Linguistic Survey Of India Vol V Part I Indo Aryan Family Eastern Group

ASSAMESE.

STASDABD DIALECT.

Standard Assamese is reported to he the vernacular of the following districts, and to
be spoken by the following number of people :—

Sibsagar.............321,600

Lakhimpur............127,450

Danang.............185,400

yowgoag.............225,500

TOTAL . 859,950

Two specimens are given of this dialect. The first is a translation of the Parable
of the Prodigal Son, and the second is the statement of an accused person recorded ia
court in the District of Sibsagar. Both of these agree with the grammar just given.

I am indebted to the Eev. A. E. Gurney for the following translation oi the
Parable of the Prodigal Son into standard Assamese. In order to show so far as may be
the correct pronunciation of the Assamese words, a phonetic transcription in italic type
is inserted beneath the transliteration. The text is taken from Mr. Moore's new version
of the New Testament, with a few verbal alterations to adapt it to the purposes of the
Survey. It may be taken as illustrating the form of Assamese which has been adopted
by Missionaries in their literary labours.

404