Chokri, (also known as Chakrü, Chakhesang and Eastern Angami) is one of three languages spoken by the Chakhesang Naga of Phek district, Nagaland state, India.[2] There are also some Chokri speakers residing in the Senapati District of Manipur.[2] In 1991, it was estimated that there were 20,000 native Chokri speakers.[3]

Chokri
Native toIndia
RegionNagaland
EthnicityChakhesang Naga
Native speakers
111,062 (2011 census)[1]
Language codes
ISO 639-3nri
Glottologchok1243
ELPChokri Naga

Phonology

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Consonants[3]
Labial Alveolar/Retroflex (Alveolo-)
palatal
Velar Glottal
plain sibilant lateral
Nasal voiced m n (ɲ) (ŋ)
voiceless
Plosive/
Affricate
voiceless p t t͡s (t͡ɕ) k
aspirated t͡sʰ (t͡ɕʰ)
voiced b d d͡z (d͡ʑ) ɡ
Fricative voiceless s (ɕ) h
voiced v z (ʑ) (ɣ)
Liquid voiceless ɻ̊
voiced ɻ l
  • /b/ is heard as a fricative [β] when before /ɯ/.
  • /p/ is heard as [pf] when before /ɨ/.
  • /m/ is heard as [ɱ] when before high back vowels.
  • /ts, tsʰ, dz/ is heard as [, tɕʰ, ], /s, z/ as [ʑ, ɕ], and /n/ as [ɲ], all occurring when before /i/.
  • /n/ is heard as [ŋ] between two high back vowels.
  • /k, kʰ/ can also be heard as [q, qʰ], /ɡ/ as [ɣ], /ɻ/ as [ɣ, ʁ], and /ɻ̊/ as [χ] all occurring in free variation.
Vowels[3]
Front Central Back
Close i ɨ u ɯ
Mid e o
Open a
  • /ɨ/ is heard as [ə] in unstressed position.
  • Sounds /e, o/ can be heard as [ɛ, ɔ] in free variation.

Script

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The Chokri language is largely written in the Latin script.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues - 2011". www.censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b Chokri language at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  3. ^ a b c Bielenberg, Brian; Zhalie, Nienu (Fall 2001). "Chokri (Phek Dialect): Phonetics and Phonology" (PDF). Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area. 24 (2): 85–122. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  4. ^ Sachdeva, Rajesh (2001). Language Education in Nagaland: Sociolinguistic Dimensions. Regency Publications. ISBN 9788187498339.