Chhattisgarhi language

Chhattisgarhi is most closely related to other Eastern Hindi languages such as Bagheli and Awadhi, forming part of the East-central zone of the Indo-Aryan languages.

Its precise relationship to Hindi is complex, and as with other members of the Hindustani dialect continuum, its status as a dialect or separate language is to some degree a judgment call. According to the Indian Government, Chhattisgarhi is an eastern dialect of Hindi, but it is classified as a separate language in Ethnologue.

Eastern Hindi dialects consist of Chhattisgarhi, Awadhi, and Bagheli. All three dialects are closely related to each other. Chhattisgarhi, due to its heavy indigenous vocabulary and grammar, has always been treated as a distinct language. Awadhi and Bagheli are very closely associated with each other. Bagheli has been treated as separate from Awadhi due to its regional association with Baghelkhand; otherwise, it is considered a southern form of Awadhi.

Chhattisgarhi has five different main dialect clusters on the basis of geographical division:

1. Kedri (Central) Chhattisgarhi

   This is purest form Chhattisgarhi, which is spoken in most of the Mahanadi Basin. Kedri Chhattisgarhi is uninfluenced by any other languages except Hindi. It is mostly spoken in the Bilaspur, Durg, Bemetara, Raipur, Rajnandgaon, Dhamtari, and Kanker Districts of Chhattisgarh.

2. Utti (Eastern) Chhattisgarhi

   Utti Chhattisgarhi, also known as Laria, is mostly spoken in the Raigarh, Mahasamund, Gariaband, and Raipur Districts of Chhattisgarh.

3. Budati / Khaltahi (Western) Chhattisgarhi

   Marathi-language influence can be seen in Khaltahi Chhattisgarhi. It is mostly spoken in the Balaghat District of Madhya Pradesh and in the Kabirdham and Bemetara Districts of Chhattisgarh.

4. Bhandar (Northern) Chhattisgarhi

   Also known as Sargujia Chhattisgarhi, it is mostly spoken in the Koria, Surajpur, Sarguja, Jashpur, and Balrampur Districts of Chhattisgarh.

5. Rakshahun (Southern) Chhattisgarhi

   Mostly spoken in Dandkaranya region (Bastar) of Chhattisgarh. Godi and Halbi are other dialects which are widely spoken here.

In addition to Chhattisgarhi Proper, other dialects of Chhattisgarhi are Baighani, Bhulia, Binjhwari, Kalanga, Kavardi, Khairagarhi, Sadri Korwa, and Surgujia. Surgujia is considered by some to be a distinct language.[3]

Chhattisgarhi, like Hindi, is written using the Devanagari script, although it used to be written using the Odia script.

Chhattisgarhi Language Day (Chhattisgarhi Diwas) is celebrated every year on November 28 across the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. This day is regulated by the state government.

After the formation of the new state, films in the Chhattisgarhi language attracted artists everywhere around India. World-renowned vocalist Lata Mangeshkar and many others have sung songs in Chhattisgari. As the film industry is growing at a fast pace, Chhattisgarhi-language cinema it is now popularly known as Chhollywood.

• Languages of India
• Languages with official status in India
• List of Indian languages by total speakers

• G. A. Zograph: Languages of South Asia, 1960 (translated by G.L. Campbell, 1982), Routledge, London.

• C. K. Chandrakar, "Chhattisgarhi Shabadkosh"
• C. K. Chandrakar, "Manak Chhattisgarhi Vyakaran"
• C. K. Chandrakar, "Chhattisgarhi Muhawara Kosh"
• Chhattisgarh Rajbhasha Aayog, "Prashashnik Shabdkosh Vol. I & II"

Web magazine in Chhattisgarhi language गुरतुर गोठ

Chhattisgarhi language test of Wikipedia at Wikimedia Incubator

• .gurturgoth.com webpage on Chhattisgarhi language by Sanjeeva Tiwari, Durg.