A'tong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids A'tong |
|
|---|---|
| Native to | India, Nepal |
| Region | India, region of Assam |
| Native speakers | (15,000 cited 1920s) |
| Language family |
Sino-Tibetan
|
| Official status | |
| Official language in | No official status |
The A’tong language (sometimes spelled Attong) is a unique language spoken by a group of people mainly in Bangladesh. About 5,400 people speak A'tong in the northern part of the Netrokona District in Bangladesh. It is also spoken in parts of India and Nepal.
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Discover the A'tong Language
A'tong is part of a large group of languages called Sino-Tibetan languages. More specifically, it belongs to the Tibeto-Burman languages family. This family includes many languages spoken across Asia, from Tibet to Myanmar. A'tong is also part of the Brahmaputran languages and Bodo–Koch languages groups.
Where is A'tong Spoken?
Most A'tong speakers live in the northern Netrokona District of Bangladesh. However, you can also find A'tong speakers in parts of India, especially in the region of Assam. The language is also present in some areas of Nepal.
Who are the A'tong Speakers?
The people who speak A'tong consider themselves to be part of the larger Garo community. Other Garo people also recognize them as Garos. However, the A'tong language is quite different from the main Garo language. This means that A'tong speakers and Garo speakers might not easily understand each other. Most A'tong speakers are Christian and work as farmers.
How is A'tong Changing?
The A'tong language is facing some changes. It is becoming more mixed with the Abeng dialect of Garo. It is also mixing with the Bengali language, which is widely spoken in Bangladesh. Many A'tong children learn to speak the Abeng dialect before they even start school. Most A'tong speakers are also very good at speaking Bengali. This mixing of languages can sometimes make a language change over time.
