Boro

A language of India

Bara, Bodi, Bodo, Boroni, Kachari, Mech, Meche, Mechi, Meci

बोडो‎ (boḍo), बोडो भाषा‎ (boḍo bʰāṣā)

1,470,000 in India (2011 census). 1,460,000 Boro, 11,500 Mech (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 1,474,380.

Assam state: mainly Darrang, Goalpara, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, and Sibsagar districts; Manipur state: Chandel (Tengnoupal) district; Meghalaya state: West Garo Hills district, Tikrikilla sub-district, 7 villages; East Khasi Hills district; West Bengal state: Cooch-Behar, Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri districts.

Language Maps

India: Index map

Eastern Nepal

Language Status

4 (Educational). Statutory language of provincial identity in Assam (1950, Constitution, Articles 345–347).

Classification

Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Sal, Boro-Garo, Boro-Tiwa, Boro

Dialects

Chote, Mech. West Bengal dialect reportedly different from Assam.

Language Use

Vigorous Bodo language and culture. Assamese [asm] is L1 for most Bodo Mech dialect speakers in Assam (Breton 1997:24). Also use English [eng], especially the youth. Used as L2 by Koch [kdq].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 61% Assam (2001 census). Taught as subject in primary and secondary schools through grade 9 in tribal areas of Assam. Literature. Periodicals. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1981.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Boro

Writing

Bengali (Bangla) script [Beng]. Devanagari script [Deva]. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.