Nihali

Facts

  • Language: Nihali
  • Alternate names: Nihal, Nahali, Kalto
  • Language code: nll
  • Language family: Language isolate (SIL classification)
  • Number of speakers: 1,000-2,000
  • Vulnerability: Threatened
  • Script:

More information:

    They live in or near Korku villages in a position of subordination to the Korku people. Possibly belonged to a now extinct speech family of India. Influenced significantly by Munda and Dravidian languages. 60%–70% of vocabulary borrowed. Nihali and Nahali (See: [[Nahali]]) are different languages.

    While typically considered a language isolate, various hypotheses have been put forward linking Nihali genetically to languages such as Nostratic, Kusunda, Ainu, and the Munda languages (though none have demonstrated conclusive evidence for any genetic affiliation). Shailendra Mohan during 2012-2013 was awarded a grant from the Hans Rausing Endangered Languages Project in order to produce a grammar, lexicon, and text collection of the language. Materials from this project are still forthcoming as of 08/2014.