Boro language (India)
The Boro language, also known as Bodo, is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken primarily by the Boro people in Northeast India, particularly in the state of Assam. It is an officially recognized language of India, listed in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.
Classification:
Boro belongs to the Boro-Garo subgroup of the Tibeto-Burman language family. This subgroup also includes languages like Kokborok, Dimasa, and Garo.
Geographic Distribution:
The language is concentrated in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) of Assam, but is also spoken in other parts of Assam and neighboring states like West Bengal, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, as well as in parts of Nepal and Bangladesh.
Speakers:
According to the 2011 census of India, there are over 1.4 million speakers of Boro.
Writing System:
Historically, Boro was written using the Devanagari script, Assamese script, and the Roman script. In 1963, a modified version of the Devanagari script was officially adopted. However, there have been ongoing discussions and advocacy for a return to the Boro script, also known as 'Boroni', which is believed to be more suited to the phonology of the language.
Linguistic Features:
Boro is an agglutinative language, meaning that words are formed by stringing together morphemes, each of which represents a distinct grammatical function. It features a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order and utilizes tonal distinctions to differentiate meanings.
Status and Preservation:
The Boro language has faced challenges in the past, including a decline in the number of speakers and a lack of resources for its promotion and preservation. However, the establishment of Bodoland Territorial Region and the inclusion of Boro in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution have given a significant boost to its status. Efforts are underway to promote the language through education, literature, and cultural activities. The Bodo Sahitya Sabha (Boro Literary Society) plays a vital role in preserving and promoting Boro literature and language.