Tiwa

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
lax
Alternate Names
Dowyan, Lalung
Population

27,100 (2001 census). Ethnic population: 171,000 (2001 census).

Location

Assam, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Sibsagar, and Lakhimpur districts; Meghalaya, Khasi Hills district.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Sal, Bodo-Garo-Northern Naga, Bodo-Koch, Bodo-Garo, Bodo
Dialects

Datiyali, Hajowali.

Language Use

Quite a few in Brahmaputra valley adopted Assamese [asm] as L1. Resurgent interest to learn the mother tongue; approved by the state in 2004 to be taught as a subject up to class 4. Home, market. Also use English [eng] or Assamese [asm].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 62% for Assam (2001 census). Literacy rate higher in the plains. In the hills, equally low among men and women. Don Bosco school (Karbi Anglong District) teaches Tiwa up to class 4. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1972.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tiwa
Writing
Bengali script. Latin script.
Other Comments

A Scheduled Tribe. Traditional religion, Hindu.