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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > India > Pnar

Pnar

A language of India

ISO 639-3: pbv

Population  84,000 in India (1991). Population total all countries: 88,000.
Region  Meghalaya, Khasi and Jaintia Hills, north of War Jaintia; Mizoram, Aizawl District, north; Assam, North Cachar Hills, Jatinga, Borolokha, Dibruchera; Karbi Anglong District, Ulukunchi. Also in Bangladesh.
Dialects  Jaintia (Synteng), Nongtung. Formerly considered a dialect of Khasi [khi]. Jaintia dialect has 12 spoken forms: Jowai, Shangpung, Batau, Raliang, Sutnga, Sumer, Nartiang, Barato, Rymbai, Lakadong, Mynso, Nongtalang. All are intelligible, except for Nongtalang, which is akin to Central Khmer [khm]. Jowai is standard spoken form. Lexical similarity: 68% with standard Khasi.
Classification  Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Northern Mon-Khmer, Khasian
Language use  Official language. Also use Bengali [ben], Hindi, English, or Mizo [lus].
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: 62% for Synteng dialect in for Meghalaya. Radio programs.
Writing system  Latin script.
Comments  A Scheduled Tribe in India. Agriculturalists; hunter-gatherers. Christian.

Also spoken in:

Bangladesh

Language name   Pnar
Population  4,000 in Bangladesh (2002).
Region  Northeast along India border; Sylhet Division, Sylhet District, near Jaflong, Tamabil, Jaintiapur, and north of Raipur; Moulavi Bazar District, near Fenchuganj, Madhabkunda, Barlekha, Goalbari, Fultala, Alinagar, Islampur, Khajori, Rashidpur, Satgoan, and Kamalganj.
Language map  Bangladesh
Language use  Most have high proficiency in War-Jainta [aml].
Comments  Identify ethnically with the Khasi [kha].
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

KOSHY, Anish, author. 2009. "Indefinite pronouns in Pnar."  Available online