Mara language

Mara is a Kuki-Chin language spoken by Mara people, mostly the Tlosaih tribe living in 30 villages of Chhimtuipui district, southern Mizoram, India and the adjacent villages in Burma.

The Mara (Tlosaih) languages belong to the Kuki-Chin branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The speakers of the languages are also known as Mara (Tlosais).

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

Demographics

• Population: 56,574 in Saiha district, Mizoram, India (2011), 37,000 in Burma (2007).
• Region: Saiha District, Mizoram (India), Indo-Burma Border
• Alternate names: Lakher, Mara, Maram, Mira, Zao, Shendu, Khawngsai, Khyeng.
• Languages: Tlôsaih, Sizo (Chapi/Saby/Ngiaphia), Hlaipao (Vahapi, Lelai and Heima), Lyvaw (Nohro & Notlia), Lochei ochebi, Zophei (Ahnai/Vytu, Bawipa and Asah/Leita), Senthang (Khuapi/Saith a), Lautu (Awhsa/Kahno) & Saté

• Tribes: Zophei, Lautu, Senthang, Tlosai, Hlaipao and Haw Thai

Orthography

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 (lowercase 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:

• Template:Lang (Template:Lang)
• Template:Lang (Template:Lang)
• Template:Lang
• Template:Lang (Template:Lang)

Today the Mara language has its own alphabet; words inside brackets show author N.E. Parry's transliterations from 1937.

Pronouns

Singular

• 1st person: Template:Lang, Template:Lang - I
• 2nd person: Template:Lang, Template:Lang - you
• 3rd person: Template:Lang, Template:Lang or Template:Lang - he, she, it

Plural

• 1st person: Template:Lang - we
• 2nd person: Template:Lang - you
• 3rd person: Template:Lang - they

Possessive Pronouns

Singular

• Template:Lang - my
• Template:Lang - mine
• Template:Lang - thy (you)
• Template:Lang - thine (yours)
• Template:Lang - him, her, it
• Template:Lang - his, hers, its

Plural

• Template:Lang - our
• Template:Lang - ours
• Template:Lang - your
• Template:Lang - anyone
• Template:Lang - someone, a certain one
• Template:Lang - some . . . others
• Template:Lang - another, others
• Template:Lang - all

External links

• Marasaw.com [1]
• 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)