Tiwa

A language of India

ISO 639: lax
Alternate Names: Dowyan, Lalung
Population: 33,900 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 171,000 (2001 census).
Location:: Assam state: Kamrup, Karbi Anglong, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, and Sibsagar districts; Meghalaya state: Khasi Hills district.
Language Status: 6b (Threatened).
Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Sal, Boro-Garo, Boro-Tiwa
Dialects: Hajowali, Datiyali.
Language Use: Quite a few in Brahmaputra valley adopted Assamese [asm] as L1. Resurgent interest to learn the mother tongue; approved by the state in 2004 to be taught as a subject up to class 4. Home, market. Some of all ages. Many also use Assamese [asm]. Also use English [eng].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 62% for Assam (2001 census). Literacy rate higher in the plains. In the hills, equally low among men and women. Don Bosco school (Karbi Anglong District) teaches Tiwa up to class 4. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1972.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Tiwa
Writing: Bengali (Bangla) script [Beng]. Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Traditional religion, Hindu.

Location: Assam state: Kamrup, Karbi Anglong, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, and Sibsagar districts; Meghalaya state: Khasi Hills district.