Tani languages
Encyclopedia
Tani, Miric, Adi–Galo–Mishing–Nishi (Bradley 1997), or Abor–Miri–Dafla (Matisoff) is a compact family of Tibeto-Burman languages
situated at the eastern end of the Himalayas, in an area skirted on four sides by Tibet
, Assam
, Bhutan
, and Burma.
The Tani languages are spoken by about 600,000 people of Arunachal Pradesh
like the Adi
(many tribes), Nyishi-Bangni, Hill Miri
, Tagin, and Apatani peoples of East Kameng
, Lower Subansiri
, Upper Subansiri
, West Siang
, East Siang
, and the Dibang Valley
districts of Arunachal Pradesh. In Arunachal Pradesh alone the Tani-speaking area covers some 40,000 square kilometers, or roughly half the size of the state. Scattered Tani communities spill over the Sino-Indian border into adjacent areas in Mêdog
(Miguba and Mising peoples), Mainling
(Bokar and Tagin peoples), and Lhünzê
(Bangni, Na
, Bayi, Dazu, and Mara
peoples) counties of Tibet, where together with the non-Tani Idu they form the Lhoba
nationality.
According to a semi-ethnic classification (Van Driem 2001), the languages are as follows. It is not clear which are actually separate languages at this point, since some are undocumented. Ethnologue, for example, counts Milang, the Gallong languages, and all of the Padam languages apart from Mishing as dialects of "Adi
", though they acknowledge that Bokar, Milang, Pailibo, and Ramo may be distinct languages, and have assigned a separate ISO code to Gallong, as it is sociolinguistically distinct.
Milang
has traditionally been classified as a divergent Tani language, but in 2011 was reclassified as Siangic
.
Tibeto-Burman languages
The Tibeto-Burman languages are the non-Chinese members of the Sino-Tibetan language family, over 400 of which are spoken thoughout the highlands of southeast Asia, as well as lowland areas in Burma ....
situated at the eastern end of the Himalayas, in an area skirted on four sides by Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
, and Burma.
The Tani languages are spoken by about 600,000 people of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
like the Adi
Adi people
The Adi, or Bangni-Bokar Lhoba people is a major collective tribe living in the Himalayan hills of Arunachal Pradesh, and they are found in the temperate and sub-tropical regions within the districts of East Siang, Upper Siang, West Siang and Dibang Valley. The older term Abor is a deprecated...
(many tribes), Nyishi-Bangni, Hill Miri
Hill Miri
The Hill Miri are a people of Arunachal Pradesh, India. They are mainly settled in and around Daporijo. In 1998 they were officially consolidated with their more populous neighbors, the Nishi due to their tiny population. The consolidation is still a matter of disagreement among many Hill Miris....
, Tagin, and Apatani peoples of East Kameng
East Kameng
East Kameng district is one of the 16 districts of Arunachal Pradesh state in northeastern, India. It shares an international border with Tibet in the north, a state border with Assam and district borders with West Kameng, Papumpare and Kurung Kumey, which was bifurcated from Lower Subansiri...
, Lower Subansiri
Lower Subansiri
Lower Subansiri district is one of the 16 administrative districts of the state of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India.-History:The district was formed when Subansiri district was bifurcated into Upper and Lower Subansiri districts in 1987...
, Upper Subansiri
Upper Subansiri
Upper Subansiri is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India.-History:The district was formed when Subansiri district was bifurcated into Upper and Lower Subansiri districts in 1987.-Geography:...
, West Siang
West Siang
West Siang is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India.-History:In 1989 territory was given from West Siang to East Siang district -- since 1999 this territory has been in the new Upper Siang district.-Geography:...
, East Siang
East Siang
East Siang is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India.-History:In 1989 territory was transferred from West Siang district to East Siang. A decade later, in 1999, the district was bifurcated to make Upper Siang district....
, and the Dibang Valley
Dibang Valley
The Dibang Valley is a district of Arunachal Pradesh named after the Dibang River or the Talon as the Idus call it. Although the Dibang Valley district is the largest district in the state, it is the least populated district in India.-History:...
districts of Arunachal Pradesh. In Arunachal Pradesh alone the Tani-speaking area covers some 40,000 square kilometers, or roughly half the size of the state. Scattered Tani communities spill over the Sino-Indian border into adjacent areas in Mêdog
Mêdog County
Mêdog County, is a county of the Nyingtri Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of People's Republic of China...
(Miguba and Mising peoples), Mainling
Mainling County
Mainling County is a county of the Nyingtri Prefecture in eastern Tibet Autonomous Region.-Geography:Mainling County is located in the central-west of the Nyingtri Prefecture, at the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, and between the Nyainqentanglha Mountains and the Himalayan Mountains....
(Bokar and Tagin peoples), and Lhünzê
Lhünzê County
Lhünzê County, is a county of the Shannan Prefecture located in the south-east of the Tibet Autonomous Region,-Settlements:*Sangngagqoiling*Yümai...
(Bangni, Na
Nga people
The Na or Nga people is a small tribal group residing in the higher reaches, below the great Himalayan ranges in Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Within the district, they are found in the villages within Taksing circle: Gumsing, Taying, Esnaya, Lingbing, Tongla, Yeja, Reding,...
, Bayi, Dazu, and Mara
Mara people
The Mara people are a recognised scheduled tribe in India, native to northeastern India, primarily in the Mara Autonomous District Council of the state of Mizoram, where they form the majority of the population. Significant numbers of Maras are also found living south-eastern part of Burma, in Chin...
peoples) counties of Tibet, where together with the non-Tani Idu they form the Lhoba
Lhoba
Lhoba is a term of obscure origin which has come to apply to a diverse amalgamation of Tibeto-Burman tribespeople living in and around "Pemako" , including Mainling, Medog, Zayü counties of Nyingchi Prefecture and Lhünzê County of Shannan Prefecture...
nationality.
Classification
The Tani languages are conservatively classified as a distinct branch in Tibeto-Burman. Their closest relatives may be to be their eastern neighbors the Digarish languages, Taraon and Idu. The names "Adi", "Abor", and "Miri" are common to several of the peoples and their languages.According to a semi-ethnic classification (Van Driem 2001), the languages are as follows. It is not clear which are actually separate languages at this point, since some are undocumented. Ethnologue, for example, counts Milang, the Gallong languages, and all of the Padam languages apart from Mishing as dialects of "Adi
Adi language
Adi, or Abor, is a small Tibetan–Burman language of India. The various dialects in the box at right, and perhaps a few more, may be distinct languages....
", though they acknowledge that Bokar, Milang, Pailibo, and Ramo may be distinct languages, and have assigned a separate ISO code to Gallong, as it is sociolinguistically distinct.
- Padam languages (Adi): Padam, Minyong, MishingMishing languageMishing is a Tibetan–Burman language spoken by the Mishing people. There are over 500,000 speakers of the language. It is also known as Plains Miri or Takam....
( Plains Miri, Takam), Shimong, Bori, Karko, Tangam, Pasi?, Panggi?, Ashing? - Nishi languages: ApataniApatani languageApatani is a small Tibetan–Burman language of India. As most endangered oral languages, Apatani does not yet have a standardized orthography, and there is still some debate among the Apatanis on which script should be used to transcribe it....
( Apa, the most divergent), NishiNishi languageNishi , or East Dafla, is a small Tibetan–Burman language of India. Tagin may be a distinct language, as may Bangni....
( E. Dafla, Nishing), Tagin ( W. Dafla), Bangni, Nah, Hill Miri ( Sarak) - Gallong languages: GallongGallong languageThe Gallong or Galo language is a Tibeto-Burman language of the Tani group, spoken by the Galo people. Its precise position within Tani is not yet certain, due primarily to its central location in the Tani area and the strong effects of intra-Tani contacts on the development of Tani languages...
( Duba, Galo), Pailibo ( Libo), Ramo, Bokar
Milang
Milang language
Milang is a small Tibetan–Burman language of India. It has traditionally been classified as the most divergent of the Tani languages, but Post & Blench reclassified it as Siangic.-References:...
has traditionally been classified as a divergent Tani language, but in 2011 was reclassified as Siangic
Siangic languages
The Siangic languages are a small family of possibly Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India . They are Koro and Milang, the latter previously classified as a divergent member of the Tani languages....
.