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Thougallon

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Thougallon
Meitei royal language
ꯊꯧꯒꯜꯂꯣꯟ
(Meitei royalty)
Classical Meitei Mayek transliteration of "Thougallon"
Created byMeitei royal etiquette
EthnicityMeitei ethnicity
UsersMeitei royalties and nobles (Ningthouja dynasty, Khuman dynasty, Luwang dynasty, and others from the Meitei confederacy)
Meitei people (while talking to the royalties and nobles)
Purpose
Sino-Tibetan
Early forms
Proto-Sino-Tibetan
Meitei script, Bengali script
Official status
Development bodyDepartment of Art and Culture, Government of Manipur
Language codes
ISO 639-3–
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Thougallon (ꯊꯧꯒꯜꯂꯣꯟ), also known as Thougallol (ꯊꯧꯒꯜꯂꯣꯜ), is the formal court register of the Meitei language, historically used in the royal administration, religious ceremonies, and classical literature of the Meitei civilization in Manipur Kingdom. It is characterized by its structured syntax, ceremonial vocabulary, and use of honorific expressions. Thougallon functioned as a medium for official communication within the court and in the composition of ritual and scholarly texts, often written in the traditional Meitei Mayek script. It is distinct from the vernacular forms of Meitei spoken by the general population and reflects the stratified linguistic practices of pre-modern Meitei society.[1][2][3]

Etymology

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Etymologically, the Meitei language term "Thougallon" (ꯊꯧꯒꯜꯂꯣꯟ; /tʰəu.gəl.lón/) is composed of thou (“duty” or “obligation”), gal, derived from kal (“to serve”), and lon (“language” or “speech”), collectively conveying the sense of a “language of duty and service.”[1][4]

Application of term

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Thougallon (ꯊꯧꯒꯜꯂꯣꯟ; /tʰəu.gəl.lón/) denotes both (1) a specialized form of speech used in royal and aristocratic contexts, as well as (2) a codified system of etiquette governing verbal conduct in the presence of figures of authority, such as kings, ministers, and nobles. Thougallon functioned not merely as a linguistic variety but also as a normative framework prescribing appropriate modes of address, honorific usage, and ritualized expressions required in formal court settings. It is a medium through which social hierarchy, respect, and loyalty were formally articulated. Through its structured vocabulary and prescribed usage, Thougallon reinforced court protocol and symbolized adherence to the political and cultural order of the Meitei royal court.[1][4]

Spread

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Thougallon, the royal register of the Meitei language, originated within the royal dynasties of Manipur. Historically, it was predominantly used by the monarchy; however, its use gradually extended beyond the royal court. This shift occurred as commoner women ascended to positions as queens or palace attendants, and princesses married men from non-royal families, facilitating increased social interaction and cultural exchange between the royalty and commoners.[1]

Vocabulary

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Words Latin transliterations Vernacular Meitei equivalents Latin transliterations English translations Note(s)[1]
ꯆꯥꯏꯊꯕ chaaithaba ꯏꯔꯨꯖꯕ irujaba to bath
ꯂꯦꯡꯕ lengba ꯆꯠꯄ chatpa to go or to move
ꯂꯦꯡꯈꯠꯄ lengkhatpa ꯍꯧꯒꯠꯄ hougatpa to arise
ꯊꯣꯟꯕ thonba ꯁꯦꯠꯄ/ꯆꯤꯟꯕ setpa / chinba to wear / to adorn
ꯍꯥꯕ haaba ꯆꯥꯕ chaaba to eat
ꯐꯥꯟꯕ phaanba / faanba ꯊꯛꯄ thakpa to drink
ꯃꯤꯠꯌꯦꯡ ꯇꯥꯕ mityeng taaba ꯌꯦꯡꯕ yengba to see / to watch / to look
ꯍꯪꯒꯠꯄ hang-gatpa ꯍꯥꯏꯖꯕ haaijaba to say / pray
ꯆꯤꯟ ꯀꯨꯞꯄ chin kuppa ꯆꯤꯟ ꯇꯦꯡꯕ chin tengba to brush teeth / to wash mouth
ꯈꯥꯡꯖꯦꯠ khaangjet ꯐꯩꯖꯣꯝ pheijom / feijom traditional Meitei loincloth worn by men
ꯀꯣꯛꯊꯣꯟ kokthon ꯀꯣꯛꯌꯦꯠ / ꯂꯨꯍꯨꯞ kokyet / luhup traditional Meitei headdress worn by men
ꯈꯨꯗꯥ khudaa ꯐꯤꯗꯥ phidaa / fidaa cushion
ꯅꯝꯈꯥꯡ namkhaang ꯐꯨꯔꯤꯠ / ꯏꯟꯅꯐꯤ phurit / innaphi coat / shawl phurit is actually translated as shirt, but also can be interpreted as coat, while innaphi is a clothing to be wrapped around the upper body as outerwear, and not innerwear, and can be loosely translated as shawl
ꯁꯪꯒꯥꯏ sang-gaai / shang-gaai ꯌꯨꯝ yum house / building
ꯈꯨꯗꯣꯡ khudong ꯍꯤꯗꯥꯛꯐꯨ / ꯍꯤꯗꯥꯛꯄꯨ hidaakphu / hidaakpu smoking pipe / hookah
ꯂꯨꯛ luk / look ꯆꯥꯛ chaak meal
ꯆꯦꯞꯄ cheppa ꯍꯤꯞꯄ hippa to sleep/lay down
ꯌꯥꯝꯕꯨꯡ yaambung ꯇꯥꯗ taada elder brother
ꯏꯆꯦꯝ ꯁꯤꯖ ichem sija / ichem shija ꯏꯆꯦ eeche elder sister
ꯏꯆꯜ ꯏꯕꯦꯝꯃ / ꯏꯆꯟ ꯏꯕꯦꯝꯃ ichal ibemma / ichan ibemma ꯏꯆꯜ / ꯏꯆꯟ eechal / eechan younger sister

For the kings exclusively

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Words Latin transliterations Vernacular Meitei equivalents Latin transliterations English translations Note(s)[1]
ꯁꯛꯌꯦꯡ ꯃꯤꯡꯁꯦꯜ shakyeng mingshel / sakyeng mingsel ꯃꯤꯡꯁꯦꯜ mingshel / mingsel mirror / looking glass
ꯁꯅꯥ ꯈꯣꯡꯅꯦꯠ ꯁꯥ sana khongnet saa ꯁꯒꯣꯜ / ꯁꯃꯨ sagol / samu horse / elephant In classical terminology, sana khongnet saa means "the animal deemed to be mounted by the royalty". Sagol / Shagol means horse and Samu / Shamu means elephant.
ꯁꯅꯥ ꯈꯨꯠꯁꯨ ꯊꯥꯡ sana khutsu thang ꯊꯥꯡ thang sword
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See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bhimabati, Thiyam (2008). Manipuri Ningthoukon Amasung Chatna Lonchat (in Manipuri). Manipur University Library. India: Digital Library of India; Internet Archive.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  2. ↑ Pettigrew, William. Manipuri (Mitei) grammar with illustrative sentences. India: Pioneer Press, 1912.
  3. ↑ Yashwanta Singh, Chungkham. Manipuri Grammar. India: Rajesh Publications, 2000.
  4. 1 2 Sharma, H. Surmangol (2006). Written at Chicago. "Learners' Manipuri-English dictionary (Definition of "Thougallon")". dsal.uchicago.edu (in Manipuri and English). University of Chicago. United States. Retrieved 2026-02-04. thougallon ꯊꯧꯒꯜꯂꯣꯟ /tʰəu.gəl.lón/ n. 1) court language. 2) prescribed sets of rules being observed when attending a king, minister, noble, etc. Morph: thou‑gal‑lon [duty‑to serve‑language].
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