Language Study: Adi

Isaiah Kent-schneider

Language Spread
Adi is related to the Sino-Tibetan and Tani
languages Eastern and North Eastern India.
Adi is a general language including many related
sub-languages
These languages originated in rural areas of India
Spread over areas from the Pradesh State in the
North to Assam state in the far west and East Siang.
Adi means hill or Mountain top

Maps

Language Change
The Bokar Lhoba People who are the founders and native speakers
of the language Adi reside with the Tani tribe in the Himalayan
hills.
Today there are 97,000 native speakers in India and just over
100,000 in the world.
Because of the number of speakers and their separation many
forms of the language have been derived.
These include Abhor, Abor, Bogaer Luoba, Lhoba, Luoba Dialects: Ashing,
Bokar (Bogaer Luoba), Bori, Karko, Komkar, Milang (Milan), Minyong,
Padam, Pailibo, Pangi, Pasi, Ramo, Shimong, Tangam

Standard Language Vs. Variant Languages

The standard language of Adi is founded around religion and takes
some words and sounds from the Karan.
The language itself:
Particles indicate grammatical relations such as tense and number.
Many syllables per word
Long and Short Vowel distinction (vowels can either say their name or just a
sound.)

Standard Language VS Variant Languages

Due to the spread of the language and
development over time there are many
branches of this language.
Karko is a denomination that has adopted more
constantan sounds

Official Language
Adi is not an official language of India although it has a fair
amount of speakers.
The Official Languages of India include
English, Bengali, Hindi, Sindhi, Melayalam, and more
Total of 24 official languages

Timeline of Development
TheAdislive in hill villages, each traditionally keeping to itself
This keeps languages separate and allows diversity

The Language Originated about the same time as Hindi in the

1600s
Very similar sounding

Over time it has changed and evolved through adding and changing
words and customs.
The first grammar and dictionary type book written for Adi was in
1950

Disagreement and Struggles

The amount of speakers is on the decline but not yet considered
endangered.
Due to the fact that the tribes that speak this language are isolated
Anyone who leaves learns new language

This language in the past has caused a slight trade barrier between
the Adi and other people.
Adi are self sufficient people and grow much of their own food.
Adequate education for culture and trade specific skills

Current Event 1

http://hyperallergic.com/178685/on-the-brink-of-extinction-an-indigenous-language-gets-its-first-dictionary/

On the Brink of Extinction, an Indigenous

Language Gets Its First Dictionary
Not for the Adi language but shows efforts to
preserve many languages

Current Event 2

http://theweek.com/articles/541609/why-fight-hard-preserve-endangeredlanguages

Why do we fight so hard to preserve endangeredlanguages?

is that losing a language is like losing a species.
linguistic diversity, intellectual diversity, cultural diversity,
and cultural identity.
Although it is important to communicate and have
interaction if we lose these languages the world becomes a
less divers place.