Bhili

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
bhb
Alternate Names
Bhagoria, Bhil, Bhilbari, Bhilboli, Bhilla, Bhilodi, Lengotia, Vil
Autonym
भीली‎ (Bhīlī)
User Population

3,290,000 (2011 census). 10,400,000 for all Bhil languages (2011 census).

Location

Gujarat state: Dohad, Panch Mahals, and Sabarkantha districts; Madhya Pradesh state: Dhar, Indore, Jhabua, Khargone, and Ratlam districts; Rajasthan state: Banswara, Dungapur, and Udaipur districts.

Language Maps
Language Status

5* (Developing).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Bhil
Dialects

Ahiri, Anarya (Pahadi), Bhilodi, Bhim, Charani, Habura, Konkani, Kotali (Kotvali, Kotwalia), Magra Ki Boli, Nahari (Baglani), Naikdi, Panchali, Patelia, Ranawat, Rani Bhil, Siyalgir, Valvi, Labani. Bhili of Ratlam District in Madhya Pradesh is inherently intelligible with Wagdi [wbr] and a connecting link between Gujarati [guj] and Rajasthani (Marwari) [mve].

Language Use

Spoken as L1 by the Patelia in Madhya Pradesh. Many also use English [eng]. Also use Hindi [hin].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 10%. Literature. Radio. TV. Videos. NT: 1930.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bhili
Writing

Devanagari script [Deva]. Gujarati script [Gujr].

Other Comments

‘Bhil’ is an ethnic designation (caste or tribe). Bhili is a Scheduled Tribe in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Tripura; Kotwalia is a Scheduled Tribe in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Dewali (Dehawali) is a cover term for Vasavi and Kotali, among others. Traditional religion.