Lexicography of Tribal Dialects of Manipur

B S Rajkumar *

Sahitya Akademi, Kolkata Regional Office has done yet another great service to the development of not only Manipuri language but also its sister tribal languages of Manipur.

The Writers' Forum, Imphal joined hands with the Akademi from 10-12 October, 2009 in organizing a three day workshop on Lexicography of Tribal Languages of Manipur at Hotel Nirmala, Imphal.

The aim was primarily to develop dictionaries in the tribal languages of Manipur such as

• Aimol,
• Chiru,
• Chothe,
• Hmar,
• Kabui,
• Khoibu,
• Kom,
• Mao,
• Paomei,
• Maring,
• Mate,
• Paite,
• Simte,
• Moyon,
• Tangkhul,
• Thadou,
• Thangal,
• Vaiphei,
• Zou,
• Maram,
• Laingmai,
• Mizo,
• Koireng,
• Kharam,
• Purum,
• Tarao,
• Saibol,
• Narum,
• Mousang and
• Anal.

It also aims at developing or rather compiling dictionaries regarding the remnants of the dialectal forms of vocabulary in the scheduled caste populace if the state as they are without any doubt closely related to old Meeteilon. Yet again, word enrichment is another device of developing a language and its literature.

Though, the primary objective is truly lexicographical in nature, it is also going to close the gap in language communication between the peoples of Manipur. And with that cultural integration and social harmony will also follow in close heel.

Then, some smaller tribal language, smaller in the sense that the number of speakers is small, are facing a slow extinction. With the help of such documentation these will get a fresh lease of life. With these thoughts in view, the project was taken up.

Ten languages namely –

• Tangkhul,
• Mao,
• Thadou,
• Kabui,
• Hmar,
• Paite,
• Kom,
• Vaiphei,
• Mizo and
• Zou

were taken up as the first phase and the remaining languages will also follow in consecutive years.

The Inaugural session of the workshop was held on 10/10/09 in the conference Hall of Hotel Nirmala at 2 pm. Prof N Khogendra, convener, Language Advisory Board (Manipuri), Sahitya Akademi was the Chief Guest and Prof IS Kangjam, President, Writers' Forum, Imphal took the chair.

Shri Dilip Mayengbam, Director, JNM Dance Academy, Imphal who was formerly a secretary of the Writers' Forum, Imphal gave the welcome address recounting the efforts of the Forum in organizing such workshops and seminars in the past. Shri B S Rajkumar, the Workshop Director gave the key-note address elaborating the contents of the workshop which was going to be a closed-door affair.

Prof N Khogendra Singh began landing the organisations' labour to launch such a vehement project as the compilation of lexicons in different languages as lexicography is not an anybody's job. He also felt dismayed to see half-heartedness of the powers that be at confronting with the realities found in less developed languages and literatures. Prof I S Kangjam was very hopeful of success of such a project.

The participants of ten tribal languages are
A Kholi and K Alexander Sani (Mao),
Ng Woleng and A S Lemmi (Tangkhul),
Ragongning Gangmei and Miss Lanchamei Golmei (Kabui-Rohongmei),
T K Singsit and Henkhochen Chongloi (Thadou),
John K Ngaite and N Nguldokhup (Paite),
Darliansung and Rev C Infimate (Hmar),
Nekhojang and Dr M Lamchinkhai (Zou),
L Pallenthong Kom and S Waihemunchung Kom (Kom),
RK Zarva and V Zathang who was absent (Mizo) and
Kamlan Vaiphei and Luna Vaiphei (Vaiphei).

There were three participants regarding Manipuri namely- AK Sharma, Th Kulamani Singh and Saratchandra Nongthomba. It was mainly a re-orientation session cum workshop.

The next day 11/10/09 started with the first Academic Session with Prof Ch Yashobanta as the Resource person. Prof Yashobanta enumerated the differences between a dialect and a language which ought to possess four distinctive features- autonomy, historiocity, vitality and standardization.

It was a far way communicative session and the participants felt free to voice their opinions and doubts which the Resource person as well as the Workshop Director jointly helped to solve and bring unanimous decisions. Thus, the dictionaries should it was decided, start with tribal entries.

Again these dictionaries will be divided into two sections in a single volume format (i) Starting with tribal entries and (2) starting with Manipuri entries. These languages being tone languages by nature really were full of problems regarding phonetic transcription.

But, to simplify the entries it was agreed to use single IPA transcription and to give meanings in numerical headings. Thus, it was decided to follow the pattern as given below-
Tribal Language or TL – Manipuri, English or Man, Eng and to reverse it to.

Man-TL, Eng in the second section within the book. Thus, a single volume of the dictionary thus devised will help any interested person to learn and speak at the minimum a rudimentary form of speech in that particular language.

The afternoon session saw Prof Ashok Mukhopadhyay who is now a leading lexicographer in Bangla though he was by profession a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the Jadavpur University (retired 1996). He gave a background to the origins of Bangla grammar and dictionary.

Then after clearing away many stumbling blocks the session agreed upon in general to follow the pattern as given below-
Graphological = -Phonological- Etymological- Morphological- Meaning- Syntactical- Dinchronic information- stylistic features- Examples
Or in other words
1. TL/IPA/(etymology) pt of speech. Man meaning Eng meaning (examples when required in both the two meaning languages
And
2. The reverse of it i.e. Man/IPA/(etymology) pt of speech. TL meaning Eng Meaning (examples when required in both the two meaning languages.

Regarding Etymological indication, as the science of etymology is at present at a nascent stage in these languages, the assembly agreed to give only the clear on objectionable information as in the case of loan words etc.

Again, much difficulty is found in phonetic transcription of these tone words. In this case, the workshop agreed to take the help of experts from the Linguistic Department, Manipur University, other concerned experts from inside the state and also to take the help of the Central Institute of Indian Language, Mysore.

The next day 12/10/09 started its first academic session with Shri N Kunjamohan Singh as the Resource person. He is not only a man of literature but also a lexicographer. He found the effort very timely and full of promises. He discussed various aspects of IPA and its applications with the participants in a very lively manner.

Prof P C Thoudam who was going to be the Resource Person in the afternoon session could not turn up due to some difficulties and the session was cut short in the pre-prandial session. After lunch, Valedictory session was held with Prof IS Kangjam in the chair.

Rev C Infimate and Shri Saratchandra Nongthomba expressed their feelings as they experienced it during the three day get together session.

Prof Kangjam also recounted the forums' activities in this area. Shri BS Rajkumar briefly put forth the salient features of the workshop and the discussions and decisions taken during the three days. Shri C Brojeshwor Sharma, Secretary, Writers' Forum, Imphal again gave a thanks giving address to everybody. Thus ended this valuable workshop.

Which is the beginning of an end, because without further effort to bring out in book form the discussions and orientations in the workshop, it will become an exercise in futility. So, the workshop Director requested all the participants to submit the first drafts by the end of December 2009. Then further efforts will be made to give them final shape and present to the printing press for realization of a great dream.

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* B S Rajkumar wrote this article for Hueiyen Lanpao (English Edition). The writer is Selection Grade Lecturer, in English Deptt of YK College, Wangjing . This article was webcasted at e-pao.net on 19th November 2009.

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