Bhil languages

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bhil
EthnicityBhil people
Geographic
distribution
India
Linguistic classificationIndo-European
Subdivisions
  • Northern
  • Central
  • Bareli
Glottologbhil1254
Bhili-speaking regions of India

The Bhil languages are a group of Indo-Aryan languages spoken by around 10.4 million Bhils in western and central India as of 2011.[2] They constitute the primary languages of the southern Aravalli Range in Rajasthan and the western Satpura Range in Madhya Pradesh, northwestern Maharashtra, and southern Gujarat. According to the 52nd report of the commissioner for linguistic minorities in India, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Bhili is the most commonly spoken language of the district of Dadra and Nagar Haveli constituting 40.42% of its total population. Bhili speakers are also significant in the states of Gujarat (4.75%), Madhya Pradesh (4.93%) and Rajasthan (4.60%).[3]

See also[edit]

Relationship[edit]

The Bhil languages form a link midway between the Gujarati language and the Rajasthani–Marwari languages.

Grouped geographically, the Bhil languages are the following:

Other Bhil languages include Gamit (Gamti) and Mawchi. Vasavi is spoken by ethnic Bhils, but may be closer to Gujarati. Similarly, Malvi and Nimadi may be closer to Rajasthani. The recently described Vaagri Booli may also be a Bhil language.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ernst Kausen, 2006. Die Klassifikation der indogermanischen Sprachen (Microsoft Word, 133 KB)
  2. ^ "ABSTRACT OF SPEAKERS' STRENGTH OF LANGUAGES AND MOTHER TONGUES - 2011" (PDF). www.censusindia.gov.in. Indian Census 2011, Government of India. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 52nd report (July 2014 to June 2015)" (PDF). Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2018.

Further reading[edit]