Zotung language

Zotung (Zobya) is a language spoken by the Zotung people, in the town of Rezua, Chin State, Burma. It is a continuum of closely related dialects and accents. The language does not have a standard written form since it has dialects with multiple variations on its pronunciations. A written script for Zotung was created in 1933 by Paw Khaw Ming (Siabawi Khuamin).

Etymologically, the long vowel counterparts of /aː/, /eː/, /iː/, /oː/, /ɔː/, and /uː/ have mutated or shifted towards several new vowels. Vowels such as /æː/, /ɔː/, /aʊː/, /ɛiː/, and /œː/ correspond to a single vowel /aː/ or /ɒː/ in more conservative Kuki-Chin languages. For instance, where Mizo and Laizo have mál [maːl], râlkap [raːlkap], nâsa [naːʂaː], pakhat [paˈkʰaːt], and sazûk [saˈzuːk], the correspondents in Zotung would be mæl [mæːl], rolkaw [rɔːlko], náwsaw [naʊːʂɔ], can-kheit [θaːn χɛiːt], and sazúk [sœˈzuːk].

Zotung has the following consonants, with the first symbol being its orthographical form and the second one its representation in the IPA:

C before a, aw, o, u, and y is pronounced like a dental fricative /θ/~/ð/. C and s are palatalized before e and i resulting in words like ciate [tsʲaːte] and seryn [ʃɛˈɾœn]. H is not pronounced in some dialects in certain words, for example: mango thæhai [tʲæˈʔæː]. T is rhotacized in some dialects that results in words like khate [kʰatɛ] and tukiaccu [tˠuˈkʲeðu] being pronounced [kʰaˈɾɛ] and [təˈkeirʊ]. Z has a very wide pronunciation range. It can be pronounced like the voiced fricative /ʒ/ /z/ /j/ or the English /dʒ/.

The digraphs in Zotung are ch-, kh-, ph-, hr-, rh-, and th-.

Ch- is seldom used in native words other than family or clan names. Ch- evolved from the palatalized soft t that preceded the vowels e and i. For example, chihno (death) was originally thihna or thihnak. Kh- in formal speech is a palatalized k sound. However, it is pronounced as /x/~/χ/ in informal speech. Hr- is a rare digraph representing /r̥/. It has evolved into /ɦ/ or /ʀ/ in some dialects. Rh- is not used in vernacular writing.

Zotung is rich with consonant clusters that have etymologically remained the same, but are written with schwas or other vowels to make a disyllable. They are found in native words such as tynkrin (firmly), cintling, ablyn (all), sparo as well as in loan words like Biathlam (Revelation), Kris (Christ), naiklab (nightclub), Griekram (Greece), and Bethlem (Bethlehem).

In 2009 VanBik lists the following Zotung villages: Aika, Lotaw, Lovaw, Ccangho, Pangva, Ramcci, Sihanthung, Zawngnak, Angraw, Polei, Vuakkhipaw, Lavoikum, Darcung, Khawboi, Setlai, Lungkhin, Leipi, Calthawng, Langly, Sensi, Khawtua, Tuinia, Rovaw, Rezua, Ccawtui, Ransae, Etang, Thandya, Tuibyn, Hrinthang, Siangaw, Lungthlialia, Thawlang, Hunglei, Raso, Tuilaw, Tingsi, Zesaw, Thesi, Lungring, Sungpi, Votui, Kailung, Belae, Lungngo, Sempi, Tuphae, Lungdua, Suiton, Daidin, Din, Voiru, Narbung.