| 15
|c=05| 154
| 154
|-
|-
|c=01| Borhola
| Borhola
|c=02| [[Golaghat]]
| [[Golaghat]]
|c=03| 1836
| 1836
|c=04| 26
| 26
|c=05| 235
| 235
|-
|-
|c=01| Dubarani
| Dubarani
|c=02| [[Golaghat]]
| [[Golaghat]]
|c=03| unknown
| unknown
|c=04| 43
| 43
|c=05| 334
| 334
|-
|-
|c=01| Tengani
| Tengani
|c=02| [[Golaghat]]
| [[Golaghat]]
|c=03| unknown
| unknown
|c=04| 19
| 19
|c=05| 150
| 150
|-
|-
|c=01| Jonapathar
| Jonapathar
|c=02| [[Lohit district|Lohit]]
| [[Lohit district|Lohit]]
|c=03| 1950s
| 1950s
|c=04| 15
| 15
|c=05| 148
| 148
|}
|}


== Phonology ==
== Phonology ==
===Initial consonants===
===Initial consonants===
Morey reports the following initial consonants:<ref name=morey2008>{{cite journal |last1=Morey |first1=Stephen |title=The Thai languages of Assam |date=2008 |url=https://www.academia.edu/34802378/The_Tai_Languages_of_Assam_2008_}}</ref>
Morey reports the following initial consonants:<ref name=morey2008>{{cite journal |last1=Morey |first1=Stephen |title=The Thai languages of Assam |date=2008 |url=https://www.academia.edu/34802378}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
Line 178: Line 178:
! rowspan="2" | [[Stop consonant|Plosive]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Stop consonant|Plosive]]
! <small>[[Tenuis consonant|Tenuis]]</small>
! <small>[[Tenuis consonant|Tenuis]]</small>
| {{IPA|p}} || {{IPA|b}} || {{IPA|t}} || {{IPA|d}} || {{IPA|c}} || || {{IPA|k}} || || || {{IPA|ʔ}}   
| {{IPA link|p}} || {{IPA link|b}} || {{IPA link|t}} || {{IPA link|d}} || {{IPA link|c}} || || {{IPA link|k}} || || || {{IPA link|ʔ}}   
|-
|-
! <small>[[Aspiration (phonetics)|Aspirated]]</small>
! <small>[[Aspiration (phonetics)|Aspirated]]</small>
||| || {{IPA|tʰ}} || || || || || || ||  
||| || {{IPA link|tʰ}} || || || || || || ||  
|-
|-
! colspan="2"| [[Nasal stop|Nasal]]
! colspan="2"| [[Nasal stop|Nasal]]
||| {{IPA|m}} || || {{IPA|n}} || || {{IPA|ɲ}} || || {{IPA|ŋ}} || ||
||| {{IPA link|m}} || || {{IPA link|n}} || || {{IPA link|ɲ}} || || {{IPA link|ŋ}} || ||
|-
|-
! colspan="2"| [[Fricative]]
! colspan="2"| [[Fricative]]
| {{IPA|ɸ}} || {{IPA|β}} || || || {{IPA|ʃ}} || {{IPA|ʒ}} || {{IPA|x}} || || {{IPA|h}} ||
| {{IPA link|ɸ}} || {{IPA link|β}} || || || {{IPA link|ʃ}} || {{IPA link|ʒ}} || {{IPA link|x}} || || {{IPA link|h}} ||
|-
|-
! colspan="2"| [[Lateral consonant|Lateral]]
! colspan="2"| [[Lateral consonant|Lateral]]
| || || || {{IPA|l}} || || || || || ||
| || || || {{IPA link|l}} || || || || || ||
|-
|-
! colspan="2"| [[Trill consonant|Trill]]
! colspan="2"| [[Trill consonant|Trill]]
| || || || {{IPA|r}} || || || || || ||
| || || || {{IPA link|r}} || || || || || ||
|-
|-
|-
|-
Line 224: Line 224:
! rowspan="2" | [[Stop consonant|Plosive]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Stop consonant|Plosive]]
! <small>[[Tenuis consonant|Tenuis]]</small>
! <small>[[Tenuis consonant|Tenuis]]</small>
| {{IPA|p}} || || {{IPA|t}} || || || || {{IPA|k}} || || {{IPA|ʔ}} ||   
| {{IPA link|p}} || || {{IPA link|t}} || || || || {{IPA link|k}} || || {{IPA link|ʔ}} ||   
|-
|-
! <small>[[Aspiration (phonetics)|Aspirated]]</small>
! <small>[[Aspiration (phonetics)|Aspirated]]</small>
Line 230: Line 230:
|-
|-
! colspan="2"| [[Nasal stop|Nasal]]
! colspan="2"| [[Nasal stop|Nasal]]
||| {{IPA|m}} || || {{IPA|n}} || || || || {{IPA|ŋ}} || ||
||| {{IPA link|m}} || || {{IPA link|n}} || || || || {{IPA link|ŋ}} || ||
|-
|-
! colspan="2"| [[Semi-vowel]]
! colspan="2"| [[Semi-vowel]]
| || || ||  || || {{IPA|j}} || || {{IPA|w}} || ||
| || || ||  || || {{IPA link|j}} || || {{IPA link|w}} || ||
|-
|-
|}
|}
Line 252: Line 252:
!Word || Meaning
!Word || Meaning
|-
|-
| /kaw1/ || I (1sg)
| /kaw1/ || I ({{gcl|1SG}})
|-
|-
| /maɯ1/ || You (2sg)
| /maɯ1/ || You ({{gcl|2SG}})
|-
|-
| /mɯn1/ || He/She/It (3sg)
| /mɯn1/ || He/She/It ({{gcl|3SG}})
|-
|-
| /haw1/ || We (1pl)
| /haw1/ || We ({{gcl|1PL}})
|-
|-
| /su3/ || You (2pl)
| /su3/ || You ({{gcl|2PL}})
|-
|-
| /kʰaw3/ || They (3pl)
| /kʰaw3/ || They ({{gcl|3PL}})
|}
|}


Line 279: Line 279:


===Classifiers===
===Classifiers===
The most common classifiers are kɔ1 for persons, tu1/to1 for animals and ʔan for inanimate objects.<ref name=diller23/>
The most common classifiers are:<ref name=diller23/>
* {{lang|aio|{{tonesup|kɔ1}}}} for persons
* {{lang|aio|{{tonesup|tu1/to1}}}} for animals
* {{lang|aio|ʔan}} for inanimate objects


== Writing system ==
== Writing system ==
{{See also|Burmese script|Burmese alphabet}}
{{See also|Burmese script|Burmese alphabet}}
The Tai Aiton have their own writing system called 'Lik-Tai', which they share with the [[Khamti people]] and [[Tai Phake people]].<ref name=diller/> It closely resembles the Northern [[Shan script]] of Myanmar, which is a variant of the [[Burmese script]], with some of the letters taking divergent shapes.<ref name="inglis2017">{{cite journal |last1=Inglis |first1=Douglas |title=Myanmar-based Khamti Shan Orthography |date=2017 |url=https://www.academia.edu/34791306/_2017_Myanmar-based_Khamti_Shan_Orthography}}</ref>
The Tai Aiton have their own writing system called 'Lik-Tai', which they share with the [[Khamti people]] and [[Tai Phake people]].<ref name=diller/> It closely resembles the Northern [[Shan script]] of Myanmar, which is a variant of the [[Burmese script]], with some of the letters taking divergent shapes.<ref name="inglis2017">{{cite journal |last1=Inglis |first1=Douglas |title=Myanmar-based Khamti Shan Orthography |journal=Journal of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society |date=2017 |url=https://www.academia.edu/34791306}}</ref>


===Consonants===
===Consonants===
<div lang=aio>
{|class="wikitable"
* က - ka - k - [k]
|-
* ၵ - kha - kh - [kʰ]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = က | iso = ka | ipa = [k] }}
* င - nga - ng - [ŋ]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ၵ | iso = kha | ipa = [kʰ] }}
* ꩡ - ca - c - [t͡ʃ]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = င | iso = nga | ipa = [ŋ] }}
* ꩬ - sa - s - [s]
|-
* ၺ - nya - ny - [ɲ]<ref>http://www.unicode.org/notes/tn11/UTN11_4.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ꩡ | iso = ca | ipa = [t͡ʃ] }}
* တ - ta - t - [t]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ꩬ | iso = sa | ipa = [s] }}
* ထ - tha - th - [tʰ]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ၺ | iso = nya | ipa = [ɲ] | note=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hosken |first=Martin |title=Representing Myanmar in Unicode: Details and Examples Version 4 |url=http://www.unicode.org/notes/tn11/UTN11_4.pdf |website=Unicode}}</ref> }}
* ꩫ - na - n - [n]
|-
* ပ - pa - p - [p]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = တ | iso = ta | ipa = [t] }}
* ၸ - pha/fa - ph/f - [pʰ/ɸ]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ထ | iso = tha | ipa = [tʰ] }}
* မ - ma - m - [m]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ꩫ | iso = na | ipa = [n] }}
* ယ - ya/ja - y/j - [j/ɟ]
|-
** ျ - in medial form
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ပ | iso = pa | ipa = [p] }}
* ꩺ - ra - r - [r]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ၸ | iso = pha/fa | ipa = [pʰ/ɸ] }}
** ြ - in medial form
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = မ | iso = ma | ipa = [m] }}
* လ - la - l - [l]
|-
* ဝ - wa - w - [w]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch1 = ယ | ch2 = ျ | iso = ya/ja | ipa = [j/ɟ] }}
* ꩭ - ha - h - [h]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch1 = ꩺ | ch2 = ြ | iso = ra | ipa = [r] }}
* ဢ - a - a - [ʔ]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = လ | iso = la | ipa = [l] }}
* ဒ - da - d - [d]
|-
* ဗ - ba/wa - b/w - [b/w]<ref name="omniglot.com">{{cite web |title=Aiton language, alphabet, and pronunciation |url=https://www.omniglot.com/writing/aiton.htm |website=Omniglot |access-date=8 February 2021}}</ref>
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ဝ | iso = wa | ipa = [w] }}
</div>
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ꩭ | iso = ha | ipa = [h] }}
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ဢ | iso = a | ipa = [ʔ] }}
|-
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ဒ | iso = da | ipa = [d] }}
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ဗ | iso = ba/wa | ipa = [b/w] | notes = <ref name="omniglot.com">{{cite web |title=Aiton language, alphabet, and pronunciation |url=https://www.omniglot.com/writing/aiton.htm |website=Omniglot |access-date=8 February 2021}}</ref> }}
|}


===Vowels===
===Vowels===
<div lang=aio>
{|class=wikitable
* ႜ - a - [a]
|-
* ႃ - aa - [aː]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ႜ | iso = a | ipa = [a] }}
* ိ - i - [i]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ႃ | iso = aa | ipa = [aː] }}
* ီ - ī - [iː]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ိ | iso = i | ipa = [i] }}
* ု - u - [u]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ီ | iso = ī | ipa = [iː] }}
* ူ - ū - [uː]
|-
* ေ - e/ae - [eː/ɛ]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ု | iso = u | ipa = [u] }}
* ႝ - ai - [ai]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ူ | iso = ū | ipa = [uː] }}
*  ေႃ - o/aw - [oː/ɔː]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ေ | iso = e/ae | ipa = [eː/ɛ] }}
* ံ - ṁ - [ŋ̊]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ႝ | iso = ai | ipa = [ai] }}
* ိ်ုွ - ue - [ɯ]
|-
* ်ၞ - aeu - [ɛu]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ေႃ | iso = o/aw | ipa = [oː/ɔː] }}
* ်ွ - aau - [aːu]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ံ | iso = ṁ | ipa = [ŋ̊] }}
* ွဝ် - au - [au]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ိ်ုွ | iso = ue | ipa = [ɯ] }}
* ွ - aw - [ɒ]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch =်ၞ | iso = aeu | ipa = [ɛu] }}
* ွႝ - oi - [oi]
|-
* ွံ - om - [ɔm]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch =်ွ | iso = aau | ipa = [aːu] }}
* ိ်ွ - iu - [ɛu/iu]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch =ွဝ် | iso = au | ipa = [au] }}
* ုံ - um - [um]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch =ွ | iso = aw | ipa = [ɒ] }}
* ်ံ - em - [em]
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch =ွႝ | iso = oi | ipa = [oi] }}
* ် - final consonant, silences inherent vowel<ref name="omniglot.com"/>
|-
</div>
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch =ွံ | iso = om | ipa = [ɔm] }}
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch =ိ်ွ | iso = iu | ipa = [ɛu/iu] }}
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch =ုံ | iso = um | ipa = [um] }}
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch =်ံ | iso = em | ipa = [em] }}
|-
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch =် | iso = | notes = [[virama]]<ref name="omniglot.com"/> }}
|}


===Other symbols===
===Other symbols===
<div lang=aio>
{|class="wikitable"
* ꩷ - exclamation mark
|-
* ꩸ - 1
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ꩷ | top = ! }}
* ꩹ - 2
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ꩸ | top = 1 }}
</div>
| {{letter | s = Mymr | ch = ꩹ | top = 2 }}
|-
|}


==References==
==References==
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{{Tai-Kadai languages}}
{{Tai-Kadai languages}}
{{Languages of Northeast India}}
{{Languages of Northeast India}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Languages of Assam]]
[[Category:Languages of Assam]]
[[Category:Tai languages]]
[[Category:Southwestern Tai languages]]

Latest revision as of 16:08, 1 January 2026


Aiton
(တႝ)ဢႝတွꩫ်
Native toIndia
RegionAssam
EthnicityAiton people
Native speakers
1,500 (2006)[1]
Kra–Dai
Burmese script
(Aiton variation,
called Lik-Tai)[2]
Language codes
ISO 639-3aio
Glottologaito1238

The Aiton language or Tai Aiton language is spoken in Assam, India, in the Dhonsiri Valley and the south bank of the Brahmaputra. It is currently classified as a threatened language, with fewer than 2,000 speakers worldwide. Its other names include Aitonia and Sham Doaniya.[3]

Classification[edit | edit source]

The Aiton language is a part of the Southwestern branch of the Tai family of languages. It is closely related to, and sometimes considered a dialect of, Shan. There are three other actively spoken languages of this branch in Assam: Khamti, Phake, and Khamyang.[4]

History[edit | edit source]

The Tai languages in Assam share many grammatical similarities, a writing system, and much of their vocabulary.[5] The most prominent differences between the languages are their tonal systems.[4]

According to the oral and written records of the Aiton people, they originated from a place named Khao-Khao Mao-Lung, a Burmese state near the Chinese border.[6] It is generally believed that they came to India about two or three hundred years ago, seeking refuge from oppression.[6] Despite how long they have been in Assam, many members of the older generations are not fluent in Assamese, the official language of the state.[7]

Geographic Distribution[edit | edit source]

Aiton is spoken predominantly in India, in the northeastern state of Assam.

According to Morey (2005), Aiton is spoken in the following villages:

Aiton Villages (Morey 2005)
Tai name Translation of Tai name Assamese/English name District
Template:Tonesup Flood village (บ้านน้ำท่วม) Duburoni Golaghat
Template:Tonesup Sour village (บ้านส้ม) Tengani Golaghat
Template:Tonesup Big fruit village Borhola Golaghat
Template:Tonesup Stone village (บ้านหิน) Ahomani Karbi Anglong
Template:Tonesup Big village (บ้านหลวง) Bargaon Karbi Anglong
Template:Tonesup Hill village (บ้านดอย) Sukhihola Karbi Anglong
Template:Tonesup Sand village (บ้านทราย) Kalyoni Karbi Anglong
Template:Tonesup Sand village (บ้านทราย) Balipathar Karbi Anglong
Template:Tonesup Sand village (บ้านทราย) Jonapathar Lohit

Buragohain (1998) reports a total of 260 Aiton households, comprising a total population of 2,155.

Aiton Villages (Buragohain 1998)
Village District Year founded No. of houses Population
Ahomani Karbi Anglong 1939 31 267
Baragaon Karbi Anglong 1835 39 359
Balipathar Karbi Anglong 1898 59 528
Chakihola Karbi Anglong unknown 18 180
Kaliyani Karbi Anglong Man era 1239 15 154
Borhola Golaghat 1836 26 235
Dubarani Golaghat unknown 43 334
Tengani Golaghat unknown 19 150
Jonapathar Lohit 1950s 15 148

Phonology[edit | edit source]

Initial consonants[edit | edit source]

Morey reports the following initial consonants:[8]

Bilabial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
voiceless voiced voiceless voiced voiceless voiced voiceless voiced voiceless voiced
Plosive Tenuis p b t d c k ʔ
Aspirated tʰ
Nasal m n ɲ ŋ
Fricative ɸ β ʃ ʒ x h
Lateral l
Trill r

Aiton, like some other Tai languages, have a "minimal three-way contrast in voicing".[7] It also only allows vowels to be voiced stops when they are in bilabial and dental/alveolar places of articulation. According to Morey, "[m] and [n] are variants for /b/ and /d/, respectively".[7] Aiton, has voiced /r, l, w, j/ and four voiced nasals in its sound inventory.[7] It does not have voiceless sonorants.[7]

Final consonants[edit | edit source]

Aiton has the following final consonants:

Bilabial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
voiceless voiced voiceless voiced voiceless voiced voiceless voiced voiceless voiced
Plosive Tenuis p t k ʔ
Aspirated
Nasal m n ŋ
Semi-vowel j w

-[w] occurs after front vowels and [a]-, -[j] occurs after back vowels and [a]-.[2]

Tones[edit | edit source]

Aiton today uses three tones, however it originally used five but two have merged with other tones. The first tone still used today is 'mid/high level', the second tone is 'high level then falling' and the third is 'mid falling'. Originally the fourth tone, 'mid rising', has merged with the first tone. The fifth tone, 'mid falling glottalised', has merged with the third tone.[8][7]

Vowels[edit | edit source]

Aiton has a vowel system of only seven vowels, /i, ɯ, u, ɛ, ɔ, a, aa/, which is the smallest out of all the Tai languages spoken in Assam.[7] From these seven vowels, Aiton allows only nine possible sequences.[7]

Grammar[edit | edit source]

Pronouns[edit | edit source]

The following set of pronouns are the pronouns found in the Aiton language:[9]

Word Meaning
/kaw1/ I (Template:Gcl)
/maɯ1/ You (Template:Gcl)
/mɯn1/ He/She/It (Template:Gcl)
/haw1/ We (Template:Gcl)
/su3/ You (Template:Gcl)
/kʰaw3/ They (Template:Gcl)

Demonstratives[edit | edit source]

Note: the form /-an2/ is a post-clitic form that approaches a definite article in function and may be attached to pronouns and even verbs.[9]

Deictics Meaning
/nay2/ This, here
/nan2/, /han2/ That, there
/-an2/ That, there

Classifiers[edit | edit source]

The most common classifiers are:[9]

Writing system[edit | edit source]

See also: Burmese script and Burmese alphabet

The Tai Aiton have their own writing system called 'Lik-Tai', which they share with the Khamti people and Tai Phake people.[2] It closely resembles the Northern Shan script of Myanmar, which is a variant of the Burmese script, with some of the letters taking divergent shapes.[10]

Consonants[edit | edit source]

Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Letter Template:Letter

Vowels[edit | edit source]

Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter
Template:Letter

Other symbols[edit | edit source]

Template:Letter Template:Letter Template:Letter

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Aiton at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Diller, Anthony (1992). "Tai languages in Assam: Daughters or Ghosts": 16. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ↑ "Did you know Aiton is threatened?". Endangered Languages. Archived from the original on 2022-02-18. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Morey, Stephen. "Tonal change in the Tai languages of Northeast India." Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area 28.2 (2005): 139-202.
  5. ↑ Diller, A. (1992). Tai languages in Assam: daughters or ghosts? In C.J. Compton and J.F. Hartmann (Ed.), Papers on Tai languages, Linguistics, and Literatures, 5-43. Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Northern Illinois University.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Burgohain, Joya. "The Aitons: Some aspects of their life and culture." (2013).
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Morey, S. (2008). North East Indian Linguistics. New Delhi: Cambridge University Press India.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Morey, Stephen (2008). "The Thai languages of Assam". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Diller, Anthony (1992). Thai languages in Assam: Daughters or Ghosts?. p. 23.
  10. ↑ Inglis, Douglas (2017). "Myanmar-based Khamti Shan Orthography". Journal of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society.
  • Buragohain, Yehom. 1998. "Some notes on the Tai Phakes of Assam, in Shalardchai Ramitanondh Virada Somswasdi and Ranoo Wichasin." In Tai, pp. 126–143. Chiang Mai, Thailand: Chiang Mai University.
  • Morey, Stephen. 2005. The Tai languages of Assam: a grammar and texts. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Tai-Kadai languages

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