The Sadanic languages are Bihari languages in the Indo-Aryan languages. The languages are mostly spoken in the Jharkhand state of India.[1]

Etymology

The Nagpuri language is known as Sadani as native language of Sadan, the Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Chotanagpur. Sadani also referred to closely related Indo-Aryan languages of Jharkhand such as Nagpuri, Panchpargania, Kurmali and Khortha. The origin of word Sadan is somewhat obscure.[1][2]

History

The Indo Aryan languages of Jharkhand such as Nagpuri, Panchpargania, Kurmali, Khortha are known as Sadani languages. Earlier linguist had classified these languages as dialects of Bhojpuri and Magahi language. But recent research suggest that these languages are developed from single ancient language in past and are closer to each other than any other languages. Their differences is due their geographical distribution and contact with different tribal Munda languages.[1]

According to scholars, Sadri/Nagpuri language was in contact with Mundari language. Due to widespread use as a lingua franca, it lost ergativity as Munda languages have no ergativity. It gained attributive possession between alienable and inalienable in third person possessor. It lacks loan words from Dravidian and Austro-asiatic languages but contributed countless loan words in its contact languages. According to Abbi (1997), Indo-Aryan languages influenced dravidian and Austro-asiatic languages. The converse marker of Kharia (-ke, -kon) and Kurukh (-ki) is due to influence from Indo-Aryan language.[3]

Khortha language have large numbers of borrowing from Santali language. Kurmali have several loan words from extinct unknown language and few loan words from Santali. Panchparganiya don't have large numbers of loan words. It retain its morphological ergativity and not developed an alienable or inalienable distinction in attributive possession.[1]

References