Larong_language
Larong language
Sino-Tibetan language
Larong or Zlarong (autonym: la˥ rɔ˥; Tibetan name: la˥ ruŋ˥) is a recently documented Sino-Tibetan language spoken in Zogang and Markam counties of southeastern Chamdo, Tibet. It was recently documented by Zhao (2018)[1] and Suzuki & Nyima (2018).[2] Zhao (2018) tentatively classifies Zlarong as a Qiangic language.
| Larong | |
|---|---|
| Zlarong | |
| Native to | China |
| Region | Zogang County, Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
| Glottolog | zlar1234 |
Larong is referred to by the Changdu Gazetteer (2005)[3] as Rumei 如美话, as it is spoken in Rumei Township 如美乡, Markam County.
Zhao (2018) reports the autonym la˥rɔ˥ and the Tibetan exonym la˥ruŋ˥ for the speakers. Their language is referred to as mə˥kə˥ by speakers, and by Tibetans as ma˧˩ke˥˧ (Zhao 2018).
Nyina & Suzuki (2019) report the autonym m̥a55, which is identical to the Drag-yab autonym also reported by them (m̥a55 ~ ma55).[4]
Jiang (2023) refers to the language as Laronghua (拉茸话).[5]
- Renguo Township 仁果乡, Mdzo sgang County 左贡县 (Suzuki & Nyima 2018; Zhao 2018), including the village of Phagpa 坝巴村[2]
- Cuowa Township 措瓦乡, Markam County 芒康县[4]
- Rumei Township 如美镇, Markam County 芒康县 (Changdu Gazetteer 2005), including the village of Tangre Chaya 达日村[2]
- Qudeng Township 曲登乡, Markam County 芒康县 (two villages)[4]
Larong villages by township:[4]
| Township, County | Villages |
|---|---|
| Renguo Township 仁果乡, Dzogang | Dongba 东坝村, Deqinggang, Zuoke 左科村, Xindi 新德村, Shalong 沙龙村 (Sano), Paba 坝巴村, Jiaka 加卡村, Languo 兰果村, Woba, etc. |
| Cuowa Township 措瓦乡, Markham | Tongsha 通沙村, Wuba, Zhongri 仲日村, Kuzi 库孜村, Taya 它亚村, Dangreqiaya, etc. |
| Rumei Town 如美镇, Markham | Rumei 如美村, Zhuka 竹卡村, Lawu 拉乌村, and Dari 达日村 |
| Qudeng Township 曲登乡, Markham | Qudeng 曲登村 and Dengba 登巴村 |
A computational phylogenetic analysis by Jiang (2022) shows that Rumei (如美话) to be the most divergent Chamdo, and is not closely related to the Larong dialect (拉茸话) of Zogang County (左贡县).[5]
Larong is spoken in four townships in the Larong valley, along the Lancang River (also known as the Zla chu or Lachu River in Tibetan). The four townships are:[4]
- Ringo (Chinese: Renguo)
- Tshonga (Chinese: Cuowa): Larong villages are Tshonga, Rushul, Thosa, Thaya, Drori, and Kuze
- Rongsmad (Chinese: Rumei): Larong speakers in entire town
- Choedan (Chinese: Qudeng): Dempa (Chinese: Dengba) and Choedan village clusters, both Larong-speaking
The dialect spoken in Ringo and Tshonga differs from that of the dialect spoken in Rongsmad and Choedan.[4]
Suzuki & Nyima (2018)[2] note that Zlarong (Larong) is closely related to two other recently documented Sino-Tibetan languages of Chamdo, eastern Tibet, namely Lamo and Drag-yab (spoken in southern Zhag'yab County).
Suzuki & Nyima (2018)[2] report the following phonemes from the Tangre Chaya dialect of Larong.
| Labial | Alveolar | Retroflex | Palatal | Velar | Uvular | Glottal | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| plain | sibilant | ||||||||
| Nasal | voiceless | m̥ | n̥ | ȵ̊ | ŋ̊ | ɴ̥ | |||
| voiced | m | n | ȵ | ŋ | ɴ | ||||
| Plosive/ Affricate |
tenuis | p | t | ts | ʈ | tɕ | k | q | ʔ |
| aspirated | pʰ | tʰ | tsʰ | ʈʰ | tɕʰ | kʰ | qʰ | ||
| voiced | b | d | dz | ɖ | dʑ | g | ɢ | ||
| Continuant | voiceless | s | ɕ | x | χ | h | |||
| voiced | z | ʑ | ɣ | ʁ | ɦ | ||||
| Approximant | voiceless | l̥ | |||||||
| voiced | w | l | j | ||||||
| Trill | r | ||||||||
Prenasalisation and preaspiration appear as a preinitial.
Suzuki & Nyima (2018) report that each vowel has a creaky and nasalized counterpart.
Syllable structure: cCGV
Tones are high and rising. The first two syllables of each word act as the tone bearing unit. The second syllable is occasionally out of the tone bearing unit.[2]
Zhao (2018: 1-3) lists the following Zlarong words.
| Gloss | Zlarong |
|---|---|
| name | mɛ˥ |
| medicine | rɛ˥˧ |
| cloth | rɛ˩˧ |
| ice | ndza˥ |
| you | ȵo˥˧ |
| horse | rɛ˥˧ |
| road | rə˩˧ |
| blood | sɛ˥˧ |
| meat | tɕʰi˩˧ |
| urine | pi˩˧ |
| snow | wi˩˧ |
| water | tɕi˥ |
| smoke | mu˥kʰu˥ |
| wind | ma˧˩mi˥ |
| cloud | ndə˥rə˥ |
| belly | wu˩˧ |
| white | tʂʰɔ̃˧˩tʂʰɔ̃˥˧ |
| black | ȵi˧˩ȵi˥˧ |
| red | nɛ˥nɛ˥˧ |
| yellow | nɛ˥nɛ˥˧ |
| short | wɛ˧˩wɛ˥˧ |
| wide | pʰa˥pʰa˥˧ |
| thick | mbo˧˩mbo˥ |
| fish | ȵɛ˩˧ |
| sand | tɕy˧˩mɛ˥˧ |
| doctor | mɛ̃˥pɛ˥˧ |
| ground | sɛ˥˧ |
| zero | lɛ˥kɔ˥ |
| one | ti˩˧kʰi˥ |
| two | nɛ˧˩ji˥˧ |
| three | sɔ̃˩˧ |
| four | ɣə˩˧ |
| five | ŋa˩˧ |
| six | tɕʰu˩˧ |
| seven | ȵɛ˩˧ |
| eight | ɕɛ˩˧ |
| nine | ŋgo˩˧ |
| ten | a˥kõ˥ |
- Zhao, Haoliang. 2018. A brief introduction to Zlarong, a newly recognized language in Mdzo sgang, TAR. Proceedings of the 51st International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics (2018). Kyoto: Kyoto University.
- Suzuki, Hiroyuki and Tashi Nyima. 2018. Historical relationship among three non-Tibetic languages in Chamdo, TAR. Proceedings of the 51st International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics (2018). Kyoto: Kyoto University.
- Xizang Changdu Diqu Difangzhi Bianzuan Weiyuanhui 西藏昌都地区地方志编纂委员会 (2005). Changdu Diquzhi 昌都地区志. Beijing: Fangzhi Chubanshe 方志出版社.
- Jiang, Huo 江荻 (2022). "Linguistic diversity and classification in Tibet 西藏的语言多样性及其分类". Zhongguo Zangxue 中国藏学. 6. Retrieved 2023-03-16 – via Chinese Tibetology Center 中国藏学研究中心.
- Zhao, Haoliang. 2018. A brief introduction to Zlarong, a newly recognized language in Mdzo sgang, TAR. Proceedings of the 51st International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics (2018). Kyoto: Kyoto University.