Chhattisgarhi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by 18 million people in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.
Chhattisgarhi has been known by the name Khaltahi to surrounding hill-people and by the name Loriyato speakers in neighboring regions of Odisha. The speakers are concentrated in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh and in adjacent areas of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand. Chhattisgarhi cultural and political movements, with origins from the 1920s, affirmed Chhattisgarhi linguistic and cultural identity and sought greater autonomy within India. It was finally given statehood on 1st November 2000.
Contents
- Classification
- Vocabulary
- Dialects
- Writing
- Chhattisgarhi Language Day
- Film industry
- See also
- Sources
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Classification
Chhattisgarhi is most closely related to other Eastern Hindi languages such as Bagheli and Awadhi, forming part of the East-central zone of the Indo-Aryan languages.
Its precise relationship to Hindi is complex, and as with other members of the Hindustani dialect continuum, its status as a dialect or separate language is to some degree a judgment call. According to the Indian Government, Chhattisgarhi is an eastern dialect of Hindi, but it is classified as a separate language in Ethnologue.
Vocabulary
Eastern Hindi dialects consist of Chhattisgarhi, Awadhi, and Bagheli. All three dialects are closely related to each other. Chhattisgarhi, due to its heavy indigenous vocabulary and grammar, has always been treated as a distinct language. Awadhi and Bagheli are very closely associated with each other. Bagheli has been treated as separate from Awadhi due to its regional association with Baghelkhand; otherwise, it is considered a southern form of Awadhi.
| English | Chhattisgarhi | Awadhi | Bagheli |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mother | अउ (au) | अउर (aur) | अउर (aur) |
| father | ददा (dada) | बाप (bap) | बाबू (babu) |
| right | जेवनी (jevani) | दाहिना (dahina) | दाए (dae) |
| tree | रुख (rukh) | पेड़ (ped) | पेड़ (ped) |
| you | तें,तेहा (tu, teha) | तें (tu) | तय (tayu) |
| come | आवव (aavav) | आओ (aao) | आ (aa) |
| good | बने (bane) | बढ़िया (badhiya) | बढ़िया (badiya) |
| name | नाव (naav) | नाम (naam) | नाम (naam) |
| pond | तरिया (tariya) | तालाब (talab) | तलाउ (talau) |
Dialects
Chhattisgarhi has five different main dialect clusters on the basis of geographical division:
- Kedri (Central) Chhattisgarhi
- This is purest form Chhattisgarhi, which is spoken in most of the Mahanadi Basin. Kedri Chhattisgarhi is uninfluenced by any other languages except Hindi. It is mostly spoken in the Bilaspur, Durg, Bemetara, Raipur, Rajnandgaon, Dhamtari, Balod, and Kanker Districts of Chhattisgarh.
- Utti (Eastern) Chhattisgarhi
- Utti Chhattisgarhi, also known as Laria, is mostly spoken in the Raigarh, Mahasamund, Gariaband, and Raipur Districts of Chhattisgarh.
- Budati / Khaltahi (Western) Chhattisgarhi
- Marathi-language influence can be seen in Khaltahi Chhattisgarhi. It is mostly spoken in the Balaghat District of Madhya Pradesh and in the Kabirdham and Bemetara Districts of Chhattisgarh.
- Bhandar (Northern) Chhattisgarhi
- Also known as Sargujia Chhattisgarhi, it is mostly spoken in the Koria, Surajpur, Sarguja, Jashpur, and Balrampur Districts of Chhattisgarh.
- Rakshahun (Southern) Chhattisgarhi
- Mostly spoken in Dandkaranya region (Bastar) of Chhattisgarh. Godi and Halbi are other dialects which are widely spoken here.
In addition to Chhattisgarhi Proper, other dialects of Chhattisgarhi are Baighani, Bhulia, Binjhwari, Kalanga, Kavardi, Khairagarhi, Sadri Korwa, and Surgujia. Surgujia is considered by some to be a distinct language.
Writing
Chhattisgarhi, like Hindi, is written using the Devanagari script, although it used to be written using the Odia script.
Chhattisgarhi Language Day
Chhattisgarhi Language Day (Chhattisgarhi Diwas) is celebrated every year on November 28 across the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. This day is regulated by the state government.
Film industry
After the formation of the new state, films in the Chhattisgarhi language attracted artists everywhere around India. Kahi Debe Sandesh (1965) directed and produced by Manu Nayak was the first Chhattisgarhi or Chollywood film. World-renowned vocalist Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi, Sonu Nigam and many others have sung songs in Chhattisgarhi. As the film industry is growing at a fast pace, Chhattisgarhi-language cinema it is now popularly known as Chhollywood.