Bihari languages

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Bihari languages are a group of the Indo-Aryan languages.[1][2] The Bihari languages are mainly spoken in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, and also in Nepal.[3][4] The most widely spoken languages of the Bihari group are Bhojpuri, Magahi and Maithili.

Bihari
Geographic
distribution
India and Nepal
Linguistic classificationIndo-European
Subdivisions
ISO 639-1bh (deprecated)
ISO 639-2 / 5bih
Glottologbiha1245

Despite the large number of speakers of these languages, only Maithili has been constitutionally recognised in India, which gained constitutional status via the 92nd amendment to the Constitution of India, of 2003 (gaining assent in 2004).[5] Both Maithili and Bhojpuri have constitutional recognition in Nepal.[6] Bhojpuri is also official in Fiji as Fiji Baat. There are demands for including Bhojpuri in the 8th schedule of Indian constitution.

In Bihar, Hindi is the language used for educational and official matters.[7] These languages were legally absorbed under the overarching label Hindi in the 1961 Census. Such state and national politics are creating conditions for language endangerments.[8] After independence Hindi was given the sole official status through the Bihar Official Language Act, 1950.[9] Hindi was displaced as the sole official language of Bihar in 1981, when Urdu was accorded the status of the second official language.[10]

Speakers

The number of speakers of Bihari languages is difficult to indicate because of unreliable sources. In the urban region most educated speakers of the language name Hindi as their language because this is what they use in formal contexts and believe it to be the appropriate response because of unawareness.[clarification needed] The educated and the urban population of the region return Hindi as the generic name for their language.[11]

British linguist Grierson also mentioned that Bajjika, Angika and Surjapuri are also spoken in particular districts of Bihar. These languages are mostly spoken in rural areas.[12]

Classification

The Bihari languages fall into four language subgroups:

Languages and dialects

Language[13]ISO 639-3ScriptsNo. of speakers[11]Geographical distribution
AngikaanpDevanagari; previously Kaithi; Anga Lipi743,600[14]Eastern Bihar, North-eastern Jharkhand and Eastern Madhesh of Nepal
BajjikaDevanagari; previously Tirhuta; Kaithi8,738,000[citation needed]North-Central Bihar and Eastern Madhesh of Nepal
BhojpuribhoDevanagari; previously Kaithi52,245,300[15]Recognized language in Nepal, Official language in Fiji (as the Fiji Hindi) and Jharkhand (additional)

In India : Western Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Western Jharkhand, Northern Chhattisgarh, Northeastern Madhya Pradesh

Terai region of Central Nepal

KhorthaDevanagari; previously Tirhuta8,040,000[16]South Bihar, North-eastern and North central Jharkhand
Kudmali (Panchpargania)kyw, tdbDevanagari; sometimes Bengali, Kaithi556,809[16]South-Eastern Jharkhand, Southern West Bengal,[17] northern Odisha, Assam
MagahimahDevanagari; previously Tirhuta; Kaithi, Siddham script14,035,600[18]South Bihar, North Jharkhand and Eastern Madhesh of Nepal
MaithilimaiDevanagari; previously Tirhuta, Kaithi33,890,000[18]Northern and eastern Bihar, Jharkhand[19] and Eastern Madhesh of Nepal
Nagpuri (Sadri)sckDevanagari; previously Kaithi5,100,000[16]West-central Jharkhand, North-eastern Chhattisgarh, Northwestern Odisha
Tharuthl, tkt, thr, the, thq, tkb, soiDevanagari1,900,000[16][20]Terai regions of Nepal and some parts of border side areas of Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and Bihar
DanuwardhwDevanagari46,000 [16][20]Nepal
Bote-Daraibmj, dryDevanagari30,000[16][20]Nepal
KumhalikraDevanagari12,000[16][20]Nepal
MajhimjzDevanagari24,000[16][20]Nepal

References and footnotes

External links