Nishi (also known as Nyishi, Nisi, Nishang, Nissi, Nyising, Leil, Aya, Akang, Bangni-Bangru, Solung) is a Sino-Tibetan language of the Tani branch spoken in Papum Pare, Lower Subansiri, Kurung Kumey, Kra Daadi, East Kameng, Pakke Kesang, Kamle districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Darrang District of Assam in India. According to the 2011 census of India, the population of the Nishi speakers is approximately 280,000. Though there are plenty of variations across regions, the dialects of Nishi, such as Akang, Aya, Nyishi (raga), Tagin are easily mutually intelligible, with the exception of the rather small in population Bangni-Bangru and Solung Dialects being very different from the former. 'Nisi' is sometimes used as a cover term for western Tani languages.
Nishi is a subject–object–verb language.
Origin The main origin of this language has been pointed out by George Abraham Grierson as 'Dafla'.Linguistic Survey Of India, Vol. III part I (Tibeto Burman Family) first published almost a century ago He included different varieties under a common name which is known as North Assam group. The varieties are Dafla, Miri and Abor according to him. Daflas used to denote them as 'Nyi-Shi'. these tribes inhabited between the Assam Valley and Tibet. Then they started to spread in Lakhimpur, Sibsagar and Darrang Districts of Assam. Mr. William Robinson in his notes mentioned that Daflas were spread over a region from 92°50' to 94° north latitude.
The word itself means "upland man", and is a compound of ("man") and ("highland").
They are probably descendants of peoples who separated from Khasi 4,200 years ago.
Phonology
Nishi is a tonal language that utilizes three tones: rising, neutral, and falling. These can be applied to all of its vowels, and often can change the word's meaning:
– "to hold" – "to deliver" – "to vomit"
+Vowels Front Central Back High Mid Low
These are the consonants of Nyishi. Where the orthography differs from the IPA, the orthography is bolded. Velar fricative [x] appears in less than ten words in Abraham's vocabulary list, and is regarded as questionably phonemic.
+BilabialAlveolarPalatalVelarGlottalNasal Stopvoiceless voiced Fricative Approximant Tap
Grammar Nyishi distinguishes between number, person, and case. It does not have a gender system, but special affixes can be added to nouns to denote gender.
Pronouns
+ Personal Pronouns Person Singular Dual Plural 1st ŋo ŋuiɲ ŋul 2nd no nuiɲ nul 3rd mɨ buiɲ bul
Vocabulary
Numerals English Romanization Nyishi One akin, aking akin Two anyi, enyi aɲiə Three om oum Four api Five ang, ango,angu aŋ(o)
The counting system differs when referring to human vs. non-human objects.
References
Further reading Post, Mark W. (2013). Paper presented at the 13th Himalayan Languages Symposium. Canberra, Australian National University, Aug 9.