Phom is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Phom Nagas of Nagaland, Northeast India. Its speakers are primarily in Longleng district and few parts of bordering districts. The Phom language is written in Latin script and consists of 27 letters.
Alternate names for Phom language includes Phom, Phom shah. "Shah" is the Phom word for language. A Morung is called Pang and log drums, popular in Phom tradition are referred to as Shem.
Phonology All phonological charts are from Burling (1998). +ConsonantsBilabialAlveolarPostalveolarPalatalVelarGlottalStopaspiratedpʰtʰʈ͡ʂʰkʰunaspiratedptʈ͡ʂkFricativevoicelessʂhvoicedʐNasalmnɲŋApproximantwlj
Vocabulary A large part of the vocabulary of Phom is inherited from proto-Sino-Tibetan. Meaning Old Chinese Written Tibetan Written Burmese Phom "I" *ŋa nga ŋa ngei "you" *njaʔ – naŋ nüng "not" *mja ma ma''' ||nüvai |- | "two" || *njijs || gnyis || hnac < *hnit || nyi |- | "three" || *sum || gsum || sûm || jem |- | "five" || *ŋaʔ || lnga || ŋâ || nga |- | "six" || *C-rjuk || drug || khrok < *khruk || vok |- | "sun", "day"|| *njit || nyi-ma || ne < *niy || nyih |- | "name" || *mjeŋ || ming || ə-mañ < *ə-miŋ || men |- | "eye" || *mjuk || mig || myak || mük |- | "fish" || *ŋja || nya || ŋâ || nyah |- | "dog" || *kʷʰenʔ || khyi || khwe < *khuy'' shi
References
External links Phom Phonology Linguistic Ecology of Phom Language