Kanauji

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
bjj
Alternate Names
Bhakha, Braj, Braj Kanauji, Dehati, Kannauji
Population

9,500,000 (2001 USCWM).

Location

Uttar Pradesh, Kanpur, Farrukhabad, Etawah, Hardoi, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, Mainpuri, and Auraiya districts.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Western Hindi, Unclassified
Dialects

Kanauji Proper, Tirhari, Transitional Kanauji. Transitional Kanauji dialect is between Kanauji and Awadhi [awa]. Grierson and Konow (1901–1929) call it a form of Braj Bhasha [bra]. The variety spoken in Kannauj and Farrukhabad is considered the pure form. Lexical similarity: 84%–97% between all varieties of Kanauji, 72%–76% with Bundeli [bns], 70%–78% with Braj Bhasha [bra], 83%–94% with Hindi [hin].

Language Use

Shifting to Hindi [hin]. Various domains. Negative attitudes. Most also use Hindi [hin], the less-educated having lower proficiency.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 60% (2001 census). NT: 1821.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kanauji
Writing
Devanagari script.
Other Comments

Kanauji may be only a name given by scholars. Language not commonly referred to as Kanauji. Very low identity. Regard their language as a variety of Hindi [hin]. However, a small local group is interested in promoting Kanauji before it dies out. Hindu.