Page Type: languageMajhi | Ethnologue

MJZ ISO 639-3

Majhi

माझी‎ (Majhi) Autonym

A language of Nepal

ISO 639
mjz
Alternate Names
Manjhi
Autonym
माझी‎ (Majhi)
Population
25,720 in Nepal, all users. L1 users: 24,400 in Nepal (2011 census), decreasing. L2 users: 1,320 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 25,720 (as L1: 24,400; as L2: 1,320).
Location:
Bagmati province: Kavrepalanchok, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, and Sindhupalchowk districts; Janakpur province: Bara, Dhanusa, Rautahat, and Sarlahi districts; Kosi province: Jhapa, Khotang, Morang, Okhaldhunga, Sunsari, and Udayapur districts. Scattered along waterways in all these locations.
Language Status
6b* (Threatened). Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Majhi.
Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bihari
Dialects
Sitkha, Rajgaun, Manthali.
Typology
SOV; postpositions; noun head final; no noun classes or genders; content q-word in situ; 1 prefix, up to 2 suffixes; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person and number; split ergativity based on nominal hierarchy (the first and second person pronouns do not code ergativity but the third person pronouns do); passives and voice; nontonal; 29 consonant and 6 vowel phonemes.
Language Use
Being replaced by Nepali [npi] (UNESCO). Religion. All also use Nepali [npi].
Language Development
Radio.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Majhi
Writing
Devanagari script [Deva].
Other Comments
Distinct from Majhi in Punjabi group or Bote [bmj]. Majhi, Bote, and Kushar all are used by hill peoples. Hindu, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Majhi
User Population
No known L1 speakers in India (2016). Last native speaker in India, Thak Bahadur, died in 2016. Ethnic population: 121,000 (2007).
Location
Jharkhand state: Gumla district; Sikkim state: South district, Majhigaon near Jorethang, and East district, Majhitar near Rangpo; possibly Assam and West Bengal states.
Language Status
9 (Dormant)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Distinct from Majhi dialect of Eastern Punjabi [pan] or Bote (Bote-Majhi) [bmj] of Nepal. Hindu.
View other languages of India

Map

Location: Bagmati province: Kavrepalanchok, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, and Sindhupalchowk districts; Janakpur province: Bara, Dhanusa, Rautahat, and Sarlahi districts; Kosi province: Jhapa, Khotang, Morang, Okhaldhunga, Sunsari, and Udayapur districts. Scattered along waterways in all these locations.