Gadaba, Bodo

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
gbj
Alternate Names
Boi Gadaba, Gadba, Gadwa, Godwa, Gudwa, Gutob, Gutop
Population

8,000 (2000 IICCC).

Location

Odisha, Koraput district, Lamtaput, 40 villages; Malkangiri district, Khoirput block.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Austro-Asiatic, Munda, South Munda, Koraput Munda, Gutob-Remo-Geta’, Gutob-Remo
Dialects

Birong Raji, Kinda Raji, Koraput, Lamtaput. Dialects mutually intelligible. Speakers in Lamtaput block have 89%–94% intelligibility in Tikrapada and Audipoda villages. Intelligibility of the Hanumal village variety is less. Lexical similarity: 69%–89% among 7 varieties in Odisha, 90% between listed dialects.

Language Use

Many speak and are shifting to Desiya [dso] in home and religious domains. Mainly adults. Mixed attitudes. Low bilingualism. Also use Desiya [dso], preferred by young people. A few also use Oriya [ory] in Odisha. In Andhra Pradesh, also use Telugu [tel].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 9% (2000 H. Rajan). Literacy classes in progress.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Gadaba, Bodo
Writing
Oriya script.
Other Comments

A Scheduled Tribe. Some ethnic Gadaba in Madhya Pradesh speak Bhatri [bgw] as L1. Different from Dravidian Mudhili Gadaba [gau] and Pottangi Ollar Gadaba [gdb]. Hindu, traditional religion.