Miji (autonym: Dmay), also Dhammai or Sajolang, is a cluster of possibly

Sino-Tibetan languages Sino-Tibetan, also cited as Trans-Himalayan in a few sources, is a family of more than 400 languages, second only to Indo-European in number of native speakers. The vast majority of these are the 1.3 billion native speakers of Chinese languages ...

Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh (, ) is a state in Northeastern India. It was formed from the erstwhile North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) region, and became a state on 20 February 1987. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south. It shares ...

, northeastern India. "Dialects" include at least two distinct languages, which are not particularly close, with only half of the vocabulary in common between the languages of

East Kameng District East Kameng district is one of districts of Arunachal Pradesh state in northeastern, India. It shares an international border with China in the north and district borders with West Kameng district to the west, Pakke-Kessang district to the sou ...

and

West Kameng District West Kameng (pronounced ) is a district of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. It accounts for 8.86% of the total area of the state. The name is derived from the Kameng river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, that flows through the distric ...

. Long assumed to be Sino-Tibetan languages, they may be a small independent language family.

Varieties

There are 3 varieties of Miji. *Western Miji: spoken in and around Nafra and Thrizino circles,

. Western Miji speakers refer to themselves as the Sajalang (''sadʑalaŋ'') or Dhəmmai (''ðəmmai'') (Bodt & Lieberherr 2015:70). *Eastern Miji: spoken in Lada Circle,Blench, Roger. 2015
''The Mijiic languages: distribution, dialects, wordlist and classification''
m.s.

. Eastern Miji speakers refer to themselves as the Nəmrai (''nəmrai'') (Bodt & Lieberherr 2015:70). Bangru, sometimes called Northern Miji, is more divergent. It is treated in a separate article.

Distribution

According to ''Ethnologue'', Miji is spoken in the following areas of

. *

, Nafra circle, Bichom and Pakesa river valley – 25 villages including Debbing, Ditchik, Rurang, Nachinghom, Upper Dzang, Naku, Khellong, Dibrick, Nizong, Najang, Zangnaching, Chalang, Nafra, and Lower Dzang *

: Bameng and Lada circles – Wakke, Nabolong, Kojo, Rojo, Sekong, Panker, Zarkam, Drackchi, Besai, Naschgzang, Sachung, Gerangzing, Kampaa, Salang, Pego, and Dongko villages I.M. Simon (1979:iii)Simon, I. M. 1979. ''Miji Language Guide''. Shillong: Directorate of Research, Government of Arunachal Pradesh. lists the following Miji villages from the Census of 1971. *1. Chalang inlang *2. Díbín íbín *3. Ditchik ícik *4. Dzang zang*5. Jangnachin anachin*6. Khazolang *7. Khelong *8. Laphozu *9. Mathow *10. Nakhu *11. Nachibun *12. Nizung *13. Rurang Smaller hamlets include Dishin ícin Devrik ívih Diyung iyong Nazang atsang Nanthalang, and Otung thung Some Mijis have also live in Aka villages such as Dijungania, Buragaon, Tulu, Sarkingonia, and Yayung.

Phonology

Consonants

In all Miji languages the "p" "f" "t" and "k" sounds are always aspirated.

Vowels

Tones

The Miji languages have a relatively simple tonal system with only two tones: high and low. There is a third rising tone but it is so scarcely used that in some of the languages it is disregarded completely.