Kharia Thar

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
ksy
Alternate Names
Erenga, Kheria, Pahari, Sabar
User Population

25,000 (2007 SIL). Ethnic population: 25,500 (2007 SIL).

Location

Jharkhand state, East Singhbhum district, Chakulia, Dhalbhumgarh, Dumaria, Ghatsila, Musabani and Potka blocks; a few in West Singhbhum district; West Bengal state: Bankura district, Indpur, Raipur, and Ranibandh blocks; Purulia district, Balrampur, Barabazar, Bundwan, Hura, Manbazar, Puncha, and Purulia Muffasil blocks; West Medinipur district, Binpur block.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Dialects

A Western subdialect of Bengali [ben] (Grierson and Konow 1903–1928). Lexical similarity: 57%–90% among varieties of Kharia Thar, 53%–63% with Bengali [ben], 51%–67% with Odia [ory], 57%–75% with Lodhi [lbm].

Language Use

Spoken by some Hill Kharia. Ethnic Hill Kharia in Odisha speak Odia [ory] as L1. Many in Jharkhand and West Bengal speak Bengali [ben] as L1. Home, village, private prayer. Most also use Bengali [ben], in outside domains. Also use English [eng]. Also use Hindi [hin]. Also use Odia [ory]. Also use Santhali [sat].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kharia Thar
Other Comments

Traditional religion.