Gondi language

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Gondi

Pronunciation
Native to
Region	Central India
Ethnicity	Gondi people
Speakers	2.9 million
Language family	Dravidian
Early forms
Writing system
Official status
Regulated by

Gondi (గోండీ) is a Dravidian language spoken by the Gondi people in Central India. It is primarily spoken in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha. Gondi is one of the Scheduled languages of India and has several dialects.

History

The Gondi language has a rich oral tradition and has been passed down through generations. It is part of the South-Central branch of the Dravidian language family. The language has been influenced by neighboring languages such as Marathi, Telugu, and Hindi.

Dialects

Gondi has several dialects, which can be broadly categorized into Northern and Southern dialects. The major dialects include:

• Northern Gondi
• Southern Gondi
• Dorla
• Koya

Phonology

Gondi has a rich phonological system with a variety of consonants and vowels. It includes retroflex consonants, which are typical of Dravidian languages. The language also features nasalized vowels and a distinction between short and long vowels.

Grammar

Gondi grammar follows the typical Dravidian structure, with subject-object-verb (SOV) word order. It has a complex system of verb conjugation and noun declension. The language uses postpositions rather than prepositions.

Writing System

Gondi was traditionally an oral language and did not have a written script. However, in recent years, efforts have been made to develop a script for Gondi. The Gunjala Gondi script and the Devanagari script are currently used for writing Gondi.

Current Status

Gondi is considered a vulnerable language, with many speakers shifting to dominant regional languages such as Hindi and Telugu. Efforts are being made to revitalize the language through educational programs and cultural initiatives.

Related Pages

• Dravidian languages
• Gondi people
• Scheduled languages of India
• Gunjala Gondi script
• South-Central Dravidian languages