Friday, January 16, 2009

Malvi Language

Malvi is the language of the Malwa region of India, with more than a million speakers. The language is also sometimes known as Malavi, Ujjaini, etc. Malvi is classified with the Rajasthani languages, with Nimadi, spoken in the Nimar region of Madhya Pradesh and in Rajasthan, being its closest cousin.

The dialects of Malvi are, in alphabetical order, Bachadi, Bhoyari, Dholewari, Hoshangabadi, Jamral, Katiyai, Malvi Proper, Patvi, Rangari, Rangri and Sondwari. A survey in 2001 found only 4 dialects: Ujjaini (Ujjain, Indore, Dewas, Sehore districts), Rajawadi (Ratlam, Mandsaur, Neemuch districts), Umadwadi (Rajgarh district) and Sondhwadi (Jhalawar District, Rajasthan). About 55% of the population of Malwa can converse in Hindi, which is the official language of the Madhya Pradesh state, and literacy rate in second language (Hindi) is about 40%.

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