The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.
SIL code: BNS
ISO 639-2: inc
| Population | 644,000 (1997 IMA) to 8,000,000 or more (1997). |
| Region | Uttar Pradesh, Jalaun, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda districts; Madhya Pradesh, Balaghat, Chhindwara, Hoshangabad, Sagar, Sehore, Panna, Satna, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Shivpuri, Guna, Bhind, Morena, Gwalior, Lalitpur, Narsinghpur, Seoni, Datia districts; Maharashtra, Bhandara, Nagpur districts; Rajasthan; Gujarat; Andhra Pradesh. |
| Alternate names | BUNDEL KHANDI |
| Dialects | STANDARD BUNDELI, PAWARI (POWARI), LODHANTI (RATHORA), KHATOLA, BANAPHARI, KUNDRI, NIBHATTA, TIRHARI, BHADAURI (TOWARGARHI), LODHI, KOSTI, KUMBHARI, GAOLI, KIRARI, RAGHOBANSI, NAGPURI HINDI, CHHINDWARA BUNDELI. |
| Classification | Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Western Hindi, Bundeli. |
| Comments | Intelligibility testing of Standard varieties gave 83%, 92%, and 98%. Chhatapur dialect is widely understood. Other dialects listed by Grierson are Standard Braj of Mathura, Aligarh, western Agra; Standard Braj of Bulandshahr; Standard Braj of eastern Agra, southern Morena, southern Bharatpur; Braj merging into Kanauji in Etah, Mainpuri, Budaun, and Bareilly; Braj merging into the Bhadauri subdialect in northern Morena; Braj merging into Jaipuri (Rajasthani) in northern Bharatpur and Sawai Uradhopur; Bhuksa in southern Nainital. Chhindwara has 65% to 85% lexical similarity with Standard Bundeli, and 41% with Nagpuri Hindi. The uneducated have limited ability in Hindi. Bundeli is used in the home. There is ethnic pride in the language and culture. Favorable attitudes toward Chhatapur dialect. Investigation needed: intelligibility, attitudes. Radio programs. Plains. Agriculturalists. Hindu, Buddhist. |
