Bodo is a member of the Sal branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. It is spoken mainly in the states of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and West Bengal in the northeast of India, and also in the Jhapa district of Province No. 1 in eastern Nepal. In 2011 there were 1.47 million speakers of Bodo in India, and another 4,380 in Nepal.
Bodo is a statutory language of provincial identity in Assam, and the official language of the Bodoland Territoral Region, an autonomous region in the northwest of Assam. It is spoken in Bodoland, in the neighbouring districts of Darrang, Goalpara, Kamrup and Nagaon, and also in the Lakhimpur and Sivsagar districts in northeastern Assam. It is also spoken in the Chandel district of Manipur state, the West Garo Hills and East Khasi Hills districts of Meghalaya, and in the of Cooch-Behar, Darjeeling, and Jalpaiguri districts West Bengal.
Bodo is also known as Bara, Bodi, Boro, Boroni, Kachari, Mech, Meche, Mechi or Meci. Native speakers call it बर' राव (Boro Rao). There are three main dialects of Bodo: Western Bodo, Eastern Bodo and Southern Bodo.
Bodo was formerly written with the Assamese or the Latin alphabets, and since 1963 it has been written with the Devanagari alphabet. It was first written by Christian missionary in the late 19th century. Some believe a script called Deodhai was used by the ancient Bodo people, however details of it have been lost.
Bodo has been used as a medium of instruction in primary schools in Bodo-speaking areas since 1963. It is also used in secondary schools and in one university
The consonants ऋ, ः, ँ, क, घ, ट, त, ध, भ, ड़़, ढ़ and क्ष are only used in loanwords and names.
The consonants ঋ, ক, ঘ, ট, ত, ধ, ভ, ড়, ঢ়, ক্ষ, ঃ and ঁ are only used in loanwords and names.
Download alphabet charts for Bodo (Excel)
Hear how to pronounce Bodo:
गासै सुबुं आनो उदांयै मान सनमान आरो मोनथाय लाना जोनोम लायो। बिसोरो मोजां- गाज्रि सान्नो हानाय गोहो आरो सोलो दं। बिसोरो गावखौनो गाव बिदा फंबाय बायदि बाहाय लायनांगौ।
গাসৈ সুবুঙানৗ উদাংয়ৈ মান সনমান-আৰৗ মৗনথায় লানা জৗনৗম লায়ৗ। বিসৗৰৗ মৗজাং-গাজ্ৰি সান্নৗ হানায় গৗহৗ আৰৗ সৗলৗ দং। বিসৗৰৗ গাও খৌনৗ গাও বিদা ফংবায় বায়দি বাহায় লায়নাংগৌ।
Gāswi subuṅg ānŵ udāṅgywi mān sanmān ārŵ mŵnthāy lānā jŵnŵm lāyŵ. Bisŵrā mŵzāṅg-gājri sānnŵ hānāy gŵhŵ ārŵ sŵlŵ doṅg. bisŵrŵ gāo khwunŵ gāo bidā phoṅgbāy bāydi bāhāy lāynāṅgŵu.
Gaswi subung anw udangwi man sanman arw mwnthai lana jwnwm layw (jayw). Biswrw mwjang-gajri sannw hanai gwhw arw swlw dong. Biswrw gaokhwunw gao bida phongbai baidi bahai lainangwu.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Details of provided by Wolfram Siegel (PDF), and Biswajit Mandal (biswajitmandal[dot]bm90[at]gmail[dot]com). Sample text translated by Man Pratim Ramchiary
Information about Bodo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodo_language
http://languages.iloveindia.com/bodo.html
http://www.ethnologue.com/language/brx
Aka-Jeru, Angika, Athpare, Avestan, Awadhi, Bahing, Balti, Bantawa, Belhare, Bhili, Bhumij, Bilaspuri, Bodo, Bhojpuri, Braj, Car, Chamling, Chhantyal, Chhattisgarhi, Chambeali, Danwar, Dhatki, Dhimal, Dhundari, Digaro Mishmi, Dogri, Doteli, Gaddi, Garhwali, Gondi, Gurung, Halbi, Haryanvi, Hindi, Ho, Jarawa, Jaunsari, Jirel, Jumli, Kagate, Kannauji, Kham, Kangri, Kashmiri, Khaling, Khandeshi, Kharia, Khortha, Korku, Konkani, Kullui, Kumaoni, Kurmali, Kurukh, Kusunda, Lambadi, Limbu, Lhomi, Lhowa, Magahi, Magar, Mahasu Pahari, Maithili, Maldivian, Malto, Mandeali, Marathi, Marwari, Mewari, Mundari, Nancowry. Newar, Nepali, Nimadi, Nishi, Onge, Pahari, Pali, Pangwali, Rajasthani, Rajbanshi, Rangpuri, Sadri, Sanskrit, Santali, Saraiki, Sirmauri, Sherpa, Shina, Sindhi, Sunwar, Sylheti, Tamang, Thakali, Thangmi, Wambule, Wancho, Yakkha, Yolmo
Atong, Bengali, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Bodo, Bhumij, Chittagonian, Garo, Hajong, Karbi, Kharia, Khasi, Koch, Kokborok, Kurmali, Malto, Manipuri, Mundari, Noakhailla, Rangpuri, Sadri, Santali, Sylheti, Toto, Tanchangya
Languages written with the Latin alphabet
Page last modified: 20.03.23
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