Ranglong

Ranglong is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken primarily in the Dima Hasao district of Assam, India. It is closely related to other Kuki-Chin languages. The Ranglong people, also known as the Ranglong Naga, are the primary speakers.

Classification: Ranglong is classified within the Tibeto-Burman language family, specifically under the Kuki-Chin branch. Its closest relatives include other languages spoken in the region, such as Hmar, Biate, and Dimasa (though Dimasa is considered more distantly related within the larger Bodo-Garo group).

Geographic Distribution: The majority of Ranglong speakers reside in villages scattered throughout the Dima Hasao district of Assam. Smaller communities may also be found in neighboring regions.

Linguistic Features: Ranglong, like other Kuki-Chin languages, is an agglutinative language. Grammatical relations are marked through the addition of affixes to words. The phonology includes tones, which distinguish meaning between words that are otherwise similar. Specific details regarding its phoneme inventory, morphology, and syntax are subjects of ongoing research and linguistic documentation.

Current Status: Ranglong is considered a vulnerable language. While it is still spoken within the community, it faces pressure from dominant languages like Assamese and Hindi. Efforts are underway to promote the language through education and cultural preservation initiatives. Documentation of the language is ongoing.

Further Research: Detailed linguistic descriptions of Ranglong are limited, and further research is needed to fully document its grammar, lexicon, and cultural usage.