List of endangered languages in India
An endangered language is a language that it is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language. UNESCO distinguishes four levels of endangerment in languages, based on intergeneratinal transfer:[1]
Vulnerable: Most children speak the language, but it may be restricted to certain domains (e.g., home). Definitely endangered: Children no longer learn the language as mother tongue in the home. Severely endangered: Language is spoken by grandparents and older generations; while the parent generation may understand it, they do not speak it to children or among themselves. Critically endangered: The youngest speakers are grandparents and older, and they speak the language partially and infrequently.
| Language | Countries | Speakers | Status | Ethnologue (ISO 639-3) |
Comments | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A'tong language[1] | India | Severely endangered | aot | |||
| Aimol language[1] | India | Critically endangered | aim | |||
| Aiton language[1] | India | Severely endangered | aio | |||
| Aka language[1] | India, | Definitely endangered | hru | Hruso | ||
| Anal language[1] | India | Vulnerable | anm | |||
| Angami language[1] | India | Vulnerable | njm | |||
| Angika language[1] | India, Nepal | Vulnerable | anp | |||
| Ao language[1] | India | Vulnerable | ngo | |||
| Apatani language[1] | India | Vulnerable | apt | |||
| Asur language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | asr | |||
| Badaga language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | bfq | |||
| Baghati language[1] | India | Critically endangered | bfz | |||
| Balti language[1] | India, Pakistan | Vulnerable | bft | |||
| Bangani language[1] | India | Critically endangered | gbm | |||
| Bangni language[1] | India | Vulnerable | none | |||
| Bellari language[1] | India | Critically endangered | brw | |||
| Bhadravahi language[1] | India, Pakistan | Definitely endangered | bhd | |||
| Bhalesi language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | bhd | |||
| Bharmauri language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | gbk | |||
| Bhumji language[1] | India | Vulnerable | bij | |||
| Biete language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | biu | |||
| Birhor language[1] | India | Critically endangered | biy | |||
| Bodo language[1] | India | Vulnerable | brx | |||
| Brokshat language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | bkk | |||
| Bunan language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | bfu | |||
| Byangsi language[1] | India, Nepal | Definitely endangered | bee | |||
| Chambeali language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | cdh | |||
| Chang language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nbc | |||
| Chokri language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nri | |||
| Churahi language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | cdj | |||
| Darma language[1] | India, Nepal | Definitely endangered | drd | |||
| Deori language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | der | |||
| Dimasa language[1] | India | Vulnerable | dis | |||
| Gadaba language (Ollari language)[1] | India | Critically endangered | gdb gau |
|||
| Galo language[1] | India | Vulnerable | adl | |||
| Gangte language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | gnb | |||
| Garhwali language[1] | India | Vulnerable | gbm | |||
| Geta? language[1] | India | Severely endangered | gaq | |||
| Gondi language[1] | India | Vulnerable | gon | |||
| Gorum language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | pcj | |||
| Great andamanese language[1] | India | Critically endangered | akj | |||
| Gutob language[1] | India | Vulnerable | gbj | |||
| Handuri language[1] | India | Critically endangered | hii | |||
| Hill Miri language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | mrg | |||
| Hmar language[1] | India | Vulnerable | hmr | |||
| Ho language[1] | India | Vulnerable | hoc | |||
| Hrangkhol language[1] | India | Vulnerable | hra | |||
| Irula language[1] | India | Vulnerable | iru | |||
| Jad language[1] | India, Pakistan | Definitely endangered | jda | |||
| Jangshung language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | jna scu ssk |
|||
| Jarawa language (Andaman Islands)[1] | India | Critically endangered | anq | |||
| Jaunsari language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | jns | |||
| Juang language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | jun | |||
| Kabui language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nkf | |||
| Kachari language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | xac | |||
| Kanashi language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | xns | |||
| Kangdi language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | xnr | |||
| Karbi language[1] | India | Vulnerable | mjw | |||
| Khampti language[1] | India | Vulnerable | none | |||
| Kharia language[1] | India | Vulnerable | khr | |||
| Khasali language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | none | |||
| Khasi language[1] | India | Vulnerable | kha | |||
| Kheza language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nkh | |||
| Khiamngan language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nky | |||
| Khoirao language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nki | |||
| Khowa language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | bgg | |||
| Kinnauri language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | kns kfk cif tpq |
|||
| Koch language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | kdq | |||
| Koda language[1] | India | Vulnerable | cdz | |||
| Kodagu language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | kfa | |||
| Koireng language[1] | India | Critically endangered | nkd | |||
| Kolami language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | kfb | |||
| Kom language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | kmm | |||
| Konda language (Dravidian)[1] | India | Definitely endangered | kfc | |||
| Konyak language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nbe | |||
| Koraga language[1] | India | Critically endangered | kfd | |||
| Korku language[1] | India | Vulnerable | kfq | |||
| Koro language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | none | |||
| Korwa language[1] | India | Vulnerable | kfp | |||
| Kota language[1] | India | Critically endangered | kfe | |||
| Kui language[1] | India | Vulnerable | kxu | |||
| Kului language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | kfx | |||
| Kumaoni language[1] | India, Nepal | Vulnerable | kfy | |||
| Kundal Shahi language[1] | India, Pakistan | Definitely endangered | none | |||
| Kurru language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | yeu | |||
| Kuruba language[1] | India | Critically endangered | kfi | |||
| Kurux language (India)[1] | India | Vulnerable | kru | |||
| Kuvi language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | kxv | |||
| Lamgang language[1] | India | Critically endangered | lmk | |||
| Lamongse language[1] | India | Critically endangered | nik | |||
| Langrong language[1] | India | Critically endangered | none | |||
| Lhota language[1] | India | Vulnerable | njh | |||
| Liangmai language[1] | India | Vulnerable | njn | |||
| Limbu language[1] | India, Nepal | Definitely endangered | lif | |||
| Lishpa language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | none | |||
| Luro language[1] | India | Critically endangered | tef | |||
| Mahasui language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | bfz | |||
| Malto language (Paharia language)[1] | India | Definitely endangered | kmj | |||
| Manchad language[1] | India | Vulnerable | lae | |||
| Manda language[1] | India | Critically endangered | mha | |||
| Mandeali language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | mjl | |||
| Mao language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nbi | |||
| Mara language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | mrh | |||
| Maram language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nma | |||
| Maring language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nng | |||
| Mech language[1] | India | Severely endangered | brx | |||
| Meithei language[1] | India | Vulnerable | mni | |||
| Miji language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | none | |||
| Milang language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | adi | |||
| Minyong language[1] | India | Vulnerable | adi | |||
| Mising language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | mrg | |||
| Mizo language[1] | India | Vulnerable | lus | |||
| Moyon language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | nmo | |||
| Mundari language[1] | India | Vulnerable | muw | |||
| Muot language[1] | India | Critically endangered | ncb | |||
| Mzieme language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nme | |||
| Nahali language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | nlx | |||
| Naiki language[1] | India | Critically endangered | nit | |||
| Nihali language[1] | India | Critically endangered | nll | |||
| Nocte language[1] | India | Vulnerable | njb | |||
| Nruanghmei language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nbu | |||
| Nyishi language[1] | India | Vulnerable | dap | |||
| Onge language[1] | India | Critically endangered | oon | |||
| Padam language[1] | India | Vulnerable | none | |||
| Padri language[1] | India | Vulnerable | bhd | |||
| Paite language[1] | India | Vulnerable | pck smt |
|||
| Pangvali language[1] | India | Critically endangered | pgg | |||
| Parji language[1] | India | Critically endangered | pci | |||
| Pasi language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | adi | |||
| Pengo language[1] | India | Critically endangered | peg | |||
| Phom language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nph | |||
| Pochuri language[1] | India | Vulnerable | npo | |||
| Pu language[1] | India | Critically endangered | caq | |||
| Purik language[1] | India, Pakistan | Vulnerable | prx | |||
| Purum language[1] | India | Critically endangered | none | |||
| Rabha language[1] | India | Vulnerable | rah | |||
| Remo language (Bonda language)[1] | India | Severely endangered | bfw | |||
| Rengma language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nnl nre |
|||
| Rongpo language[1] | India | Vulnerable | rnp | |||
| Ruga language[1] | India | Critically endangered | ruh | |||
| Sanenyo language[1] | India | Critically endangered | crv | |||
| Sangtam language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nsa | |||
| Sentilese language[1] | India | Critically endangered | std | |||
| Sherdukpen language[1] | India | Vulnerable | sdp | |||
| Shompen language[1] | India | Critically endangered | sil | |||
| Simi language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nsm | |||
| Singpho language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | sgp | |||
| Sirmaudi language[1] | India | Critically endangered | srx | |||
| Sora language[1] | India | Vulnerable | srb | |||
| Spiti language[1] | India, Pakistan | Vulnerable | spt | |||
| Tagin language[1] | India | Vulnerable | none | |||
| Tai Nora language[1] | India | Critically endangered | none | |||
| Tai Phake language[1] | India | Severely endangered | phk | |||
| Tai Rong language[1] | India | Critically endangered | none | |||
| Takahanyilang language[1] | India | Critically endangered | nik | |||
| Tamang language[1] | India, Nepal | Vulnerable | taj tge tmk tsf tdg |
|||
| Tangam language[1] | India | Critically endangered | adi | |||
| Tangkhul language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nmf | |||
| Tangsa language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nst | |||
| Tarao language[1] | India | Critically endangered | tro | |||
| Thado language[1] | India | Vulnerable | tcz | |||
| Tiwa language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | lax | |||
| Toda language[1] | India | Critically endangered | tcx | |||
| Toto language[1] | India | Critically endangered | txo | |||
| Tulu language[1] | India | Vulnerable | tcy | |||
| Turi language[1] | India | Definitely endangered | trd | |||
| Wancho language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nnp | |||
| Yimchungru language[1] | India | Vulnerable | yim | |||
| Zangskari language[1] | India, Pakistan | Definitely endangered | zau | |||
| Zeme language[1] | India | Vulnerable | nzm |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo Moseley, Christopher (ed.). 2010. Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger, 3rd edn. Paris, UNESCO Publishing. Online version: http://www.unesco.org/culture/en/endangeredlanguages/atlas