Page Type: languageMal Paharia | Ethnologue

MKB ISO 639-3

Mal Paharia

A language of India

ISO 639
mkb
Alternate Names
Dehri, Mad, Mader, Mal, Mal Pahariya, Maler, Malpaharia, Malti, Malto, Maltu, Manlati, Mar, Marpaharia, Maw, Mawdo, Mawer, Mawer Nondi, Paharia, Parsi
Population
51,000 (Bhaskararao 2006). Possibly 40,000 in West Bengal. Ethnic population: 111,000 (2000).
Location:
Bihar state: Banka district; Jharkhand state: Deoghar district; Dumka district, Pakaur; south Godda district; Sahibganj district, Borio, Depart village; south Santal Pargana district, Ramgarh hills; West Bengal state: Bankura, Barddhaman, and Murshidabad districts.
Language Status
6b* (Threatened).
Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Dialects
Not inherently intelligible with Kumarbhag Paharia [kmj], Sauria Paharia [mjt], Bengali [ben], or Hindi [hin]. Part of the Malto ethnic group. Reportedly speak a variety similar to Kharia Thar [ksy] of Manbhum (Jharkhand). Lexical similarity: 85% between dialects, 59% with Mal Paharia Barmasiya.
Language Use
Vigorous. All domains. Positive attitudes. Some also use Bengali [ben]. Also use English [eng].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 13% male, 3% female, average 8% (1981). Bible: 2018.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Mal Paharia
Writing
Devanagari script [Deva].
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Bihar state: Banka district; Jharkhand state: Deoghar district; Dumka district, Pakaur; south Godda district; Sahibganj district, Borio, Depart village; south Santal Pargana district, Ramgarh hills; West Bengal state: Bankura, Barddhaman, and Murshidabad districts.