Draft:Gondi
Gondi language
[edit]Gondi is a Dravidian language spoken by the Gondi people, one of the largest Scheduled Tribes in India. The language is predominantly spoken in the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Odisha. Gondi has several dialects and is an important linguistic and cultural marker for the Gond tribe.
Classification
[edit]Gondi belongs to the South-Central branch of the Dravidian languages family. It is closely related to languages such as Kolami and Naiki, sharing features typical of the Central Dravidian subgroup. The ISO 639-3 code for Gondi is gon.
Linguistic Features
[edit]Gondi has a rich phonological system, including retroflex consonants typical of Dravidian languages. Though historically an oral language, efforts have been made to write Gondi using the Devanagari, Telugu, and recently the Gondi script (Gunjala Gondi Lipi). Gondi grammar features agglutinative morphology with extensive use of suffixes for tense, mood, and case marking.
Speaker Population
[edit]According to the 2011 Indian Census, there are approximately 2.7 million speakers of Gondi, although fluent native speakers are declining due to language shift toward dominant regional languages like Hindi, Marathi, and Telugu."2011 Census Data". Government of India. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
Endangerment and Revitalization
[edit]Gondi is classified as vulnerable by UNESCO. Several revitalization efforts are underway, including the promotion of the Gunjala Gondi Lipi script, publication of educational materials, and inclusion in school curricula in tribal areas. Community initiatives and government programs aim to preserve and promote the language among younger generations.Anderson, Gregory D.S. (2003). The Dravidian Languages. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521771115.
Cultural Significance
[edit]The Gondi language carries rich oral traditions, including folklore, songs, and rituals central to the identity of the Gond tribe. The language is a vessel for passing down indigenous knowledge, cosmology, and historical narratives.