What is Maithili and where is it primarily spoken?

Maithili is an Indo-Aryan language spoken predominantly in the Mithila region, which spans parts of the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand, as well as the Madhesh and Koshi Provinces of Nepal. It is recognized as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India.

How many people speak Maithili, and what is its status in Nepal?

Maithili is spoken by approximately 21.7 million people, with about 3.2 million of those speakers residing in Nepal. Constitutionally, it is recognized as one of the fourteen provincial official languages of Nepal, specifically used for administration in Madhesh Province and Koshi Province.

What are the main writing systems used for the Maithili language?

The Maithili language is primarily written using the Devanagari script. However, the historical Tirhuta script, which is considered its original script, and the Kaithi script have also been used, with Tirhuta experiencing a revival in interest in the 21st century.

When was Maithili officially recognized in India, and where else does it hold official status?

Maithili was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in 2003, granting it official recognition as an Indian language. It also holds official status in Nepal, specifically in the Madhesh and Koshi provinces.

Which Indian state recently granted Maithili second official language status?

In March 2018, the Indian state of Jharkhand granted Maithili the status of a second official language.

Who was the first Member of Parliament to speak in Maithili in the Indian Parliament?

Gopal Jee Thakur, the Member of Parliament for Darbhanga Lok Sabha constituency, was the first to speak in the Maithili language in the Parliament of India.

What significant event occurred on Constitution Day 2024 concerning the Maithili language?

On Constitution Day, November 26, 2024, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, launched the Maithili version of the Indian Constitution.

In which divisions of Bihar and Jharkhand is Maithili mainly spoken?

In Bihar, Maithili is predominantly spoken in the Darbhanga, Madhubani, Tirhut, Kosi, Purnia, Bhagalpur, and Munger divisions. In Jharkhand, it is mainly spoken in the Santhal Pargana division.

What are considered important cultural and linguistic centers for the Maithili language?

Darbhanga, Madhubani (in India), and Janakpur (in Nepal) are recognized as significant cultural and linguistic centers for the Maithili language.

How was Maithili classified by early linguists like Beames and Hoernlé?

In the 1870s, John Beames initially considered Maithili a dialect of Bengali. Rudolf Hoernlé initially treated it as a dialect of Eastern Hindi but later recognized its stronger similarities to Bengali than to Hindi.

What was George Abraham Grierson's contribution to the classification of Maithili?

George Abraham Grierson recognized Maithili as a distinct language, grouping it under the 'Bihari' languages. He also published the first grammar of Maithili in 1881.

How did Suniti Kumar Chatterji classify Maithili?

Suniti Kumar Chatterji grouped Maithili with the Magadhi Prakrit language.

What is the standard form of Maithili, and where is it spoken?

The standard form of Maithili is called Sotipura, also known as Central Maithili. It is primarily spoken in districts such as Darbhanga, Madhubani, Supaul, Madhepura, Purnia, Samastipur, Araria, and Saharsa in India, and in Dhanusha, Mahottari, Siraha, Saptari, Sarlahi, Sunsari, and Morang districts in Nepal.

What is Bajjika, and where is it spoken?

Bajjika, also referred to as Western Maithili, is a dialect spoken mainly in the Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, and Sheohar districts of Bihar, India, and in Rautahat and Sarlahi districts of Nepal. It is recognized as a distinct language in Nepal and shares significant intelligibility with other Maithili dialects.

Which dialects are primarily spoken in the Kosi, Purnia, and Munger divisions of Bihar?

The Thethi dialect is mainly spoken in the Kosi, Purnia, and Munger divisions of Bihar, as well as in Mokama and some adjoining districts in Nepal.

Where is the Angika dialect of Maithili predominantly spoken?

The Angika dialect is primarily spoken in and around the Bhagalpur, Banka, and Munger districts of Bihar, and in the Godda, Sahebganj, and Dumka districts of Jharkhand.

Are all Maithili dialects mutually intelligible?

According to the source, all the various dialects of Maithili are considered intelligible to native Maithili speakers.

What is the etymological origin of the name 'Maithili'?

The name 'Maithili' is derived from 'Mithila,' an ancient kingdom ruled by King Janaka. Maithili is also a name associated with Sita, the wife of Rama and daughter of King Janaka.

What are the earliest known literary works associated with the origins of Maithili?

The beginnings of Maithili language and literature are traced back to the 'Charyapadas,' Buddhist mystical verses composed between 700-1300 AD. Scholars suggest these verses contain traces of ancient or proto-Maithili.

Who wrote the Varna Ratnakara, and what is its significance?

Jyotirishwar Thakur (1280–1340) wrote the Varna Ratnakara in Maithili prose. This work is significant as it is considered the earliest known prose text in Maithili and possibly the first prose work in any modern Indian language, written in the Mithilakshar script.

Which poet is considered a major figure in Maithili literature from the 14th century?

Vidyapati Thakur (1360–1450) is a significant poet in Maithili literature, known for his extensive collection of songs on themes of love and devotion, which influenced religious literature in regions like Assam, Bengal, and Utkala Kingdom.

How did Vidyapati's work influence other literary traditions?

Vidyapati's love songs gained widespread popularity and influenced the religious literature of Assam, Bengal, and the Utkala Kingdom. Rabindranath Tagore even composed poems imitating his style under the pseudonym Bhanusimha.

What early references exist for the Maithili language in European writings?

An early reference to Maithili, termed 'Tourutiana,' appeared in Amaduzzi's preface to Beligatti's Alphabetum Brammhanicum in 1771. Colebrooke's 1801 essay was among the first to describe Maithili as a distinct dialect.

What role did the Malla dynasty play in the spread of Maithili?

During the Malla dynasty's rule in Nepal (16th-17th centuries), Maithili spread widely throughout the region, with at least seventy Maithili dramas produced during this period. King Bhupatindra Malla was a notable patron, composing 26 plays in the language.

How did the British Raj period affect the Maithili language?

Following the takeover of the Darbhanga Raj by the British Raj as regent after 1860, the Zamindari Raj showed a lackadaisical approach towards Maithili. The language's use was later revived through the personal efforts of scholars like MM Parameshvar Mishra and Chanda Jha.

What was the significance of the Maithil Mahasabha organization?

Established in 1910, the Maithil Mahasabha was the first social organization dedicated to the development of Mithila and Maithili. It campaigned for the official recognition of Maithili as a regional language, and Calcutta University recognized it in 1917.

When was Maithili officially accepted by the Sahitya Akademi?

Maithili was officially accepted by the Sahitya Akademi, an organization promoting Indian literature, in 1965.

What is the current status of Maithili in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution?

Since 2002, Maithili has been recognized in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution as a major Indian language, making it one of the twenty-two Scheduled languages of India.

What is the current situation regarding the classical language status for Maithili?

In October 2024, India accorded classical status to five additional languages, but Maithili missed out due to the lack of a proposal from the Bihar government. However, the campaign for its classical status gained momentum following this decision.

What are the main vowel categories in Maithili phonology?

Maithili phonology includes close vowels (i, u), mid vowels (e, o), and open vowels (æ/ɛ, a, ɔ). It also features diphthongs and nasal counterparts for all vowels.

What is epenthesis, and how does it manifest in Maithili pronunciation?

Epenthesis is a phonetic change involving the backward transposition of final /i/ and /u/ sounds in words. This phenomenon is currently observed in Maithili, leading to variations in pronunciation, such as 'achhi' becoming 'aitch' or 'ravi' becoming 'raib'.

What are the main classes of consonants found in Maithili?

Maithili consonants include nasals, plosives/affricates (with voiceless/voiced and aspirated/unaspirated distinctions), fricatives, rhotics, laterals, and approximants.

How are the stop consonants in Maithili categorized?

Maithili has four series of stops: bilabials, coronals, retroflex, and velar, along with an affricate series. These exhibit a four-way contrast similar to many modern Indo-Aryan languages, including tenuis (unaspirated voiceless), voiced, aspirated, and murmured (aspirated voiced) forms.

Which fricative sounds are most common in Maithili, and how do they behave?

The most common fricatives are /s/ and /h/, which show full phonological opposition. Other fricatives like /ʃ/, /x/, /f/, and /z/ primarily occur in loanwords or Sanskrit terms, and their pronunciation can vary or be replaced by other sounds in common usage.

What is the typical occurrence of nasal consonants like /ŋ/ and /ɲ/ in Maithili?

The velar nasal /ŋ/ (written as ŋ) and the palatal nasal /ɲ/ (written as ɲ) generally occur non-initially in Maithili, often followed by a homorganic stop. The palatal nasal /ɲ/ is unique in that it does not occur independently.

How do the retroflex stops /ɖ/ and /ɖʱ/ function in Maithili phonology?

The retroflex stops /ɖ/ and /ɖʱ/ show full contrast word-initially. Non-initially, they can be interchangeable with alveolar taps/flaps (/ɽ/, /ɽʱ/) and are sometimes influenced by nasals, with /ɖʱ/ often surfacing as [ɽʱ~rʱ] word-finally or post-vocalically.

What is the role of the Tirhuta script in Maithili's orthography?

The Tirhuta script, also known as Mithilakshara, was historically used for writing Maithili from the 14th century onwards. While Devanagari has become dominant, Tirhuta has seen a resurgence and is included in Unicode.

How did the use of different scripts for Maithili evolve over time?

Initially written in Tirhuta, Maithili usage shifted towards Kaithi by the early 20th century, especially among non-Brahman communities. The spread of Devanagari, influenced by scholars from Banaras, eventually led to its dominance, though Tirhuta remains in use for specific purposes and has seen renewed interest.

What are the grammatical features of Maithili nouns regarding case?

Maithili nouns exhibit case declensions, including nominative, accusative, instrumental, dative, ergative, ablative, genitive, locative, and vocative cases. These inflections vary based on gender (feminine, masculine, neuter) and number (singular, plural).

How do adjectives in Maithili change based on definiteness and gender?

Adjectives in Maithili show inflectional changes for definiteness and gender. For definite adjectives, masculine forms often end in -ka/-ko, feminine in -ki/-ki, and neuter in -ka/-ka. Indefinite forms typically end in -a/-o for masculine, -i/-i for feminine, and -a/-a for neuter.

Describe the pronoun system in Maithili.

Maithili pronouns are declined similarly to nouns, with distinct forms for cases, particularly the genitive. Pronouns are categorized by person (first, second, third) and honorific levels (First Grade Honour, Honorofic, High Honorofic). Plurals are often formed periphrastically.

What is the linguistic classification of Maithili within the Indo-Aryan language family?

Maithili belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. More specifically, it is classified under the Eastern Indo-Aryan languages and is part of the Bihari subgroup.

What historical linguistic connections does Maithili share with other Prakrit languages?

Maithili is considered to have evolved from Magadhi Prakrit, passing through stages like Magadhan Apabhramsa and Abahattha, reflecting a lineage common to other Eastern Indo-Aryan languages.

What is the significance of the Charyapadas in relation to Maithili?

The Charyapadas, a collection of Buddhist mystical verses, are considered by some scholars, including Rahul Sankrityayan and Jayakant Mishra, to contain traces of ancient or proto-Maithili, linking the language's origins to early medieval Eastern India.

Who was Jyotirishwar Thakur and what is his contribution to Maithili?

Jyotirishwar Thakur, active in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, is credited with writing the Varna Ratnakara, the first known prose work in Maithili, which was written in the Mithilakshar script.

How did Maithili literature develop during the Malla period in Nepal?

During the Malla dynasty's rule in Nepal from the 16th to 17th centuries, Maithili literature flourished, with the production of numerous dramas. Some of these dramas featured characters speaking colloquial Maithili alongside other languages like Bengali and Sanskrit.

What role did the Sahitya Akademi play in the recognition of Maithili?

The Sahitya Akademi, an Indian organization dedicated to promoting literature, officially recognized Maithili in 1965, acknowledging its significance within the Indian literary landscape.

What is the phonetic realization of the vowel /æ/~ /ɛ/ in Maithili?

The vowel sound /æ/~ /ɛ/, represented in Devanagari as ऍ, is realized as a diphthong /eː/ or /ea/ in some Maithili dialects, particularly in recent phonetic changes.

How are nasal vowels represented in Maithili phonetics and orthography?

All Maithili vowels have nasal counterparts, indicated in IPA by a tilde (~) and orthographically by the Anusvara (ँ) or Chandrabindu (ँ) over the vowel. Nasalization also occurs when vowels precede or follow nasal consonants.

What is the status of the retroflex nasal /ɳ/ (written as ɳ) in Maithili?

The retroflex nasal /ɳ/ (represented by ɳ) typically occurs non-initially in Maithili, usually followed by a homorganic stop. It appears independently mainly in Sanskrit loanwords (tatsama words) and is often substituted with /n/.

What are the primary Indo-Aryan language groups mentioned in relation to Maithili?

Maithili is classified under the Eastern Indo-Aryan languages, specifically within the Bihari subgroup. The article also details its relation to Northern, Central, and Southern Indo-Aryan languages through various comparative tables and classifications.

Maithili Language Wiki: Maithili: A Linguistic Tapestry of Mithila

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

When you are ready...
🎮 Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game🎮

Official Status

Recognition in India

Maithili holds official status in India, being recognized under the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution since 2003. This designation facilitates its use in education, government, and other official capacities within the country. It also holds additional official language status in the state of Jharkhand since March 2018.

Status in Nepal

In Nepal, Maithili is constitutionally recognized as a provincial official language. It is particularly prominent in the Madhesh Province and Koshi Province, reflecting its significant presence among the Nepalese population.

Cultural Significance

The language plays a vital role in the cultural identity of the Maithil people. Its inclusion in official contexts and its rich literary history underscore its importance as a living language with deep historical roots.

Geographic Distribution

India

Maithili is primarily spoken in the Mithila region, which spans parts of the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand. Key areas of concentration include the divisions of Darbhanga, Madhubani, Tirhut, Kosi, Purnia, Bhagalpur, and Munger in Bihar, and the Santhal Pargana division in Jharkhand.

Nepal

The language is also widely spoken in Nepal, particularly within the Madhesh Province and Koshi Province. It is recognized as the second most commonly spoken native language in Nepal.

Cultural Hubs

Cities such as Darbhanga, Madhubani, and Janakpur serve as significant cultural and linguistic centers for the Maithili language and its speakers, fostering its continued development and transmission.

Linguistic Classification

Language Family

Maithili belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. Its specific classification places it within the Eastern Indo-Aryan group, further categorized under the Bihari languages.

Historical Perspectives

Early linguistic analyses, such as those by John Beames and Rudolf Hoernlé, initially considered Maithili a dialect of Bengali or Eastern Hindi. However, George Abraham Grierson recognized it as a distinct language, grouping it with other Bihari languages and publishing the first grammar in 1881. Suniti Kumar Chatterji later associated it with Magadhi Prakrit.

Connections

Its linguistic relatives include other Bihari languages like Bhojpuri and Magahi. The historical evolution shows influences from Magadhi Prakrit and Apabhraṃśa, contributing to its unique linguistic profile.

Dialectal Variations

Diversity

Maithili exhibits considerable dialectal variation across its geographical range. The standard form is often identified as Sotipura, or Central Maithili, spoken in key districts of Bihar and Nepal.

Major Dialects

Prominent dialects include:

Sotipura (Central): Spoken in Darbhanga, Madhubani, Supaul, Madhepura, Purnia, Samastipur, Araria, Saharsa (India) and Dhanusha, Mahottari, Siraha, Saptari, Sarlahi, Sunsari, Morang (Nepal).
Bajjika (Western): Found in Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Sheohar (Bihar) and Rautahat, Sarlahi (Nepal). It shows significant overlap with central Maithili dialects.
Thēthi: Predominantly spoken in Kosi, Purnia, and Munger divisions (Bihar) and adjoining areas of Nepal.
Angika: Primarily spoken around Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger (Bihar) and Godda, Sahebganj, Dumka (Jharkhand).

Other dialects like Dehati, Deshi, Kisan, Bantar, Barmeli, Musar, Tati, and Jolaha are also spoken, generally remaining intelligible among native speakers.

Origin and Historical Development

Ancient Roots

The origins of Maithili literature can be traced back to the 'Charyapadas', mystical verses composed between 700-1300 AD. Scholars suggest these verses contain elements of ancient or proto-Maithili. The language's name derives from Mithila, an ancient kingdom associated with King Janaka and Sita from the Ramayana.

Medieval Flourishing

The 14th century saw significant development under the Karnat dynasty. Jyotirishwar Thakur's 'Varna Ratnakara' is noted as an early prose work. The poet Vidyapati (1360-1450) greatly enriched Maithili literature with his devotional and love songs, influencing religious literature across Eastern India.

Spread and Standardization

During the Malla dynasty's rule (16th-17th centuries), Maithili spread throughout Nepal. The transition from the historical Tirhuta script to Devanagari occurred gradually, with Devanagari becoming dominant by the 20th century, although Tirhuta has seen a resurgence. The language gained official recognition in India and Nepal, solidifying its status.

Phonological System

Vowels

Maithili possesses a range of vowels, including short and long variants, and nasalized counterparts. Certain phonetic changes, such as epenthesis (transposition of final /i/ and /u/), are characteristic of its pronunciation.

IPA		Description
/i/, /iː/	i, iː	Close front unrounded
/u/, /uː/	u, uː	Close back rounded
/e/, /eː/	e, eː	Close-mid front unrounded
/o/, /oː/	o, oː	Close-mid back rounded
/a/, /aː/	a, aː	Open central unrounded
/ə/, /əː/	ə, əː	Mid central
/æ/, /ɛː/	æ, ɛː	Near-open front unrounded
/ɔ/, /ɔː/	ɔ, ɔː	Open-mid back rounded
Diphthongs		Present, e.g., /ai/, /au/, /ei/, /oi/, /eu/, /ou/

Note: Nasalization occurs for all vowels, especially before nasal consonants.

Consonants

The consonant system includes stops, nasals, fricatives, and approximants, with distinctions in place and manner of articulation, including aspirated and unaspirated series for stops. Retroflex consonants are also present.

	Labial	Dental/Alveolar	Retroflex	Palatal	Velar	Glottal
Nasal	/m/	/n/	/ɳ/	(/ɲ/)	/ŋ/
Plosive (voiceless)	/p/	/t̪/	/ʈ/	/t͡ʃ/	/k/
Plosive (aspirated)	/pʰ/	/t̪ʰ/	/ʈʰ/	/t͡ʃʰ/	/kʰ/
Plosive (voiced)	/b/	/d̪/	/ɖ/	/d͡ʒ/	/g/
Plosive (voiced aspirated)	/bʱ/	/d̪ʱ/	/ɖʱ/	/d͡ʒʱ/	/gʱ/
Fricative (voiceless)	(/f/)	/s/	(/ʂ/)	(/ʃ/)	(/x/)	/h/
Fricative (voiced)		(/z/)		(/ʒ/)		(/ɦ/)
Rhotic		/r/, /ɾ/	(/ɽ/)
Approximant	(/ʋ/)			/j/
Lateral		/l/

Note: Some sounds like /f/, /z/, /ʃ/, /x/, /ɽ/, /d͡ʒʱ/ primarily appear in loanwords.

Grammatical Structure

Nouns and Cases

Maithili nouns exhibit grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) and number (singular, plural). They decline through various cases, including nominative, accusative, instrumental, dative, genitive, locative, and vocative, often marked by suffixes or postpositions.

Case	Singular Feminine	Singular Masculine	Plural Feminine	Plural Masculine	Plural Neuter
Nominative	-i	-ā/-o	-in	-an, -ani	-an, -ani
Accusative (Indefinite)	-i	-ā	-i	-an, -ani	-an, -ani
Genitive	-ik, -ir	-ak, -ar	-ink	-āṅk
Locative	Postposition used		Postposition used

Pronouns

Pronouns in Maithili reflect different levels of honorifics and politeness. They are declined similarly to nouns, with distinct forms for different persons (first, second, third) and grades of formality.

Person	Grade	Forms
First Person	Standard	ham (I), āpan (Inclusive We)
First Person	Possessive	hamar (my), āpan (our)
Second Person	Familiar	tō (you), tōh (your)
Second Person	Honorific	āh (you), āh (your)
Third Person	Proximate	i (he/she/it), e (his/her/its)
	Non-Proximate	u (he/she/it), o (his/her/its)

Adjectives

Adjectives in Maithili typically agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case. They often exhibit definite and indefinite forms, similar to noun declensions.

Writing Systems

Historical Scripts

Historically, Maithili was written using the Tirhuta script (also known as Mithilakshara), which shares origins with the Bengali-Assamese script. The Kaithi script also saw usage, particularly in the early 20th century.

Dominance of Devanagari

Over time, the Devanagari script gained prominence due to scholarly influence and standardization efforts. It is now the dominant script used for writing Maithili, although Tirhuta is experiencing a revival for specific cultural and signage purposes.

Unicode Support

Both the Tirhuta and Kaithi scripts are now included in the Unicode standard, facilitating their digital representation and use in modern contexts.

Literary Heritage

Early Traditions

Maithili's literary tradition is rich, with roots potentially extending to the Charyapadas. Folk songs and oral traditions have always been integral to its cultural expression.

Vidyapati's Legacy

The poet Vidyapati is a towering figure in Maithili literature. His extensive works, particularly his love songs dedicated to Radha and Krishna, significantly influenced religious and literary traditions across Eastern India and Nepal.

Institutional Support

The language has been supported by various institutions, including the Sahitya Akademi and the Maithili Academy, promoting its literature and standardization. Its recognition as a scheduled language further bolsters its literary presence.

Sample Text

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, presented in both the traditional Tirhuta script and the modern Devanagari script, showcases the language's structure and orthographic evolution.

Tirhuta Script:

\ud805\ud801\ud805\udc81\ud805\udca2\ud805\udcb3\ud805\udc94\ud805\udcc2\ud805\udc95\ud805\udcb9\ud805\udca0 : \ud805\udcae\ud805\udca6 \ud805\udca7\ud805\udcb0\ud805\udca2\ud805\udcab \ud805\udc96\ud805\udca2\ud805\udcc2\ud805\udca7\ud805\udc9e\ud805\udcc1 \ud805\udcae\ud805\udcc2\ud805\udcab\ud805\udc9e\ud805\udca2\ud805\udcc2\ud805\udc9e\ud805\udcc2\ud805\udca9 \ud805\udc81\ud805\udc95\ud805\udcb1 \ud805\udc9e\ud805\udc9f\ud805\udcb0 \ud805\udc91\ud805\udca9\ud805\udcb1\ud805\udca7\ud805\udcb0 \ud805\udc82 \ud805\udc81\ud805\udca1\ud805\udcb1\ud805\udc8f\ud805\udcb0\ud805\udca9\ud805\udca7\ud805\udcb9 \ud805\udcae\ud805\udca7\ud805\udcb0\ud805\udca2 \ud805\udc81\ud805\udc95\ud805\udcb1 \ud805\udc9e\ud805\udc9f\ud805\udcb0 \ud805\udc91\ud805\udca9\ud805\udcb1\ud805\udca7\ud805\udca7\ud805\udcb0 \ud805\udc82 \ud805\udcab\ud805\udcb1\ud805\udcab\ud805\udcb9\ud805\udc8f \ud805\udc95\ud805\udcbb\ud805\udc8f \ud805\udc82\ud805\udc8d\ud805\udca9 \ud805\udcae\ud805\udca6\ud805\udc8f\ud805\udcb9\ud805\udcbf \ud805\udc8b\ud805\udc8f \ud805\udca0\ud805\udcbc\ud805\udcae\ud805\udca9\ud805\udcc2\ud805\udca0\ud805\udca3\ud805\udcb4\ud805\udca9\ud805\udcc2\ud805\udc9d \ud805\udcab\ud805\udcc2\ud805\udca8\ud805\udcab\ud805\udcaf\ud805\udcb0\ud805\udca9 \ud805\udc8f\ud805\udca9\ud805\udca5\ud805\udcb0\ud805\udc8f \ud805\udc94\ud805\udcb0\ud805\udcaf\ud805\udcb2\u0964

Devanagari Script:

अनुच्छेद १: सब मानव जन्मसँ स्वतन्त्र अछि तथा गरिमा आ अधिकारमे समान अछि। सबकें अपन-

Teacher's Corner

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Edit and Print Materials from this study in the wiki2web studio

Click here to open the "Maithili Language" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit

Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Learn about maithili_language while playing the wiki2web Clarity Challenge game.

Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!

Play now

Explore More Topics

Discover other topics to study!

maria moors cabot prizes

chlorobenzene

References

Grierson and Hoernle used âà¥° for pronounced schwa, and ââ¢ for the absent schwa in some of his works.

Sometimes â' or even âà¤½ is used for word final pronounced schwa, however not all of them are treated same, often only used to avoid confusion.

National Statistics Office (2023), pp. 210, 212, 218â220.

Chatterji, S. K. (1926). The origin and development of the Bengali language. University Press, Calcutta.

Ray, K. K. (2009). Reduplication in Thenthi Dialect of Maithili Language. Nepalese Linguistics 24: 285â290.

Singh, P. & Singh, A. N. (2011). Finding Mithila between India's Centre and Periphery. Journal of Indian Law & Society 2: 147â181.

A full list of references for this article are available at the Maithili language Wikipedia page

Feedback & Support

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on publicly available data and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not linguistic or cultural advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional linguistic analysis, historical research, or cultural consultation. Always refer to authoritative sources and consult with qualified experts for specific needs.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.

Maithili: A Linguistic Tapestry of Mithila

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Official Status 🏛️

🇮🇳 Recognition in India

🇳🇵 Status in Nepal

🗣️ Cultural Significance

Geographic Distribution 🗺️

🇮🇳 India

🇳🇵 Nepal

📍 Cultural Hubs

Linguistic Classification 📚

🌳 Language Family

📜 Historical Perspectives

🔗 Connections

Dialectal Variations 🗣️

↔️ Diversity

📍 Major Dialects

Origin and Historical Development ⏳

📜 Ancient Roots

👑 Medieval Flourishing

🌍 Spread and Standardization

Phonological System 🔊

vowels Vowels

consonants Consonants

Grammatical Structure ⚙️

Noun Nouns and Cases

👤 Pronouns

adjective Adjectives

Writing Systems ✍️

📜 Historical Scripts

➡️ Dominance of Devanagari

💻 Unicode Support

Literary Heritage 📖

🎶 Early Traditions

✍️ Vidyapati's Legacy

🏛️ Institutional Support

Sample Text 📝

📜 Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

True or False? 🤔

❓ Test Your Knowledge! ❓

Gamer's Corner 🎮

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Explore More Topics

📜 Discover other topics to study!

References

📜 References

Feedback & Support 👍

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer ⚠️

📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Official Status

Recognition in India

Status in Nepal

Cultural Significance

Geographic Distribution

India

Nepal

Cultural Hubs

Linguistic Classification

Language Family

Historical Perspectives

Connections

Dialectal Variations

Diversity

Major Dialects

Origin and Historical Development

Ancient Roots

Medieval Flourishing

Spread and Standardization

Phonological System

Vowels

Consonants

Grammatical Structure

Nouns and Cases

Pronouns

Adjectives

Writing Systems

Historical Scripts

Dominance of Devanagari

Unicode Support

Literary Heritage

Early Traditions

Vidyapati's Legacy

Institutional Support

Sample Text

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice