Boro–Garo languages


The Boro–Garo languages are a branch of Sino-Tibetan languages, spoken primarily in Northeast India and parts of Bangladesh.
The Boro–Garo languages form four groups: Boro, Garo, Koch and Deori. Boro–Garo languages were historically very widespread throughout the Brahmaputra Valley and in what are now the northern parts of Bangladesh, and it is speculated that the proto-Boro-Garo language was the lingua franca of the Brahmaputra valley before it was replaced by Assamese language, to which it has made major contributions.

Branches

The Boro–Garo languages are:
Name in LSIModern names
BodoBoro
LalungTiwa
DimasaDimasa
GaroGaro
KochKoch
RabhaRabha
TipuraKokborok
ChutiyaDeori-Chutia language
MoranMoran

Old Hajong may have been a Bodo–Garo language.
Barman is a recently discovered Bodo–Garo language.
Boro is an associate official language of the state of Assam. Kokborok is one of the official languages of the state of Tripura. Garo is an associate official language of Meghalaya. Megam has been strongly influenced by Khasic languages, while Deori-Chutia by the Idu Mishmi language.
Languages of the family feature verb-final word order. There is some flexibility in the order of the arguments, but a nominative–accusative distinction is marked with post-nominal clitics. The languages also prefix classifiers to numerals modifying nouns. tense, aspect and mood are indicated using verbal suffixes.

Origins

The linkage of the Boro–Garo languages with Konyak and Jingphaw languages suggest that proto-Boro-Garo entered Assam from somewhere to the northeast. It has been proposed that the proto-Boro-Garo language was a lingua franca of different linguistic communities, not all of who were native speakers, and that it began as a creolized lingua franca.

Classification

Joseph & Burling (2006)

Joseph & Burling classify the Boro–Garo languages into four major groups. Wood also follows this classification.
Jacquesson classifies the Bodo-Garo languages as follows, and recognizes three major branches. The Koch languages and Garo are grouped together as Western Bodo-Garo.
Jacquesson believes that the Boro–Garo languages had arrived in their present location from the southeast, and notes similarities shared with Zeme languages and Kuki-Chin languages.

Reconstruction

has been reconstructed by Joseph and Burling and by Wood.