Paite language


Paite is an Sino-Tibetan Language spoken by the Zomi. There are different Paite dialects. The language exhibits mutual intelligibility with the other languages of the region including Thadou, Hmar, Vaiphei, Simte, Kom, Gangte and other languages. The name Paite literally means 'the people who went.'

Paite alphabet (Paite laimal)

The alphabet is propounded by Shri T Vialphung in 1903 which is extract from the Roman alphabets and has 18 consonants and 6 vowels. Out of 18 consonant phonemes in Paite, 11 of them are glottal stops, 4 fricatives, 2 nasal and 1 lateral.
This version of the Paite alphabet is called 'Paite Laimal'. This alphabet is used since 1903 to till today.
Letteraawbchdefgnghijk
Letterlmnoprstuvz-

Consonantsb ch d f g ng h j k l m n p r s t v z

Vowelsa aw e i o u

Diphthongs
'iai' and 'uau' are the Triphthongs of Paite language.
Five prominent tones in Paite are:
The number of tones varies with variations in region and dialect.

Numbers

Sample text

The following is a sample text in Paite of the Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Paite pauEnglish
Mi tengteng zalen a piang ihi ua, zah-omna leh dikna tanvou ah kibangvek ihi. Sia leh pha theihna pilna nei a siam I hih ziak un I mihinpihte tungah unauna lungsim feltak I put ngai ahi.All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience. Therefore, they should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

There are two major dialects of Paite in Manipur, Lamjang and Dapjal.

Grammar

Paite grammar is fairly complex because of a number of word modification and a bit complex noun structure.

Word order

Paite's declarative word structure is Object-subject-verb.
Vasa
bird		ka
I		mù
see		Vasa Ka mu
I see a bird
Sing
firewood		a
he		puá
carries		Sing a puá
He carries wood

If the word order and grammar isn't followed, sentences and phrases lose their meaning.
Example: "Lai a gelh", which means "He writes", cannot be written as "Gelh a Lai". It does not make any sense.

Geographical distribution

Paite is spoken mainly in the following locations.
Paite language can now be offered as one of the MIL subjects in the Three Year Degree course of Manipur University. Academic Council of the University in its meeting held on April 22, 2004 gave its approval for inclusion of Paite as one of the MIL subjects after considering the recommendation of the Board of Studies of the School of Humanities and also in recognition of the richness of the language and its literature including creative writing.