Koch language
Koch | |
---|---|
Native to | India, Bangladesh |
Ethnicity | Koch |
Native speakers | 36,434 (2011)[1] |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | kdq |
Glottolog | koch1250 |
ELP | Koch |
Pani Koch (= Banai, Wanang)[2] | |
Map of the Koch langauge |
Koch is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Koch people of India and Bangladesh. It is primarily spoken in the Indian states of Meghalaya, West Bengal, and Lower Assam and in the northen parts of the country Bangladesh, where it serves as a major means of communication among the Koches (including Koch-Rajbongshi) and other ethnic groups in the region. Koch language is written with Assamese, Bengali, Roman scripts.
There is an organization Koch Krorang Mathop in Tura, Meghalaya which publishes Koch materials, such as books, an annual Koch magazine. Koch Development Forum is also working on the promotion of the Koch language among the Koch people who have now switched their language to Indo-Aryan languages.
The state and National Anthem of Assam in Koch :
Kocho koro | Assamese |
---|---|
O' ani apani hadam Edeghenek kanchikni O' ani kanchikni hurang O' ani bongni thane Chai lana ang |
অ' মোৰ আপোনাৰ দেশ এনেখন শুৱলা, এনেখন সুফলা
চাই লওঁ এবাৰ মুখনি তোমাৰ |
English | koch In Latin script | koch In Bengali-Assamese script |
---|---|---|
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. | Habongni hisape bebak morota rasong aro adhikar wai soman aro jokni. Orongni prengni aro chotta towa. Orong sopan sopanna ada-ajong ghenek bebohar hawni se usit dowa. | হাবঙনি হিছাপে বেবাক মৰতা ৰাছঙ আৰ' আধিকাৰ ৱাই ছমান আৰ' জক্নি।অৰঙনি প্ৰেঙনি আৰ' চত্তা তৱা।অৰঙ ছপান ছপান্না আদা-আজঙ ঘেনেক বেবহাৰ হাৱনি ছে উছিত দৱা। |
Dialects
[edit]The Koch language is currently represented by six surviving dialects, which are as follows:
- Harigaya,
- Tintikiya,
- Wanang/Swmbri,
- Chapra,
- Margan, and
- Kocha. (Kocha/Koch - Rabha)
Short representation of the various dialects:
[edit]English | Koch Harigaya | Koch Tintikiya | Koch Wanang | Koch Kocha |
---|---|---|---|---|
What is your name? | Nani ata mung? | Nani bita mung? | Nani atõ mung? | Nini mung utung? |
My name is xyz. | Ani mung Xyz. | Ani mung Xyz. | Ani mung Xyz. | Ani mung Xyz. |
English | Koch Harigaya | Koch Wanang |
---|---|---|
Zero | Era | Riyaa |
One | Sa | Saa |
Two | Ning | Ning |
Three | Tam | Tam |
Four | Bri | Bri |
Five | Bõng | Bãng |
Six | Krõp | Krob |
Seven | Sin | Sin |
Eight | Gin | Bin |
Nine | Gis | Gin |
Ten | Cha |
Geographical distribution
[edit]Koch is spoken in:
- Assam:
- Baksa district - Hodi or Koch Mandai
- Bongaigaon district - Madaci Koch, Koch
- Darrang district - Hodi or Koch Mandai
- Dhemaji district - Hodi or Koch Mandai
- Dhubri district - Madaci Koch, Koch
- Goalpara district - Madaci koch, kocha Rabha, Kocho koro, Hodi or Koch Mandai
- Kokrajhar district - Madaci Koch, Koch
- Lakhimpur district - Hodi or Koch Mandai
- Nagaon district - Hodi or Koch Mandai, Kocho koro
- Udalguri district - Hodi or Koch Mandai
- Sonitpur district - Hodi or Koch Mandai
- South Salmara district - Hodi or Koch Mandai, Koch
- Bangladesh: Hodi or Koch Mandai and Kocho koro
- Bihar: Rajbongshi koch
- Meghalaya:
- East Khasi hills - Hodi alias Koch Mandai
- West Garo Hills district - Kocha rabha or Koch
- Tripura: Hodi or Koch Mandai or koch
- West Bengal: Rajbongshi koch, Kocha Rabha
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Abstract of Speakers' Strength of Languages and Mother Tongues - 2001". Go. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ^ Endangered Languages Project data for Pani Koch (= Banai, Wanang).
References
[edit]- Kondakov, Alexander (2020). "Outline of Harigaya Koch Grammar" (PDF). Language and Culture Documentation and Description. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
- Dialects "Different Dialects" [1]
- Koch language report by UNESCO World Atlas of Languages [2]
- Koch Dictionary [3]