Adi

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
adi
Alternate Names
Abhor, Abor, Boga’er Luoba, Lhoba, Luoba
Population

97,000 in India (2001 census). Population total all countries: 100,190.

Location

Arunachal Pradesh, East, West, and Upper Siang districts, Upper Subansiri and Dibang Valley districts; Assam, north hills of Assam Valley, between Bhutan and Buruli rivers. Also in Bhutan, China (Boga’er Luoba).

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Central Tibeto-Burman, Tani
Dialects

Ashing, Bokar (Boga’er Luoba), Bori, Karko, Komkar, Milang, Minyong, Padam, Pailibo, Pangi, Pasi, Ramo, Shimong, Tangam. Sun (1993) lists Tani varieties as Apatani [apt], Milang, Damu, Mising [mrg], Bangni [njz], Tagin [tgj], Sagli, south Aya, Leli, and perhaps the Padam, Bokar, Pailibo, Ramo, Bori, Minyong and Pasi dialects of Adi; Asing, Panggi, Simong, Karok, Hill, Mising [mrg], and some northern and western dialects of Nyishi [njz]. A different language from Yidu Lhoba [clk]. Bokar, Milang, Pailibo, and Ramo are very divergent—possibly separate languages.

Typology

SOV; particles indicate grammatical relations; long-short vowel distinction; most words polysyllabic; loans mainly from Tibetan

Language Use

Also use Assamese [asm], Hindi [hin], or Nepali [npi].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 59% (2001 census). Radio programs. Grammar. Bible: 2005–2009.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Adi
Writing
Latin script. Tibetan script, used in China.
Other Comments

A Scheduled Tribe with several subgroups. ‘Adi’, hillman, is a cover term for eastern Tani languages. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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