From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Manda
Native to India
Region Orissa
Native speakers
4,000 (2000) [1]
Dravidian
  • South-Central
    • Gondi–Kui
      • Manda–Pengo
        • Manda
Language codes
ISO 639-3 mha
Glottolog mand1413
ELP Manda (India)

Manḍa is a Dravidian language of Odisha, spoken in the highlands of Thuamul Rampur block of Kalahandi district. It only became known to Western academia in 1964. [1] Its speakers are generally known as 'Khond Parjas' by outsiders but self-identify as Manda Khonds. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the language was spoken in around 60 villages and the total number of speakers was estimated to be at 4000-5000. However the language is facing endangerment from Odia, which all speakers are bilingual in. [2]

References

  1. ^ a b Manda at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ^ B., Ramakrishna Reddy (2009). Manda oral literature. Central Institute of Indian Languages. OCLC  926844057.

External links