The vulnerable lives of Bengal's Birhor tribals
A report in the India News Post about the effect of poor health and deforestation on Birhors in West Bengal.
The Birhor Language is Critically Endangered, with 2000 speakers, according to UNESCO estimates, or 10000 according to Ethnologue.
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label India. Show all posts
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Sunday, 10 October 2010
New language discovered in India
Explorers in India find something almost unheard of: a new language
The Independent reports that the Koro language was originally thought to be a dialect of Aka or Miji. In 2008 researchers realised that it was distinct.
The article closes with a list of facts about endangered and extinct languages.
The Independent reports that the Koro language was originally thought to be a dialect of Aka or Miji. In 2008 researchers realised that it was distinct.
The article closes with a list of facts about endangered and extinct languages.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Totos visited by journalist
In an ancient global village.
An journalist from The Telegraph India visits the Totos of Totopara. Described as a "primitive tribe" in the opening, the author concludes that they are not as primitive as prejudice suggests. Although possibly for stylistic effect, there is an apparent sense of surprise in the piece, that Totos are normal people too.
The article mentions some of the problems facing the Totos. The health risks that arise from the endogamous tradition of the tribe, and the fact that Totopara has a significant (and wealthier) Nepali, Bihari, and Marwari population are both cited as issues.
The critically endangered Toto language is not mentioned in the article, but it does state that the Toto tribe has never numbered more than 1400. This is at odds with Ethnologue's estimate of 20,000 Toto speakers (assuming no significant Toto-speaking non-Toto population exists), but consistent with UNESCO's estimate of 1000.
An journalist from The Telegraph India visits the Totos of Totopara. Described as a "primitive tribe" in the opening, the author concludes that they are not as primitive as prejudice suggests. Although possibly for stylistic effect, there is an apparent sense of surprise in the piece, that Totos are normal people too.
The article mentions some of the problems facing the Totos. The health risks that arise from the endogamous tradition of the tribe, and the fact that Totopara has a significant (and wealthier) Nepali, Bihari, and Marwari population are both cited as issues.
The critically endangered Toto language is not mentioned in the article, but it does state that the Toto tribe has never numbered more than 1400. This is at odds with Ethnologue's estimate of 20,000 Toto speakers (assuming no significant Toto-speaking non-Toto population exists), but consistent with UNESCO's estimate of 1000.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Khoibu language absent from UNESCO list
UNESCO misfires again : Khoibu dialect not on endangered list
The Sangai Express alleges that UNESCO have erroneously left Khoibu, spoken in Manipur, off their list of endangered languages.
According to the article, there are 3000 Khoibus.
The number of speakers of a language does not necessarily correspond to its level of endangerment.
The Sangai Express alleges that UNESCO have erroneously left Khoibu, spoken in Manipur, off their list of endangered languages.
According to the article, there are 3000 Khoibus.
The number of speakers of a language does not necessarily correspond to its level of endangerment.
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