Tiwa

LAX

vigorous

Alternate Names: Dowyan, Lalung

Dialects: Datiyali, Hajowali.

Genealogy:

Sino-Tibetan
Tibeto-Burman
Sal
Bodo-Garo-Northern Naga
Bodo-Koch
Bodo-Garo
Bodo

Demographics: 27,100 (2001 census). Ethnic population: 171,000 (2001 census).

Language Use: Quite a few in Brahmaputra valley adopted Assamese [asm] as L1. Resurgent interest to learn the mother tongue; approved by the state in 2004 to be taught as a subject up to class 4. Home, market. Also use Assamese [asm], English [eng].

Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 62% for Assam (2001 census). Literacy rate higher in the plains. In the hills, equally low among men and women. Don Bosco school (Karbi Anglong District) teaches Tiwa up to class 4. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1972.

Writing System: Bengali, Latin

Nation of Origin: India

Other Comments: A Scheduled Tribe. Traditional religion, Hindu.