Palamu Language
1. Introduction
1.1 The name of the language
The name Palamu for this particular language is yet to be recognized by the official authorities. In the Ethnologue it is listed as Kherwar. The survey of this language conducted under the supervision of SIL, the Phonology, the Grammar Analysis, the Discourse analysis are done by the same writer of this article between 2012-2018. Now there are lots of written, audio and video materials available in this language. It is there in website palamu.net. These all will be the supporting factors for getting it done. Kherwar is one the tribes that speak this regional language along with more than 30 people groups. This language can come under Indo-Aryan group of languages.
1.2 Previous research
No previous research was done on this Palmuwa language in analysing its grammar. In 2015 phonology was done by the same researcher.
1.3 Demography
Palmuwa is the regional language for Palamu, Garhwa and some parts of Latehar districts in southern part of Jharkhand. Palmuwa is not a people group name rather it is a name of the language spoken by more than thirty people groups in these three districts. This includes Lohara, Bhuiya, Dhusad, Mahali, Badahai, Dhanuk, Khori, Chamar, Baniya, Malak, Kherwar, Chero, Pandit, Halwai, Julha, Kumar, Bhumihar, Kahar, Nuniya, Ahir, Takoor, Rajput, Dhobbi, Munda, Kharia, Gadari. These people groups live in this region and speak Palmuwa as their mother tongue. The Oraon people speak Palmuwa as a language of wider communication.
1.3.2 History/migrations
The major people groups of these three districts were Kherwar and Chero. Then a huge migration happened in the last two centuries. It is so amazing that more than 30 people groups are there in these three districts. So the language is mixed in the course of time and formed as a new variety. This unscripted language is misunderstood as Magahi and it is not accepted by the Jharkhand government as one of the 9 official languages in Jharkhand. In the 2011 census the local government authorities told the survey team to write Palmuwa as the language for Palamu, Garhwa and some parts of Latehar. This is a positive sign from the authorities. This language is used in all the domains except in Christian worship. One FM channel broadcasting from Palamu district is entirely on this local Palmuwa language. But in schools Hindi is the medium for academics. The phonology, Grammar analysis, the oral stories and Jesus Film will play the crucial role in recognizing and naming this particular language. Men are more bilingual than the women in these areas.
1.4 Literary traditions
The Palmuwa language was completely an oral language until the phonological analysis and orthography which was later followed by the drafting of the Gospel of Luke. There are lots of fairy tales and songs are being circulated orally through generations. Since many of the people were the freedom fighters, songs which praise their bravery are also available in oral tradition.
1.5 Dialects
This language is related to the Bihari languages Magahi and Bhojpuri but it is not the same. Of course the influence of these languages is there in Palmuwa language. The influence of Bhojpuri is more in the district of Garhwa while the district of Palamu is more influenced by the Magahi language. Those influences result in a few dialectical variations too. So majorly there are two dialectical variations for this language.
1.6 Sociolinguistic situation
1.6.1 Multilingualism and language attitudes
The Palmuwa language is the regional language for all the people who live in these three districts. Even though people are bilingual with Hindi they use Palmuwa in all the domains. The 75% percentage of the women is monolingual. But men are bilingual since they go for work in other states. There are many English medium schools also emerging in these areas these days. So children are becoming multilingual in the sense. Average literacy rate of Palamu in 2011 were 63.63 compared to 61.15 of 2001. Male and female literacy were 74.30 and 52.09 respectively. Average literacy rate of Garhwa in 2011 were 60.33 compared to 39.21 of 2001 and female literacy were 72.19 and 47.58 respectively. Average literacy rate of Latehar in 2011 were 59.51 compared to 40.69 of 2001 and at gender wise, male and female literacy were 69.97 and 48.68 respectively.
1.6.2 Contexts of use and language choice
The Palmuwa is being used in almost all the domains like home, market, schools, religious places etc. Even though all the school materials are in Hindi teachers tend to use Palmuwa as their medium of teaching.
1.6.3 Viability
The viability of this language is very high since all people including children, youngsters, and women are speaking this language in all the domains.
1.6.4 Loan words
Languages like Magahi, Bhojpuri, Khorta which come under the old Chhotanagpur region share some Hindi vocabularies with difference in pronunciation.
References[edit]
Palamu Language[edit]
This article "Palamu Language" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Palamu Language. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
