Mohitjikumar32 at 11:12, 1 January 2026

2026-01-01T11:12:16Z

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{{Short description|Language spoken in India and Tibet}}
{{distinguish|Idun language}}
{{Infobox language
| name = Idu Mishmi
| nativename =
| image = Idu Mishmi diorama.JPG
| imagecaption = Diorama and [[wax figures]] of [[Mishmi people]] in [[Jawaharlal Nehru Museum, Itanagar]]
| region = [[India]]: [[Assam]]; [[Arunachal Pradesh]]: [[Dibang Valley district, Lower Dibang valley, Lohit]]; [[East Siang District]]; [[Upper Siang]]. [[China]]: southeastern [[Tibet Autonomous Region]]: [[Nyingchi Prefecture]]: [[Zayü County]]; western [[Yunnan]]
| ethnicity = [[Mishmi people]] (categorized as [[Lhoba people|Lhoba]] and Mishmi)
| speakers = 11,000
| date = 2001 census
| ref = e18
| familycolor = Sino-Tibetan
| fam1 = [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]?
| fam2 = [[Greater Siangic languages|Greater Siangic]]?
| fam3 = [[Digaro languages|Digarish]]?
| script = [[Latin script|Latin]]
| map2 = Lang Status 60-DE.svg
| mapcaption2 = {{center|Idu Mishmi is classified as Definitely Endangered by the [[UNESCO]] ''[[Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger]]''.}}
| iso3 = clk
| glotto = idum1241
| glottorefname = Idu
}}

The '''Idu Mishmi language''' is a small language spoken by the Idu [[Mishmi people]] in [[Dibang Valley district]], [[Lower Dibang Valley district]], [[Lohit district]], [[East Siang district]], [[Upper Siang district]] of the [[India]]n state of [[Arunachal Pradesh]] and in [[Zayü County]] of the [[Tibet Autonomous Region]], [[China]]. There were 8569 speakers in India in 1981 and 7000 speakers in China in 1994. It is considered an [[endangered language]].

==Religion==
They follow [[Animism]] and [[Shamanism]]. Ini Mashelo-Zinu and Nani Intaya are the supreme deities who are worshipped. Idu Mishmis believe that they created the universe and mankind. They also believe in the almighty sun and the divine spirit that governs the universe, spirits that govern nature and have a strong belief in an afterlife and spirit guides. They worship spirits, including benevolent and malevolent ones, and believe in the existence of ghosts. The Idu Mishmi tribe's shaman is called an Igu, and they perform rituals and dances to ensure the safety and health of their families and households. The Igu wears a coat, loin cloth, and an apron-like garment, and uses musical instruments while dancing, chanting, and singing.

==Locations==
In China, Idu Mishmi is spoken in Xiba village 西巴村, which has just over 40 residents and is located at the foot of Xikong Mountain 习孔山. Xiba village is located 10 kilometers from the nearest administrative center, namely Migu village 米古村 (Jiang 2005:4).<ref>Jiang Huo. 2005. ''Yiduyu Yanjiu''. Beijing: Minzu University Press.</ref> The Idu live in the Danba River 丹巴江 and E River 额河 watersheds in [[Zayü County]], Tibet. They are officially classified by the Chinese government as ethnic [[Lhoba people]].

In India, the Idu are found in [[Arunachal Pradesh]], although after the declaration of Roing as a Township, Adi people migrated south towards Sadiya. Idus followed and occupied the Northern Part of Lower Dibang Valley.

Idu People are believed to have migrated with the [[Adi people|Adi]] from southern Tibet in the early 1700s following footprints.

==Script==
The Idu Mishmi people did not usually have a script of their own. When needed Idu Mishmis tended to use the [[Tibetan script]].{{citation needed|date=November 2025}} Currently the Idu Mishmi have developed the Latin orthography known as "Idu Azobra".

==Alternative names==
The Idu Mishmi language is also referred to as:
* Kera’a<ref>CULHANE, Kirsten & PECK, Naomi & BOUAZIZ, Wifek & REINÖHL, Uta. 2023. ''The loss of word-initial consonants in Kera’a: A challenge for phonological theory''. 26th Himalayan Languages Symposium, 4–6 September 2023. Paris: INALCO.</ref>
* Sulikata by the indigenous Assamese people of the Assam Plains.
* Idu in general.
* Yidu may be used in China.
* Midi by the [[Adi people|Adi's]].

==Dialects==
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Dialect name
! Alternative name (if any)
! Area spoken
|-
| Mindri
|
| [[Anini]] area
|-
| Mithu
| Bebejia
| Hunli, Desali, Koronu, Abango, Bhismaknagar,
|-
| Midu
|
| [[Roing]], [[Dambuk]], [[Aohali]], [[Injonu]]
|-
| Mihi
|
| Ahi valley (Anelih)
|}

==Registers==
Idu has various registers that are used in different situations. These include:<ref>Blench, Roger. 2022. ''[https://www.academia.edu/82399458/Why_would_a_language_with_5000_speakers_have_seven_registers_Register_flipping_in_the_isolates_of_Northeast_India_compromises_the_unitary_concept_of_language Why would a language with 5000 speakers have seven registers? Register-flipping in the isolates of Northeast India compromises the unitary concept of language]''. Cambridge: Kay Williamson Education Foundation.</ref>

*shamanic register, known as ''Igu''<ref>REINÖHL, Uta. 2023. ''Shamanic languages and their potentials for understanding language history, genealogy and contact – The case of Igu''. 26th Himalayan Languages Symposium, 4–6 September 2023. Paris: INALCO.</ref>
*hunting register
*cursing register
*mediation register
*mourning register
*babytalk register
*humorous register

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Blench, Roger. 2017. [https://www.academia.edu/31295745/Idu_dictionary A dictionary of Idu, a language of Arunachal Pradesh]. Roing, Arunachal Pradesh: Mishmi Publishing House.
*Blench, Roger. 2016. [https://www.academia.edu/25276813/Attempts_to_write_the_Idu_language_and_a_proposal_for_a_modern_orthography Attempts to write the Idu language and a proposal for a modern orthography].
*Blench, Roger. 2016. [https://www.academia.edu/20315411/Hunting_among_the_Idu_a_people_of_Arunachal_Pradesh Hunting among the Idu, a people of Arunachal Pradesh].
*Blench, Roger, Mite Linggi, Hindu Meme, and Apomo Linggi. 2016. [https://www.academia.edu/20110571/Reading_and_writing_Idu Reading and writing Idu: a book of letters]. Roing, Arunachal Pradesh: Idu Language Development Committee.
* {{cite journal |title=A sketch grammar of Igu, the Shamanic language of the Kera'a |date=2025 |last1=Reinöhl |first1=Uta |last2=Pulu |first2=Pachu |last3=Wallner |first3=Usha |journal=Himalayan Linguistics |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=58–87 |issn=1544-7502 |doi=10.5070/H9.35231 |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7mh3m3x4|doi-access=free }}
* [http://mercury.soas.ac.uk/wadict/icstll41/abstracts/Chhangte_abstract.doc Preliminary notes on the phonology of Ida Mishmi]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?pg=00140 Discovery - Endangered Languages]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120430033216/http://knowidu.blogspot.com/2011/06/azobra-alphabet.html Idu Mishmi alphabet]
*{{cite book |last=Liu |first=Bin 刘宾 |date=2019 |title=Xizang Chayu Yidu yu 西藏察隅义都语 |location=Beijing |publisher=[[The Commercial Press]] |oclc=1153187238}}

{{Sino-Tibetan languages}}
{{Arunachal languages}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Definitely endangered languages]]
[[Category:Digaro languages]]
[[Category:Mishmi languages]]
[[Category:Languages of China]]
[[Category:Languages of Tibet]]
[[Category:Languages of Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Endangered languages of China]]
[[Category:Endangered languages of India]]
[[Category:Endangered Sino-Tibetan languages]]

Idu Mishmi language - Revision history

Mohitjikumar32 at 11:12, 1 January 2026