75% of “minor” languages in the state will disappear soon: survey

Source: Hindustan Times

Of the non-scheduled regional languages spoken in the state, more than 75% are on the verge of disappearing in the next few decades, according to a recent linguistic survey. In Maharashtra, 56 regional languages are spoken, of which Marathi and its nine regional varieties are scheduled

languages and are entitled to be developed and preserved by the government. Some of these regional varieties are Varhadi, Tawadi, Jamneri, and Samvedi.

Among the other 46 languages, about 10 have a relatively sizeable number of speakers and at present show the signs of continuing for a considerable period of time, according to a survey conducted by the People’s Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI), a language research and publication centre based in Baroda, Gujarat.
However, the survey revealed that the remaining 36 languages, spoken in places such as Amravati, Satara and Sangli among others, are rapidly losing their significance, with 20 expected to become extinct in the next two decades.
Although the other 16 languages are backed by enough speakers to continue for some more years, its speakers are also rapidly reducing in number. More.

See: Hindustan Times