Austric language family

Geography glossary

Also called: Nishada · Topic: Population of India: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 1 "Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition"

Meaning

The Austric language family, called Nishada in old Indian texts, is spoken by about 1.38% of Indians. In India it belongs to the Austro-Asiatic sub-family, which has two branches:

  • the Mon-Khmer branch: Khasi in Meghalaya, and Nicobarese in the Nicobar Islands;
  • the Munda branch: Santhali, Mundari and Ho, spoken in Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Its other sub-family, Austro-Nesian, is spoken outside India. Most Austric speakers in India are tribal people.

Example

Santhali, a Munda language, is spoken by the Santhal people of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand. It was added to the Eighth Schedule in 2003.

Don't confuse with

  • North Dravidian languages (Kurukh, Malto): these are spoken in the same tribal belt of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal, but they belong to the Dravidian family, not the Austric one.

Related concepts

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