Bhili

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
bhb
Alternate Names
Bhagoria, Bhil, Bhilbari, Bhilboli, Bhilla, Bhilodi, Lengotia, Vil
Population

3,310,000 (2001 census).

Location

Madhya Pradesh, Jhabua, Dhar, Ratlam, Indore, and Khargone districts; Gujarat, Sabarkantha, Panchmahals, and Dahod districts.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Bhil
Dialects

Ahiri, Anarya (Pahadi), Bhilodi, Bhim, Charani, Habura, Konkani, Kotali (Kotvali, Kotwalia), Magra Ki Boli, Nahari (Baglani), Naikdi, Panchali, Patelia, Ranawat, Rani Bhil, Siyalgir, Valvi. Bhili of Ratlam District in Madhya Pradesh is inherently intelligible with Wagdi [wbr] and a connecting link between Gujarati [guj] and Rajasthani (Marwari) [mve].

Language Use

Spoken as L1 by the Patelia in Madhya Pradesh. A few also use Hindi [hin].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 10%. Radio programs. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1930.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bhili
Writing
Devanagari script. Gujarati script.
Other Comments

‘Bhil’ is an ethnic designation (caste or tribe). Bhili is a Scheduled Tribe in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Tripura; Kotwalia is a Scheduled Tribe in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Dewali (Dehawali) is a cover term for Vasavi and Kotali, among others. Traditional religion.