Zokam Mimal Min Malgawm Zia Taang Zomi

Zokam Tonology and Orthography:

Zomi Mimal Min Malgawm Zia (2)

How to Spell Zomi Personal Names
Gelhtu: Taang Zomi
“Khen” /ˋxeːn/ (aw sau, nuaikiat) pen <Kheen> ci-in gelh ding maw, <Kheenh> ci-in gelh ding
maw? “Khen” /ˋxɛn/ (aw tom, nuaikiat) pen <Khen> ci-in gelh ding maw, <Khenh> ci-in gelh
ding maw? A hoih zaw dang, a om diam? Hih thu pen, “Pi Lia Don Khen Niangg le Thumeizom
Zolai Vai” (04 MAY 2011 WED) sung-ah i kikum zo hi. Tua ka laigelh pen “Zomi Mimal min
Malgawm Zia (1)” ci ni.
(http://www.zomilibrary.com/main/archive/files/zomi-mimal-min-malgawm-zia-
%281%29_51161d5050.pdf)
Tu’n, “Zomi Mimal in Malgawm Zia (2)” kipan ni.

<Khat>
I min-te-ah, a phazah phuahna, om thei hi.

Khat (1) /ˋxʌt/: Tg. Gin Khat Suan, Tg. Zam Khat Kham, Tg. En Khat Thang, Lia Cing Khat
Sawm (10) /ˋsɔːm/: Tg. Zam Sawm Pau, Tg. G. Thawng Sawm Pau
Za (100) /ˋzɑː/: Tg. Pum Za Mang, Tg. Khup Za Mung
Tul (1,000) /ˋtuːl/: Tg. Thang Tul Mung, Lia Cing Tul Lian

Tg. G. Khat Suan, Tg. J. Khat Suan, Tg. Zam Khat Kham, Tg. Khat Khaw
Thang

Hih a tung-a minte, amau na theih ngei kei leh. a aw bangci suah hiam, na thei kei ding hi.

Zolai tawh a kigelh thu khat pen, a nung a ma (context) en leeng, kisim thei lel hi, i ci thei uh hi.
Ahi zongin, “Pi Lia Don Khen Niang” tungtaang-a a kisuaksak laite, a nung a ma, a tung a nuai,
vei pan tak, tak pan vei, i et hangin, “Don Khen Niang” awsuah a maan i thei tuan kei hi.

“Tg. G. Khat Suan” ci-a k’ong gelh pen, a min neipa in “Gin Khat Suan” ci-in gelh ngei-a a
tawpna lam-ah “Ginkhatsuan” ci-in gelh hi. “Tg. Gin Khat Suan” sung-a “Khat” /ˋxʌt/ pen a aw
tom, a nuaikiat ahi hi. A min buppi /¯tɑːŋ ˋɡɪn ˋxʌt ˋsuɑːn/ ahi hi.

Ka neu lai-in. “J. Khat Suan, B.Sc. (Forestry)” in dictionary bawl hi. A laibu min ahi bang
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 Taang Zomi Zokam Mimal Min Malgawm Zia
liinlian ka thei nawn kei hi. “English-Tiddim Dictionary” ci maw, “English-Chin Dictionary” ci
maw, hiam khat hi. Amah mu ngei lo ka hih man-in, “J. Khat Suan” /¯ʤeː ˋxʌt ˋsʊɑːn/ ci-in, ka
gingkhiasak hi. “Khat” pen a tung-a “Tg. Gin Khat Suan” sung-a “Khat” tawh a kibangsak, ka hi
hi.

Ahi zongin, ka nung theih ciangin, “Tg. J. Khat Suan” sung-a “Khat” pen a tung-a bang-in
“Khat” na hi lo-in, a aw sau, a aw pheipai na hi hi. /¯tɑːŋ ¯ʤeː ¯xɑːt ˊsʊɑːn/ na hi zaw hi.

“J. Khat Suan” sung-a “Khat” pen, / ¯xɑːt/ ahih manin, “Khaat” ci leeng, a kitel khial lo dng, ahi
hi.

Tg. J. Khaat Suan /¯tɑːŋ ¯ʤeː ¯xɑːt ˊs/¯ʊɑːn/.

“Tg. Zam Khat Kham” zong, “Tg. Gin Khat Suan” bangmah-in, “Khat” /ˋxʌt/ ahi hi. /¯tɑːŋ
ˋzɑːm ˋxʌt ¯xʌm/ ahi hi.

“Tg. Khat Khaw Thang” leeuleeu pen, a tung-a “Tg. J. Khaat Suan” tawh kibangin, a aw sau,
pheipai hi. /¯tɑːŋ ¯xɑːt ˊxɒ̥ ¯tʰʌŋ/ ahi hi. <Khaat Khaw Thang> ci leeng, kitel khial lo hi

“Tg. En Khat Thang” le “Lia Cing Khat” pen /¯tɑːŋ ˋeːn ˋxʌt ¯tʰʌŋ/ le /¯liɑ ¯͜tsɪŋ ˊxʌt/ hi
leeuleeu uh hi.

Tua ahih manin, “Khat” aw tom, nuaikiat pen <Khat> mah ci-in, “Khat” awsau, pheipai pen
<Khaat> ci leeng, kitel khial lo ding hi. A hoih zaw dang, i theih a om leh, khat le khat kitheisak
ni.

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 Zokam Vowel Phonemes Taang Zomi

APPENDIX 1

(Nungthuap)
Zokam Vowel Phonemes
<a> // <e> // <i> // <o/aw> // <u> // To-
tal
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15
)

A Monophthongs [10]

A1 <a> // <e> // <i> // <o/aw> / / <u> //

01 Long [5] 5
01.1 D.L <aa> /ɑː/ <ee> /eː/ <ii> /iː/ <aw> /ɔː/ <uu> /uː/
.
01.2 N.L <aa> /ɑ/ <ee> /e/ <ii> /i/ <aw> /ɔ/ <uu> /u/
02 Short [5] 5
02.1 D.S. <a> /ʌ/ <e> /ɛ/ <i> /ɪ/ <o/aw> /ɒ/ <u> /ʊ/
02.2 C.S <ah> /ʌʔ/ <e> /ɛʔ/ <i> /ɪʔ/ <o/aw> /ɒʔ/ <u> /ʊʔ/
02.3 R.S <a> ʌ̥// <e> /ɛ̥/ <i> /ɪ̥ / <o/aw> /ɒ̥/ <u> /ʊ̥/

B Diphthongs [24]

B1 <ai> // <ei> // <ii> // <awi> // <ui> //

03 Long [5] 5
03.1 D.L <aai> /ɑːi/ <eei> /eːi/ <iii> /iːi/ <awi> /ɔːi/ <uui> /uːi/
.
03.2 N.L <aai> /ɑi/ <eei> /ei/ <iii> /ii/ <awi> /ɔi/ <uui> /ui/
.
04 Short [5] 5
04.1 D.S. <ai> /ʌɪ/ <ei> /ɛɪ/ <ii> /ɪɪ/ <oi> /ɒɪ/ <ui> /ʊɪ/

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 Taang Zomi Zokam Vowel Phonemes
<a> // <e> // <i> // <o/aw> // <u> // To-
tal
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15
)

04.2 C.S <aih> /ʌɪʔ/ <eih> /ɛɪʔ/ <iih> /ɪɪʔ/ <oih> /ɒɪʔ/ <uih> /ʊɪʔ/

B2 <au> / / <eu> /e/ <iu> // /awu/ // <uu> /uu /

05 Long [5] 5
05.1 D.L. <aau> /ɑːu/ <eeu> /eːu/ <iiu> /iːu/ <awu> /ɔːu/ <uuu> /uːu/
05.2 N.L. <au> /ɑu/ <eu> /eu/ <iu> /iu/ <awu> /ɔu/ <uu> /uu/
06 Short [5] 5
06.1 D.S. <au> /ʌʊ/ <eu> /ɛʊ/ <iu> /ɪʊ/ <o/ou> /ɒʊ/ <uu> /ʊʊ/
06.2 C.S. <auh> /ɑʊʔ/ <euh> /ɛʊʔ/ <iuh> /ɪʊʔ/ <oh / /ɒʊʔ/ <uuh> /ʊʊʔ/
ouh>

B3 <ia> // <ua> //
07 Long [2] 2
07.1 D.L. <iaa> /iɑː/ <uaa> /uɑː/
07.2 N.L. <iaa> /iɑ/ <uaa> /uɑ/
08 Short [2] 2
08.1 D.S. <ia> /ɪʌ/ <ua> /ʊʌ/
08.2 C.S. <iah> /ɪʌʔ/ <uah> /ʊʌʔ/
08.3 R.S. <ia/e> /ɪʌ̥, ɛ̥/ <ua / aw /ʊʌ̥. ɒ̥/
/ o>

C Triphthongs [8]

C1 <iai> <uai>
09 Long 2
09.1 D.L. <iiaai> /iɑːi/ <uuaai /uɑːi/
09.2 N.L. <iiaai> /iɑi/ <uuaai> /uɑi/
10 Short 2

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 Zokam Vowel Phonemes Taang Zomi

<a> // <e> // <i> // <o/aw> // <u> // To-

tal
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15
)

10.1 D.S. <iai> /ɪʌɪ/ <uai> /ʊʌɪ

10.2 C.S <iaih> /ɪʌɪʔ/ <uiah> /ʊʌɪʔ/

C2 <iau> <uau>
11 Long 2
11.1 D.L <iiaau> /iɑːu/ <uuaau> /uɑːu/
.
11.2 N.L <iiaau> /iɑu/ <uuaau> /uɑu/
.
12 Short 2
12.1 D.S. <iau> /ɪʌʊ/ <uau /ʊɑʊ/
12.2 C.S. <iauh> /ɪʌʊʔ/ <uauh> /ʊɑʊʔ/
Total 42

Table 1 An inventory of Zokam Vowel Phonemes (42 in all)

Legend:

[ ̥ ] = Under-rinɡ, used to show reduced, [ ] = (square brackets) phone; allophone;

unstressed, w̩eak, or partial sound. phonetic transcription

[ ː ] = (diacritc lookinɡ like a colon) Length mark

for Definitely Long
D.L. = Definitely Long
< > = (anɡular brakets) grapheme; orthography; N.L. = Normally or Neutrally Long
letter; word; spelling D.S. = Definitely Short
C.S. = Creaky (Short)
/ / = (slashes) phoneme; phomemic transcription R.S. = Reduced / Weak. / Partial (Short)

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 Taang Zomi Zokam Vowel Phonemes

APPENDIX 2

Zokam Consonant Phonemes

x (syllable) x- (onset) -x (coda) -x- (both onset &
coda)
01 <b-> /b/ 01 <b-> /b/
02 <c-> /ts, tɕ/ 02 <c-> /ts, tɕ/
03 <ch-> /tʃ, tɕʰ/ 03 <ch-> /tʃ, tɕʰ/
04 <d-> /d/ 04 <d-> /d/
05 <f-> /f/ 05 <f-> /f/
06 <g-> /ɡ/ 06 <g-> /ɡ/
07 <h-> /h/ 07 <h-> /h/
08 <-h> /ʔ/ 1 /-h/ /ʔ/
09 <-k-> /k/ 08 <k-> /k/ 2 /-k/ /k/ 1 <-k-> /k/
10 <kh-> /x/ 09 <kh-> /x/
11 <-l-> /l/ 10 <l-> /l/ 3 /-l/ /l/ 2 <-l-> /l/
12 <-lh> /lˀ/ 4 /-lh-/ /lˀ/
13 <-m-> /m/ 11 <m-> /m/ 5 /-m/ /m/ 3 <-m-> /m/
14 <-n-> /n/ 12 <n-> /n/ 6 /-n/ /n/ 4 <-n-> /n/
15 <-ng-> /ŋ/ 13 <ng-> /ŋ/ 7 /-ng/ /ŋ/ 5 <-ng-> /ŋ/
16 <-p-> /p/ 14 <p-> /p/ 8 /-p/ /p/ 6 <-p-> /p/
17 <ph-> /pʰ/ 15 <ph-> /pʰ/
18 <s-> /s/ 16 <s-> /
19 <-t-> /t/ 17 <t-> /t/ 9 /-t/ /t/ 7 <-t-> /t/
20 <th-> /tʰ/ 18 <th-> /tʰ/
21 <v-> /v/ 19 <v-> /v/
22 <z-> /z/ 20 <z-> /z/
22 20 9 7

Table 2. An inventory of Zokam Consonant Phonemes (22 in all, including /tʃ or tɕʰ/ and /f/). If we
exclude /tʃ or tɕʰ/ and /f/, we have 20 consonant phonemes.

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 Zokam Vowel Phonemes Taang Zomi

APPENDIX 3
Selected Phonetic (Phonemic) Symbols1ː
Vowel Phonemes Consonant Phonemes

/ɑ/ːScript A (Open back unrounded vowel). Used /ʔ/ː Glottal stop (Glottal plosive). Used in such
for long a, as in “Pa aw,...” Its short counterpart is words as Dahpa a heh mahmah hi.
/ʌ/.
/ɕ/: Curly tail C (Voiceless alveolo-palatal
/ʌ/ː Turned V (Open-mid back unrounded vowel). fricative).
Used for short a, as in “Ka Pa aw,...” Its long
counterpart is /ɑ/. /tɕ/ː T-Curly-tail C ligature (Voiceless alveolo-
palatal affricate).
/ɛ/ː Epsilon (Open -mid front unrounded vowel).
Used for short e, as in “Suangpi suangneu in /ts/: T-S ligature (Voiceless dental or alveolar
thek.” Its long counterpart is /e/. affricate).

/ɪ/ː Small capital I (Near-close near-front
unrounded vowel). Used for short i, as in “I nu i
pate...” Its long counterpart is /i/.
/ɔ/ː Open O (Open mid-back rounded vowel).
Used for long aw, as in “Zeisu i lawm.” Its short
counterpart is /ɒ/,
/ts/ or /tɕ/: Used as in “Thucin thutang.”
/ŋ/ː Eng (Voiced velar nasal). Used for the
consonant digraph <ng>, as in “Ngasa duh ing.”
/x/ː Lower-case X (Voiceless velar fricative).
Used for the consonant digraph <kh>, as in Khapi.

/ɒ/ː Turned script A (Open back rounded vowel). /j/ː Lower-case J (Voiced palatal appoximant).
Used for short aw, as in “Dr. Kam Khaw Thang Used for the “y” sound in “you”, “youth”,
khawpi sung-ah pai hi.” Its long counterpart is /ɔ/. “Yangon”, etc.

/ʊ/ː Upsilon (Near-close, near-back rounded /y/ː Lower-case Y (Close front rounded vowel).
vowel). Used for short u, as in “Na khut tawh na Not used in Tedim Zokam, and rarely used in
sep khempeuh...” Its long counterpart is /u/. English.

Tonal Phonemes

/ˇ/ Rising-Falling Tone, as in “Tuuno’ Si”. (Blood

of the Lamb)
/ˊ/ Rising Tone, as in “Aksi en ni.”(Let’s gaze at
the Star).
/¯/ Level Tone, as in “Ui kaang khat ka nei hi.”
(White dog)
/ˋ/ Falling Tone, as in Pilna

1 The International Phonetic Association. Handbook of the International Phonetic Association: A Guide to the Use of the
International Phonetic Alphabet. New Tork: Cambridge University Press, 1999; 11th Printing, 2010

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