Page Type: languageSanthali | Ethnologue

SAT ISO 639-3

Santhali

Har Rar Autonym

A language of India

ISO 639
sat
Alternate Names
Har, Hor, Samtali, Sandal, Sangtal, Santal, Santali, Santhiali, Satar, Sentali, Sonthal
Autonym
Har Rar
Population
7,340,000 in India (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 7,621,180 (as L1: 7,620,200; as L2: 980).
Location:
Bihar state: Bhagalpur and Munger districts; Jharkhand state: Hazaribagh and Manbhum districts; Odisha state: Balasore district; West Bengal state: Bankura and Birbhum districts; Assam, Mizoram, and Tripura states.
Language Status
4 (Educational). Statutory language of provincial identity in Jharkhand State (1950, Constitution, Schedule VIII), amended 2003.
Classification
Austro-Asiatic, Munda, North Munda, Kherwari, Santali
Dialects
Karmali (Khole), Kamari-Santali, Lohari-Santali, Manjhi, Paharia. Reportedly similar to Ho [hoc], Mundari [unr], and Munda [unx].
Typology
SOV; postpositions; noun head final; no noun classes or genders; content q-word in situ; 1 prefix, up to 3 suffixes; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person and number; non-ergative; both tense and aspect; passives and voice; nontonal; 33 consonant and 6 vowel phonemes.
Language Use
Also use English [eng]. Also use Sadri [sck]. Used as L2 by Birhor [biy], Ho [hoc], Kharia [khr], Kharia Thar [ksy], Mahali [mjx].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 10%–30%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Periodicals. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1914–2005.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Santhali
Writing
Bengali (Bangla) script [Beng]. Devanagari script [Deva], used in Nepal. Latin script [Latn], used in Bangladesh. Ol Chiki (Ol Cemet’, Ol, Santali) script [Olck]. Oriya (Odia) script [Orya].
Other Comments
Language of Santhal tribals of Chota Nagpur Plateau (comprising the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh). Hindu, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Santhali
User Population
225,000 in Bangladesh (2011).
Location
Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions: widespread.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
View other languages of Bangladesh
Language Name
Santhali
User Population
5,300 in Bhutan (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Bhutan
Language Name
Santhali
User Population
50,880 in Nepal, all users. L1 users: 49,900 in Nepal (2011 census), increasing. L2 users: 980 (2011 census). Very few monolinguals.
Location
Kosi province: Jhapa and Morang districts.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian, Hindu.
View other languages of Nepal

Map

Location: Bihar state: Bhagalpur and Munger districts; Jharkhand state: Hazaribagh and Manbhum districts; Odisha state: Balasore district; West Bengal state: Bankura and Birbhum districts; Assam, Mizoram, and Tripura states.