Orissa: languages and dialects

&<2/”>a >nbsp;

There are various languages spoken in the state of Orissa. Oriya is the largest spoken language and also the State language of Orissa. There are many Local language of Orissa other than Oriya such as Baleswari, Bhatri, Laria, Sambalpuri, Ganjami, Chhatisgarhi, medinipuri, etc. Unique versions of Oriya are spoken by people of northern and southern hilly regions. Many Sanskrit inscriptions are found matching with many Oriya words and individual characters.

In the bigger towns and cities, Hindi is understood and spoken as well as English.

Oriya

Oriya is an Eastern Indo-Aryan language that is primarily spoken in the Indian state of Orissa. It is recognized as one of the Official Languages of India and over 33 million people speak Oriya. It is derived from Sanskrit and other languages similar to Oriya include Bangla, Assamese, Maithili, Magahi, and Bhojpuri. Indian states such as Jharkhand, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat also include a significant amount of Oriya speakers. Specifically in the city of Surat, Gujarat there is a significant Oriya community due to immigration works in the diamond polishing and textile industries.

Oriya has several dialects, which include:

Mughalbandi: Considered the standard, most formal

Sambalpuri: Spoken in the districts of Sambalpur, Sundergarh, Kalahandi, Bolangir, and

Bauda Bhatri: a transitional dialect

The following dialects and variations of the language are spoken in various area of the state. These languages Sound familiar with Oriya more than they do with other mixed up languages. They are as followings:

Kosli: 

Kosli is an ancient language and it is one of the five Prakrit languages existing since Vedic era along with Sanskrit. However, some recent research done at Sambalpur University claims Kosli as a distinct language . A large area encompassing the western part of Odisha popularly known as Kosal region; Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Deogarh, Balangir, Sonepur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Boud, Phulbani and Northern Koraput regions; parts of Chattisgarh; Bhatri region of Bastar district, and from eastern part of Debhog, Phuljhar, Raigarh, Sarangarh to Jashpur uses Kosli as its mother tongue. Out of the  total Population-of-odisha/”>POPULATION OF ODISHA (36706920) about two crore population uses Kosli according to 2001 census.

 Reli: 

It is an East Indian language and possibly a dialect of Oriya that is mostly used in the tribal areas of Orissa state. It is considered as indo—European language.
Kupia:

Kupia is indo Aryan language that is closely related to Oriya. It is mostly spoken by Valmiki people residing in Orissa, Telangana and Andhra. Valmiki peoples are tribal group residing in southeastern India.
Bodo Praja: 

It is also known as Jharia language. It is mainly spoken in odisha by adivasi peoples.

 

 ,

Orissa is a state in eastern India. It is the 10th largest state in India by area and the 13th most populous state. The Official Language of Orissa is Odia, which is spoken by about 35 million people. Other major languages spoken in Orissa include Santali, Mundari, Kui, Bhumia, Juang, Saora, Ho, Bonda, Kondh, Kuvi, Gadaba, Savara, Bhotia, Bengali, Hindi, Telugu, Urdu, and English.

Odia is a member of the Indo-Aryan language family. It is closely related to Bengali, Assamese, and Maithili. Odia is written in the Odia script, which is derived from the Brahmi Script.

Santali is a member of the Munda language family. It is the most widely spoken tribal language in India. Santali is written in the Santali script, which was developed in the 19th century by Pandit Raghunath Murmu.

Mundari is also a member of the Munda language family. It is the second most widely spoken tribal language in India. Mundari is written in the Mundari script, which was developed in the 19th century by Pandit Raghunath Murmu.

Kui is a member of the Dravidian language family. It is spoken by about 2 million people in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Kui is written in the Odia script.

Bhumia is a member of the Austroasiatic language family. It is spoken by about 1 million people in Orissa and Jharkhand. Bhumia is written in the Odia script.

Juang is a member of the Austroasiatic language family. It is spoken by about 100,000 people in Orissa. Juang is written in the Odia script.

Saora is a member of the Dravidian language family. It is spoken by about 400,000 people in Orissa. Saora is written in the Odia script.

Ho is a member of the Munda language family. It is spoken by about 1 million people in Jharkhand, Orissa, and Chhattisgarh. Ho is written in the Odia script.

Bonda is a member of the Munda language family. It is spoken by about 10,000 people in Orissa. Bonda is not written.

Kondh is a member of the Dravidian language family. It is spoken by about 1 million people in Orissa. Kondh is written in the Odia script.

Kuvi is a member of the Dravidian language family. It is spoken by about 200,000 people in Orissa. Kuvi is written in the Odia script.

Gadaba is a member of the Dravidian language family. It is spoken by about 200,000 people in Orissa. Gadaba is written in the Odia script.

Savara is a member of the Austroasiatic language family. It is spoken by about 1 million people in Orissa. Savara is written in the Odia script.

Bhotia is a member of the Tibeto-Burman language family. It is spoken by about 10,000 people in Orissa. Bhotia is written in the Tibetan script.

Bengali is a member of the Indo-Aryan language family. It is the official language of West Bengal and Tripura. Bengali is also spoken in Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and Meghalaya. Bengali is written in the Bengali script.

Hindi is a member of the Indo-Aryan language family. It is the official language of India. Hindi is also spoken in Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Hindi is written in the Devanagari Script.

Telugu is a member of the Dravidian language family. It is the official language of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Telugu is also spoken in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu. Telugu is written in the Telugu script.

Urdu is a member of the Indo-Aryan language family. It is the official language of Pakistan. Urdu is also spoken in India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Urdu is written in the Nastaliq script.

English is a member of the Indo-European language family. It is the official language of the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland. English is also spoken in many other countries around the world. English is written in the Latin script.

The languages of Orissa are a diverse and rich tapestry. They reflect the state’s unique history and culture. The languages of Orissa are a vital part of the state’s identity.

Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about languages and dialects:

  • What is a language?
    A language is a system of Communication that consists of a set of words and rules for their use, spoken, written, or signed, by a group of people.

  • What is a dialect?
    A dialect is a variety of a language that is spoken in a particular region or social group. Dialects can differ from each other in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

  • How many languages are there in the world?
    There are over 7,000 languages spoken in the world today.

  • What are the most common languages in the world?
    The most common languages in the world are Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, English, Hindi, Arabic, Portuguese, Bengali, Russian, Japanese, and German.

  • What is the difference between a language and a dialect?
    A language is a system of communication that is used by a large group of people, while a dialect is a variety of a language that is spoken in a particular region or social group. Dialects can differ from each other in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.

  • What are some examples of languages and dialects?
    Some examples of languages are English, Spanish, French, Chinese, and Arabic. Some examples of dialects are American English, British English, Australian English, and Indian English.

  • How do languages and dialects change over time?
    Languages and dialects change over time due to a variety of factors, including contact with other languages, Migration, and social changes.

  • What is the importance of language and dialect diversity?
    Language and dialect diversity is important because it allows people to communicate with each other in different ways. It also helps to preserve cultural identity.

  • What are some challenges facing language and dialect diversity?
    Some challenges facing language and dialect diversity include Globalization/”>Globalization-3/”>Globalization, language shift, and language death.

  • What can be done to promote language and dialect diversity?
    There are a number of things that can be done to promote language and dialect diversity, including Education, awareness-raising, and language revitalization.

Sure, here are some MCQs about Orissa:

  1. What is the capital of Orissa?
    (A) Bhubaneswar
    (B) Cuttack
    (C) Puri
    (D) Rourkela

  2. What is the largest city in Orissa?
    (A) Bhubaneswar
    (B) Cuttack
    (C) Puri
    (D) Rourkela

  3. What is the official language of Orissa?
    (A) Odia
    (B) Hindi
    (C) English
    (D) Bengali

  4. What is the currency of Orissa?
    (A) Indian rupee
    (B) US dollar
    (C) Euro
    (D) Chinese yuan

  5. What is the population of Orissa?
    (A) 41,979,582
    (B) 45,386,702
    (C) 49,893,812
    (D) 54,400,922

  6. What is the Literacy rate of Orissa?
    (A) 72.87%
    (B) 75.85%
    (C) 78.83%
    (D) 81.81%

  7. What is the main religion of Orissa?
    (A) Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism
    (B) Islam
    (C) Christianity
    (D) Buddhism-2/”>Buddhism

  8. What is the main agricultural product of Orissa?
    (A) Rice
    (B) Wheat
    (C) Sugarcane
    (D) Tea

  9. What is the main mineral resource of Orissa?
    (A) Iron Ore
    (B) Coal
    (C) Bauxite
    (D) Manganese

  10. What is the main tourist attraction of Orissa?
    (A) Puri Jagannath Temple
    (B) Konark Sun Temple
    (C) Dhauligiri
    (D) Chilika Lake

Exit mobile version