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Tanchangya language

Last updated: 2025-07-26 13:52:12

Tanchangya language
Tanchangya
𑄖𑄧𑄐𑄴𑄌𑄧𑄁𑄉𑄴𑄡
'Tanchangya' in Tanchangya/Chakma script
Native toBangladesh
RegionChittagong Hill Tracts (Bangladesh)
Mizoram and Tripura (India)
Rakhine State (Myanmar)
EthnicityTanchangya people
Native speakers
46,000 (2022)[1]
Tanchangya alphabet
Language codes
ISO 639-3tnv
Glottologtang1330

The Tanchangya language is one of the eleven indigenous languages spoken in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Mizoram, Tripura, and Rakhine State. Despite the common belief that it is a Tibeto-Burman language, it is categorized as a Indo-Aryan language.[2] It is closely related to Chakma and Chittagonian. It is primarily spoken by the Tanchangyas people.[3]

Vocabulary

Tanchangya has many words from Indo-Aryan languages. It also maintains some Burmanised words, particularly in Buddhist terminologies.

Ancient Tanchangya

The original words of Tanchangya are believed to be from ancient Tanchangya.[4]

Tanchangya English
Awga (অগা) Uneducated, uncivilised
Awnsur (অন্সুর্) Regularly, always
Awnawpinaw (অন-পিন); Awnaw-sawnaw (অন- সনঅ) Insane, foolish
Awrawk (অরক্) Nest
Hawla (হলা) Fry, thick shrub bushes
Awsangya (অসাঙ্যা); Besangya (বেসাঙ্যা) An unmarriageable relation
A-uk/Aruk (আ-উক্, আরুক্) Picture; Sketch

Tibeto-Burman

Tanchangay belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family; hence, many Buddhist terms can be found in Tanchangya.[5]

Foreign words

In Tanchangya, words derived from Arabic, Portuguese, and English can be found.

Tanchangya Arabic/Portuguese English
Awktaw (অক্ত) Owakta (Arabic) Time
Gawrba (গর্বা) Gorba(Arabic) Guest
Gamala/Gabala (গাবালা, গামালা) Gamela (Portuguese) Bucket
Balti (বাল্তি) Balde (Portuguese) Bucket

Chakma

Outside of the Tanchangya tribe, there is a common belief that there is no difference between Tanchangya and the Chakma language.[6]

Tanchangya Chakma English
Bitsyawl Bijol Smooth
Pawd, Jangal Pawt Road
Awna sawna Awnaw sawnaw Half-brain
Diri, Bilawng Dighol Long time

References

  1. ↑ Tanchangya at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024) Closed access icon
  2. ↑ Debnath, Rupak (2008). Ethnographic Study of Tanchangya of CHT, CADC, Sittwe, and South Tripura. Kolkata: Kreativmind, India. p. 167.
  3. ↑ Debnath, Rupak (2008). Ethnographic Study of Tanchangya of CHT, CADC, Sittwe, and South Tripura. Kolkata: Kreativmind, India. p. 71.
  4. ↑ Roti Kanta Tanchangya (2000): 62-65
  5. ↑ Debnath, Rupak (2008). Ethnographic Study of Tanchangya of CHT, CADC, Sittwe, and South Tripura. Kolkata: Kreativmind, India. p. 88.
  6. ↑ "An Analysis of the Ethno-Linguistic Roots and Connections of the Chakma-Tanchangya People" (PDF). Dr Satyakam Phukan's Webpages. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2019.

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