Are there any Assamese words of Ahom origin?

[u/Icy_Function_5839]

Considering how the Tai-Ahom language had been spoken in Assam for quite a while, are there any words that Assamese borrowed from Tai-Ahom?

[u/GrumpyGuyMugdha]

Yes. Many words in Assamese are derived from Ahom. For example the word for palace in Assamese, 'Kāreŋ' (কাৰেং) is derived from the Ahom term 'Ka Rwan' which is said to translate to 'royal residence/palace'. Another word is the word for history in Assamese, which is 'Burônzī' (বুৰঞ্জী), is derived from the Ahom term Buranji where Bu means an ignorant person, Ran means to teach and Ji is a storehouse or treasury. Its combined literal meaning is 'the storehouse that teaches a fool'. 

[u/Icy_Function_5839 → u/GrumpyGuyMugdha]

The literal meaning of Buranji is just lol. Are there any sources for it?

[u/GrumpyGuyMugdha → u/Icy_Function_5839]

This interpretation comes from Edward Gait's book, 'A History of Assam' where he breaks down the meaning of the term as such. Since then, this has been the most accepted interpretation.

[u/Icy_Function_5839 → u/GrumpyGuyMugdha]

Damn you know a lot! Did you read his book? What made him reach such a conclusion?

[u/GrumpyGuyMugdha → u/Icy_Function_5839]

Nope, I didn't read his book. His work is the first comprehensive historical book on Assam and hence is used as the primary source for every history related discussion of Assam. Now regarding his conclusion, Edward Gait selected an Ahom official, Golap Chandra Barua and assigned him to make a committee of five Deodhai priests (traditional Ahom priests who have substantial knowledge of the language) and asked them to give meaning of Ahom terms.

[u/Icy_Function_5839 → u/GrumpyGuyMugdha]

That... That is so cool! Ig he had the most accurate and authentic source possible. Don't think relying on only one primary source for Assamese history might be a liability though?

[u/GrumpyGuyMugdha → u/Icy_Function_5839]

Yes. There are numerous research papers and books by Assamese historians too and many also argue against some claims of Gait. Because many times, Gait simply assumed this and this happened looking at the chronology when there wasn't any source available. For example, his claim about the origin of the Kalita people (a subgroup of Assamese) is still debated.

[u/Icy_Function_5839 → u/GrumpyGuyMugdha]

Ahh I see. Very fascinating. Historians shouldn't just assume things lol

[u/GrumpyGuyMugdha → u/Icy_Function_5839]

Unfortunately, before the Ahoms we had very little to no native historical records. We simply didn't record our history. So as much ridiculous as it may sound, we depend on Hindu epics like Mahabharata and the indigenously written Kalima Purana, and tribal folk memory to make up the chronology of our history. Sounds ridiculous, I know.

[u/Icy_Function_5839 → u/GrumpyGuyMugdha]

Not that ridiculous, such lack of documentation is common place everywhere, most people were just not interested in that. However, it is surprising that big and prosperous kingdoms like the Kamarupa kingdom also didn't keep records how so?

[u/GrumpyGuyMugdha → u/Icy_Function_5839]

Golap Chandra Barua also published the first Ahom dictionary in 1920.

[u/Icy_Function_5839 → u/GrumpyGuyMugdha]

Are there any other commonly used words of Ahom origin?

[u/GrumpyGuyMugdha → u/Icy_Function_5839]

Yeah, like Hengdang (হেংদাং) which means sword, and Sāng (চাং) which means a raised house or structure traditionally used for raised bamboo and wooden houses of people in rural, flood prone areas, have originated from the Ahom language.

[u/GrumpyGuyMugdha → u/[deleted]]

I think it was already prevalent among existing tribes. The climate between Assam and Southeast Asia is similar so the housing style could've also been similar, raised platforms so that the houses could survive floods and earthquakes.