List of endangered languages in India

Language Endangerment Status
Extinct (EX)
Endangered
Safe
  • no list
Other categories
Related topics
UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger category
UNESCO Atlas of the World's
Languages in Danger categories

An endangered language is a language that is at a risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language. UNESCO defines four levels of language endangerment between "safe" (not endangered) and "extinct":[1]

  • Vulnerable
  • Definitely endangered
  • Severely endangered
  • Critically endangered
A light-hearted interview about Mandeali where Ishan Kashyap Hazarika is asking questions in Hindi and the interviewee is answering, largely, in Mandeali, shot at the Hidimba Devi Temple, Manali, India.

India

Main article: Languages of India

The following table lists the 192 languages of India that are classified as vulnerable or endangered.

India
Language Status Comments ISO 639-3 Speakers
A'tong language Severely endangered[1]   aot (undated figure of 10,000, 4,600 in India)
Adi language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: China adi 150,000 total for the various languages (2011 census)
Aimol language Critically endangered[1]   aim 6,000 (2001 census)
Aiton language Severely endangered[1]   aio 1,500 (2006)
Anal language Vulnerable[1]   anm 120,000 (2011 census)
Angami language Vulnerable[1]   njm 150,000 (2011 census)
Angika language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Nepal anp (740,000 cited 1997–2011)
Ao language Vulnerable[1]   ngo 227,000 speakers(2011 census)
Apatani language Vulnerable[1]   apt
Asur language Definitely endangered[1]   asr
Badaga language Definitely endangered[1]   bfq
Baghati language Critically endangered[1]   bfz
Balti language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Pakistan bft
Bangani language Critically endangered[1]   gbm
Bangni language Vulnerable[1]    
Bawm language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: Bangladesh bgr
Bellari language Critically endangered[1]   brw
Bhadravahi language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: Pakistan bhd
Bhalesi language Definitely endangered[1]   bhd
Bharmauri language Definitely endangered[1]   gbk
Bhumij language Vulnerable[1]   bhu
Bhumji language Vulnerable[1]   bij
Biete language Definitely endangered[1]   biu
Birhor language Critically endangered[1]   biy
Bishnupriya Manipuri language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Bangladesh bpy
Bodo language Vulnerable[1]   brx
Bokar language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: China adi
Bori language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: China adi
Brokshat language Definitely endangered[1]   bkk
Bunan language Definitely endangered[1]   bfu
Byangsi language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: Nepal bee
Chambeali language Definitely endangered[1]   cdh
Chang language Vulnerable[1]   nbc
Chokri language Vulnerable[1]   nri
Churahi language Definitely endangered[1]   cdj
Dakpa language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: Bhutan dka
Darma language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: Nepal drd
Deori language Definitely endangered[1]   der
Dimasa language Vulnerable[1]   dis
Gadaba language Critically endangered[1]   gdb, gau
Galo language Vulnerable[1]   adl
Gangte language Definitely endangered[1]   gnb
Garhwali language Vulnerable[1]   gbm
Geta? language Severely endangered[1]   gaq
Gondi language Vulnerable[1]   gon
Gorum language Definitely endangered[1]   pcj
Gutob language Vulnerable[1]   gbj
Handuri language Critically endangered[1]   hii
Hill Miri language Definitely endangered[1]   mrg
Hmar language Vulnerable[1]   hmr
Ho language Vulnerable[1]   hoc
Hrangkhol language Vulnerable[1]   hra
Hruso language Definitely endangered[1] Also known as: Aka hru
Idu language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: China clk
Irula language Vulnerable[1]   iru
Jad language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: Pakistan jda
Jangshung language Definitely endangered[1]   jna, scu, ssk
Jarawa language Critically endangered[1]   ang
Jaunsari language Definitely endangered[1]   jns
Juang language Definitely endangered[1]   jun
Kabui language Vulnerable[1]   nkf
Kachari language Definitely endangered[1]   xac
Kanashi language Definitely endangered[1]   xns
Kangdi language Definitely endangered[1]   xnr
Karbi language Vulnerable[1]   mjw
Khamba language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: China kbg
Khampti language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Myanmar  
Kharia language Vulnerable[1]   khr
Khasali language Definitely endangered[1]    
Kheza language Vulnerable[1]   nkh
Khiamngan language Vulnerable[1]   nky
Khoirao language Vulnerable[1]   nki
Khowa language Definitely endangered[1]   bgg
Kinnauri language Definitely endangered[1]   kns, kfk, cif, tpq
Koch language Definitely endangered[1]  Also spoken in Bangladesh, Nepal kdq
Koda language Vulnerable[1]   cdz
Kodagu language Definitely endangered[1]   kfa
Koireng language Critically endangered[1]   nkd
Kokborok language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Bangladesh trp
Kolami language Definitely endangered[1]   kfb
Kom language Definitely endangered[1]   kmm
Konda language Definitely endangered[1]   kfc
Konyak language Vulnerable[1]   nbe
Koraga language Critically endangered[1]   kfd
Korku language Vulnerable[1]   kfq
Koro language Definitely endangered[1]    
Korwa language Vulnerable[1]   kfp
Kota language Critically endangered[1]   kfe
Kui language Vulnerable[1]   kxu
Kului language Definitely endangered[1]   kfx
Kumaoni language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Nepal kfy
Kundal Shahi language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: Pakistan  
Kurru language Definitely endangered[1]   yeu
Kuruba language Critically endangered[1]   kfi
Kurukh language Vulnerable[1]   kru
Kutchi language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Pakistan kfr
Kuvi language Definitely endangered[1]   kxv
Ladakhi language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: China cna, lbj, tkk
Lamgang language Critically endangered[1]   lmk
Lamongse language Critically endangered[1]   nik
Langrong language Critically endangered[1]    
Lepcha language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: Bhutan, Nepal lep
Lotha language Vulnerable[1]   njh
Liangmai language Vulnerable[1]   njn
Limbu language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: Nepal lif
Lishpa language Definitely endangered[1]    
Luro language Critically endangered[1]   tef
Mahasui language Definitely endangered[1]   bfz
Malto language Definitely endangered[1]   kmj
Manchad language Vulnerable[1]   lae
Manda language Critically endangered[1]   mha
Mandeali language Definitely endangered[1]   mjl
Mao language Vulnerable[1]   nbi
Mara language Definitely endangered[1]   mrh
Maram language Vulnerable[1]   nma
Maring language Vulnerable[1]   nng
Miji language Definitely endangered[1]    
Miju language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: China mxj
Milang language Definitely endangered[1]   adi
Minyong language Vulnerable[1]   adi
Mising language Definitely endangered[1]   mrg
Mizo language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Myanmar lus
Motuo Menba language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: China tsj
Moyon language Definitely endangered[1]   nmo
Mra language Critically endangered[1] Also spoken in: China  
Mundari language Vulnerable[1]   muw
Muot language Critically endangered[1]   ncb
Mzieme language Vulnerable[1]   nme
Na language Critically endangered[1] Also spoken in: China  
Nahali language Definitely endangered[1]   nlx
Naiki language Critically endangered[1]   nit
Nihali language Critically endangered[1]   nll
Nocte language Vulnerable[1]   njb
Nruanghmei language Vulnerable[1]   nbu
Nyishi language Vulnerable[1]   dap
Onge language Critically endangered[1]   oon
Padam language Vulnerable[1]    
Padri language Vulnerable[1]   bhd
Paite language Vulnerable[1]   pck, smt
Pangvali language Critically endangered[1]   pgg
Parji language Critically endangered[1]   pci
Pasi dialect of Adi Definitely endangered[1]   adi
Pengo language Critically endangered[1]   peg
Phom language Vulnerable[1]   nph
Pochuri language Vulnerable[1]   npo
Pu language Critically endangered[1]   caq
Purik language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Pakistan prx
Purum language Critically endangered[1]    
Rabha language Vulnerable[1]   rah
Remo language Severely endangered[1]   bfw
Rengma language Vulnerable[1]   nnl, nre
Rongpo language Vulnerable[1]   rnp
Sanenyo language Critically endangered[1]   crv
Sangtam language Vulnerable[1]   nsa
Sentinelese language Critically endangered[1]   std
Sherdukpen language Vulnerable[1]   sdp
Sherpa language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: China, Nepal xsr
Shompen language Critically endangered[1]   sil
Simi language Vulnerable[1]   nsm
Singpho language Definitely endangered[1]   sgp
Sirmaudi language Critically endangered[1]   srx
Sora language Vulnerable[1]   srb
Spiti language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Pakistan spt
Sulung language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: China suv
Tagin language Vulnerable[1]    
Tai Nora language Critically endangered[1]    
Tai Phake language Severely endangered[1]   phk
Tai Rong language Critically endangered[1]    
Takahanyilang language Critically endangered[1]   nik
Tamang language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Nepal taj, tge, tmk, tsf, tdg
Tangam language Critically endangered[1]   adi
Tangkhul language Vulnerable[1]   nmf
Tangsa language Vulnerable[1]   nst
Tarao language Critically endangered[1]   tro
Taruang language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: China, Burma mhu
Tawang language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Bhutan, China twm
Thado language Vulnerable[1]   tcz
Tinan language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: China lbf
Tiwa language Definitely endangered[1]   lax
Toda language Critically endangered[1]   tcx
Toto language Critically endangered[1]   txo
Tshangla language Vulnerable[1] Also spoken in: Bhutan, China tsj
Tulu language Vulnerable[1]   tcy
Turi language Definitely endangered[1]   trd
Saurashtra language Vulnerable[1]   trd
Wancho language Vulnerable[1]   nnp
Yimchungru language Vulnerable[1]   yim
Zakhring language Definitely endangered[1] Also spoken in: China zkr
Zangskari language Definitely endangered[1] zau
Zeme language Vulnerable[1]   nzm

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo fp fq fr fs ft fu fv fw fx fy fz ga gb gc gd ge gf gg gh gi Moseley, Christopher, ed. (2010). Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. Memory of Peoples (3rd ed.). Paris: UNESCO Publishing. ISBN 978-92-3-104096-2. Retrieved 2015-04-11.