Bhil languages

Indo-Aryan language group of India

Bhil
Ethnicity	Bhil people
Geographic distribution	India
Linguistic classification	Indo-European Indo-Iranian Indo-Aryan Western^[1] Bhil
Subdivisions	Northern Central Bareli
Glottolog	`bhil1254`
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]

Relationship

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

Grouped geographically, the Bhil languages are the following:

Northern Bhil
- Bauria
- Wagdi (perhaps central: reportedly highly intelligible with Adiwasa, Patelia, and other varieties of Bhil proper)
- Bhilori (Noiri, Dungra)
- Magari (Magra ki Boli; incl. under Bhili proper in Ethnologue)
Central Bhil
- Bhili proper (Patelia), Bhilodi, Adiwasa & Rajput Garasia [mutually intelligible; some intelligible with Marwari]
- Bhilali (Rathawi)
- Chodri
- Dhodia
- Dhanki
- Dubli
Eastern Bhil (Bareli)
- Palya Bareli
- Pauri Bareli
- Rathwi Bareli
- Pardhi
- Kalto (Nahali)

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

^ Ernst Kausen, 2006. Die Klassifikation der indogermanischen Sprachen (Microsoft Word, 133 KB)
^ "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.
^ "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.

Khare, Randhir. "Dangs: Journeys Into The Heartland". New Delhi: Harper Collins Publishers India. Archived 19 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
Khare, Randhir. "Flight Of Arrows". Selected Song Poems Of The Bhils.Pune:Grasswork Books
Khare, Randhir. The Singing Bow: Song-Poems of the Bhil. New Delhi: HarperCollins Publishers India, 2001. ISBN 81-7223-425-2
Varma, Siddheshwar. Bhil Dialects and Khandesi: A Linguistic Analysis. Panjab University Indological series, 23. Hoshiarpur: Vishveshvaranand Vishva Bandhu Institute of Sanskrit and Indological Studies, Panjab University, 1978.

Indo-Aryan languages

Dardic

Kashmiri	Kashmiri Kishtwari
Shina	Shina Brokskat Kundal Shahi Kalkoti Ushoji Palula Sawi
Pashayi	Pashayi
Kunar	Dameli Gawar-Bati Nangalami Shumashti Wotapuri-Katarqalai
Chitral	Kalasha Khowar
Hazara Division	Indus Kohistani Bateri Chilisso Gowro Kalami Tirahi Mankiyali

Northern

Eastern	Doteli Jumli Nepali
Central	Garhwali Kumaoni
Western	Dogri Kangri Bhadarwahi Churahi Bhateali Bilaspuri Chambeali Gaddi Pangwali Mandeali Mahasu Pahari Jaunsari Kullui Pahari Kinnauri Hinduri Sirmauri Sarazi

Northwestern

Punjabi

Eastern	Punjabi dialects Sansi
Lahnda	Hindko Inku Khetrani Pahari-Pothwari Saraiki

Sindhi

Western

Gujarati	Aer Gujarati Jandavra Koli Kachi Parkari Wadiyara Lisan ud-Dawat Parkari Koli Saurashtra Vaghri
Rajasthani	Bagri Goaria Loarki Gujari Dhundari Harauti Malvi Marwari Mewati Mewari Shekhawati Dhatki Nimadi
Bhil	Bhili Bhilali Chodri Dhodia-Kukna Dhanki Dubli Bauria Bhilori Mawchi Magari Palya Bareli Pauri Bareli Rathwi Bareli Pardhi Gamit Kalto Vasavi Wagdi Vaagri Booli
Others	Khandeshi Lambadi Dawoodi Domari Romani list of languages

Central

Western	Braj Bhasha Bundeli Haryanvi Hindustani Kauravi Hindi Urdu Deccani Judeo-Urdu Hyderabadi Urdu Rekhta Kannauji Sansi Sadhukkadi
Eastern	Awadhi Bagheli Chhattisgarhi Fiji Hindi
Others	Parya

Eastern

Bihari

Bhojpuric	Bhojpuri Caribbean Hindustani
Magahi	Magahi Khortha
Maithili	Maithili Angika Bajjika
Sadanic	Sadri Kurmali
Tharuic	Tharu Kochila Buksa Majhi Musasa
Others	Kumhali Kuswaric Bote-Darai Danwar

Gauda–
Kamarupa

Bengali	Bengali dialects Bishnupriya Manipuri Hajong Kharia Thar Kurmukar Mal Paharia Noakhailla Sylheti Tanchangya
Kamarupic	Assamese Kamrupi Goalpariya Rajbanshi (Nepal) Rangpuri Surjapuri
Chittagonian	Chittagonian Chittagonian Chakma Rohingya

Odia

Halbic

Halbi
Kamar
Bhunjia
Nahari

Southern

Marathi–
Konkani

Marathic	Marathi Varhadi Andh Berar Deccan Varli Phudagi Katkari Kadodi
Konkanic	Konkani Maharashtrian Konkani Canarese Konkani

Insular

Old

Middle

Early	Ashokan Prakrit Pāli Early Ardhamagadhi
Middle (Prakrit)	Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dramatic Prakrits Ardhamagadhi Magadhi Maharashtri Shauraseni Gāndhārī Paishachi
Late (Apabhraṃśa)	Abahattha Apabhraṃśa Elu Kamarupi Khasa Prakrit