| Population |
24,544,000 in India (1997 IMA). Population total all countries 26,254,000. |
| Region |
Bihar, Purnea area; Uttar Pradesh; Assam; Delhi; Madhya Pradesh; West Bengal. Also spoken in Mauritius, Nepal. |
| Alternate names |
BHOJAPURI, BHOZPURI, BAJPURI, BIHARI |
| Dialects |
NORTHERN STANDARD BHOJPURI (GORAKHPURI, SARAWARIA, BASTI), WESTERN STANDARD BHOJPURI (PURBI, BENARSI), SOUTHERN STANDARD BHOJPURI (KHARWARI), THARU, MADHESI, DOMRA, MUSAHARI. |
| Classification |
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone, Bihari. |
| Comments |
May be more than one language. Extent of dialect variation in India and Nepal not yet determined. The cover term 'Bihari' (Behari) is used for Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Magahi. Investigation needed: intelligibility with dialects. Literacy rate in first language: 5% to 30%. Literacy rate in second language: 50% to 75%. Kaithi script. Agriculturalists. Hindu, Muslim, Christian. Bible portions 1911-1982. |
| Mauritius |
| Language name |
BHOJPURI |
| Population |
330,000 in Mauritius (1993 Johnstone). |
| Dialects |
MAURITIAN BHOJPURI, BOJPURY. |
| Comments |
Often used in government and politics. Although often called 'Hindi', the language is Bhojpuri. Hindu. Bible portions 1911-1982. See main entry under India. |
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| Nepal |
| Language name |
BHOJPURI |
| Population |
1,379,717 in Nepal, 7.46% of population (1991 census). |
| Alternate names |
BHOJAPURI, BHOZPURI, BAJPURI |
| Dialects |
BHOJPURI THARU, TELI. |
| Comments |
The extent of dialect variation among speakers in India and Nepal has not been determined. Bhojpuri Tharu is a dialect of Bhojpuri spoken by the Tharu caste in Nepal. It is distinct from Chitwan and other Tharu. Bilingualism in Hindi, Maithili, Nepali, Awadhi. Literacy rate in first language: 5% to 30%. Literacy rate in second language: 50% to 75%. 40% literate in Nepali, Hindi. Hindu, Muslim, Christian. Bible portions 1911-1982. See main entry under India. |
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