Alternate Names: Bajpuri, Bhojapuri, Bhozpuri, Bihari, Deswali, Khotla, Piscimas
Dialects: Bhojpuri Tharu, Domra, Madhesi, Musahari, Northern Standard Bhojpuri (Basti, Gorakhpuri, Sarawaria), Southern Standard Bhojpuri (Kharwari), Western Standard Bhojpuri (Benarsi, Purbi). May be more than 1 language. Extent of dialect variation in India and Nepal not yet determined. The cover term “Bihari” (a pejorative alternate name for Bhojpuri) is also used for Maithili ,, and Magahi ,. Bhojpuri Tharu dialect is spoken by Tharu caste in Nepal and India. Distinct from other Tharu languages.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 37,800,000 in India (2001 census). Population total all countries: 39,716,000.
Language Use: Used as L2 by Maithili [mai].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 5%–30%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. Poetry. Magazines. Newspapers. New media. Radio programs. Films. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1999–2006.
Typology: SOV; postpositions; final noun head; 2 noun classes or genders; content q-word in situ; 1 prefix, up to 5 suffixes; clause constituents indicated by both case-marking and word order; verbal affixation marks person, number and genders of subject and object; no ergativity; both tense and aspect; nontonal; 34 consonant and 6 vowel phonemes, about 4 diphthongs.
Writing System: Devanagari, Kaithi
Nation of Origin: India
Other Comments: Hindu, Muslim.