Documenting the Tribal and Indigenous Languages of India

Abstract

India, a land of diverse cultures and linguistic traditions, is home to over 1554 languages, of which 22 are officially recognized (as shown in Chapter 3, p. 27-160). However, beyond the mainstream languages, lies a rich tapestry of tribal and indigenous languages, spoken by the country's marginalized communities. These languages, though often overlooked, are vital to the cultural identity and survival of India's indigenous peoples. India's tribal and indigenous languages belong to five major language families: Sino-Tibetan, Austro-Asiatic, Dravidian, Indo-Aryan and unclassified (including Great Andamanese, Tai-Kadai, Pidgin and Isolate) (Chapter 4, p. 191-192). These languages are predominantly spoken in the country's tribal-dominated regions, such as the North-East, Central India, Eastern India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. According to the 2011 Census, there are 461 languages spoken by India's Scheduled Tribes, which account for approximately 8.6% of the country's population.

Keywords: tribal languages of India; indigenous communities; linguistic diversity; cultural identity