Alternate Names: Kahasi, Kassi, Khasa, Khashi, Khasiyas, Khuchia
Dialects: Bhoi-Khasi, Khasi (Cherrapunji, Sohra), Khynrium, War. Bhoi Khasi in East Khasi Hills, Nongpoh block, and Nonglung in East Khasi Hills, Umksning block are very different from standard Khasi, with different word order. Many varieties have only partial mutual inherent intelligibility. War dialect is separate from War-Jaintia ,. Cherrapunji (Sohra) is the standard. Lexical similarity: 75% between War dialect and standard Khasi.
Status Notes: Statutory provincial language in Meghalaya State (1950, Constitution, Articles 345–347 inclusive), unscheduled language.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 843,000 in India (2001 census).
Language Use: Government, courts, mass media in Meghalaya. Used as L2 by Biete [biu], Sakachep [sch], War-Jaintia [aml].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 63% in Meghalaya (2001 census). Taught in primary schools. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1891.
Typology: SVO.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: India
Other Comments: A Scheduled Tribe. Christian, Hindu, Muslim.