Page Type: languageBirhor | Ethnologue

BIY ISO 639-3

Birhor

A language of India

ISO 639
biy
Alternate Names
Bihor, Birhar, Birhore, Birhul, Mankidi, Mankidia, Mankiria
Population
2,000 (Van Driem 2007). Nomadic habits make assessment difficult. Some estimates as low as 1,000 (Parkin 1991).
Location:
Chhattisgarh state: Raigarh district; Jharkhand state: southern Hazaribag, southern Palamau, Ranchi, and Singhbhum districts; Maharashtra state; Odisha state: Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, and Sundargarh districts; West Bengal state: Puruliya district.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Austro-Asiatic, Munda, North Munda, Kherwari, Mundari
Dialects
None known. Lexical similarity: 55%–72% with Santhali [sat], Ho [hoc], Mundari [unr], and Munda [unx].
Language Use
Vigorous. No indication of language shift. Most domains. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng], especially the school children. Also use Hindi [hin]. Also use Ho [hoc]. Also use Munda [unx]. Also use Mundari [unr]. Also use Odia [ory]. Also use Sadri [sck]. Also use Santhali [sat].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 10% in Hindi [hin].
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Birhor
Writing
Devanagari script [Deva].
Other Comments
Traditionally nomadic. Hindu, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Chhattisgarh state: Raigarh district; Jharkhand state: southern Hazaribag, southern Palamau, Ranchi, and Singhbhum districts; Maharashtra state; Odisha state: Kalahandi, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Sambalpur, and Sundargarh districts; West Bengal state: Puruliya district.