Page Type: languageHo | Ethnologue

HOC ISO 639-3

Ho

Ho kaji Autonym

A language of India

ISO 639
hoc
Alternate Names
Bihar Ho, Ho haram, Ho jagar, Lanka Kol
Autonym
Ho kaji
Population
1,420,000 (2011 census).
Location:
Bihar state; Jharkhand state: Purbi Singhbhum district, Kolhan, Seraikella; East Singhbhum district, Dhalbhum sub-district; Odisha state: Koenjhar and Mayurbhanj districts; West Bengal state.
Language Status
5* (Developing).
Classification
Austro-Asiatic, Munda, North Munda, Kherwari, Mundari
Dialects
Lohara, Chaibasa-Thakurmunda. Most understand Chaibasa and Thakurmunda dialects well; 90%–92% comprehend narrative discourse. Kherwari (Khanwar, Kharar, Kharoali, Kharwari) is group name for Ho, Mundari [unr], Munda [unx], and Santhali [sat], closely related languages, and other smaller languages or dialects. Lexical similarity: 85% between most dialects, except for 3 on Ho area east and south edges.
Language Use
Vigorous. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Hindi [hin]. Also use Odia [ory]. Also use Sadri [sck]. Also use Santhali [sat]. Used as L2 by Birhor [biy].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Literacy program in progress. Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1997.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ho
Writing
Devanagari script [Deva], used in Bihar. Latin script [Latn]. Oriya (Odia) script [Orya], used in Odisha. Telugu script [Telu]. Warang Citi script [Wara].
Other Comments
Different from Ho (Hani [hni]) of Myanmar, China, Viet Nam, Laos. Traditional religion, Hindu.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Bihar state; Jharkhand state: Purbi Singhbhum district, Kolhan, Seraikella; East Singhbhum district, Dhalbhum sub-district; Odisha state: Koenjhar and Mayurbhanj districts; West Bengal state.