Rabha is a Sino-Tibetan language of Northeast India. The two dialects, Maitori and Rongdani, are divergent enough to cause problems in communication. According to U.V. Joseph,Joseph, U.V. 2000. Rabha–English dictionary khúrangnala. Guwahati: Don Boco Publications. there are three dialects, viz. Rongdani, Maitori and Kocha (page ix). Joseph writes that "the Kocha dialect, spoken along the northern bank of the Brahmaputra, is highly divergent and is not intelligible to a Rongdani or Maitori speaker" (page ix). Joseph also writes that "The dialect variations between Rongdani and Maitori, both of which are spoken on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra, in the Goalpara district of Assam and belong to the northern slopes of Meghalaya, are minimal" (pages ix-x). He concludes the paragraph on dialectal variation with: "The Rongdani-Maitori dialectal differences become gradually more marked as one moves further west" (page x).
In 2007, U.V. Joseph published a grammar of Rabha with Brill in their series Languages of the Greater Himalayan Region.Joseph, U.V. 2007. Rabha. Leiden: Brill.
A representation of different Rabha dialects + Sample question answers and some words:English Rangdani Kocha Maitori Hello Srirasong Seolawu Urgirasong What is your name ? Nangi ata mung ? Nini utung mung ? Nangi ato mung? My name is Rasan. Angi mung Rasan. wni/Ini mung Rasan. Angi mung Rasan. I Ame/ Ang Ang Ang You Name/Nang Nwng Nang What Ata Utung Ato Why Atana Atanga/Atangna Ana When Bedo Bisomoi/Biba/Biasai Bedo Where Bisi/Bisina Bibai/Bitai Bo/Benga Speak Kani Brak/Bot Tep Body Kan-ganjhi Kan Kan Hair Khoro Hwwr/Huru Khorok Eye Neken Mwkwr Muken Arm Baha Cwsi Tasi Sun Rangsang Rasan Rangsang Moon Rangri/Ranggre Rangret/Naret Langri Morning Phung Mwnwu Phungi Evening Rangsri Rasanlwi Langgri Noon Dipor Sandupur Rangsangdupur Night Phar Phar Phari Day San San Sani Tomorrow Gaphung Ganapo Rebakaisani Week Satpaksa Sopta Sopta House Nok Nok/No/nwgwu Nok Door Nok Nakab Noko Village Song Song Song Husband Umba Mi Miba Wife Micik Micik/Jwg Michik Rice Mairung Mairong Mairun Milk Nu Nono/Nuno Nui Oil Thuchi Tel Thocha Meat Kaka Kan Makan Sand Hangceng Hanceng Hancheng River Tambrong Chikajhora Cikajhora Goat Pryn Purun Prun Cow Masu Mwsu/Musu Masu Spider Bibur Barcek Bhubur
A representation of different Rabha numbers
+ Numbers:English Rongdani Kocha Maitori Standard Rabha Zero Tha slong Slo Slong One Sa Sa Sa Sa Two Ning Ning Ning Ning Three Tham Tam Tham Tham Four Cesa Bri Ari Bri Five Tola Bwnga Campa Bwng Six Krop Do / Krop Hes Krop Seven Siya Sin Sorta Sin Eight Gin Gin Parta Gin Nine Bing suku Pindas Suku Ten Satha Chi Goda Hasi / chi Eleven Sasa Chisa Godasa sisa Twelve Saning Chining Godaning sining Thirteen Satham Chitaam Godatham sitham Fourteen Sacesa Chibri Godaari sibri Fifteen Satola Chibwnga Godacampa sibwng Sixteen Sakrob Chikrop Godahes sikrop Seventeen Sasiya Chisin Godasorta sisin Eighteen Sagin Chigin Godaparta sigin Nineteen Sabing Chisuku Godapindas sisuku Twenty Ningtha ningchi Rikha Ningsi Twentyone Ningsa ningchisa Rikhasa Ningsisa Twentytwo Ningning ningchining Rikhaning Ningsining Twentythree Ningtham ningchitam Rikhatham Ningsitham Twentyfour Ningcesa ningchibri Rikhaari Ningsibri Twentyfive Ningtola ningchibwnga Rikhacampa Ningsibwng Twentysix Ningkrob ningchikrop Rikhahes Ningsikrop Twentyseven Ningsiya ningchisin Rikhasorta Ningsisin Twentyeight Ninggin ningchigin Rikhaparta Ningsigin Twentynine Ningbing ningchisuku Rikhapindas Ningsisuku Thirty Thamtha tamchi Siri Thamsi Forty Cesatha brichi Arli Brisi Fifty Tolatha bwngachi Phala Bwngsi Sixty Krobtha kropchi Hesti Kropsi Seventy Siyatha sinchi Sorto Sinsi Eighty Gintha ginchi Arsi Ginsi Ninety Bingtha sukuchi Pinsip Sukusi Hundred sathatha sosa Gota So Twohundred Ningthatha soning Gotaning Soning Threehundred Thamthatha sotam Gotatham Sotham Fourhundred Cesathatha sobri Gotaari Sobri Fivehundred Tolathatha sobwnga Gotaphala Sobwng Sixhundred Krobthatha sokrop Gotahesti Sokrop Sevenhundred Siyathatha sosin Gotasorto Sosin Eighthundred Ginthatha sogin Gotaarsi Sogin Ninehundred Bingthatha sosuku Gotapinsip Sosuku Thousand Satha³ sochi Hajar Sohasi
Geographical distribution According to the Ethnologue, Rabha is spoken in the following areas of India.
Darrang district, Goalpara district, and Kamrup district, western Assam Nagaland Jalpaiguri district and Alipurduar district, West Bengal Tufanganj subdivision, Koch Bihar district East Garo Hills district and West Garo Hills district, Meghalaya
There are also 1,600 Rabha in 9 districts of Bhutan.Joshua Project
See also Rabha people Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council Rabha Baptist Church Union
References