Linguistic Diversity of India – What Language Do Indians Speak?
India is a country of incredible diversity, and that extends to the languages used by its people. Despite the presence of many languages, there is one language that unites the country: Hindi. However, that is not the only language in which Indians communicate. To understand India’s linguistic landscape, it’s important to look more closely at the languages that are used by its citizens.
The National Language: Hindi
Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India and is one of the official languages of the country. In fact, it is the language that binds the Indian people together, as it is the language used by the central government, the military, most media outlets, and countless schools throughout India. Hindi is a language of the Indo-Aryan family and is spoken by about 40% of the population, with Urdu (another Indo-Aryan language) being used by an additional 9%.
Regional Languages
Despite the prominence of Hindi, it is not the only language that is spoken in India: there are an array of regional languages that are used throughout the country. The most widely spoken language in India other than Hindi is Bengali, spoken by 7.7% of the population. Tamil, Telugu, and Marathi are also widely spoken, and it is estimated that they are used by as many as 6%. There are also a number of smaller languages spoken throughout the country, with some of the more prominent ones being Gujarati, Kannada, and Malayalam.
Tribal Languages
In addition to the languages mentioned above, there are also a number of tribal languages spoken in India. These are native to the many tribes living in India and are not commonly used outside of their respective regions. These languages can only be spoken by a small number of people: some of the more prominent tribal languages are Mundari, Santali, Korku, Ho, Bhili, and Gondi.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the languages of India are incredibly diverse. Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India, but there are also a number of regional and tribal languages used throughout the country. While Hindi is the unifying language of India, its people still have a plethora of other options to communicate in, which is what makes India such an amazing and unique country.