Mahali

A language of India

Mahili, Mahle, Mahli

26,400 in India (2011 census), decreasing. Ethnic population: 278,000 (2007). Total users in all countries: 29,400.

Assam state: tea estates; Bihar state; Jharkhand state: Dhanbad, Gumla, Hazaribagh, Pargana, Ranchi, Santal Lohardaga, Saraikela Kharsawan, East Singhbhum, and West Singhbhum districts in Chota Nagpur area; Odisha state: Balasore, Keonjhar, and Mayurbhanj districts; West Bengal state: Jalpaiguri and West Medinipur districts.

Language Maps

Northwestern Bangladesh

6b* (Threatened).

Austro-Asiatic, Munda, North Munda, Kherwari, Santali

Dialects

Possible dialect of Santhali [sat]. Lexical similarity: 69%–87% between varieties of Mahali, 68%–93% with Santhali [sat], 53%–59% with Mundari [unr].

Language Use

Most in Jharkhand reported Santhali [sat], Sadri [sck] or Mundari [unr] as their mother tongue rather than Mahali. May be a threatened language. Home, village, private prayer for half the L1 speakers in Jharkhand. Also use Bengali [ben]. Also use English [eng]. Also use Hindi [hin]. Also use Munda [unx]. Also use Mundari [unr]. Also use Odia [ory]. Also use Sadri [sck]. Also use Santhali [sat].