Page Type: languageRabha | Ethnologue

RAH ISO 639-3

Rabha

রাভা‎ (Rābhā) Autonym

A language of India

ISO 639
rah
Alternate Names
Rava, Rába Katha
Autonym
রাভা‎ (Rābhā)
Population
140,000 (2011 census). No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 374,000 (1993).
Location:
Assam state: Darrang, Goalpara, and Kamrup districts; Nagaland state; West Bengal state: Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts; Koch Bihar district, Tafangunj sub-district; Meghalaya state: East and West Garo hills districts.
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Sal, Boro-Garo, Koch
Dialects
Maitaria (Maitoria, Maituri), Rongdani (Rangdania). Rongdani is the standard dialect. Lexical similarity: 73% between Maituri and Rongdani. 31%–39% with Koch [kdq].
Language Use
The majority of the ethnic group speaks Assamese [asm] as L1; Rabha spoken only in Rongdani and Maituri. Home, prayer, market, other villages. Used by all. Also use Bengali [ben]. Also use English [eng]. Also use Garo [grt]. Also use Hindi [hin]. Used as L2 by Koch [kdq].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 30%–50%. High interest in language development. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Radio. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2000.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Rabha
Writing
Bengali (Bangla) script [Beng]. Latin script [Latn], preferred by Catholics.
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian, Hindu.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Assam state: Darrang, Goalpara, and Kamrup districts; Nagaland state; West Bengal state: Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts; Koch Bihar district, Tafangunj sub-district; Meghalaya state: East and West Garo hills districts.