ZOLAI — the birth of Zomi script

Thupatna

Joseph Herbert Cope (Cope Topa) in Zomite anungta Pasian thu hong muam ding, Leivui pan hong lamto ding leh Niinphual pan hong domto dingin 1910 November kha ni (1) ni in Tedim hong tung hi.

Zomite in Pasian thu sim theih nang leh leitung ah khuasak theihnangin 1913 kum in sim theih ding LAI hong bawlsak-a tu in Kum 100 (1913 – 2013) hong cingta hi.

Tua LAI in Zomite' nisim nuntakna, thu leh la kizopna leh Pasian thu simna in akizang ZOLAI ahihi.

Roman Alphabet mal 20 bek tawh hong bawlsak Zolai in tel baih in, zat nuam a, Leitunga Pau tuamtuamte ahibangin kigelh thei hi. Tulaitak in Kawlgam, India leh Leitung gam tuamtuamte ah Zolai a zang mi Tulza-thum leh, tulsawm-li leh tul-li (344,000) om hi ci-in Leitung Kampau tuamtuamte akan cian Ethnologue in naciamteh hi.

Zomite in Zolai ihneih manin Leitungah Minam khat in hong kiciamteh-a lungdam leh angtan huai mahmah ahihi.

Zopau hong Kipatkhiatna

Leitung ah Pau nam 7,105 omhi ci-in Linguistic Society of America in ciamteh hi.

Hih Pau teng nampi (4): Indo-European (Europe lam), Sino-Tibetan (Asia Lam), Semitic (Arab, Israel, Sehnelgam lam) leh Bantu (Africa lam) cihbangin kikhen hi. Sino-Tibetan sungah Pau nampi 250 om in Tibeto-Burma Pau nam khat in kihel hi. Tibeto-Burma Paunam sungah Pau nam 400 bang om in Zopau nam khat in kihel ahihi.

TODO(migrate): Zomite Lai zatna leh 'Lai' kammal etymology (English 'Script', Sen 'Jiaoben', Mogolia 'Bichig', Tibet 'Bod yig', Kawl 'Sa'). Paste the two paragraphs about 'Lai' terminology and the Zopau Lai-prefixed vocabulary list here.

Tibet pau leh Zopau etkaakna:

• Khat — Chick
• Nih — Nih
• Thum — Sum
• Li — Zhi
• Nga — Nga
• Mit (eye) — Mit
• Na (ill, sick, pain) — Na
• Numei, Anu (Female) — Mo
• Sa (hot) — Tsha
• Sa (meat) — Sha
• Nga sa (fish meat) — Nya sha
• Si (die) — Shi

Zopau in mitna (eye sore) pen Tibet pau in mitna mah hipah hi. Zopau in mi nga si (five persons die) pen Tibet pau in mi nga shi mah hipah hi. Tua ahihmanin tanglai ih Zopau in Tibet pau tawh kinai-in Tibetgam pan hong piangkhia Pau ahihlam kimu thei hi.

Zomite' Lai Neih Masakna

TODO(migrate): tangthu about two brothers (Older / Younger) leaving Tibet with scripts written on hide vs. bamboo; dog eats the younger brother's script; older brother sends message; younger brother visits and misunderstands; script lost. Paste the 8 narrative paragraphs from the legacy source here.

Pau Cin Hau Lai Zatna

Pu Pau Cin Hau Tangthu atomin:

1859 kum December kha in Tedim khua Pu Khan Lian leh Pi Cing Zam te sungpan hong piang hi.

TODO(migrate): family lineage (Pu Khan Lian's 8 sons, Pau Cin Hau as 4th, Rev. Hau Go as youngest); life in Tedim/Lailui/Mualbem; illness at 15 years; the hunting incident with the Sakhi (deer) and Thau (rifle); dream/vision of Pasian; healing ministry; Pi Nuam Dim's prophecy; naming of Sian Khaw Cin (first Zomi to bear Pasian's name).

Kum 1948 December 28 ni in Mualbem ah a leitung nuntakna nusia hi.

Pau Cin Hau Lai hong Piankhiatna:

Pau Cin Hau Lai in 'Zotual Lai' ahk 'Laipian Lai' zong kici hi. Kum 1899 in Pasian in Pu Pau Cin Hau Zomite zat ding Lai mangmuhna tawh musak hi.

TODO(migrate): 1902 kum in Lai bawlna; 'Laipianpa Pau Cin Hau'; Logographic script with 1053 characters in 6 volumes; 1931 puahphatna into Alphabetic script with 57 characters (37 consonants/vowels + 20 tone marks); teaching on stone and clay tablets.

Pau Cin Hau Lai Kizatna:

TODO(migrate): use before missionary Kawllai in Zogam, Manipur, Lusei; 1917 Piantit era; complaints to British authorities written in Pau Cin Hau Lai; missionaries invited him to collaborate but declined; 1931 British and Foreign Bible Society printed 500 copies of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) in Pau Cin Hau script.

Census of India 1931 Volume XI Part (I) laimai 194-195 sungah 'Pau Cin Hau Lai' ci-in kikhum hi. Tu hunciangin Laipian (Siangsawn) Pawlpi sung ah kilim zat mahmah hi. Leitung a Sang minthang tampi pan in Lai lam Thuthuuk Kankhiatna (Research) bawlte in Pau Cin Hau Lai nalim kan mahmah uhhi.

Kawllai Kizatna

TODO(migrate): missionaries brought Karen Sia teachers to Zogam; 1904 Sia Shwe San placed in Khuasak; Pu Hau Cin Khup's role in getting a Kawllai school for Tonzang (Sia Po Ko sent 1905); Khuasak & Tonzang as first schools; Kumpi opens Primary schools 1909 in Tedim & Lennakot; growth of church schools (Theizang, Limkhai, Dolluang 1920; Khuasak Grade 6 1923); phase-out of Kawllai in favour of Zolai from 1925.

Zolai Neihna

Joseph Herbert Cope (Cope Topa) Tangthu atomin:

Joseph Herbert Cope 1882 November 21 ni in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA ah suak hi. 1899 kum in Tui kiphum hi. 1904 kum in Pennsylvania University pan B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science) Degree ngah in 1908 ciangin Rochester Theological Seminary pan B.D. (Bachelor of Divinity) ngah a tua kum July 7 ni in Ordination kipia hi.

Kum 1908 September 3 ni in Elizabeth Coldwel Smith tawh pumkhat suah kitenna nei hi. Tapa 3 Joseph Howard Cope, Harry Cope leh Appleton Danforth Cope te nei uhhi.

1908 December 21 ni in Khalkha hong tung in Sangmang Carson sih tawh kituak ahihmanin Khalkha ah kum 2 om in 1910 November 1 ni in Tedim hong tung hi.

1913 kum in a masa pen Zolai Simbu hong bawl sak hi. 1919 October kha in Zolai tawh laihawm masapen 'Tedim Thukizakna Lai' hong phuankhia a editor sem hi.

1923 November kha in kumpi in 'Kaisar I Hind' cih pahtawina Ngun Medal pia hi. 1935 June 10 ni in Colgate University in Honorary Degree Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) pia hi.

Zogam simlam Mindat, Kanpetlet lamte' ading a bawlsan laitak 1938 June 11 ni zingsang nai 5:00 hun in Gilsan leh Khuasik natna tawh Khalkha ah nong nusia in June 12 ni in Rev. A.E. Carson kivuina han kiangah kivui hi.

Khamtung gam sunga a om hun khempeuh Kum 25 leh Kha 7 (ni 9,419) ahihi. Akhuan 3 vei ciahin ni 1,345 sawt hi.

Tedim Khuapi pan Taangkam (Pautang) khat hong Piankhiatna:

Tedim khua Guite Pu Gui Mang in AD 1550 pawlin sat hi ci-in tangthu ah kiciamteh hi.

TODO(migrate): abandonment/re-settlement cycle 1806–1810; Pu Kam Hau + 10 co-founders resettle Tedim; 1848 Kam Hau Thukhun (Kam Hau Upadi) as the customary law that brought Zomi civilization; growth to 300 houses.

Tedim khua a om veng lianteng:

• Bonuai veng: Pu Pau Vum leh Teizaang mi pawlkhat teeng.
• Botung veng: Pu Za Tual leh Teizaang mi pawlkhat teeng.
• Vaiphei veng: Vaiphei miteng teeng.
• Sekzaang veng: Guite miteng teeng.
• Khuangzaang veng: Thahdo miteng teeng.

Khua tuamtuam mun tuamtuam pan hong bel uh ahihmanin pau leh ham hong ki helzau gawp in asawtlo in tu laitak a ih zat Tedim pau hong piangkhia hi.

Zolai bawlnangin Tedim Tualsuak Pau kizatna:

TODO(migrate): Cope initially used Sihzang (with Pu Pau Suan and Pu Thuam Hang); wrote 'Hat Lian Bu' (Jack the Giant Killer) in Sihzang; Thado / Zo / Paihte speakers pushed back; 1919 meeting of 6 chiefs (Tuimui, Haiciin, Hiangzaang, Hangken, Saalzang, Mantuang) in the Tedim Vuandok Zum agreed to use Tedim pau. Paste the 5 chiefs' quoted statements verbatim from the source.

Zolai Khantohna

1913 kumin Cope Topa in 'Tual Lai Sintawmna Bu' cih Laibu khat hong bawlsak in, tua pen Zolai akigelhcilna ahihi.

1914 kumin Sihzang Pau-a kitei La dawng 24 apha hongbawl in Zomite in Labu ihneih masak pen ahihi.

1915 kumin Zolai tawh sim theihdingin Mate Laisiangtho honggelh sak hi.

1918 kumin La dawng 100 apha Zolai tawh hong suak hi.

1919 October kha in Zolai tawh laihawm masapen 'Tedim Thukizakna Lai' (The Chin Hills News) hong hawmkhia a, Cope Topa in editor sem hi.

1923 kum ciangin La dawng 283 apha Zolai mahtawh hong suak leuleu hi.

1924 kum ciangin Tanbul (Primary) sang khempeuh ah Zolai tawh sin sak ding kithukim hi. 1925 kum akipan Cope Topa hong bawlsak Zolai Tan 4 ciang Primary Sang tengah sin kipan hi.

1926 kum in Sangte ah sin dingin Zolai tawh Leitung thu leh Gamthu (Geography) hong bawlsak in, 1927 kum leh 1931 kum ciangin tua Laibute mah hong puahphat sak kik hi.

1932 kum ciangin Zolai tawh sim theihding Laisiangtho Thuciam Thakbuppi hong tei sak hi. 1977 kum ciangin Laisiangtho Buppi (Thuciam Lui leh Thuciam Thak) Zolai tawh sim theih dingin kinei a Sangmangte gah mah ahihi.

1914 kum-a kibawl Labu neihmasak pen sunga Doxology anuai-a bang ahihi:

Thu pha khem piu hawng pia To Pa, Le tung mi hing a min phat ta, Van tung mi zong in To Pa Pi, Jesu, Kha Shiang Tho min phat hi.

1915 kum-a kibawl Mate Laisiangtho 4:1-3:

A tu ciang in a doi mang pa je et ding in a Kha Shiang Tho in Jesu gam lak a a pai pi hi. Ni sawm li le' zan sawm li an ngawla a nung ciang in a gil hawng kiel hi. A je et pa in hawng nai a, Nang ma in Pashian ta pa n' hi le' hi shuang te kho mun n' shuawk sak in a ci hi.

1923 kum-a kigelh Lungdamna Zawhang Laisiangtho 3:22, 28:

Tu a nung ciang-in Zheishu in a nungzhui-te tawh Zhuda gam-ah pai uh leh tua san tak-ah amaute tawh a om khawm a tui shung-ah a phum uh hi. 3:28 Keimah in, Khazhih kah hih kei hi, Khazhih mai-ah hong pai sak pa kah hi, ken ka ci hi.

Zopau Zolai kemcing ni

Leitung ah Pau nam 7000 val a om sungpan Kaal 3 sim (every three week) in Pau nam (1) ta beimang hi kici hi.

TODO(migrate): SIL International figures for Myanmar (117 languages, 5 already lost: Anong, Hpon, Taman, Pali, Wewaw; projected drop to 50 in 100 years); Chin State 31 languages projected to 15 in 50 years; endangered list (Khongso, Bawm, Tuiship, Ta-aw, Kaang, Lautu, Mro-khimi, Rawngtu, Senthang, Songlai, Tawr, Thaiphum); UNESCO India 103 of 196.

Pau bangci bei thei hiam?: (1) Tu leh tate in zang nawnlo, nu leh pa te in tate ei pau siamsak zolo, hilh lo. (2) Khangthakte in zat ding maizum pih, daihpih ngamlo, a sawtna ciang pau thei nawnlo. (3) Ei Lai tawh laigelh lo-in midangte Lai tawh gelh, Lai kigelh a om loh ciang' sim ding zong omlo pah.

TODO(migrate): observations about Zomi language decline in Kawlgam / Mizogam / diaspora (America, Asia, Australia, Europe); parents still speak Zomi but children speak Kawlpau/Mizo/host-country language only.

Tua ahihmanin Zomite in i Pau leh i Lai a bei lohna dingin bangci leng kemcing thei ding i hiam, cih lim takin ngaihsut huai hi. A hi theizah in i tate ei pau tawh hopih in siamsak sawm ding. Pawlpi leh kipawlna tuamtuamte in khangthakte adingin Zopau, Zolai leh Zongeina sinna neihzawh ciat nang hanciam ding. Zolai, Zopau tawh Laibu, Media, Journal atam theithei nei-in thapia-a i panpih ciat ding deih huai kasa hi. Zopau Zolai kemcing ni.

A kaikhawm

Paul Thangpi (Pau Pian Thang), Offenbach, Germany — Thudotpi der ZIG.

Ekkaak laibute

• Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 17th 2013 Edition by Lewis, M. Paul, Gary F. Simons and Charles D. Fennig, Published by SIL International, Dallas, Texas, USA.
• Gin Hau Pum Sia, 'Rev. Dr. Joseph Herbert Cope (1882 – 1938)', Posted on Phuitong Liim, posted by Dr. Hau Za Cin on March 1, 2009.
• G.K. Nang Rev. Dr., Article: 'Beginning of Christianity in Mizoram and Chin Hills'.
• G.K. Nang Rev. Dr., Article: 'Pau a bei thei thu hi', posted on Tongsan News Journal, 2009.
• Gin Sian Pau Sia, Article: 'Cope Topa Nuntakzia Tomki', Posted on Tonsan International Media Website.
• Kam Khua Mang Pu, 'Khamtunggam Tangthu le ki ukna thu', Sukte Chronicle III pp. 19-20.
• Khen Za Sian Rev. Dr., Article: 'Tedim Pau Icih'.
• Khoi Lam Thang Rev., Article: 'Tedim Kam'.
• L. B. Naylor, A Practical Handbook of the Chin Language, pp. 46-47.
• List of Languages, Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia.
• Luan Za Cing Pi, 'Khamtung ah Lai le Sang i neih hun', Sukte Chronicle IX, pp. 35-38.
• Stephen Hre Kio Rev. Dr., Presentation: 'Concerns on Chin Language', posted on Youtube.
• Tawmging Beh Khang Tangthu Laibu: 1st Edition Published 1973, p. 37.