Page Type: languageKurux | Ethnologue

KRU ISO 639-3

Kurux

कुड़ुख़‎ (Kudukh) Autonym

A language of India

ISO 639
kru
Alternate Names
Kadukali, Kurka, Kurukh, Urang, Uraon
Autonym
कुड़ुख़‎ (Kudukh)
Population
1,990,000 in India (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 2,084,390 (as L1: 2,083,700; as L2: 690).
Location:
Chhattisgarh state: Raigarh and Surguja districts; Jharkhand state: Lohardaga and Ranchi districts; Odisha state: Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts; West Bengal state: Jalpaigiri district; Assam, Bihar, and Tripura states.
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Classification
Dravidian, Northern
Dialects
Oraon. Kisan [xis] and the Oraon dialect have 73% intelligibility. Oraon becoming standard. Related to Kumarbhag Paharia [kmj].
Typology
SOV; postpositions; noun head final; 2 noun classes (human, non-human); content q-word initial; 1 prefix, up to 6 suffixes; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person, number and genders of subject and object; ergativity; tense and aspect; passives and voice; nontonal; 29 consonant and 10 vowel phonemes.
Language Use
While there are written materials, the language is losing speakers (mostly due to urbanization). Some young people, all adults. Also use English [eng]. Also use Sadri [sck]. Used as L2 by Kodaku [ksz].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 62% Oraon in Chhattisgarh, 25% in Bihar (2001 census). Literature. Newspapers. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 2000.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kurux
Writing
Devanagari script [Deva].
Other Comments
Hindu, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Kurux
User Population
50,000 in Bangladesh (2011), decreasing. Ethnic population: 50,000 (2011).
Location
Rangpur division: Dinajpur, Panchagarn, Rangpur, Saidpur and Thakurgaon districts’ areas.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Different from Sadri, Oraon [sdr].
View other languages of Bangladesh
Language Name
Kurux
User Population
10,000 in Bhutan (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.
Location
Chhukha and Samtse districts: probably scattered small groups.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Bhutan
Language Name
Kurux
User Population
34,390 in Nepal, all users. L1 users: 33,700 in Nepal (2011 census), decreasing. L2 users: 690 (2011 census). No monolinguals (2002 UNESCO). Ethnic population: 37,400 (2011 census).
Location
Kosi province: Jhapa district, scattered; Morang district, Belbari, Biratnagar, Budhiganga, Gramthan, Kanepokhari, Katahari, Rangeli, and Sundaraicha municipalities; Sunsari district, Barah, Barju, Bhokraha, Duhabi, Dwanganj, Gadhi, Harinagara, Inarwa, and Ramdhuni municipalities; Janakpur province: Bara district, Jitpur Simara municipality; Parsa district, Birganj, Parsagadhi, Paterwasugauli, and Sakuwa Prasauni municipalities; Siraha district, Arnama, Golbazar, and Naraha municipalities.
Dialects
None known. Variety spoken in Jharkhand, India 86% intelligible with Kurux in Nepal (Shackelford 2020).
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
The majority of Kurux in Nepal moved to Nepal about 150 years ago, mostly to work in indigo fields across the border in Bihar state, India. A small number came about 2 generations ago, now living in Jhapa (Van Driem 2001). All names are used interchangeably for language and ethnic names. Hindu.
View other languages of Nepal

Map

Location: Chhattisgarh state: Raigarh and Surguja districts; Jharkhand state: Lohardaga and Ranchi districts; Odisha state: Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts; West Bengal state: Jalpaigiri district; Assam, Bihar, and Tripura states.