Khortha (also romanized as Kortha or Khotta) or alternatively classified as Eastern Magahi[4] is a language variety (which is considered a dialect of the Magahi language) spoken primarily in the Indian state of Jharkhand, mainly in 16 districts of three divisions: North Chotanagpur, Palamu division and Santhal Pargana.[3] Khortha is spoken by the Sadaans as native language and used by the tribal as a link language.[5][4] It is the most spoken language variety of Jharkhand.[6][7][8]
| Khortha | |
|---|---|
| Eastern Magahi | |
| खोरठा | |
 The word "Khortha" written in Devanagari script | |
| Native to | India |
| Region | North Chotanagpur and Santhal Pargana, Jharkhand |
Native speakers | 8.04 million (2011 census)[1][2](additional speakers counted under Hindi) |
| Devanagari | |
| Official status | |
Official language in |  India |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
Geographical Distribution
Khortha is spoken in North Chota Nagpur division and Santal Pargana division of Jharkhand. The 7 districts are Hazaribagh, Koderma, Giridih, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Chatra, Ramgarh.[2]
In Bihar, districts where Khortha is spoken include Aurangabad, Gaya and Nawada.[9]
Classification
George Grierson classified Khortha as a dialect of the Magahi language in his linguistic survey.[5] However, recent study demonstrate that Khortha is more similar to other Bihari languages of Jharkhand called Sadani than the Magahi language.[10]
Literature
In 1950, Sriniwas Panuri translated Kali Das's Meghadutam in Khortha. In 1956, he composed two works Balkiran and Divyajyoti. Bhubaneswar Dutta Sharma, Sriniwas Panuri, Viswanath Dasaundhi and Viswanath Nagar were among first people who started literature in Khortha. Some prominent writers in Khortha language are A.K Jha, Shivnath Pramanik, B.N Ohdar.[5]For the first time, efforts were made to reach Khortha language and literature to the People of Jharkhand through the Internet by the founder of the Sarkari Library, Mr Mananjay Mahato. Khortha literature became available on the Internet for the first time due to the efforts of Mr. Mananjay Mahato.
Sample phrases
| English | Khortha | Khortha (Devanagari) |
|---|---|---|
| Ramu felt shy. | Ramuke laj lagi gele. | रामुके लाज लगि गेले। |
| Amit has courage. | Amit-ke sãhas he. | अमित के साहस हे। |
| I feel shy | Hammar laj laga | हम्मर लाज लगा। |
| Give the horse the feed. | Ghora-ke khabe-ke de. | घोड़ा के खाबेके दे। |
| The child did not hit his sister. | Baccha-ta appan bahin-ke nai mar-k-o. | बच्चाटा अप्पन बहिनके नइ मारको। |
| Ram’s sister wedding is tomorrow. | Kalkhin ram-ke bahin-ke biha hau. | कलखिन रामके बहिनके बिहा हउ। |
| The boy ate a banana. | Chhourata ekta kela khalelko. | छौड़ाटा एकटा केला खालेलको। |
| Buy twenty five rupees’ sugar. | Pacchis taka-ke chini kini-an | पच्चीस टाकाके चीनी किनिअन। |
| Ajay wrote a letter to his mother yesterday. | Ajay kalkhin appan ma-ke chitthi likk-o. | अजय कलखिन अप्पन माके चिट्ठी लिक्को। |