First notes on the phonology and classification of the Bangru language of India

Abstract

This is the first description of the Bangru language spoken in a remote corner of Kurung Kumey district, Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast India. On the basis of our data and analysis, we identify Bangru as a Tibeto-Burman language with as its closest genetic relatives Miji and Hruso, spoken further to the southwest in East and West Kameng districts. Based on these preliminary data and their analysis, Bangru is described as having 18 distinctive consonants, seven distinctive simple vowels and three distinctive diphthong vowels. The basic syllable structure is Ci(G)V(Cf). Bangru is furthermore characterised by the retention of Proto-Tibeto-Burman prefixes as reduced syllables. This paper also provides additional evidence for the validity of Shafer’s ‘Hruso’, with Hruso itself as its most aberrant member.