SANTALI: a language of India

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It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005).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: SNT

ISO 639-2: sat

Population	5,959,000 in India (1997 IMA). Population total all countries 6,050,000.
Region	Assam; Bihar; Orissa; Tripura; West Bengal. Also spoken in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal.
Alternate names	HOR, HAR, SATAR, SANTHALI, SANDAL, SANGTAL, SANTAL, SENTALI, SAMTALI, SANTHIALI, SONTHAL
Dialects	KARMALI (KHOLE), KAMARI-SANTALI, LOHARI-SANTALI, MAHALI (MAHLE), MANJHI, PAHARIA.
Classification	Austro-Asiatic, Munda, North Munda, Kherwari, Santali.
Comments	Closely related to Ho and Mundari, but a separate language. Santali is a Scheduled Tribe in India. Investigation needed: intelligibility with dialects. Literacy rate in first language: 10% to 30%. Literacy rate in second language: 25% to 50%. Agriculturalists, laborers. Hindu, traditional religion, Christian (some). Bible 1914, in press (1994).

Also spoken in:

Bangladesh

Language name	SANTALI
Population	157,000 in Bangladesh (1993 Johnstone).
Alternate names	HOR, SATAR, SANTHALI, SANDAL, SANGTAL, SANTAL, HAR, SONTHAL
Dialects	KARMALI (KHOLE), KAMARI-SANTALI, LOHARI-SANTALI, MAHALI (MAHLE), MANJHI, PAHARIA.
Comments	Bible 1914-1992. See main entry under India.

Nepal

Language name	SANTALI
Population	33,332 in Nepal (1991 census).
Alternate names	SATAR, SANTHALI, SONTHAL, SANDAL, SANGTAL, SANTAL, SENTALI, SAINTI, HOR, HAR
Comments	Some bilingualism in Maithili and Nepali. Dictionary. Grammar. Literacy rate in first language: Few. Literacy rate in second language: Few. Hunter-gatherers, agriculturalists. Hindu. Bible 1914-1992. See main entry under India.