Consonant Combination and Syllable Structure in Reang

Abstract

Reang is one of the indigenous languages of Northeast India spoken in Mizoram, Tripura and Assam including neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Burma. It is associated with the primitive tribe 'Reang' of Tripura According to the 2011 census of India report, the total population of Reang tribe is about 1,88,080. Like many other endangered languages of Northeast India, linguistic work on Reang is very limited. The main objective of the proposed work is to study the consonant combination and syllabic structure of Reang. Reang has a consonant combination and generally classified into two categories i.e consonant cluster and consonant sequence. The Reang is one of the smallest linguistic communities living in the state of Mizoram. Some historians and writers have preferred to call them as Tripuris11. Though the Reang has many affinities with the Kokborok language, their socio-cultural customs and style of living are very different from the Kokborok. Linguistically and ethnically, Reang tribes are akin to the Bodo group of Tibeto-Burman tribes of Northeast India. Languages and dialects of this Family spread in different areas as their speakers moved in degrees in search of food and shelter. Reang has linguistics affinity with several dialects which are spoken by Kacharis, Garos, Rabhas, Lalungs, Kochs, Dimasas, Chutiyas, Tripuris, Jamatias, Noatias, and a few others. The languages of these tribes are closely related to each other. The Indian government inadvertently employed the name Reang during a census reckoning. The correct nomenclature for this ethnic group is Bru. The term Reang is popularly known by the people of different linguistic communities. They speak a language, which is of Tibeto- Burmese origin and in the local vicinity referred to as Kau Bru. Kau stands for language and Bru stand for ethnic. The Reang clans are divided into Meska and Molsoi Groups. Meska group is further divided into seven subgroups or Dopha i.e., Meska, Mhsa, Corkhy, Raikcaoh, Wairem, Taumayakco and Tuimuiyaphaoh.