Bodo language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bodo |
|
|---|---|
| Mech बर' |
|
| Native to | India, - (small communities) |
| Ethnicity | Bodo, Mech, |
| Native speakers | 3.3 million (2015 census)e18 |
| Language family |
Sino-Tibetan
|
| Writing system | Devanagari (main) Assamese (also in use) Deodhai (historically) |
| Official status | |
| Official language in |  India (Assam) |
The Bodo language (बर'), also known as Mech, is a language spoken by the Bodo people. It belongs to the Sino-Tibetan language family. Most Bodo speakers live in north-eastern India and parts of Bengal.
Bodo is one of the official languages in the Indian state of Assam. It is also one of the 22 languages listed in India's Constitution. This means it has a special official status. Since 1963, the Bodo language has been written using the Devanagari script.
Contents
What is the Bodo Language?
Bodo is part of the Sino-Tibetan language family. It belongs to the Bodo group within this family. It is very similar to the Dimasa language and Tiwa language spoken in Assam. It also shares links with the Garo language from Meghalaya and the Kokborok language from Tripura.
People who speak Bodo live across Assam. Their communities stretch from Dhubri in the west to Sadiya in the east. In some parts of Bengal, like Alipurduar and Cooch Behar, Bodo speakers are called "Mech." In 1991, about 1.9 million people spoke Bodo or Mech. The word "Boro" refers to both the language and the community.
Different Ways of Speaking Bodo
The Bodo language has several different ways of being spoken, called dialects. These dialects can be grouped into three main types:
- The Western Boro dialect (WBD)
- The Eastern Boro dialect (EBD)
- The Southern Boro dialect (SBD)
The Western Boro dialects are used in the Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts. The Eastern Bodo dialects are found in Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup, and parts of Darrang. The Western Boro dialect has become the standard version of the language. It is also the main written form. The differences between these dialects are mostly in how words sound and the words themselves.
There are at least four clear dialect areas in Assam. These are the northeastern, southwestern, north-central, and southern areas. Each of these has its own unique differences.
Where is Bodo Spoken?
Bodo is mainly spoken in the lowlands and foothills of Assam and West Bengal. Here are some of the places where Bodo is spoken:
In Assam
- Darrang district
- Nagaon district
- Kamrup district
- Goalpara district
- Sibsagar district
- Lakhimpur district
In West Bengal
- Kolkata
- Jalpaiguri district
- Cooch Behar district
Other Indian States
- Manipur: In Chandel district (specifically in Tengnoupal)
- Meghalaya: In 7 villages within the Tikrikilla block of West Garo Hills district and in East Khasi Hills district
The Story of Bodo Literature
Even though the Bodo language is very old, it didn't have many written books until the early 1900s. Christian missionaries were among the first to write books in Bodo. They published books about religion, stories, rhymes, and songs. They also created grammar books and dictionaries.
Reverend Sidney Endle wrote an important grammar book called An Outline of the Kachari Grammar in 1884. This book was based on the Bodo spoken in the Darrang district. Endle also wrote a book called The Kacharis in 1911. This book shared details about the Bodo people's customs, farming, festivals, food, and crafts. It even included Bodo folktales and rhymes.
Another important collection was J.D. Anderson's Collection of Bodo Folktales and Rhymes from 1895. It had seventeen Bodo folktales translated into English language, along with the original Bodo versions.
In 1963, Bodo began to be used for teaching in primary schools in areas where many Bodo people lived. Today, Bodo is taught in schools up to the secondary level. The language is also a source of pride, especially since Gauhati University started offering a post-graduate course in Bodo literature in 1996.
Now, there are many books in Bodo. These include poetry, drama, short stories, novels, biographies, and books for children. While the spoken language has changed a bit due to other languages, its pure form can still be heard in and around the Udalguri district.
How Bodo is Written
The Bodo language is officially written using the Devanagari script. However, it has also been written using the Latin script and the Assamese script for a long time. Some experts believe that Bodo once used a special script called Deodhai script, which is now lost. Even when using Devanagari, some letters are used differently in Bodo.
Related pages
- Bodo people
- Bodo Grammar
- Bodo Sahitya Sabha
- Kokborok language
- Abley, Mark (2006) The Verbs of Boro, Lost Magazine, March 2006
Images for kids
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Boro-language textbooks for secondary schools written in Devanagari script
See also
In Spanish: Idioma bodo para niños
