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It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005).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: HOC
ISO 639-2: mun
| Population | 1,077,000 in India (1997 IMA), including 444,000 in Singhbhum, 200,000 in Oriya (1990 UBS). Population total both countries 1,077,000 or more. |
| Region | Bihar, mainly in Singhbhum District; Orissa, Mayurbhanj and Koenjhar districts; West Bengal. Also spoken in Bangladesh. |
| Alternate names | LANKA KOL, BIHAR HO |
| Dialects | LOHARA, CHAIBASA-THAKURMUNDA. |
| Classification | Austro-Asiatic, Munda, North Munda, Kherwari, Mundari. |
| Comments | Most speakers understand the Chaibasa and Thakurmunda dialects well, at 90% to 92% on narrative discourse. 'Kherwari' (Khanwar, Kharar, Kharoali, Kharwari) is a group name for Ho, Mundari, and Santali, which are closely related languages, and some other smaller languages or dialects. Most dialects have 85% lexical similarity with each other, except for three on the southern and eastern edges of the Ho area. Oriya, Santali, and Hindi are used in limited domains. Vigorous in home and community in most areas. Positive attitudes toward Ho. A Scheduled Tribe in India. Different from Ho (Hani) of Myanmar, China, Viet Nam, Laos. Investigation needed: intelligibility with Mundari, Bhumij. Dictionary. Grammar. Literacy rate in first language: 1% to 5%. Literacy rate in second language: 25% to 50%. Literacy program in progress. Devanagari script used in Bihar, Oriya script in Orissa. Forest. Agriculturalists, hunters. Traditional religion. NT 1997. |
| Bangladesh |
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