Mara language

Mara is a language spoken by Mara people living in 60 villages of Chhimtuipui district, southern Mizoram, India and the adjacent people living in Burma.

The Mara language belongs to the Kukish branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The speakers of the language are also known as Mara.

Mara is a recognised language in the School curriculum of Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC). Mara is a compulsory subject for all schools up to Class VII (Middle School) under Board of School Education, MADC.

Statistics

• Population: 47,000 in India (2007), 37,000 in Burma (2007).
• Region: Lushai Hills (India), Chin Hills (Burma)
• Alternate names: Lakher, Mara, Maram, Mira, Zao, Shendu
• Dialects: Tlôsaih, Chapi, Zyhno, Hawthai,lôchei, Saby, Heima, Lialai, Vytu, etc.

Mara Alphabet

Mara Alphabet (capital letters) A, AW, Y, B, CH, D, E, F, H, I, K, L, M, N, NG, O, Ô, P, R, S, T, U, V, Z

Mara Alphabet (small letters): a, aw, y, b, ch, d, e, f, h, i, k, l, m, n, ng, o, ô, p, r, s, t, u, v, z

Mara diphthongs: ao, yu, ai, ei, ia, ie, ua

Grammar

Plurals

The plural form of a noun is formed by affixing one of the following terms to the end of the noun:

• zy(zeu)
• zydua(zeu-dua)
• naw
• sahlao(sha-hlawh)

Words inside bracket were how a foreign author N.E. Parry (1937) wrote according to his understanding of the sound. But now the Maras have their own alphabet and the correct usages are put up there.

Interrogative words in Mara

What : Khâpa, Khâpa-e, Khâpamaw

Where : Khataih la, Khataih liata

How : kheihta, kheihawhta, Khatluta, Kheihta rai maw

How much? : Khazie?

How long? : Khachâ e, Khachâ maw?

When : Khatita, khatita-e, Khapa nota, nota, tita, nahta, pata, Conj. thlaita, khati nota

Why : Khazia, Khazia-e, Khazia maw, Khapa vata

Why not : Khazia a châ vei chheih aw

Whose : Kheihawpa, Kheihawpa he, Kheihawhpa-e, Kheihawhpa maw, ahy he maw

Which : Kheihawpa, Kheihawpa he, Kheihawhpa-e, Kheihawhpa maw, ahy he maw

Friend : Viasa

Male Friend : Viasa Paw

Female Friend : Viasa Nô

Walk/Go : Sie (Pheita Sie)

Run : Ârâ

Sleep : Âmô, Âzia, Âpazawh

See : Mo, hmô

Sit : Âtyuh

Stand : Âduah

Jump : Âzaw

Hit : Âchô

Eat : Nie

Drink : Doh

Adjectives

Adjectives are placed before the word they qualify. e.g., A good man) When an adjective is used to complete the predicate of a sentence, a pronominal particle agreeing with the subject is placed before the adjective.

Pronouns

Singular:

• 1st person-keima or kei I
• 2nd person-nama or na You
• 3rd person-ano or a or ama' He,She,It

Plural:

• 1st person-eima We
• 2nd person-namo, nama You
• 3rd person-amo They

Possessive Pronouns

• Singular
• Keima, ei - my.
• keima ha, kei ei - mine.
• Nama, na - Thy(You)
• Nama ha, na ei - Thine(Yours)
• Ama, Ana - Him, Her, It.
• Ama ei, a ei - His, Hers, Its.

*Plural.

• Keimo - Our.
• Keimo ei, Keimo ha - Ours.
• Namo - Your.
• Namo ei, namo ha - Yours.
• Amo, a-mei - Their.
• Amo ei, amo ha - Theirs.

The demonstrative pronouns are the same as the double forms of the demonstrative adjectives. There are many indefinite pronouns, e.g.:-

• Khapamatavei - Nothing.
• Khaparai - Anything.
• Ato - Everything.
• Khapaleipa - Something.
• Khapama - Something or other.
• Aheumatavei - Nobody.
• Aheurai/ ahyrai - Any one.
• Aheu-tleuma - Some one, a certain one.
• Atlapi - Some . . . others.
• Ahrangpa - Another, others.
• Ama Zyduata - All.

References

http://www.marasaw.com/english-mara.html

External links

• Marasaw.com To make Mara Language accessible to everyone!
• Maraland.NET Home of Mara language speaking people
• Maraland.org MITCS website
• A grammar and dictionary of the Lakher language (1908) (Scanned book at the Internet Archive)

Languages of Myanmar
Official language	Burmese
Semiofficial language	English
Indigenous languages (by state or region)	Chin Kukish Northern Falam Siyin Tedim Thado Zo Central Bawm Hakha Chin Mizo Ngawn Tawr Maraic Lautu Mara Senthang Zotung Zyphe Southern Daai Kaang Khumi Müün Nga La Shö Songlai Sumtu Thaiphum Welaung Other Anu-Hkongso Long Phuri Kachin Sino-Tibetan Achang Drung Hpon Jingpho Lashi Lhao Vo Lisu Nusu Rawang Zaiwa Other Khamti Nung Palaung Tai Laing Kayah Kayaw Red Karen Kayin Bwe Karen Geba Karen Pwo Eastern Western S’gaw Karen Magway Rungtu Mon Mon Rakhine Arakanese Chakma Laitu Mro-Khimi Mru Rohingya Sak Sagaing Sal Htangan Khiamniungan Konyak Makyan Ponyo Sak Tangsa Other Akyaung Ari Anal Koki Naga Makuri Para Tangkhul Shan Austroasiatic Blang Danau Palaung Riang Tai Loi Wa Sino-Tibetan Akeu Akha Danu Geko Karen Intha Lahta Lahu Pa’o Padaung Pyen Taungyo Tai-Kadai Khün Tai Lü Shan Tai Nüa Other Hmong Njua Tanintharyi Moken S’gaw Tavoyan
Sign languages	Burmese sign language