Koi language

Koyee
ᤁᤥᤕᤡ; कोयी
Region	Nepal
Ethnicity	Koyu/Kohi Rai
Native speakers	1,300 (2011 census)
Language family	Sino-Tibetan Tibeto-Burman Mahakiranti (?) Kiranti Western Upper Dudhkosi Koyee
Language codes
ISO 639-3	kkt
Glottolog	koii1238
ELP	Koi

Koyee (कोयी) is a Sino-Tibetan language belonging to the Kiranti languages spoken in the Khotang district of Nepal. Like other Kiranti languages, it displays a fairly complex system of person-marking and stem alternations. The term "Koyee" has dual significance, describing both a language and a tribe. Its origins trace back to various sources. According to records from 2015 BS, the term could have been derived from "kuyama" (IPA- kujämä), words in the Koyee language that mean "dark." This might be connected to the location of Sungdel on the hill 'Lourya,' which seems to be dark. The people residing in this shadowy area came to be known as the Koyee tribe, and the language they spoke became known as Koyee language. Over time, phonological changes, such as the shift from "u" to "o(backness)" have contributed to the evolution of the term. Koyee people who settle down in easter side of Nepal are known as Koyu (कोयू).

Alternate spellings and names are Kohi, Koi B.ʌʔ’, Koyee, Koyi, Koyu.

Geographical distribution

Koyee is spoken in Sungdel (near Rawakhola headwaters) and Dipsung VDC's, northeastern Khotang District, Koshi Province, Nepal (Ethnologue).

Phonology

Vowels

Vowel phonemes

	Front		Back
	unrounded		rounded		unrounded
	short	long	short	long	short	long
High	i ᤀᤡ ⟨इ⟩	iː ᤀᤡ᤺	u ᤀᤢ ⟨उ⟩	uː ᤀᤢ᤺
High-mid	e ᤀᤣ ⟨ए⟩	eː ᤀᤣ᤺	o ᤀᤥ ⟨ओ⟩	oː ᤀᤥ᤺
Low-mid					ʌ ᤀ ⟨अ⟩	ʌː ᤀ᤺
Low					ä ᤀᤠ ⟨आ⟩	äː ᤀᤠ᤺

• While using Devanagari script long vowel is denoted by using /ः/ instead of using long diacritics (दीर्घ मात्रा)and to denote nasal sound / ँ/ is used.

Consonants

Koyee consonant phonemes

		Bilabial	Dental	Alveolar	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Nasal		m ᤔ ⟨म⟩		n ᤏ ⟨न⟩		ŋ ᤅ ⟨ङ⟩
Affricate	unaspirated	p ᤐ ⟨प⟩	t̪ ᤋ ⟨त⟩		t͡ʃ ᤆ ⟨च⟩	k ᤁ ⟨क⟩	ʔ ᤹ ⟨अ्⟩
	aspirated	pʰ ᤑ ⟨फ⟩	t̪ʰ ᤌ ⟨थ⟩		t͡ʃʰ ᤇ ⟨छ⟩	kʰ ᤂ ⟨ख⟩
	unaspirated	b ᤒ ⟨ब⟩	d̪ ᤍ ⟨द⟩		d͡ʒ ᤈ ⟨ज⟩	ɡ ᤃ ⟨ग⟩
	aspirated	bʱ ᤓ ⟨भ⟩	d̪ʱ ᤎ ⟨ध⟩	d͡ʒʱ ᤉ ⟨झ⟩		ɡʱ ᤄ ⟨घ⟩
Fricative				s ᤛ ⟨स⟩			ɦ ᤜ ⟨ह⟩
Trill				r ᤖ ⟨र⟩
Lateral				l ᤗ ⟨ल⟩
Frictionless continuant		w ᤘ ⟨व⟩			j ᤕ ⟨य⟩

• Glotta stop [ʔ] is one of the consonants of Koyu/Koyee(Koi) language which is represent by using ⟨अ्⟩.
• To write Koyu/Koyee language Devanagari lipi or Kirat Sirijunga lipi is used.

References

"कोयी बअ् चेन्चिकी" (koyee a' chinchiki) Koyee language book. Author: Dr. Taramani Rai and Kaji Kumar Rai.

Bibliography

• Lahaussois, Aimée. 2009. 'Koyi Rai: An Initial Grammatical Sketch.' Himalayan Linguistics Archive 4. 1-33.
• http://lacito.vjf.cnrs.fr/archivage/languages/Koyi_Rai.htm
• Rai, Tara Mani.2022. A Grammar of Koyee, LINCOM EUROPA.https://www.amazon.de/Grammar-Koyee-Tara-Mani-Rai/dp/3969391121
• Rai, Tara Mani.2015. A Grammar of Koyee. A PhD dissertation submitted to Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
• Rai, Tara Mani and Omkareshor Shrestha.2014. http://cdltu.edu.np/site/images/linsun/koyee.pdf
• Rai, Tara Mani.2012. Nepalese Linguistics - Table of Contents - Digital Himalayahttp://www.digitalhimalaya.com › nepling › nepling_toc