Rajasthani Language and Literature: Rajasthani language refers to the mother tongue of the people of Rajasthan. Marubhasha, which was the language of Western Rajasthan, was also one of the 18 native languages mentioned in Kuvalayamala written by Udyottan Suri in Vikram Samvata 835 (913 A.D).
It was George Abraham Grierson who first used the term Rajasthani in 1912 in the Linguistic Survey of India for the languages of Rajasthan. He used this term as a collective noun for various languages spoken in the region. Now, this term has become popular denoting the languages of the Rajasthan state. Marwari, Mewari, Dhundari, Mewati, Hadoti etc. are the various dialects or sub dialects of this language.
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Origin of Rajasthani Language
Till the 10th century AD, the language spoken in the region now called Rajasthan was greatly influenced by the Apabhramsa languages which were spoken in Western India. Though the origin of Rajasthani language dates back to 11th-12th century AD, but after the 16th century, Rajasthani Language developed as an independent language. Regarding the development of Rajasthani Language, it can be said that ‘Vedic Sanskrit’ is the mother of all Indian languages, which, due to its linguistic intricacies, was later converted into laukik (secular) Sanskrit.
When laukik Sanskrit became rigid and jargoned, it was replaced by Pali. When Pali began to deviate away from the people, it got replaced by Prakrit. As it is believed that language flows from simple to complex, so when Prakrit grew abstruse, then Apabhramsa evolved in different forms in different areas.
Dialects of Rajasthan
- Marwari
- Mewari
- Hadauti
- Malvi
- Mewati
- Shekhawati
- Dhundhari
- Bagri
- Jaipuri (dhundhari)
- Gujari
- Wagdi
- Hindi
- Mewadi
- Nimadi
- Sindhi
- Lambadi
- Vagari
Regional Dialects of Rajasthan
Dr. Grierson has divided Rajasthani dialects in five main groups but broadly Rajasthani dialects can be divided into two categories:
1. Western Rajasthani: Marwari, Mewari, Bagdi, Shekhawati.
2. Eastern Rajasthani: Dhundari, Hadoti, Mewati, Ahirwati (Rathi).
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