Sansi

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
ssi
Alternate Names
Bhilki, Sansiboli
Population

60,000 in India (Gusain 2002). Population total all countries: 76,200.

Location

Rajasthan; Punjab; Haryana; Delhi; Himachal Pradesh; Jammu and Kashmir; Madhya Pradesh; Karnataka; Uttar Pradesh. Also in Pakistan.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting).

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

Intermediate between Eastern Panjabi [pan] and Hindustani (see Hindi [hin]). Sometimes identify themselves as Marwari [rwr]. Related to Rajasthani [mwr], Sindhi [snd], Eastern Panjabi. Lexical similarity: 71% with Urdu [urd], 83% with the Sochi dialect of Sansi [ssi](1998). Numerous phonological and morphological borrowings from Eastern Panjabi [pan], Hindi [hin], and Gujarati [guj] (Gusain 2002).

Language Use

Not being passed on to the next generation. Much mixing of Hindi, Eastern Panjabi, or Gujarati (Gusain 2002). Home only. Mainly older adults. Also use Hindi [hin], Gujarati [guj], or Panjabi [pan].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: Below 5%.
Other Comments

Bhils by caste. Called a Gypsy language. They have an argot called Farsi. Gusain (2002) classifies this as a Rajasthani dialect. Socially separate from surrounding groups. Governed by their own social norms and economy. Losing some tribal characteristics but are not yet integrated into the national mainstream (Gusain 2002). Hindu.

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