Kumaoni
A language of India
| Population | 2,360,000 (1998). 20% monolingual. Scattered in Nepal border area. |
| Region | Uttarakhand, Almora, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Champawat, Udhamsingh Nagar districts; Central Kumaoni in Almora and north Nainital; Northeastern Kumaoni in Pithoragarh; Southeastern Kumaoni in southeast Nainital; Western Kumaoni west of Almora and Nainital. |
| Alternate names | Kamaoni, Kumauni, Kumau, Kumawani, Kumgoni, Kumman, Kunayaoni |
| Dialects | Central Kumaoni, Northeastern Kumaoni, Southeastern Kumaoni, Western Kumaoni. Dialects mutually functionally intelligible. Reportedly, eastern dialects are different. Names sometimes listed for dialects or subgroups are: Askoti, Bhabari of Rampur, Chaugarkhiya, Danpuriya, Gangola, Johari, Khasparjiya, Kumaiya Pachhai, Pashchimi, Phaldakotiya, Kumaoni, Rau-Chaubhaisi, Sirali, Soriyali. Most closely related to Garwhali [gbm] and Nepali [nep]. |
| Classification | Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northern zone, Central Pahari |
| Language use | Home, community. All ages. The Central dialect is most accepted. Hindi valued as the language of education and progress. English valued as the gateway to success. Also use Hindi. |
| Language development | Literacy rate in L2: 72% for Uttarakhand. Motivation not high. Poetry. Magazines. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2006. |
| Writing system | Devanagari script. |
| Comments | Hindu mixed with traditional religion. |
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