Differences between ‘Lacid’ and ‘Leqi’

Abstract

Lacid, a member of the ethno-cultural group ‘Kachin’ in the Kachin State of Myanmar, is identified with Leqi 勒期 in Chinese, a member of the Jingpo nationality in China. However, there are some differences between the language spoken by the former and that spoken by the latter. This paper will examine the phonological and grammatical differences below between the standard Cang Moo Khung (CMK) variety of ‘Lacid’ in Myanmar and ‘Leqi’ in China. • Rhymes: PTB/PLB *-ə𝘺 corresponds to -𝘪𝘵 in CMK Lacid and -𝘦𝘪 in Leqi, and PTB/PLB *-ə𝘸 corresponds to -𝘢𝘶𝘬 in CMK Lacid and -𝘰𝘶 in Leqi. • Tones: In Leqi, the pitch rise occurred in most syllables with the ‘plain’ initial corresponding to *Tone I syllables in OB, unlike Lacid. • Demonstrative proforms: Lacid has a demonstrative determiner distinct from the demonstrative noun in the proximal and medial, unlike Leqi. • Case markers: Of the two, only Lacid has distinct Allative and Perlative markers, whereas only Leqi has a distinct Agentive-Instrumental marker. • Expression for prohibition: The PTB negative imperative prefix is not inherited to CMK Lacid and Leqi; the latter developed a new prefix, whereas the former uses Realis negative sentences for expressing prohibition.