Miji, also given the dialect names Sajolang and Dhammai, is a dialect cluster traditionally counted as one of the

Sino-Tibetan languages Sino-Tibetan (also referred to as Trans-Himalayan) is a family of more than 400 languages, second only to Indo-European in number of native speakers. Around 1.4 billion people speak a Sino-Tibetan language. The vast majority of these are the 1.3 ...

that is spoken in

Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh (; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in northeast India. It was formed from the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) region, and India declared it as a state on 20 February 1987. Itanagar is its capital and la ...

, northeastern India. The varieties 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 south ...

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 distri ...

. Previously classified as Sino-Tibetan languages, Miji and the recently discovered Bangru language may instead form a small independent language family.

Varieties

There are two divergent 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 (treated in a separate article), sometimes called "Northern Miji", is more divergent.

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) 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 varieties the "p" "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.

References

{{Reflist Hrusish languages Languages of India Endangered languages of India Tonal languages