Alternate Names: Bastari, Halabi, Halba, Halvas, Halvi, Mahari, Mehari
Dialects: Adkuri, Bastari, Bhunjia, Chandari, Gachikolo, Govari of Balaghat, Kawari, Kunbi, Mahari (Mahara, Mehari), Muri (Muria), Sundi. Bhunjia and Kawari dialects considered more divergent dialects. Reportedly a creole language. Grierson and Konow (1901–1929) called it a dialect of Marathi , for convenience, but noted similarities to Bhatri ,, a dialect of Oriya ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 593,000 (2001 census). L2 users: 200,000 (2001 C. Thomas).
Language Use: Educated men also use Hindi [hin], for trading and common topics. Also use Bhatri [bgw]. Used as L2 by Bhatri [bgw], Duruwa [pci], Eastern Muria [emu], Maria [mrr], Mirgan [zrg].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 74% for Chhattisgarh plains (2001 census). Government literacy program uses Hindi primers. Bible portions: 1989–1998.
Typology: SOV; postpositions; genitives, articles, adjectives, numerals before noun heads; 2 or 3 affixes per word; word order distinguishes given and new information; noun affixes indicate case; verb affixes mark person, number, gender of subject; passives; causatives; comparatives; CV, CVC, CVV; nontonal.
Writing System: Devanagari
Nation of Origin: India
Other Comments: A Scheduled Tribe. Traditional religion, Hindu.