The Dagur, Daghur, Dahur, or Daur language, is a Mongolic language, as well as a distinct branch of the Mongolic language family,
There is no written standard in use, although a Pinyin-based orthography has been devised; instead the Dagur make use of Mongolian or Chinese, as most speakers know these languages as well.[Tsumagari 2003: 129] During the time of the Qing dynasty, Dagur was written with the Manchu alphabet.[Engkebatu 2001]
Distribution
Dagur is a Mongolic language consisting of five dialects:
[Tsumagari 2003: 129, Sengge 2004: 616]
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Amur Dagur in the vicinity of Heihe (original homeland). About 400 people.
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Nonni Dagur on the west side of the Nonni River from south of Qiqihar up to Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner. Speakers of Nonni Dagur are usually grouped into the following 4 dialects:
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Morin Daba Dagur, in Morin Dawa Daur Autonomous Banner (Moli Daba) of Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia
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Butha (Buteha) (Northern)
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Tsitsikar (Southern)
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Mergen Dagur or Nenjiang Dagur, in Nenjiang County (formerly Mergen County) of Heilongjiang Province
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Hailar Dagur to the south-east of Hailar District in Ewenki Autonomous Banner
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Sinkiang Dagur in Xinjiang in the vicinity of Tacheng
Phonology
Dagur phonology is peculiar in that some of its dialects have developed a set of
labialization consonants (e.g. 'flea' vs. 'moon'),
[Chuluu 1994: 5, but for example not the Tacheng dialect, see Yu et al. 2008: 25-26] while it shares palatalized consonants
[Sengge 2004a, Tsumagari 2003: 133] with most Mongolian dialects that have not been developed in the other Mongolic languages. It also has , which is, however, limited to loan words.
[Namcarai and Qaserdeni 1983: 66-67, cp. Tsumagari 2003: 131] Word-final short vowels were lost
[Tsumagari 2003: 131] and historically short vowels in non-initial syllables have lost phoneme status.
[cp. Namcarai and Qaserdeni 1983: 84] Dagur is the only Mongolic language to share this development with Mongolian (
i.e. Mongolian proper,
Oirat language,
Buryat language). Due to the merger of and with and ,
vowel harmony was lost.
[Tsumagari 2003: 131 basically in agreement with Sengge 2004a; in contrast, Namcarai and Qaserdeni 1983: 37 give a pretty standard Mongolian vowel harmony system with the pharyngeal vowels , , contrasting with the non-pharyngeal vowels , , , while is neutral.] According to Tsumagari (2003), vowel harmony is still a productive synchronic phonotactic aspect of Dagur in which initial syllable long vowels are divided into "masculine" (back), "feminine" (front), and neutral groups. Likewise, suffixal long vowels must agree in harmonic group with the root.
Vowels
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Consonants
| + Dagur consonants (Chuluu 1994)
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" | ! colspan="3" Labial consonant
! colspan="3" | Alveolar
! colspan="2" | Postalveolar
! colspan="3" | Velar consonant |
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Writing system
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! rowspan="2" | Letters
! colspan="3" | Contextual forms
! colspan="2" | Transliteration
! rowspan="2" | International Phonetic Alphabet |
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Grammar
Dagur has a pronoun system that distinguishes between first person plural inclusive and exclusive and, even more archaic, it distinguishes between third person singular and plural .[Namcarai and Qaserdeni 1983: 211-126, cp. Tsumagari 2003: 141] While the phoneme (< ) has been retained, the second person singular pronoun has become nevertheless,[Sengge 2004c: 621] resembling a more thorough sound change in Khorchin Mongolian. The second person plural is retained as .[Namcarai and Qaserdeni 1983: 110-121, Sengge 619-620] In addition, several other cases have been innovated that are not shared by Mongolian, including a new allative, - maji.[Sengge 2004c: 620]
Dagur has a fairly simple tense-aspect system consisting of the nonpast markers - and (marginally) - and the past forms - and (marginally) and the non-finite imperfective marker --. These may be inflected for person. The attributive particle forms are limited to – (< Written Mongolian -γ-a) for imperfective aspect and future tense, - sən (< -γsan) for perfective aspect, - (< -gči) for habituality (instead of -daγ which used to fulfil this function) and - for potential and probable actions. It has acquired a highly complex system containing several innovations. Notably, - mar which is a participle in Mongolian serves as a converb as well.[Tsumagari 2003: 144-148 supplemented with Sengge 2004c. The exact form of the plosive in - is unclear as these two sources and Namcarai and Qaserdeni 1983 give different phones.]
Grammatical case suffix table
| +
!Case
!Marker
!Note
!Example
!Meaning |
| Genitive | -ei | Added to words ending in a consonant (except j, q, x) | битегей
biteg + ei → bitegei | of the book |
| хелегей
heleg + ei → helegei | |
| адусей
adus + ei → adusei | |
| аолэй
aol + ei → aolei | of the mountain |
| -ii | Added to words ending in j, q, x | кайчий
kaiq + ii → kaiqii | of shears |
| оржий
orj + ii → orjii | |
| тульший
tulx + ii → tulxii | |
| -i | Added to words ending in a short vowel | морий
mori + i → morii | of the horse |
| новуй
nowu + i → nowui | of the dog |
| дангай
danga + i → dangai | of smoke |
| -yi | Appended to words ending in long vowels and diphthongs | акааий
akaa + yi → akaayi | older brother's |
| касооий
kasoo + yi → kasooyi | of iron |
| даоий
dao + yi → daoyi | of the song |
| Accusative | Same as genitive case |
| Locative | -d | Added to the stem (if ending in a consonant d, t, k, s, j, q, x add an appropriate vowel before -d) | ширээд
xiree + d → xireed | on the desk |
| хорвуд
horwu + d → horwud | in/on the cabinet |
| тосод
tos + d → tosod | in the oil |
| Instrumental | -aar, -eer, -oor | Added to words ending in consonants (except j, q, x) according to vowel harmony | сарпаар
sarp + aar → sarpaar | using chopsticks |
| лэкээр
lek + eer → lekeer | |
| топоор
topoor + oor → topooroor | using an axe |
| -ier | Added to words ending in j, q, x | онкиэр
onq + ier → onqier | using a knife |
| оржиэр
orj + ier → orjier | |
| -ar, -er, -or | Added according to vowel harmony to words ending in short vowels | дангаар
danga + ar → dangaar | using smoke |
| галиэр
gali + er → galier | using fire |
| мориэр
mori + er → morier | using a horse |
| новуор
nowu + or → nowuor | using a dog |
| -yaar, -yeer | Added according to vowel harmony to words ending in long vowels and diphthongs | чолоояар
qoloo + yaar → qolooyaar | using a stone |
| касоояар
kasoo + yaar → kasooyaar | using iron |
| Ablative | Same as instrumental case | The ablative form is sometimes -aas, -ees, -oos, -ies, -as, -es, -os, -yaas, -yees. |
| Comitative | -tii | Added to the word stem | акаатий
akaa + tii → akaatii | together with older brother |
| эвээтий
ewee + tii → eweetii | together with mom |
| Terminative | -qaar, -qeer | Added to the word stem according to vowel harmony | соочаар
soo + qaar → sooqaar | up to the armpits |
| сакчаар
sak + qaar → sakqaar | up to the ankles |
Personal reflexive relationship suffixes
| +
! Pronoun
! Number
! Marker
! Example
! Meaning |
| 1st | Singular | mini | жакмини
jakmini | my stuff/thing |
| хороомини
horoomini | my finger |
| Plural (exclusive) | -maani | себмаани
sebmaani | our teacher |
| Plural (inclusive) | -naani | себнаани
sebnaani | our teacher |
| 2nd | Singular | -xini | васкалшини
waskalxini | your clothing |
| Plural | -taani | гэритаани
geritaani | your home |
| 3rd | Singular | -ini | агини
agini | his brother |
| -yini | экээйини
ekeeyini | his sister |
| Plural | -inaani | этэвуйнаани
eteewuinaani | their grandmother |
| -yinaani | ачайинаани
aqaayinaani | their father |
Imperative verb suffixes
| +
! Pronoun
! Number
! Volitional
! Imperative
! Prohibitive |
| 1st | Singular | -яа
-yaa | | -гаан, -гээн
-gaan, -geen |
| -гаамини
-gaamini |
| -гэмини
-geemini |
| Plural (exclusive) | -гаамани
-gaamaani |
| -гээмани
-geemaani |
| Plural (inclusive) | -гааннаани
-gaannaani |
| -гээннаани
-geennaani |
| 2nd | Singular | -гаание
-gaanie | (word stem) | -гааншини
-gaanxini |
| -геение
-geenie | -гээншини
-geenxini |
| Plural | -гаантие
-gaantie | -ту
-tu | -гаантаани
-gaantaani |
| -геентие
-geentie | -геентаани
-geentaani |
| 3rd | Singular & plural | | -тгай
-tgai | -гаанини
-gaanini |
| -гээнини
-geenini |
Declarative verb suffixes
| +
! Time
! Suffix
! Example
! Meaning |
| Present future tense | -bei | идбей (иден)
idbei (iden) | (he) will eat |
| -n | яобей (явун)
yaobei (yawun) | (she) will go |
| Past tense | -sen | идсен
idsen | (she) ate |
| яосен
yaosen | (he) went |
Pronouns' verb suffixes
Present future tense
| +
! Pronoun
! Number
! Marker
! Example
! Meaning |
| 1st | Singular | -wei(-w) | Би харивей.
Bi hariwei(hariw). | I return. |
| -nbi | Би харинби.
Bi harinbi. | I return. |
| Plural (exclusive) | -waa | Баа хариваа.
Baa hariwaa. | We return. |
| -nbaa | Баа харинбаа.
Baa harinbaa. | We return. |
| Plural (inclusive) | -wdaa | Бид харивдаа.
Bid hariwdaa. | We return. |
| -ndaa | Бид хариндаа.
Bid harindaa. | We return. |
| 2nd | Singular | -beixi(-bxi) | Ши харибейши.
Xi haribeixi. | You return. |
| -nxi | Ши харинши.
Xi harinxi. | You return. |
| Plural | -beitaa (-btaa) | Таа харибейтаа.
Taa haribeitaa (haribtaa). | You return. |
| -ntaa | Таа харинтаа.
Taa harintaa. | You return. |
Past tense
| +
! Pronoun
! Number
! Marker
! Example
! Meaning |
| 1st | Singular | -senbi | Би харисенби.
Bi harisenbi. | I returned. |
| Plural (exclusive) | -senbaa | Баа харисенбаа.
Baa harisenbaa. | We returned. |
| Plural (inclusive) | -sendaa | Бид харисэндаа.
Bid harisendaa. | We returned. |
| 2nd | Singular | -senxi | Ши харисенши.
Xi harisenxi. | You returned. |
| Plural | -sentaa | Таа харисентаа.
Taa harisentaa. | You returned. |
Adverb suffixes
+ |
| -j | Indicates parallel actions | Ийчиж ужсенби.
iiqij ujsenbi. | I went to see (it). |
| -jie (dii) | Indicates that two actions are performed simultaneously | Саожие (дий) усвулжьжабей.
Saojie (dii) uswuljjabei. | (She) sits while talking. |
| -aar, -eer, -oor | Indicates that the behavior occurred successively | Гараар ирсэн.
Garaar irsen. | (He) came out. |
| Энкуер яосэн.
Enkuer yaosen. | (She) ate it. |
| -jii | Signifies the end of the act | Ужьжий яосэн.
Ujjii yaosen. | (He) left after reading (it). |
| Иджий яо!
Idjii yao! | Let's eat and (then) go. |
| -n ...-n | Indicates behaviors that occur together | Гуйн кариен яосэн.
Guin karien yaosen. | (He) jumped and bounced away. |
| -mkii,-mklii | Indicates that the behavior occurs immediately | Мадемький (мэдемький) ичсэн.
Medemkii (medemklii) iqsen. | (She) went as soon as (she) knew it. |
| -mder | Indicates that the behavior occurs immediately | Медемдерь (меднмкьлий) ичсэн.
Medemder (medemklii) iqsen. | (She) went as soon as she knew it. |
| -wueter | Indicates readiness | Елвуетерь медсен.
Elwueter medsen. | (She) will know as soon as (he) says it. |
| -aajaar, -eejeer (-eejaar), -oojaar | Indicates simultaneous act | Бариежаараа алдсэн.
Bariejaaraa aldsen. | (He) grabbed it and let it go. |
| -rsaar, rseer | Indicates continuation and recurrence of behavior | Элерсеерь араан болсен.
Elerseer araan bolsen. | How many times have you said it? |
| -aas, -ees, -oos | Express the condition of the behavior | Элеесшини укубей.
Eleesxini ukubei. | If you say so, I'll give it to you. |
| -tgai q | Indicates concessive act | Учийкэн аатгай чукаатий.
Uqiiken aatgai qukaatii. | Small but wise. |
| -worg, -wuar | Indicates the act to follow | Хийвуерь тортсен.
Hiiwuer tortsen. | (She) decided to do (it). |
| -gaanie, -geenie | Expresses purpose | Уйгеени игсен.
Uigeenie igsen. | (He) went to see (it). |
| -tel | Indicates behavioral boundaries | Яотельмини аасен.
Yaotelmini aasen. | (He'll) be there until (she) leaves. |
| -tlaa(-tlaanie), tlee(-tleenie) | Expresses choice | Элтлеение хиисехдь уль денген.
Eltleenie hiisehd ul dengen. | It's better to do (so). |
| -maak(-maaken), meek(-meken) | Indicates the proximity of behavior | Ванамаак (ванамаакен) болсен.
Wanamaak (wanamaaken) bolsen. | (It's) about to fall. |
Personal pronouns
+ [Tsumagari 2003: 141]
! rowspan="3" | ! colspan="3" 1st Person
! colspan="2" | 2nd Person
! colspan="2" | 3rd Person |
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Lexicon
It is estimated that out of Dagur's entire language vocabulary, over half is Mongolic in origin.[Sengge 2004b] to 10% of its words from Chinese, as well as 10% of its words from Manchu language, and a small number vocabulary borrowed from Evenki language[Tsumagari 2003: 151-152]
Middle Mongol words
Dagur retains quite a few archaic Mongolic words, and although they are not commonly found in the modern Mongolic languages, they do appear in Middle Mongol sources, like the Huayiyiyu and The Secret History of the Mongols. These words include:
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(тэргул ~ тервул) ‘road’ (in Mongol *jam)
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(нажийр) ‘summer’ (Mongol *jun)
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(хэкый) ‘head’ (Mongol *tologai)
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(сорбый) ‘staff’ (Mongol *tayag)
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(касоо) ‘iron’
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(саур) ‘spade’
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(огв) ‘brain’
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(басерть) ‘kidney’
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(твалциг) ‘knee’
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(катаа) ‘salt’
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(варкэль) ‘clothes’
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(эл-) ‘to say’ (cf. Mongol *kele-)
Numerals
All basic numerals are of Mongolic origin.
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| Neke |
| Hoyir |
| Guarbe |
| Durbu |
| Taawu |
| Jirgoo |
| Doloo |
| Naime |
| Yise |
| Harbe |
Bibliography
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Engkebatu (2001): Cing ulus-un üy-e-dü dagur kele-ber bicigdegsen jokiyal-ud-un sudulul. Kökeqota: Öbür monggol-un yeke surgaguli-yin keblel-ün qoriy-a.
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Sengge (2004): Daγur kele. In: Oyunčimeg 2004: 616-617.
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Sengge (2004a): Daγur kelen-ü abiy-a. In: Oyunčimeg 2004: 618.
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Sengge (2004b): Daγur kelen-ü üges. In: Oyunčimeg 2004: 619.
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Sengge (2004c): Daγur kelen-ü kele ǰüi. In: Oyunčimeg 2004: 618-622.
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Tsumagari, Toshiro (2003): Dagur. In: Janhunen, Juha (ed.) (2003): The Mongolic languages. London: Routledge: 129-153.
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Yu, Wonsoo, Jae-il Kwon, Moon-Jeong Choi, Yong-kwon Shin, Borjigin Bayarmend, Luvsandorjin Bold (2008): A study of the Tacheng dialect of the Dagur language. Seoul: Seoul National University Press
External links
