 |
|
|
|
| National
or Official Language: Bengali |
| Language |
Number
of Speakers |
Area |
Dialects |
Classification |
BENGALI
[BNG]
BANGA-BHASA, BANGALA, BANGLA |
100,000,000
in Bangladesh (1994 UBS), 98% of the population
(1990 WA) |
Population
total all countries: 207,000,000; first-language
speakers (1999 WA), 211,000,000, including
second language speakers (1999 WA) |
|
Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone,
Bengali-Assamese. |
A
member of the Indo-European family of languages,
Bangali (sometimes called Bengla) is the official
language of Bangladesh. Bangladeshis closely
identify themselves with their national language.
Bangali has a rich cultural heritage in literature,
music, and poetry, and at least two Bengali
poets are well known in the West: Rabindranath
Tagore, a Hindu and a Nobel laureate; and Kazi
Nazrul Islam, a Muslim known as the
"voice of Bengali nationalism and independence."
Bangali has been enriched by several regional
dialects. The dialects of Sylhet, Chittagong,
and Noakhali have been strongly marked by Arab-Persian
influences. English, whose cultural influence
seemed to have crested by the late 1980s, remained
nonetheless an important language in Bangladesh.
531,000
speakers of Tibeto-Burman
languages, 125,000 speakers of Austro-Asiatic
languages. Literacy rate 24% to 25%. Also includes
Gujarati, Hindi 346,000, Oriya 13,299, Eastern
Panjabi 9,677, Sadri 200,000, Urdu 600,000.
Muslim, Hindu,
Buddhist. Blind
population 1,085. Deaf population 7,596,511.
Deaf institutions: 14. Data accuracy estimate:
B. The number of languages listed for Bangladesh
is 38. Of those, all are living languages.
| Language |
Number
of Speakers |
Area |
Dialects |
Classification |
ARAKANESE
[MHV]
MAGHI',
'MOGH', 'MAGH', MASH
|
185,000
in Bangladesh (1993 Johnstone), .1% of the
population.
|
Southeast,
Chittagong Hills area. Marma is in the hills
and Rakhine along the coast. Some possibly
in China |
MARMA
(MORMA), RAKHINE (RAKHAIN, YAKHAIN) |
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Lolo-Burmese, Burmish, Southern.
|
ASSAMESE
[ASM]
ASAMBE,
ASAMI
|
|
|
|
Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone,
Bengali-Assamese. |
BISHNUPRIYA
[BPY]
BISHNUPURIYA,
BISNA PURIYA, BISHNUPRIA MANIPURI
|
231,000
in Bangladesh (1993 Johnstone). Area bordering
Myanmar |
|
|
Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone,
Bengali-Assamese. |
BURMESE
[BMS]
BAMA,
BAMACHAKA, MYEN
|
|
|
BOMANG. |
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Lolo-Burmese, Burmish, Southern. |
| CHAK
[CKH] |
909
in Bangladesh (1981 census) |
Chittagong Hills. Most in Arakan Blue Mts |
|
Unclassified |
| CHAKMA
[CCP] |
260,577
in Bangladesh (1991 UBS) |
Southeast,
Chittagong Hills area, and Chittagong City |
TAKAM |
Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone,
Bengali-Assamese. |
CHIN,
ASHO [CSH]
SHO,
SHOA, KHYANG, KHYENG, QIN
CHITTAGONG,
|
1,422
in Bangladesh (1981 census) |
Arakan
Hills, Myanmar. Not in China |
LEMYO,
MINBU, SANDOWAY, THAYETMYO
|
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin,
Southern, Sho.
|
CHIN,
BAWM [BGR]
BAWN,
BAWNG, BOM, BAWM
|
5,773
in Bangladesh (1981 census) |
Chittagong
Hills |
|
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin,
Central. |
CHIN,
FALAM [HBH]
HALLAM
CHIN, HALAM, FALLAM, FALAM
|
|
|
CHOREI,
ZANNIAT |
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin,
Northern. |
CHIN,
HAKA [CNH]
HAKA,
BAUNGSHE
|
|
|
LAI,
KLANGKLANG (THLANTLANG), ZOKHUA, SHONSHE. |
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin,
Central. |
CHIN,
KHUMI [CKM]
KHUMI,
KHAMI, KHIMI, KHWEYMI, KHUNI
|
1,188
in Bangladesh (1981 census) |
|
KHIMI,
KHAMI, YINDU (YINDI), MATU, NGALA |
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin,
Southern, Khumi. |
| CHIN,
MRO [CMR] |
|
A
few villages across from Rakhine State,
Myanmar. |
|
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin.
|
CHITTAGONIAN
[CIT]
CHITTAGONIAN BENGALI
|
14,000,000
(1998 H. Ebersole) |
Population
total both countries 14,000,000 |
ROHINGA
(AKYAB) |
Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone,
Bengali-Assamese. |
| DARLONG
[DLN] |
9,000
in Bangladesh |
Population
total both countries 15,000 |
DALONG |
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin,
Central.
|
GARO
[GRT]
GARROW,
MANDE |
102,000
in Bangladesh (1993). |
Northeastern,
Mymensingh plains |
ABENG,
ACHIK |
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Jingpho-Konyak-Bodo,
Konyak-Bodo-Garo, Bodo-Garo, Garo. |
HAJONG
[HAJ]
HAIJONG
|
|
|
|
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan,
Eastern zone, Bengali-Assamese.
|
HO
[HOC]
LANKA
KOL. |
|
|
|
Austro-Asiatic,
Munda, North Munda, Kherwari, Mundari. |
KHASI
[KHI]
KAHASI,
KHASIYAS, KHUCHIA, KYI, COSSYAH, KHASSEE,
KHASIE |
85,088
in Bangladesh (1961 census) |
|
KHASI
(CHERRAPUNJI), LYNGNGAM (LNGNGAM), WAR |
Austro-Asiatic,
Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Khasian.
|
KOCH
[KDQ]
KOC, KOCCH, KOCE, KOCHBOLI, KONCH
|
|
|
BANAI,
HARIGAYA, SATPARIYA, TINTEKIYA, WANANG |
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Jingpho-Konyak-Bodo, Konyak-Bodo-Garo,
Bodo-Garo, Koch. |
KOK
BOROK [TRP]
TRIPURI,
TRIPURA, TIPURA, MRUNG, USIPI
|
78,000
in Bangladesh (1993 Johnstone)
|
|
JAMATIA,
NOATIA, RIANG (TIPRA), HALAM, DEBBARMA |
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Jingpho-Konyak-Bodo, Konyak-Bodo-Garo,
Bodo-Garo, Bodo. |
KURUX
[KVN]
KURUKH,
URAON, ORAOAN
|
|
|
|
Dravidian,
Northern. |
LUSHAI
[LSH]
LUSHEI,
LUSAI, SAILAU, HUALNGO, WHELNGO, LEI
|
1,041
in Bangladesh (1981 census) |
Mizo
Hills |
RALTE,
DULIEN, NGENTE, MIZO |
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin,
Central. |
| MEGAM
[MEF] |
|
Northeastern |
MIGAM |
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Jingpho-Konyak-Bodo, Konyak-Bodo-Garo,
Bodo-Garo, Garo. |
MEITEI
[MNR]
MEITHEI,
MEITHE, MITEI, MITHE, MEITEIRON, MANIPURI,
MANIPURI, KATHE, KATHI,
|
92,800
in Bangladesh (1982) |
|
PONNA
|
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Meithei. |
MRU
[MRO]
MRO,
MURUNG, MRUNG, MARU, NIOPRENG
|
20,000
in Bangladesh (1999 ABWE) |
Population
total all countries 41,200 |
|
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Mru. |
MUNDARI
[MUW]
MUNDA,
MANDARI, MUNARI, HORO, MONDARI, COLH
|
|
|
HASADA',
LATAR, NAGURI, KERA |
Austro-Asiatic, Munda, North Munda, Kherwari,
Mundari. |
PANKHU
[PKH]
PANKHO,
PANKO, PANGKHU
|
2,278
in Bangladesh (1981 census) |
Bandarban,
Rangamati, Kagrachori, and some in Malumghat
and Chittagong. |
|
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin,
Central. |
RAJBANGSI
[RJB]
RAJBANSI,
TAJPURI. Dialects: BAHE
|
Districts
of Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar |
|
|
Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone,
Bengali-Assamese. |
RIANG
[RIA]
REANG,
KAU BRU |
1,011
in Bangladesh |
|
|
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Jingpho-Konyak-Bodo, Konyak-Bodo-Garo,
Bodo-Garo, Bodo |
| SADRI,
ORAON [SDR] |
84,000
to 200,000 in Bangladesh(1994) |
Throughout
Rajshahi Division; in Chittagong Division,
Moulvibazar and Hobigani districts; and
Khulna Division, Jhenaidah District (Jhenaidah
Thana, Moheshpur Thana), Kushtia District
(Mirpur Thana), Magura District (Magura
Thana) |
BORAIL SADRI, NURPUR SADRI, UCHAI SADRI,
MOKKAN TILA SADRI |
Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone,
Bihari. |
SANTALI
[SNT]
HOR,
SATAR, SANTHALI, SANDAL, SANGTAL, SANTAL,
HAR, SONTHAL
|
157,000
in Bangladesh (1993 Johnstone) |
|
KARMALI
(KHOLE), KAMARI-SANTALI, LOHARI-SANTALI,
MAHALI (MAHLE), MANJHI, PAHARIA. |
Austro-Asiatic,
Munda, North Munda, Kherwari, Santali. |
SHENDU
[SHL]
KHYEN,
KHYENG, KHIENG, SHANDU, SANDU
|
1,000
in Bangladesh (1980 UBS) |
Population
total both countries 1,000 or more |
|
Sino-Tibetan,
Tibeto-Burman, Kuki-Chin-Naga, Kuki-Chin,
Southern, Sho. |
SYLHETTI
[SYL]
SYLHETI,
SYLHETTI BANGLA
|
5,000,000
in Bangladesh |
Population
total both countries 5,100,000 |
|
Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone,
Bengali-Assamese.
|
TANGCHANGYA
[TNV]
TANCHANGYA
|
17,695
(1981 census) |
|
|
Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone,
Bengali-Assamese. |
TIPPERA
[TPE]
TIPPERA-BENGALI,
TIPPERAH, TIPRA, TIPURA, TRIPERAH, TIPPURAH,
TRIPURA |
105,000
(1993 Johnstone) |
Chittagong
Hills |
Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Unclassified.
|
|
| USUI
[USI] |
4,010
(1981 census) |
Chittagong
Hills |
UNSHOI,
UNSUIY, USHOI |
Indo-European,
Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Unclassified.
|
|
|
|
