Entry 3: Mizo names, Lai names. What? When? How?

I remembered, as a kid I use to question why my dad's name is written without an 'a'. He has a Mizo name alright. He used to tell me that Lai people don't use 'i' and 'a' to differentiate between males and females.

'But how is it that I have an 'i' with my name? I am also Lai!'

'It's because you have a Mizo name' 

'But you also have a Mizo name, yet you don't have an 'a' '

'It's because I grow up in the south'

'But Ramfangmawii has an 'i' and she grows up in the south' (Fangtei was my cousin)

'It's because I'm older'

'Then will I become 'just' Hmingthanzual when I'm older??'

'Ok, Senmam. It's enough. Eat your potatoes!!'

'But....'

'Potatoes!'

Well, Don't blame my dad. I was a really irritating, talkative, curious kid who was always full of questions and running commentaries. And I grew up at a time in our society when adults aren't always compelled to answer a kid's questions.

My curiosity with this topic reincarnated itself a few years ago when we had to submit a paper on writing grammars. We were asked to focus on the classifiers, deixis and definite/indefiniteness from any lesser known language. Our group of four was more than ready to pick Mizo as I, a native speaker, was already at hand. While writing the paper, I came across many details in the language which I usually overlook while speaking it. Naming system was one of them.

In Mizo (and by Mizo language, I mean the Lusei-Duhlian language), we have this gender classifier that is suffixed with the proper names. 'i' for females and 'a' for males. However in Lai, such classifier is absent. But how do you differentiate between a male and a female just from the names?

During a recent phone call with my dad, I asked him this same question. "There are different sets of names for males and different sets for females" he answered.  Then he proceeded to give me examples of traditional male names and females names in Lai. Saithiau, Lianhmung, Channawn, Chankam for males and Suithluai, Iangci, Nihluan, Sungpen for females. (Note: Lai orthography c = ch Mizo orthography. Channawn = Chhannawn )

What captured my attention was that these sets of names are names which will hardly be found with a younger Lai generation. In fact, these sets of names will be ridiculed and laughed at by many of  the younger generation.

Then I proceeded, what do these names mean? What words define what's a female name and a male name?  And when have the Lai people started giving their kids Mizo names? And why? It must have gone a long way back. Because both my parents have Mizo names themselves.

From a anthropological linguistic point of view, I am sure that this Give-your-kids-Mizo-names trend with Lai parents started with the convergence of the two cultures and languages in Mizoram. You never know, Lai kids In Myanmar may already have Kawl names. That's what cultural and linguistic contact does. 

My dad, also believes that the advent of Christianity may have played a role too.

So, armed with questions, I decided that this will be my summer project. I guess I will be in the company of the older generation a lot, and in spite of my dad's strict 'No travelling when you come home' rules, I might get to travel to the South as well. Hopefully! **Grin**

Maybe by the time summer break gets over, I will be back armed with an additional Lai name, adding up to my ongoing confusion with my exhaustive list of names.