The Importance of Dialect : Mongmi dialect

Chimoitim M. Phairong *

Language is a storyteller; stories not for narration, but also for protection and archiving folklores.

Through language, a lot of our past can be explored thereby allowing us to achieve more in the future. In the contemporary discipline of Linguistics, Sanskrit is arguably regarded as the oldest language in the world.

The origin of many languages of India such as Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, and other Indo-Aryan languages can be traced back to Sanskrit. Research on languages has shown that more than half of the languages of the world find their origin in Sanskrit.

Eighteenth century scholars were greatly astonished by discovering the similarity of Sanskrit with classical European languages both in grammar and vocabulary. This great discovery could only be made because of preservation of languages which allowed for learning and comparison of detailed characteristics of these languages and different dialect forms.

According to UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, 230 languages became extinct between the years 1950 to 2010. It estimates that there are some 3,000 endangered languages worldwide, and in reality there are many more unidentified languages. Etymology is lost and is corrupted with the loss of dialect; and every year many dialects are being lost.

Etymology is a prime element to have a better understanding of a 'word'. There are many examples to show this. The word 'state' originates from the Latin word 'status' which means 'standing' or 'position of a person or a body of person'. Now, as we are aware of the word state, we surpass in its uses.

Likewise scholars try to bring out the etymology of other words and this has become a major factor in learning about languages and our past. However, with the loss of dialects, the origin of many words will no longer be traced, and left unknown.

In the present political regime, languages have become political and the majority speaking dialect generally overrules the minor ones. With the emergence of the ideology of 'one tribe; one language, one culture, one story, one system,' many smaller tribal groups are increasingly under threat as their identity will be seriously jeopardized with the loss of their language.

One such tribal group is that of the Mongmis residing in Manipur near the Indo-Myanmar border. The Mongmi dialect is a dialect spoken by less than 2,000 people residing in the border areas of Myanmar and India in south-eastern Manipur. They are categorised under the Maring Tribe due to the many similarities between Mongmi and Maring, despite significant differences.

The importance of language and words is little known to the people of Mongmi and they have often ignored such aspects. However, in the twenty first century, Mongmis have now started realizing that language and words are also a part of their identity.

The Mongmis have been categorized as part of another tribe in recent times and it is therefore becoming difficult for them to claim their language, customs, culture, attire and the etymology of their words. They also do not have a platform or the independence to exert their identity as do many other larger tribes.

In early twentieth century, the Mongmis started settling in Pallel area which is part of the Greater Imphal Valley. They did this for better job opportunities, better transportation and medical facilities and also for better education. Even though Pallel is a diverse cultural area, Mongmis began losing their mother tongue and many of the original words were replaced by other languages such as Meiteilon.

Some sentences are now spoken mixed with other Manipuri languages. The present generation of Mongmis, who are born and raised in the Pallel area, are first introduced to the Meiteilon language. The latter is commonly used for communication among different communities of Manipur, in schools and elsewhere. Little effort is being made to teach the original dialect of Mongmis to the present generation adding to the woe of the dialect.

Words are art by themselves. A person's history or an identity can be identified from the words they speak, or from the names they carry.

Nagas inhabiting the southern Manipur, who live in Chandel and Tengnoupal districts, carry a story of people appearing from a hole or cave in the earth hence they collectively called 'khurmi' (khur from the word 'a-khur' meaning hole/ cave, and 'mi'- meaning people). Mongmis call themselves 'mongmi' based on this folklore.

Mongmis believe that after surfacing from the cave in Kulkung (a place where the sun rises), they crossed Mongmi, a place which is around the 'samjok valley' present day Myanmar, and gradually they started cultivating the art of living on the surface of Earth like sowing, harvesting, cattle rearing (mithun is regarded as the prime animal) and most importantly the art of magic. This folklore of their origin is carried in the form of song and hence in it's name.

Writing is indeed one of the best ways to preserve languages. However, when it comes to dialects, especially in case of communities of oral traditions, dialects have to be orally preserved. Dialects also carry the history through stories, folklores and songs. Unfortunately, in the Mongmi community, less than hundred people can sing traditional and customary songs, and this can be true to other minor tribal communities of Manipur and North-east India.

Dialects change with the change of ambience, but folklores and folk songs are an ideal way of discovering history in case of communities known for oral traditions. Many scholars and researchers write about the names that they are tagged to, but what about those who are not tagged in this way? Does this means they are nobody and should just give in to the banner where they have been tagged? Is the story of the minor tribal communities not important?

The essence of tribal study is an eminent one, no detail should be discarded, ignored or left obscure. Diverse dialects and stories of many people must be learnt, it is an urgent need to earnestly examined, for no story is unimportant. It is time we embrace the similarities, but respect the differences.