When it comes to diversity, hardly any country is more diverse than India. One of the most diverse aspects of the country is its many languages. There are hundreds of languages that are spoken across the country. Some, like Hindi, are widely spoken and well-known; others, not so much. There are many languages that have gone extinct and many more that are on the verge of it. So today, we bring to you a list of 10 lesser-known languages of India.
1. A.tong
A.tong is a dialect of the Garo languages which are a part of the Sino-Tibetan linguistic systems. The name of the language is spelt based on how they speak. However, it is important to note that it is not a tonal language and there are no glottal stops in the name.
Spoken In: Meghalaya and Assam
2. Konda-Dora or Kubi
Simply known as Konda or Kubi, this is a Dravidian language. Primarily spoken by the scheduled tribe of the Konda-Dora, it can be found spoken in parts of the districts of East Godavri, Srikakulam, and Vizianagaram of Andhra Pradesh as well as parts of Odisha.
Spoken In: Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
3. Zeme
Another in the family of the Sino-Tibetan languages, Zeme is also known as Zemi, Empeo, Kacha, and Jeme. It is primarily spoken by the tribal people of Zeme Naga in Nagaland. It is also spoken in parts of Assam as well as Manipur.
Spoken In: Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland
4. Takpa
Also known as dakpha or dakpakha, this language is primarily spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh. It is also known as Brami in Bhutan and is one of its most distinctive languages. This language is one of the most endangered ones in India.
Spoken In: Arunachal Pradesh
5. Spiti Bhoti
This lesser-known language native to India is found spoken in the famous Spiti Valley in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. This language, too, is endangered.
Spoken In: Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh
Also Read: Spanish Man Stranded In Assam For 7 Months Gave Guitar & Language Lessons To Kids
6. Kutchhi
Primarily spoken in the Kutch region of Gujarat, this language is also vulnerable to extinction in India. It is a dialect of Sindhi and is also spoken in parts of Pakistan.
Spoken In: Kutch, Gujarat
7. Koda
Also known as Korali or Mudikora, this language is spoken by the Kora people who are mostly settled in parts of West Bengal and Odisha. It is a dialect of Bengali.
Spoken In: West Bengal and Odisha
8. Irula
Spoken by the Iruligas, the speakers of the language are settled in parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Initially, Irula was denied the status of a legitimate language as it was believed to be a crude mixture of Kannada and Tamil, however, later, the language received legitimacy.
Spoken In: Nilgiri Mountains, Tamil Nadu
9. Mara
Primarily spoken by the mara people of Mizoram, this language is also a part of the Sino-Tibetan linguistic systems. It is also one of the endangered languages of India.
Spoken In: Mizoram
10. Nihali
This language is often erroneously confused with the Kalto language and is primarily spoken in the Burhanpur region of Madhya Pradesh. Since it does not belong to any larger language family, it is a language isolate.
Spoken In: Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
Also Read: After Hindi, This Indian Language Is 7th Most Spoken One In The World
Did you know about any of these lesser-known languages? What are some of the languages that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
Cover Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons