Mao, also known as Sopvoma, is a Sino-Tibetan language of the Angami–Pochuri linguistic sub-branch.[2] It is spoken primarily in Senapati district, northwestern Manipur and in Nagaland, India. It is similar to Angami.[3] The speakers of this language use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.[4]

Mao
Sopvoma, Emela, Mao' La
Mao written in Meitei script
Pronunciationmau
Native toIndia
RegionNagaland, Manipur
EthnicityMao Naga, Poumai Naga
Native speakers
240,205 (2011 census)[1]
Sino-Tibetian
Dialects
  • Paomata
Official status
Recognised minority
language in
India
Language codes
ISO 639-3Either:
nbi – Mao
pmx – Poumai
Glottolognaga1397
ELPMao Naga

Phonology

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Consonants

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Labial Dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive voiceless p t k
aspirated (t̪ʰ)
voiced b (ɡ)
Affricate voiceless p͡f t͡s t͡ʃ
aspirated (p͡fʰ) t͡ʃʰ
voiced b͡v d͡z d͡ʒ
Fricative voiceless f s ʃ h
voiced v z ʒ
Nasal m n ŋ
Trill voiced r
voiceless ʰr̥
Lateral l
Approximant (w) j
  • /t͡ʃʰ/ and /w/ only rarely occur, and with /t͡ʃʰ/ only occurring in word-initial position.
  • The pre-aspirated voiceless /ʰr̥/, may have a word-initial allophone of [ʂ], [ʂ] rarely occurs phonemically.
  • [ɡ] only occurs marginally from loanwords.
  • /t̪, p͡f/ in word-initial position may be heard as [t̪ʰ, p͡fʰ] in free variation, rarely as phonemic.
  • /h/ may have an allophone of [x] word-initially, word medially in free variation. [x] rarely occurs as a phoneme.
  • /m/ before a central vowel /ɨ/ can have an allophone of a labiodental [ɱ].
  • /n/ before high vowel sounds can have an allophone of a palatalized [].

Vowels

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Front Central Back
Close i ɨ u
Mid e (ə) o
Open a
  • [ə] only occurs inter-morphemically.
  • /ɨ/ can be heard as rounded [ʉ] in free variation.
  • In word-initial position, /i, u/ can be lowered to [ɪ, ʊ].
  • /e, o/ can be lowered to [ɛ, ɔ] in word-final position.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues – 2011". censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Mao (Naga) language and alphabet". omniglot.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Mao (Naga) language and alphabet". omniglot.com. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Meitei | Ethnologue". Ethnologue. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. ^ Giridhar, P. P. (1994). Mao Naga Grammar. Mysore: Central Institute of Indian Languages.