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Gtaʼ language

The Gtaʼ language, also known as Gta Asa, Didei or Didayi, is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Didayi people of southernmost Odisha in India. It is notable for its sesquisyllabic phonology and vigesimal numeral system.

Classification and dialects
The Gta language belongs to the South Munda subgroup of the Munda branch of the Austroasiatic language family. Gta has two main varieties, namely Plains Gta and Hill Gta. Neighboring languages Gta echo-formation shows some striking similarities with echo-formation in neighboring Munda languages such as Remo and Gorum as well as in the Desia dialect of Oriya spoken in the Koraput Munda region. The most conspicuous feature they have in common with Gta is that echo-words in all three of these languages are also derived from base words by changes in the vowels alone. ==Demographics==
Demographics
Gta is spoken by 3,000 people primarily in Malkangiri district, Odisha as well as adjoining areas of Koraput district. According to Anderson (2008), it is spoken by less than 4,500 people. Ethnologue reports the following locations: • Odisha (47 villages): Kudumulgumma block and Chitrakonda block of Koraput district and Malkangiri district, south of Bondo Hills; some in Khairput block • East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh ==Phonology==
Phonology
Vowels Gtaʔ has the 5 canonical vowels /a, e, i, o, u/, and sometimes a sixth vowel /æ/. To this can be added several nasalized counterparts: /ã, õ, ũ/ and sometimes /ĩ/. There are numerous lexical items that contain initial consonant clusters and CCVC word shape in Gtaʔ. Eg. plwesa ('jackfruit), gtaʔ ('Gtaʔ person'). ==Grammar==
Grammar
Nouns Nouns in Gta are primarily marked for case, number and possession. Nouns also have two forms, one a free full form, the other a bound short form. These latter occur only when the noun is compounded with another noun or a verb for derivational purposes, and are hence labeled "combining forms". The combining form usually involves removing an affix or shortening the noun in some way. Verb agreement Like Kharia, Gutob and Remo, Gta verbs only index the S and A arguments. S-V-O transitive configuration has been fossilized with only one survived example: the plural marker -har is used to indicate 1>3 scenario. Echo formation Gtaʔ is also notable for its use of echo words. There are four broad categories of echo forms: • a-forms, indicating gross variety; • i-forms, indicating diminutive or tender variety; • u/a-forms, indicating variety different from a related category; • partially changed forms, indicating inferior variety: a-forms, indicating grossness; and i-forms, indicating tenderness. The phonological rules for deriving one type of echo word are as follows: ==Numeral system==
Numeral system
Gta' numeral system is vigesimal. ==Notes==
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