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. It is closely related to Chakma, Chittagonian, Noakhali and Rohingya languages. It is primarily spoken by the Tanchangyas people.
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.Roti Kanta Tanchangya (2000): 62-65
Tanchangya English Awga (অগা) Uneducated, uncivilisedAwnsur (অন্সুর্) Regularly, alwaysAwnawpinaw (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 Although it does not belong to the Tibeto-Burman language family, many Buddhist terms can be found in Tanchangya.
Foreign words
In Tanchangya, words derived from Arabic, Portuguese, and English can be found.
Tanchangya Arabic/Portuguese English Awktaw (অক্ত) Owakta (Arabic) TimeGawrba (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.
Tanchangya Chakma English Bitsyawl Bijol Smooth Pawd, Jangal Pawt Road Awna sawna Awnaw sawnaw Half-brain Diri, Bilawng Dighol Long time
References
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