Maithili language: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Indo-Aryan language spoken in India and Nepal}}
{{Short description|Indo-Aryan language spoken in India and Nepal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Distinguish|text=the [[Meithei language]]}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
| name          = Maithili
| name          = Maithili
| nativename    = मैथिली, {{Script|Tirh|𑒧𑒻𑒟𑒱𑒪𑒲}}
| nativename    = मैथिली
| pronunciation  = {{IPA-mai|ˈməi̯tʰɪli|}}
| pronunciation  = {{IPA-mai|ˈməi̯tʰɪli|}}
| image         = {{Photomontage|position=center
| image           = Maithili language.svg
| photo2a        = Maithili.svg
| imagecaption    = The word "Maithili" written in Devanagari script
| photo1a        = Maithili in Tirhuta script.svg
| imagescale       =  
| size        = 200
| states           = [[India]] and [[Nepal]]
| spacing      = 2
| nation           = {{IND|India}}{{Efn|It is one of 22 [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India|Eighth Schedule language]]s}}
| color        =
* [[Jharkhand]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=झारखंड : रघुवर सरकार कैबिनेट से मगही, भोजपुरी, मैथिली व अंगिका को द्वितीय भाषा का दर्जा |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/ranchi/jharkhand-raghubar-das-cabinet-decision-maithili-bhojpuri-angika-magahi-second-language/1135878.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321180643/https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/ranchi/jharkhand-raghubar-das-cabinet-decision-maithili-bhojpuri-angika-magahi-second-language/1135878.html |archive-date=21 March 2018 |access-date=21 March 2018}}</ref> (additional)
| border       = 0
| region           = [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]]{{efn|Eastern [[Bihar]] and northeastern [[Jharkhand]] in India;<ref name="Archived copy">{{Cite web |date=21 March 2018 |title=मैथिली लिपि को बढ़ावा देने के लिए विशेषज्ञों की जल्द ही बैठक बुला सकते हैं प्रकाश जावड़ेकर |url=https://khabar.ndtv.com/news/india/prakash-javadekar-likely-to-call-meeting-of-experts-to-promote-maithili-script-1826774 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192835/https://khabar.ndtv.com/news/india/prakash-javadekar-likely-to-call-meeting-of-experts-to-promote-maithili-script-1826774 |archive-date=21 March 2018 |access-date=21 March 2018 |website=NDTV}}</ref><ref name="m.livehindustan.com">{{Cite web |date=6 March 2018 |title=मैथिली को भी मिलेगा दूसरी राजभाषा का दर्जा |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/jharkhand/story-maithili-will-get-second-state-language-status-in-jharkhand-1835624.html |access-date=3 January 2020 |website=Hindustan}}</ref> [[Province No. 2]] and [[Province No. 1]] in Nepal)}}
| foot_montage = }}
| ethnicity       = [[Maithil]]
| imagesize      =
| speakers         = 34 million<!--Indian census has only 14M, an obvious undercount-->
| imagecaption  = Maithili in traditional [[Tirhuta]] and recent [[Devanagari]] script
| date             = 2000
| states         = [[India]] and [[Nepal]]
| ref             = e21
| nation         = {{IND|India}} (8th schedule of Constitution of India)
| map             = Maithili_map.png
* [[Jharkhand]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/ranchi/jharkhand-raghubar-das-cabinet-decision-maithili-bhojpuri-angika-magahi-second-language/1135878.html |title=झारखंड : रघुवर सरकार कैबिनेट से मगही, भोजपुरी, मैथिली व अंगिका को द्वितीय भाषा का दर्जा |access-date=21 March 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321180643/https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/news/ranchi/jharkhand-raghubar-das-cabinet-decision-maithili-bhojpuri-angika-magahi-second-language/1135878.html |archive-date=21 March 2018 }}</ref> (additional)
| familycolor     = Indo-European
| region         = [[Mithila (region)|Mithila]]{{efn|Eastern [[Bihar]] and northeastern [[Jharkhand]] in India;<ref name="Archived copy">{{cite web |url=https://khabar.ndtv.com/news/india/prakash-javadekar-likely-to-call-meeting-of-experts-to-promote-maithili-script-1826774 |title=मैथिली लिपि को बढ़ावा देने के लिए विशेषज्ञों की जल्द ही बैठक बुला सकते हैं प्रकाश जावड़ेकर |access-date=21 March 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321192835/https://khabar.ndtv.com/news/india/prakash-javadekar-likely-to-call-meeting-of-experts-to-promote-maithili-script-1826774 |archive-date=21 March 2018 }}</ref><ref name="m.livehindustan.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.livehindustan.com/jharkhand/story-maithili-will-get-second-state-language-status-in-jharkhand-1835624.html|title=मैथिली को भी मिलेगा दूसरी राजभाषा का दर्जा|website=Hindustan|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref> [[Province No. 2]] and [[Province No. 1]] in Nepal)}}
| fam2             = [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]]
| ethnicity     = [[Maithil]]
| fam3             = [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]]
| speakers       = 33.9 million<!--Indian census has only 14M, an obvious undercount-->
| fam4             = [[Eastern Indic languages|Eastern]]
| date           = 2000
| fam5             = [[Bihari languages|Bihari]]
| ref           = e21
| ancestor         = [[Magadhi Prakrit]]
| speakers2      = (only 13.58 million reported their languages as Maithili on the [[2011 census of India]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Abstract of Speakers' Strength of Languages and Mother Tongues - 2011 |url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language-2011/Statement-1.pdf |website=censusindia.gov.in |access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref> as many consider it to be a variety of Hindi
| ancestor2        = Magadhan [[Apabhraṃśa]]
| map = Maithili_map.png
| ancestor3        = [[Abahattha]]
| familycolor = Indo-European
| dia1             = [[Thēthi]]
| fam2           = [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]]
| script           = [[Devanagari]] and [[#Writing system|others]]
| fam3           = [[Indo-Aryan languages|Indo-Aryan]]
| iso2             = mai
| fam4           = [[Eastern Indic languages|Eastern]]
| iso3             = mai
| fam5           = [[Bihari languages|Bihari]]
| glotto           = mait1250
| script         = [[Tirhuta]] ([[Mithilakshar]]) (Former)<br />[[Kaithi]] (Maithili style) (Former)<br />[[Devanagari]] (Current)
| glottorefname   = Maithili
| dia1           = Central (Sotipura)
| agency           = *[[India]] ([[Sahitya Akademi]])
| dia3          = [[Bajjika]]{{efn|Recognized as distinct language in Nepal}}<ref name="ethnologue.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mai/17 |title=Maithili |access-date=1 June 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730151525/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mai/17 |archive-date=30 July 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://multitree.org/codes/mai-baj|title=Bajjika - MultiTree|website=multitree.org|access-date=6 March 2020}}</ref><ref>https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/census/documents/Nepal/Nepal-Census-2011-Vol1.pdf</ref>
| dia4          = Madhur{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
| dia5          = Jolaha
| dia6          = Kisan
| dia2           = [[Thēthi]]
| dia8          = Bang
| iso2           = mai
| iso3           = mai
| glotto         = mait1250
| glottorefname = Maithili
| agency         = *[[India]] ([[Sahitya Akademi]])
**[[Bihar]] ([[Maithili Academy]])
**[[Bihar]] ([[Maithili Academy]])
**[[Delhi]] ([[Maithili - Bhojpuri Academy, Delhi]])
**[[Delhi]] ([[Maithili - Bhojpuri Academy, Delhi]])
*[[Nepal]] ([[Nepal Academy]])
*[[Nepal]] ([[Nepal Academy]])
| mapcaption     = Maithili-speaking region of India and Nepal
| mapcaption       = Maithili-speaking region of India and Nepal
}}
{{Constitutionally recognised languages in India}}
{{Contains special characters
| special    = uncommon [[Unicode]] characters
| fix        = Help:Multilingual support#Tirhuta script
| image      = Replacement character.svg
| link      = Specials (Unicode block)#Replacement character
| alt        = <?>
| compact    = yes
}}
}}


'''Maithili''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|aɪ|t|ᵻ|l|i}};<ref>{{OED|Maithili}}</ref> ''Maithilī'' {{IPA-mai|ˈməi̯tʰɪli|}}) is an [[Indo-Aryan language]] native to the [[Indian subcontinent]], mainly spoken in [[India]] and [[Nepal]]. In India, it is spoken in the [[Indian states|states]] of [[Bihar]] and [[Jharkhand]] and is one of the 22 [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India|recognised]] [[languages of India|Indian languages]].<ref name="Archived copy" /><ref name="m.livehindustan.com"/><ref name="mha.nic.in">{{Cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/hindi/sites/upload_files/mhahindi/files/pdf/Eighth_Schedule.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010536/http://mha.nic.in/hindi/sites/upload_files/mhahindi/files/pdf/Eighth_Schedule.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In Nepal, it is spoken in the eastern [[Terai]] and is the second most prevalent language of Nepal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/country/NP/languages|title=Nepal|work=Ethnologue|access-date=17 July 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref name=Sah2013>{{cite journal |author=Sah, K. K. |year=2013 |title=Some perspectives on Maithili |journal=Nepalese Linguistics |issue=28 |pages=179–188 }}</ref> [[Tirhuta]] was formerly the primary script for written Maithili. Less commonly, it was also written in the local variant of [[Kaithi]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Brass, P. R. |year=2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SylBHS8IJAUC&pg=PP1 |title=Language, Religion and Politics in North India |publisher=iUniverse |location=Lincoln |access-date=1 April 2017 |isbn=0-595-34394-5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511082055/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=SylBHS8IJAUC&lpg=PA67&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false |archive-date=11 May 2018 }}</ref> Today it is written in the [[Devanagari]] script.<ref name=Yadava2013>Yadava, Y. P. (2013). Linguistic context and language endangerment in Nepal. [http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/nepling/pdf/Nep_Ling_28.pdf Nepalese Linguistics 28] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231341/http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/nepling/pdf/Nep_Ling_28.pdf |date=3 March 2016 }}: 262–274.</ref>
'''Maithili''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|ˈ|m|aɪ|t|ᵻ|l|i}}<ref>{{OED|Maithili}}</ref>) is an [[Indo-Aryan language]] spoken in parts of [[Languages of India|India]] and [[Languages of Nepal|Nepal]]. It is native to the [[Mithila region]], which encompasses parts of the Indian states of [[Bihar]] and [[Jharkhand]] as well as Nepal's eastern [[Terai]]. It is one of the 22 [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India|officially recognised languages]] of India<ref name="mha.nic.in">{{Cite web |title=Constitutional provisions relating to Eighth Schedule |url=http://mha.nic.in/hindi/sites/upload_files/mhahindi/files/pdf/Eighth_Schedule.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010536/http://mha.nic.in/hindi/sites/upload_files/mhahindi/files/pdf/Eighth_Schedule.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=27 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="Archived copy" /><ref name="m.livehindustan.com" /> and the second most spoken [[Languages of Nepal|language in Nepal]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Nepal |language=en |work=Ethnologue |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/country/NP/languages |access-date=17 July 2018}}</ref><ref name="Sah2013">{{Cite journal |last=Sah, K. K. |year=2013 |title=Some perspectives on Maithili |journal=Nepalese Linguistics |issue=28 |pages=179–188}}</ref>It was once described by linguist Sir [[George Abraham Grierson]] as the "sweetest language".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Maithili gets cultural boost |language=en |work=Hans India|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/amp/posts/index/Young-Hans/2018-02-05/Maithili-gets-cultural-boost/356643 |access-date=5 February 2018}}</ref>
 
The language is predominantly written in [[Devanagari]], but there were two other historically important scripts: [[Tirhuta script|Tirhuta]], which has retained some use until the present, and [[Kaithi script|Kaithi]].


==Official status==
==Official status==
In 2003, Maithili was included in the [[8th Schedule|Eighth Schedule]] of the [[Indian Constitution]] as a recognised [[language of India|Indian language]], which allows it to be used in education, government, and other official contexts in India.<ref name="mha.nic.in"/>
In 2003, Maithili was included in the [[8th Schedule|Eighth Schedule]] of the [[Indian Constitution]] as a recognised [[language of India|Indian language]], which allows it to be used in education, government, and other official contexts in India.<ref name="mha.nic.in" /> Maithili language is included as an optional paper in the [[Union Public Service Commission|UPSC]] Exam. In March 2018, Maithili received the second official language status in the [[Indian state]] of [[Jharkhand]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 March 2018 |title=झारखंड : रघुवर कैबिनेट से मगही, भोजपुरी, मैथिली व अंगिका को द्वितीय भाषा का दर्जा |language=hi |work=Prabhat Khabar |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/jharkhand/ranchi/1135878 |access-date=6 February 2021}}</ref>


The Maithili language is included as an optional paper in the [[Union Public Service Commission|UPSC]] Exam.
[[Gopal Jee Thakur]] of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] is the first [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]] who speaks in the Maithili language in the [[Parliament of India]].<ref>{{Cite news |author=The Hindu Net Desk |date=18 November 2019 |title=Parliament proceedings updates: Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill under consideration in Lok Sabha |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/winter-session-of-parliament-day-1-live-updates/article30004519.ece |access-date=28 February 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He is currently the MP for [[Darbhanga Lok Sabha constituency|Darbhanga]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 September 2022 |title=Darbhanga Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 Live Updates: Bihar Lok Sabha Election (Polls) Results 2019, Winner, Runner-Up |url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/darbhanga-lok-sabha-election-results-2019-live-winner-runner-up/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902172405/https://indianexpress.com/elections/darbhanga-lok-sabha-election-results-2019-live-winner-runner-up/ |archive-date=2 September 2022 }}</ref>


In March 2018, Maithili received the second official language status in the [[Indian state]] of Jharkhand.<ref>{{cite news |title=झारखंड : रघुवर कैबिनेट से मगही, भोजपुरी, मैथिली व अंगिका को द्वितीय भाषा का दर्जा |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/state/jharkhand/ranchi/1135878 |access-date=6 February 2021 |work=Prabhat Khabar |date=21 March 2018 |language=hi}}</ref>
The [[Language Commission (Nepal)|Language Commission of Nepal]] has recommended Maithili language to be made an official administrative language in [[Koshi province]] and [[Madhesh Province]].<ref name="langcomreport">{{Cite web |title=सरकारी कामकाजको भाषाका आधारहरूको निर्धारण तथा भाषासम्बन्धी सिफारिसहरू (पञ्चवर्षीय प्रतिवेदन- साराांश) २०७८ |url=https://languagecommission.gov.np/files/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE.pdf |access-date=28 October 2021 |website=Language Commission |archive-date=6 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906171816/https://languagecommission.gov.np/files/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Geographic distribution==
==Geographic distribution==
In India, Maithili is spoken mainly in [[Bihar]] and [[Jharkhand]] in the districts of [[Darbhanga district|Darbhanga]], [[Saharsa district|Saharsa]], [[Samastipur district|Samastipur]], [[Madhubani District|Madhubani]], [[Muzaffarpur district|Muzaffarpur]], [[Sitamarhi district|Sitamarhi]], [[Begusarai district|Begusarai]], [[Munger district|Munger]], [[Khagaria district|Khagaria]], [[Purnia district|Purnia]], [[Katihar district|Katihar]], [[Kishanganj district|Kishanganj]], [[Sheohar district|Sheohar]], [[Bhagalpur district|Bhagalpur]], [[Madhepura district|Madhepura]], [[Araria district|Araria]], [[Supaul district|Supaul]], [[Vaishali district|Vaishali]], [[Ranchi district|Ranchi]], [[Bokaro district|Bokaro]], [[East Singhbhum district|Jamshedpur]], [[Dhanbad district|Dhanbad]] and [[Deoghar district|Deoghar]] as well as other districts of [[Santhal Pargana division]].<ref>{{cite news |title=मैथिली को भी मिलेगा दूसरी राजभाषा का दर्जा |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/jharkhand/story-maithili-will-get-second-state-language-status-in-jharkhand-1835624.html |access-date=3 September 2020 |work=Hindustan |date=6 March 2018 |language=hi}}</ref> [[Darbhanga]], [[Madhubani, India|Madhubani]] and [[Saharsa]] constitute cultural and linguistic centers.<ref name=e16>{{cite book |editor=Lewis, M. P. |year=2009 |chapter-url=http://archive.ethnologue.com/16/show_language.asp?code=mai |chapter=Maithili |title=Ethnologue: Languages of the World |edition=Sixteenth |location=Dallas, Texas |publisher=SIL International |url=http://archive.ethnologue.com/16/show_language.asp?code=mai |access-date=19 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922005007/http://archive.ethnologue.com/16/show_language.asp?code=mai |archive-date=22 September 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In India, Maithili is spoken mainly in [[Bihar]] and [[Jharkhand]] in the districts of [[Darbhanga district|Darbhanga]], [[Saharsa district|Saharsa]], [[Samastipur district|Samastipur]], [[Madhubani District|Madhubani]], [[Muzaffarpur district|Muzaffarpur]], [[Sitamarhi district|Sitamarhi]], [[Begusarai district|Begusarai]], [[Munger district|Munger]], [[Khagaria district|Khagaria]], [[Purnia district|Purnia]], [[Katihar district|Katihar]], [[Kishanganj district|Kishanganj]], [[Sheohar district|Sheohar]], [[Bhagalpur district|Bhagalpur]], [[Madhepura district|Madhepura]], [[Araria district|Araria]], [[Supaul district|Supaul]], [[Vaishali district|Vaishali]] and [[Deoghar district|Deoghar]] as well as other districts of [[Santhal Pargana division]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=बिहार में मैथिली भाषा आजकल सुर्खियों में क्यों है? त्रेता युग से अब तक मैथिली का सफर |url=https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/state/bihar/patna/why-is-maithili-language-in-the-headlines-in-bihar-these-days-journey-of-maithili-since-treta-yug/articleshow/81190077.cms}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 March 2018 |title=मैथिली को भी मिलेगा दूसरी राजभाषा का दर्जा |language=hi |work=Hindustan |url=https://www.livehindustan.com/jharkhand/story-maithili-will-get-second-state-language-status-in-jharkhand-1835624.html |access-date=3 September 2020}}</ref> [[Darbhanga]], [[Madhubani, India|Madhubani]], [[Saharsa]] and [[Purnia]] constitute cultural and linguistic centers.<ref name="e16">{{Cite book |url=http://archive.ethnologue.com/16/show_language.asp?code=mai |title=Ethnologue: Languages of the World |publisher=SIL International |year=2009 |editor-last=Lewis, M. P. |edition=Sixteenth |location=Dallas, Texas |chapter=Maithili |access-date=19 August 2013 |chapter-url=http://archive.ethnologue.com/16/show_language.asp?code=mai |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922005007/http://archive.ethnologue.com/16/show_language.asp?code=mai |archive-date=22 September 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


In Nepal, Maithili is spoken mainly in the [[Terai#Outer Terai|Outer Terai]] districts including [[Sarlahi District|Sarlahi]], [[Mahottari District|Mahottari]], [[Dhanusa District|Dhanusa]], [[Sunsari District|Sunsari]], [[Siraha District|Siraha]], [[Morang District|Morang]] and [[Saptari District]]s. [[Janakpur]] is an important linguistic centre of Maithili.<ref name=e16 />
In Nepal, Maithili is spoken mainly in the [[Terai#Outer Terai|Outer Terai]] districts including [[Sarlahi District|Sarlahi]], [[Mahottari District|Mahottari]], [[Dhanusa District|Dhanusa]], [[Sunsari District|Sunsari]], [[Siraha District|Siraha]], [[Morang District|Morang]] and [[Saptari District]]s. [[Janakpur]] is an important linguistic centre of Maithili.<ref name="e16" />


==Classification==
==Classification==
In the 19th century, linguistic scholars considered Maithili as a dialect of [[Bihari language]]s and grouped it with other languages spoken in Bihar. [[Rudolf Hoernlé|Hoernlé]] compared it with [[Gauḍa (region)|Gaudian]] languages and recognized that it shows more similarities with [[Bengali language]]s than with Hindi. [[George Abraham Grierson|Grierson]] recognized it as a distinct language and published the first [[grammar]] in 1881.<ref name=Yadav1979>{{cite book |last=Yadav |first=R. |year=1979 |chapter=Maithili language and Linguistics: Some Background Notes |chapter-url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/kailash/pdf/kailash_08_0102_04.pdf |title=Maithili Phonetics and Phonology |publisher=Doctoral Dissertation, University of Kansas, Lawrence |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517085054/http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/kailash/pdf/kailash_08_0102_04.pdf |archive-date=17 May 2017 |access-date=9 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>Yadav, R. (1996). ''A Reference Grammar of Maithili''. Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin, New York.</ref>
In the 19th century, linguistic scholars considered Maithili as a dialect of a [[Bihari language]] along with other languages of Bihar. [[Rudolf Hoernlé|Hoernlé]] compared it with the [[Gauḍa (region)|Gaudian]] languages and recognised that it shows more similarities with the [[Bengali language]]s than with Hindi. [[George Abraham Grierson|Grierson]] recognised it as a distinct language and published its first [[grammar]] in 1881.<ref name="Yadav1979">{{Cite book |last=Yadav |first=R. |title=Maithili Phonetics and Phonology |publisher=Doctoral Dissertation, University of Kansas, Lawrence |year=1979 |chapter=Maithili language and Linguistics: Some Background Notes |access-date=9 May 2012 |chapter-url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/kailash/pdf/kailash_08_0102_04.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517085054/http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/kailash/pdf/kailash_08_0102_04.pdf |archive-date=17 May 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Yadav, R. (1996). ''A Reference Grammar of Maithili''. Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin, New York.</ref>


[[Suniti Kumar Chatterji|Chatterji]] grouped Maithili with [[Magadhi Prakrit]].<ref>Chatterji, S. K. (1926). The origin and development of the Bengali language. University Press, Calcutta.</ref>
[[Suniti Kumar Chatterji|Chatterji]] grouped Maithili with the [[Magadhi Prakrit]].<ref>Chatterji, S. K. (1926). The origin and development of the Bengali language. University Press, Calcutta.</ref>


=== Dialects ===
=== Dialects ===
Maithili varies greatly in dialects.<ref>Brass, P. R. (2005). Language, Religion, and Politics in North India. iUniverse, Lincoln, NE.</ref> The standard form of Maithili is Sotipura or Central Maithili or Madhubani dialect<ref>{{cite journal|last=Yadav|first=R.|year=1992|title=The Use of the Mother Tongue in Primary Education: The Nepalese Context|journal=Contributions to Nepalese Studies|volume=19|issue=2|url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/contributions/pdf/CNAS_19_02_02.pdf|pages=178–190|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410144313/http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/contributions/pdf/CNAS_19_02_02.pdf|archive-date=10 April 2016|access-date=18 June 2016}}</ref> which is mainly spoken in [[Darbhanga district|Darbhanga]], [[Madhubani district]] and [[Saharsa district]] in Bihar, India.<ref>Choudhary, P.K. 2013. Causes and Effects of Super-stratum Language Influence, with Reference to Maithili. Journal of Indo-European Studies 41(3/4): 378–391.</ref>
{{Unreliable sources|section|date=October 2022}}<!--the text has been edited over and over again so it's impossible to tell what comes from the sources listed and what doesn't; some of the sources are also outdated and there are inconsistencies on they way they're used-->
*[[Bajjika dialect]] of Maithili is spoken in [[Samastipur district|Samastipur]], [[Sitamarhi district|Sitamarhi]], [[Muzaffarpur district|Muzaffarpur]] and [[Vaishali district|Vaishali]] districts of [[Bihar]] in India. Bajjika is listed as a distinct language in Nepal and overlaps by 76–86% with Maithili dialects spoken in [[Dhanusa District|Dhanusa]], [[Morang District|Morang]], [[Saptari District|Saptari]], and [[Sarlahi District]]s.<ref name="ethnologue2">{{cite web |editor=Simons, G. F. |editor2=Fennig, C. D. |year=2018 |title=Maithili. Ethnologue: Languages of the World |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mai |publisher=SIL International |location=Dallas |access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref>
Maithili varies greatly in dialects.<ref>Brass, P. R. (2005). Language, Religion, and Politics in North India. iUniverse, Lincoln, NE.</ref> The standard form of Maithili is Central Maithili<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Yadav |first=R. |year=1992 |title=The Use of the Mother Tongue in Primary Education: The Nepalese Context |url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/contributions/pdf/CNAS_19_02_02.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Contributions to Nepalese Studies |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=178–190 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410144313/http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/contributions/pdf/CNAS_19_02_02.pdf |archive-date=10 April 2016 |access-date=18 June 2016}}</ref> which is mainly spoken in [[Darbhanga district|Darbhanga]], [[Begusarai district]] , [[Madhubani district]] and [[Saharsa district]] in Bihar, India.<ref>Choudhary, P.K. 2013. Causes and Effects of Super-stratum Language Influence, with Reference to Maithili. Journal of Indo-European Studies 41(3/4): 378–391.</ref>
* [[Thēthi|Thēthi dialect]] is spoken mainly in [[Kosi division|Kosi]], [[Purnia division|Purnia]] and [[Munger division]]s of [[Bihar]], [[India]] and some adjoining districts of [[Nepal]].<ref>Ray, K. K. (2009). Reduplication in Thenthi Dialect of Maithili Language. Nepalese Linguistics 24: 285–290.</ref>
*[[Bajjika]] (Western Maithili) is spoken in [[Sitamarhi district|Sitamarhi]], [[Muzaffarpur district|Muzaffarpur]], [[Vaishali district|Vaishali]] and [[Sheohar district|Sheohar]] districts of [[Bihar]] in India. Western Maithili is listed as a distinct language in Nepal and overlaps by 76–86% with Maithili dialects spoken in [[Dhanusa District|Dhanusa]], [[Morang District|Morang]], [[Saptari District|Saptari]], and [[Sarlahi District]]s.<ref name="ethnologue2">{{Cite web |year=2018 |editor-last=Simons, G. F. |editor2-last=Fennig, C. D. |title=Maithili. Ethnologue: Languages of the World |url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mai |access-date=7 December 2018 |publisher=SIL International |location=Dallas}}</ref>
[[Angika]] is sometimes considered a dialect of Maithili. Several other dialects of Maithili are spoken in India and Nepal, including Dehati, Kisan, Bantar, Barmeli, Musar, Tati and Jolaha. All the dialects are intelligible to native Maithili speakers.<ref name=e16 />
*[[Thēthi|Thēthi Maithili]] is spoken mainly in [[Kosi division|Kosi]], [[Purnia division|Purnia]] and [[Munger division]]s and [[Mokama|Patna's Mokama]] in [[Bihar]], [[India]] and some adjoining districts of [[Nepal]].<ref>Ray, K. K. (2009). Reduplication in Thenthi Dialect of Maithili Language. Nepalese Linguistics 24: 285–290.</ref>
*[[Angika|Angika Dialect]] (Southern Maithili) is spoken in and around the [[Bhagalpur]], [[Banka, Bihar|Banka]],<ref name="Language">[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16.html 2011 Census of India, Population By Mother Tongue]</ref> [[Jamui]], [[Munger]]<ref>{{cite web |title=language {{!}} Munger District, Government of Bihar {{!}} India |url=https://munger.nic.in/language/ |website=munger.nic.in |access-date=12 March 2022}}</ref> and [[Santhal Pargana division]].<ref name="dsal">{{Cite web |title=LSI Vol-5 part-2 |url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/books/lsi/lsi.php?volume=5-2&pages=466#page/110/mode/1up |publisher=dsal |page=95 |quote="Southern Maithili"}}</ref><ref name="dsal1">{{Cite web |title=LSI Vol-5 part-2 |url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/books/lsi/lsi.php?volume=5-2&pages=466#page/27/mode/1up |publisher=dsal |page=13}}</ref>
*Eastern Maithili mainly spoken in [[Kishanganj]], [[Araria]], [[Purnia]] also some part of [[Katihar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mustgo.com/worldlanguages/maithili/%3famp|title=  Eastern Maithili Dialect "www.mustgo.com|access-date= 12 September 2022}}</ref>
*Several other dialects of Maithili are spoken in India and Nepal, including Dehati, Deshi, Kisan, Bantar, Barmeli, Musar, Tati and Jolaha. All the dialects are intelligible to native Maithili speakers.<ref name="e16" />


==Origin and history==
==Origin and history==
The name Maithili is derived from the word [[Mithila (ancient)|Mithila]], an ancient kingdom of which King [[Janaka]] was the ruler (see [[Ramayana]]). Maithili is also one of the names of [[Sita]], the wife of King [[Rama]] and daughter of King [[Janaka]]. Scholars in Mithila used Sanskrit for their literary work and Maithili was the language of the common folk ([[Abahatta]]).{{cn}}
The name Maithili is derived from the word [[Mithila (ancient)|Mithila]], an ancient kingdom of which King [[Janaka]] was the ruler (see [[Ramayana]]). Maithili is also one of the names of [[Sita]], the wife of King [[Rama]] and daughter of King [[Janaka]]. Scholars in Mithila used Sanskrit for their literary work and Maithili was the language of the common folk ([[Abahattha]]).


The beginning of Maithili language and literature can be traced back to the '[[Charyapada]]s', a form of Buddhist mystical verses, composed during the period of 700-1300 AD. These padas were written in [[Twilight language|Sandhya bhasa]] by several Siddhas who belonged to [[Vajrayana Buddhism]] and were scattered throughout the territory of [[Assam]], [[Bengal]], [[Bihar]] and [[Odisha]]. Several of Siddas were from Mithila region such as Kanhapa, Sarhapa etc. Prominent scholars like [[Rahul Sankrityayan|Rahul Sankrityanan]], Subhadra Jha and [[Jayakant Mishra]] provided evidences and proved that the language of  [[Charyapada]] is ancient Maithili or proto Maithili.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.135722 |title=A History Of Maithili Literature |volume=1 |last=Mishra|first=J. |date=1949}}</ref>
The beginning of Maithili language and literature can be traced back to the '[[Charyapada]]s', a form of Buddhist mystical verses, composed during the period of 700-1300 AD. These padas were written in [[Twilight language|Sandhya bhasa]] by several Siddhas who belonged to [[Vajrayana Buddhism]] and were scattered throughout the territory of [[Assam]], [[Bengal]], [[Bihar]] and [[Odisha]]. Several of Siddas were from Mithila region such as Kanhapa, Sarhapa etc. Prominent scholars like [[Rahul Sankrityayan|Rahul Sankrityanan]], Subhadra Jha and [[Jayakant Mishra]] provided evidence and proved that the language of  [[Charyapada]] is ancient Maithili or proto Maithili.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=J. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.135722 |title=A History Of Maithili Literature |date=1949 |volume=1}}</ref>
Apart from Charyapadas, there has been rich tradition of folk culture, folk songs and which were popular among common folks of Mithila region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Madhubani Paintings: People's Living Cultural Heritage |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1527/madhubani-paintings-peoples-living-cultural-herita/ |access-date=19 November 2020 |website=[[World History Encyclopedia]]}}</ref>
Apart from Charyapadas, there has been rich tradition of folk culture, folk songs and which were popular among common folks of Mithila region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Madhubani Paintings: People's Living Cultural Heritage |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1527/madhubani-paintings-peoples-living-cultural-herita/ |access-date=19 November 2020 |website=[[World History Encyclopedia]]}}</ref>


After the fall of [[Pala Empire|Pala]] rule, disappearance of [[Buddhism]], establishment of [[Karnat dynasty|Karnāta]] kings and patronage of Maithili under [[Harasimhadeva]] (1226–1324) of Karnāta dynasty dates back to the 14th century (around 1327 AD). [[Jyotirishwar Thakur]] (1280–1340) wrote a unique work ''[[Varna Ratnakara|Varnaratnākara]]'' in Maithili prose.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.283961|title=Varna Ratnakara Of Jyotirisvara Kavisekharacarya |last=Chatterji, S. K. |date=1940}}</ref> The ''Varna Ratnākara'' is the earliest known prose text, written by [[Jyotirishwar Thakur]] in [[Mithilakshar|Mithilaksar script]],<ref name="Yadav1979" /> and is the first prose work not only in Maithili but in any modern Indian language.<ref name="Maithili literature">{{Cite book |title=Reading Asia : new research in Asian studies |date=2001 |publisher=Curzon |isbn=0700713719 |location=Richmond, Surrey |oclc=48560711}}</ref>
After the fall of [[Pala Empire|Pala]] rule, disappearance of [[Buddhism]], establishment of [[Karnat dynasty|Karnāta]] kings and patronage of Maithili under Harisimhadeva (1226–1324) of Karnāta dynasty dates back to the 14th century (around 1327 AD). [[Jyotirishwar Thakur]] (1280–1340) wrote a unique work ''[[Varna Ratnakara|Varnaratnākara]]'' in Maithili prose.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chatterji, S. K. |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.283961 |title=Varna Ratnakara Of Jyotirisvara Kavisekharacarya |date=1940}}</ref> The ''Varna Ratnākara'' is the earliest known prose text, written by [[Jyotirishwar Thakur]] in [[Mithilakshar|Mithilaksar script]],<ref name="Yadav1979" /> and is the first prose work not only in Maithili but in any modern Indian language.<ref name="Maithili literature">{{Cite book |title=Reading Asia : new research in Asian studies |date=2001 |publisher=Curzon |isbn=0700713719 |location=Richmond, Surrey |oclc=48560711}}</ref>


In 1324, Ghyasuddin Tughluq, the emperor of [[Delhi]] invaded Mithila, defeated [[Harisimhadeva]], entrusted Mithila to his family priest Kameshvar Jha, a Maithil [[Brahmin]] of the [[Oinwar dynasty]]. But the disturbed era did not produce any literature in Maithili until [[Vidyapati|Vidyapati Thakur]] (1360 to 1450), who was an epoch-making poet under the patronage of king Shiva Singh and his queen Lakhima Devi. He produced over 1,000 immortal songs in Maithili on the theme of love of [[Radha]] and [[Krishna]] and the domestic life of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]] as well as on the subject of suffering of migrant labourers of Morang and their families; besides, he wrote a number of treaties in Sanskrit. His love-songs spread far and wide in no time and enchanted saints, poets and youth. [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] saw the divine light of love behind these songs, and soon these songs became themes of [[Vaishnavism|Vaisnava]] sect of [[Bengal]]. [[Rabindranath Tagore]], out of curiosity, imitated these songs under the pseudonym [[Bhanusimha Thakurer Padabali|Bhanusimha]]. Vidyapati influenced the religious literature of Asama, Bengal, Utkala and gave birth to a new [[Brajabuli]] language.<ref name="Majumdar1960">{{cite book |editor1-last=Majumdar |editor1-first=Ramesh Chandra |editor1-link=R. C. Majumdar |editor2-last=Pusalker |editor2-first=A. D. |editor3-last=Majumdar |editor3-first=A. K. |date=1960 |title=[[The History and Culture of the Indian People]] |volume=VI: The Delhi Sultanate |location=Bombay |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |page=515 |quote="During the sixteenth century, a form of an artificial literary language became established ... It was the ''Brajabulī'' dialect ... ''Brajabulī'' is practically the Maithilī speech as current in Mithilā, modified in its forms to look like Bengali."}}</ref><ref name="Banglapedia-Brajabuli">{{cite book |last=Morshed |first=Abul Kalam Manjoor |year=2012 |chapter=Brajabuli |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Brajabuli |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref>
In 1324, Ghyasuddin Tughluq, the emperor of [[Delhi]] invaded Mithila, defeated [[Harisimhadeva]], entrusted Mithila to his family priest and a great Military Scholar Kameshvar Jha, a [[Maithil]] [[Brahmin]] of the [[Oiniwar Dynasty|Oinwar dynasty]]. But the disturbed era did not produce any literature in Maithili until [[Vidyapati|Vidyapati Thakur]] (1360 to 1450), who was an epoch-making poet under the patronage of king Shiva Singh and his queen Lakhima Devi. He produced over 1,000 immortal songs in Maithili on the theme of love of [[Radha]] and [[Krishna]] and the domestic life of [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]] as well as on the subject of suffering of migrant labourers of [[Morang District|Morang]] and their families; besides, he wrote a number of treaties in [[Sanskrit]]. His [[Love song|love-songs]] spread far and wide in no time and enchanted [[saint]]s, [[poet]]s and [[youth]]. [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] saw the divine light of love behind these songs, and soon these songs became themes of [[Vaishnavism|Vaisnava]] sect of [[Bengal]]. [[Rabindranath Tagore]], out of curiosity, imitated these songs under the pseudonym [[Bhanusimha Thakurer Padabali|Bhanusimha]]. Vidyapati influenced the religious literature of [[Assam|Asama]], [[Bengal]], [[Utkala Kingdom|Utkala]] and gave birth to a new [[Brajabuli]] language.<ref name="Majumdar1960">{{Cite book |title=[[The History and Culture of the Indian People]] |date=1960 |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |editor-last=Majumdar |editor-first=Ramesh Chandra |editor-link=R. C. Majumdar |volume=VI: The Delhi Sultanate |location=Bombay |page=515 |quote="During the sixteenth century, a form of an artificial literary language became established ... It was the ''Brajabulī'' dialect ... ''Brajabulī'' is practically the Maithilī speech as current in Mithilā, modified in its forms to look like Bengali." |editor-last2=Pusalker |editor-first2=A. D. |editor-last3=Majumdar |editor-first3=A. K.}}</ref><ref name="Banglapedia-Brajabuli">{{Cite book |last=Morshed |first=Abul Kalam Manjoor |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]] |year=2012 |editor-last=Islam |editor-first=Sirajul |editor-link=Sirajul Islam |edition=Second |chapter=Brajabuli |editor-last2=Jamal |editor-first2=Ahmed A. |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Brajabuli}}</ref>


The earliest reference to Maithili or Tirhutiya is in Amaduzzi's preface to Beligatti's ''Alphabetum Brammhanicum'', published in 1771.<ref name="Tourutiana">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Djfl_uZqLAC |last=Ded. St. Borgiae Clementi |first=XIV. Praef. J. Chr. Amadutii |title=Alphabetum Brammhanicum Seu Indostanum Universitatis Kasi |publisher=Palala Press |pages=viii |language=la|isbn=9781173019655|year=1771 }}</ref> This contains a list of Indian languages amongst which is 'Tourutiana.' Colebrooke's essay on the Sanskrit and Prakrit languages, written in 1801, was the first to describe Maithili as a distinct dialect.<ref name="Colebrooke's">{{cite book |last=Thomas Colebrooke |first=H. |title=Miscellaneous essays. With life of the author by his son Sir T.E. Colebrooke, Volume 3 |pages=26 |isbn=9781145371071 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DToCAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA1|year=1873 }}</ref>
The earliest reference to Maithili or Tirhutiya is in Amaduzzi's preface to Beligatti's ''Alphabetum Brammhanicum'', published in 1771.<ref name="Tourutiana">{{Cite book |last=Ded. St. Borgiae Clementi |first=XIV. Praef. J. Chr. Amadutii |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1Djfl_uZqLAC |title=Alphabetum Brammhanicum Seu Indostanum Universitatis Kasi |publisher=Palala Press |year=1771 |isbn=9781173019655 |pages=viii |language=la}}</ref> This contains a list of Indian languages amongst which is 'Tourutiana.' Colebrooke's essay on the Sanskrit and Prakrit languages, written in 1801, was the first to describe Maithili as a distinct dialect.<ref name="Colebrooke's">{{Cite book |last=Thomas Colebrooke |first=H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DToCAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA1 |title=Miscellaneous essays. With life of the author by his son Sir T.E. Colebrooke, Volume 3 |year=1873 |isbn=9781145371071 |pages=26}}</ref>


Many devotional songs were written by Vaisnava saints, including in the mid-17th century, Vidyapati and Govindadas. Mapati Upadhyaya wrote a drama titled ''Pārijātaharaṇa'' in Maithili. Professional troupes, mostly from [[dalit]] classes known as Kirtanias, the singers of bhajan or devotional songs, started to perform this drama in public gatherings and the courts of the nobles.
Many devotional songs were written by Vaisnava saints, including in the mid-17th century, Vidyapati and Govindadas. Mapati Upadhyaya wrote a drama titled ''Pārijātaharaṇa'' in Maithili. Professional troupes, mostly from [[dalit]] classes known as [[Kirtan]]ias, the singers of [[bhajan]] or devotional songs, started to perform this drama in public gatherings and the courts of the nobles.
Lochana (c. 1575 – c. 1660) wrote ''Rāgatarangni'', a significant treatise on the science of music, describing the rāgas, tālas, and lyrics prevalent in Mithila.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Amar Kant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZHp7DwAAQBAJ|title=Ruling Dynasty Of Mithila: Dr.Sir Kameswar Singh |date=23 November 2018 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-64429-762-9 |language=en}}</ref>
Lochana (c. 1575 – c. 1660) wrote ''Rāgatarangni'', a significant treatise on the science of music, describing the rāgas, tālas, and lyrics prevalent in Mithila.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Amar Kant |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZHp7DwAAQBAJ |title=Ruling Dynasty Of Mithila: Dr.Sir Kameswar Singh |date=23 November 2018 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-64429-762-9 |language=en}}</ref>


During the [[Malla (Nepal)|Malla dynasty]]'s rule Maithili spread far and wide throughout [[Nepal]] from the 16th to the 17th century.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9sljAAAAMAAJ | title=Medieval Indian literature: an anthology, Volume 3 | access-date=19 February 2017 | pages=69 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219172743/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9sljAAAAMAAJ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-ra3n8JrSAhVDC8AKHa4dDGsQ6AEIHzAB | archive-date=19 February 2017 | df=dmy-all| isbn=9788126007882 | author1=Ayyappappanikkar | last2=Akademi | first2=Sahitya | date=January 1999 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n4FQMEiZcrIC&pg=PA243 | title=Nationalism and Ethnicity in a Hindu Kingdom: The Politics and Culture of ... | access-date=19 February 2017 | pages=243 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219173751/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=n4FQMEiZcrIC&pg=PA243&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwih_rGx8ZrSAhVsIcAKHYYsC3wQ6AEIKzAD#v=onepage&q=malla%20dynasty%20maithili&f=false | archive-date=19 February 2017 | df=dmy-all | isbn=9781136649561 | last1=Gellner | first1=D. | last2=Pfaff-Czarnecka | first2=J. | last3=Whelpton | first3=J. | date=6 December 2012 }}</ref> During this period, at least seventy Maithili dramas were produced. In the drama ''Harishchandranrityam'' by Siddhinarayanadeva (1620–57), some characters speak pure colloquial Maithili, while others speak [[Bengali language|Bengali]], Sanskrit or [[Prakrit]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rahmat Jahan, 1960- |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58526278 |title=Comparative literature : a case of Shaw and Bharatendu |date=2004 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=81-7625-487-8 |edition=1st |location=New Delhi |pages=121 |oclc=58526278}}</ref>
During the [[Malla (Nepal)|Malla dynasty]]'s rule Maithili spread far and wide throughout [[Nepal]] from the 16th to the 17th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ayyappappanikkar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9sljAAAAMAAJ |title=Medieval Indian literature: an anthology, Volume 3 |last2=Akademi |first2=Sahitya |date=January 1999 |isbn=9788126007882 |pages=69 |access-date=19 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219172743/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9sljAAAAMAAJ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-ra3n8JrSAhVDC8AKHa4dDGsQ6AEIHzAB |archive-date=19 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gellner |first1=D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n4FQMEiZcrIC&pg=PA243 |title=Nationalism and Ethnicity in a Hindu Kingdom: The Politics and Culture of ... |last2=Pfaff-Czarnecka |first2=J. |last3=Whelpton |first3=J. |date=6 December 2012 |isbn=9781136649561 |pages=243 |access-date=19 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219173751/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=n4FQMEiZcrIC&pg=PA243&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwih_rGx8ZrSAhVsIcAKHYYsC3wQ6AEIKzAD#v=onepage&q=malla%20dynasty%20maithili&f=false |archive-date=19 February 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> During this period, at least seventy Maithili dramas were produced. In the drama ''Harishchandranrityam'' by Siddhinarayanadeva (1620–57), some characters speak pure colloquial Maithili, while others speak [[Bengali language|Bengali]], Sanskrit or [[Prakrit]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rahmat Jahan, 1960- |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58526278 |title=Comparative literature : a case of Shaw and Bharatendu |date=2004 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=81-7625-487-8 |edition=1st |location=New Delhi |pages=121 |oclc=58526278}}</ref>


After the demise of Maheshwar Singh, the ruler of Darbhanga Raj, in 1860, the Raj was taken over by the British Government as regent. The Darbhanga Raj returned to his successor, Maharaj Lakshmishvar Singh, in 1898. The Zamindari Raj had a lackadaisical approach toward Maithili. The use of Maithili language was revived through personal efforts of MM Parameshvar Mishra, Chanda Jha, Munshi Raghunandan Das and others.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jha |first=Pankaj Kumar |date=1996 |title=Language and Nation : The Case of Maithili and Mithila in the First Half of Twentieth Century |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44133363 |access-date=19 November 2020 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=57 |pages=581–590|jstor=44133363 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tripathi |first=Shailaja |date=14 October 2010 |title=Moments for masses |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/Moments-for-masses/article15780022.ece |access-date=19 November 2020 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}</ref>
After the demise of Maheshwar Singh, the ruler of [[Raj Darbhanga|Darbhanga Raj]], in 1860, the Raj was taken over by the [[British Raj|British Government]] as regent. The Darbhanga Raj returned to his successor, Maharaj [[Lakshmeshwar Singh|Lakshmishvar Singh]], in 1898. The Zamindari Raj had a lackadaisical approach toward Maithili. The use of Maithili language was revived through personal efforts of MM Parameshvar Mishra, Chanda Jha, Munshi Raghunandan Das and others.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jha |first=Pankaj Kumar |date=1996 |title=Language and Nation : The Case of Maithili and Mithila in the First Half of Twentieth Century |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44133363 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=57 |pages=581–590 |jstor=44133363 |access-date=19 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tripathi |first=Shailaja |date=14 October 2010 |title=Moments for masses |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/Moments-for-masses/article15780022.ece |access-date=19 November 2020}}</ref>


Publication of ''Maithil Hita Sadhana'' (1905), ''Mithila Moda'' (1906), and ''Mithila Mihir'' (1908) further encouraged writers. The first social organization, Maithil Mahasabha, was established in 1910 for the development of Mithila and Maithili. It blocked its membership for people outside from the Maithil Brahmin and Karna Kayastha castes. Maithil Mahasabha campaigned for the official recognition of Maithili as a regional language. [[Calcutta University]] recognized Maithili in 1917, and other universities followed suit.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
Publication of ''Maithil Hita Sadhana'' (1905), ''Mithila Moda'' (1906), and ''Mithila Mihir'' (1908) further encouraged writers. The first social organisation, Maithil Mahasabha,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vijay Deo Jha |first=Mithila Research Society |url=http://archive.org/details/MaithilMahasabhaKaSankshiptItihasBriefHistoryOfMaithiliMahasabhaPanditChandranathMishraAmar |title=Maithil Mahasabha Ka Sankshipt Itihas ( Brief History Of Maithili Mahasabha) Pandit Chandranath Mishra Amar |date=9 March 2019}}</ref> was established in 1910 for the development of Mithila and Maithili. It blocked its membership for people outside of the [[Maithil Brahmin]] and [[Karan Kayastha|Karna Kayastha]] castes. Maithil Mahasabha campaigned for the official recognition of Maithili as a regional language. [[Calcutta University]] recognised Maithili in 1917, and other universities followed suit.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mishra |first=Jayakanta |date=1977 |title=Social Ideals and Patriotism in Maithili Literature (1900-1930) |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24157493 |journal=Indian Literature |volume=20 |issue=3 |pages=96–101 |issn=0019-5804 |jstor=24157493}}</ref>


Babu Bhola Lal Das wrote ''Maithili Grammar'' (''Maithili Vyakaran''). He edited a book ''Gadyakusumanjali'' and edited a journal ''Maithili''.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
Babu Bhola Lal Das wrote ''Maithili Grammar'' (''Maithili Vyakaran''). He edited a book ''Gadya Kusumanjali'' and edited a journal ''Maithili''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chatterjee |first=Ramananda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sQXSAAAAMAAJ |title=The Modern Review |date=1964 |publisher=Prabasi Press Private, Limited |page=215 |language=en}}</ref>
In 1965, Maithili was officially accepted by [[Sahitya Academy]], an organization dedicated to the promotion of Indian literature.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
In 1965, Maithili was officially accepted by [[Sahitya Academy]], an organisation dedicated to the promotion of [[Indian literature]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jha |first=Ramanath |date=1969 |title=The Problem of Maithili |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24157120 |journal=Indian Literature |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=5–10 |issn=0019-5804 |jstor=24157120}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Parliament of India |url=https://parliamentofindia.nic.in/ls/lsdeb/ls10/ses3/3108059204.htm |access-date=21 September 2021 |website=parliamentofindia.nic.in}}</ref>


In 2002, Maithili was recognized on the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India|VIII schedule of the Indian Constitution]] as a major Indian language; Maithili is now one of the twenty-two [[Languages of India#Scheduled languages|Scheduled languages of India]].<ref name=Singh2011>Singh, P. & Singh, A. N. (2011). Finding Mithila between India's Centre and Periphery. ''Journal of Indian Law & Society'' 2: 147–181.</ref>
In 2002, Maithili was recognised on the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India|VIII schedule of the Indian Constitution]] as a major Indian language; Maithili is now one of the twenty-two [[Languages of India#Scheduled languages|Scheduled languages of India]].<ref name="Singh2011">Singh, P. & Singh, A. N. (2011). Finding Mithila between India's Centre and Periphery. ''Journal of Indian Law & Society'' 2: 147–181.</ref>


The publishing of Maithili books in Mithilakshar script was started by [[Acharya Ramlochan Saran]].{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}
The publishing of Maithili books in [[Tirhuta script|Mithilakshar]] script was started by [[Acharya Ramlochan Saran]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Horst |first=Kristen Nehemiah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=loWepwAACAAJ |title=Acharya Ramlochan Saran |date=12 October 2011 |publisher=Dign Press |isbn=978-613-7-39524-0 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1227092541939433472 |user=biharfoundation |title=Acharya Ramlochan Saran, born on 11 February 1889, in #Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, was a Hindi littérateur, grammarian and publisher.}}</ref>


==Phonology==
==Phonology==
{{Main|Maithili Phonology}}
===Vowels===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |[[Front vowel|Front]]
! colspan="2" |[[Central vowel|Central]]
! colspan="2" |[[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
!<small>short</small>
!<small>long</small>
!<small>short</small>
!<small>long</small>
!<small>short</small>
!<small>long</small>
|-
![[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{IPA link|ɪ}} {{grapheme|इ}}
| {{IPA link|iː}} {{grapheme|ई}}
|
|
| {{IPA link|ʊ}} {{grapheme|उ}}
| {{IPA link|uː}} {{grapheme|ऊ}}
|-
![[Mid vowel|Mid]]
| {{IPA link|e}} {{grapheme|ऎ}}
| {{IPA link|eː}} {{grapheme|ए}}
| {{IPA link|ə}}~{{IPA link|ɐ}} {{grapheme|अ}}
| {{IPA link|əː}} {{grapheme|अऽ}}
| {{IPA link|o}} {{grapheme|ऒ}}
| {{IPA link|oː}} {{grapheme|ओ}}
|-
![[Open vowel|Open]]
| colspan="2" | {{IPA link|æ}}~{{IPA link|ɛ}} {{grapheme|ऍ}}
| {{IPA link|ä|a}} {{grapheme|ॴ}}
| {{IPA link|äː|aː}} {{grapheme|आ}}
| colspan="2" | {{IPA link|ɔ}} {{grapheme|अ꣱}}
|-
![[Diphthongs]]
| colspan="2" |əɪ̯ {{Grapheme|ऐ}} əe̯ {{grapheme|ꣾ}}
| colspan="2" |
| colspan="2" |əʊ̯ {{Grapheme|औ}} əo̯ {{grapheme|ॵ}}
|}
 
*All vowels have [[Nasalised vowel|nasal]] counterparts, represented by "~" in IPA and ँ on the vowels, like आँ  ãː .
*All vowel sounds are realised as nasal when occurring before or after a [[nasal consonant]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Yadav |first=Ramawatar |title=A Reference Grammar of Maithili |publisher=Mouton de Gruyter |year=1996 |location=Berlin |pages=15–27}}</ref>
* Sounds eː and oː are often replaced by diphthongs əɪ̯ and əʊ̯.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}
*ɔ is replaced by ə in northern dialects and by o in southernmost dialects.
*There are three short vowels that were described by Grierson, but are not counted by modern grammarians. But they could be understood as syllable break: ॳ / ɘ̆ /,  इ/ ɪ̆ /,  उ/ ʊ̆ / . Or as syllable break ऺ in Devanagari and "." in IPA.
* ꣾ is a Unicode letter in Devanagari, (IPA /əe̯/) which is not supported currently on several browsers and operating systems, along with its mātrā (vowel sign).
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File: Devanagari extended AY.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.5|[[Devanagari Extended]] AY vowel|link=Special:FilePath/Devanagari_extended_AY.jpg]] --><!-- Deleted image removed: [[File: Devanagari extended AY vowelsign.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.5|[[Devanagari Extended]] AY vowel sign]] -->
 
The following [[diphthongs]] are present:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maithili |url=http://lisindia.ciil.org/Maithili/Maithili.html |access-date=7 January 2023 |website=lisindia.ciil.org}}</ref>
: अय़(ꣾ) / əe̯ / ~ /ɛː/ - अय़सन (ꣾ सन) / əe̯sən / ~ /ɛːsɐn/ 'like this'
: अव़(ॵ) / əo̯ / ~ /ɔː/- चव़मुख(चॏमुख) / tɕəo̯mʊkʰ / ~ /tɕɔːmʊkʰ/ 'four faced'
: अयॆ / əe̯ / - अयॆलाः / əe̯laːh / 'came'
: अवॊ (अऒ) / əo̯ / - अवॊताः / əo̯taːh / 'will come'
: आइ / aːi̯ / - आइ / aːi̯ / 'today'
: आउ / aːu̯ / - आउ / aːu̯ / 'come please'
: आयॆ (आऎ) / aːe̯ / - आयॆल / aːe̯l / 'came'
: आवॊ (आऒ) / aːo̯ / - आवॊब / aːo̯b / 'will come'
: यु (इउ) / iu̯/ - घ्यु / ghiu̯ / 'ghee'
: यॆ (इऎ) / ie̯ / - यॆः / ie̯h / 'only this'
: यॊ (इऒ) / io̯ / - कह्यो / kəhio̯ / 'any day'
: वि (उइ) / ui̯ / - द्वि / dui̯ / 'two'
: वॆ (उऎ) /ue̯/ -  वॆ: / ue̯h / 'only that'
 
A peculiar type of phonetic change is recently taking place in Maithili by way of [[epenthesis]], i.e. backward transposition of final i and u in all sort of words.<ref name="Maithili">{{Cite web |title=Maithili |url=http://lisindia.ciil.org/Maithili/Maithili.html |access-date=22 April 2020 |website=lisindia.ciil.org}}</ref> Thus:
 
Standard Colloquial - Common Pronunciation
: अछि / əchi / - अइछ / əich / 'is'
: रवि / rəbi / - रइब / rəib / 'Sunday'
: मधु / mədhu / - मउध / məudh / 'honey'
: बालु / ba:lu / - बाउल / ba:ul / 'sand'
 
===Consonants===
Maithili has four classes of [[Stop consonant|stops]], one class of [[Affricate consonant|affricate]], which is generally treated as a stop series, related [[Nasal consonant|nasals]], [[Fricative consonant|fricatives]] and [[Approximant consonant|approximant]].


=== Consonants ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" |
! colspan="3" |
![[Labial consonant|Labial]]
![[Labial consonant|Labial]]
![[Dental consonant|Dental]]/<br/>[[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
![[Dental consonant|Dental]]/<br />[[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
![[Retroflex consonant|Retroflex]]
![[Retroflex consonant|Retroflex]]
![[Palatal]]
![[Palatal]]
Line 116: Line 193:
![[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
![[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
|-
! rowspan="4" |[[Stop consonant|Stop]]/<br/>[[Affricate consonant|Affricate]]
! colspan="3" | [[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
!<small>[[Voicelessness|voiceless]]</small>
| {{IPA link|m}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|p}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA link|n}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|t}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA link|ɳ}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|ʈ}} {{angbr|}}
| ({{IPA link|ɲ}}) {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA link|ŋ}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|k}} {{angbr|}}
|
|
|-
|-
!<small>[[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]]</small>
! rowspan="4" | [[Plosive]]/<br/>[[Affricate]]
|{{IPAlink|}} {{angbr|}}
! rowspan="2" | <small>[[Voicelessness|voiceless]]</small>
|{{IPAlink|}} {{angbr|}}
! <small>unaspirated</small>
|{{IPAlink|ʈʰ}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA link|p}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|tɕʰ}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA link|t}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA link|ʈ}} {{grapheme|}}
| {{IPA link|}} {{grapheme|}}
| {{IPA link|k}} {{grapheme|}}
|
|
|-
|-
!<small>[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
! <small>[[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]]</small>
|{{IPAlink|b}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA|}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|d}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA|}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|ɖ}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA|ʈʰ}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA|tɕʰ}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|ɡ}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA|}} {{grapheme|}}
|
|
|-
|-
!<small>[[voiced aspirated]]</small>
! rowspan="2" | <small>[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
|{{IPAlink|}} {{angbr|}}
! <small>unaspirated</small>
|{{IPAlink|}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA link|b}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|ɖʱ}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA link|d}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|dʑʱ}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA link|ɖ}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|ɡʱ}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA link|}} {{grapheme|}}
| {{IPA link|ɡ}} {{grapheme|}}
|
|
|-
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
! <small>[[voiced aspirated|aspirated]]</small>
!<small>[[Voicelessness|voiceless]]</small>
| {{IPA|}} {{grapheme|}}
|({{IPAlink|ɸ}}~{{IPAlink|f}} {{angbr|फ़}})
| {{IPA|}} {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|s}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA|ɖʱ}} {{grapheme|}}
|({{IPAlink|ʂ}} {{angbr|}})
| {{IPA|dʑʱ}} {{grapheme|}}
|({{IPAlink|ɕ}} {{angbr|}})
| {{IPA|ɡʱ}} {{grapheme|}}
|({{IPAlink|x}} {{angbr|ख़}})
|({{IPAlink|h}} {{angbr|ः}})*
|-
!<small>[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
|
|({{IPAlink|z}} {{angbr|ज़}})
|
|({{IPAlink|ʑ}} {{angbr|झ़}})
|
|
|({{IPAlink|ɦ}} {{angbr|ह}})
|-
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Fricative]]
|{{IPAlink|m}} {{angbr|}}
! colspan="2" | <small>[[Voicelessness|voiceless]]</small>
|{{IPAlink|n}} {{angbr|}}
| ({{IPA link|ɸ}}~{{IPA link|f}}) {{grapheme|फ़}}
|{{IPAlink|ɳ}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA link|s}} {{grapheme|}}
|({{IPAlink|ɲ}} {{angbr|}})
| ({{IPA link|ʂ}}) {{grapheme|}}
|{{IPAlink|ŋ}} {{angbr|}}
| ({{IPA link|ɕ}}) {{grapheme|}}
|
| ({{IPA link|x}}) {{grapheme|ख़}}
| -({{IPA link|h}})* {{grapheme|ः}}
|-
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Tap and flap consonants|Flap]] and [[Trill consonants]]
! colspan="2" | <small>[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
|
|{{IPAlink|ɾ}}~{{IPAlink|r}} {{angbr|र}}
|({{IPAlink|ɽ}} {{angbr|ड़}})
|
|
| ({{IPA link|z}}) {{grapheme|ज़}}
|
|
| ({{IPA link|ʑ}}) {{grapheme|झ़}}
|
|
| ({{IPA link|ɦ}}) {{grapheme|ह}}
|-
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Lateral consonant|Lateral]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Rhotic consonant|Rhotic]]
! colspan="2" | <small>unaspirated</small>
|
|
|{{IPAlink|l}} {{angbr|}}
| {{IPA link|ɾ}}~{{IPA link|r}} {{grapheme|र}}
| ({{IPA link|ɽ}}) {{grapheme|ड़}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" | <small>aspirated</small>
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
|({{IPAlink|ʋ}}~{{IPAlink|w}} {{angbr|व}})
|
|
| ({{IPA|ɽʱ}}) {{grapheme|ढ़}}
|
|
|({{IPAlink|j}} {{angbr|य}})
|
|
|
|
|}
* Fricative sounds {{IPA|[ʂ, ɕ]}} only occur marginally, and are typically pronounced as a dental fricative /{{IPA|s}}/ in most styles of pronunciation.ः is always added after a vowel.
* In most styles of pronunciation, the retroflex flap {{IPA|[ɽ]}} occurs marginally, and is usually pronounced as an alveolar tap /{{IPA|r}}/ sound.
* A retroflex nasal sound {{IPA|[ɳ]}} only occurs before a voiced retroflex /{{IPA|ɖ}}/ sound.
* Approximant sounds {{IPA|[ʋ, w, j]}} and  fricative sounds {{IPA|[ɸ, f, z, ʑ, x]}}, mainly occur in words that are borrowed from Sanskrit or in words of Perso-Arabic origin. From Sanskrit, ''puʂp(ə)'' as ''puɸp(ə)''. Conjunct of ''ɦj'' as ''ɦʑ'' as in ''graɦjə'' as ''graɦʑə''.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Grierson |first1=George Abraham |url=http://archive.org/details/introductiontoma00grierich |title=An introduction to the Maithili dialect of the Bihari language as spoken in North Bihar |date=1909 |location=Calcutta |publisher=Asiatic Society}}</ref>
====Non-syllabic vowels====
There are four non-syllabic vowels in Maithili: i̯, u̯, e̯, o̯ written in Devanagari as य़, व़, य़ॆ, व़ॊ. Most of the times, these are written without [[nukta]].
=== Vowels ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" |[[Front vowel|Front]]
! colspan="2" |[[Central vowel|Central]]
! colspan="2" |[[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
|-
!<small>short</small>
! colspan="3" | [[Lateral consonant|Lateral]]
!<small>long</small>
!<small>short</small>
!<small>long</small>
!<small>short</small>
!<small>long</small>
|- align="center"
![[Close vowel|Close]]
|इ {{IPA|ɪ}}
|ई {{IPA|i}}ː
|
|
| {{IPA link|l}} {{grapheme|ल}}
|
|
|उ {{IPA|ʊ}}
|ऊ {{IPA|u}}ː
|-
![[Mid vowel|Mid]]
|ऎ {{IPA|e}}
|ए {{IPA|eː}}
|अ
{{IPA|ə}}~{{IPA|ɐ}}
|अऽ {{IPA|əː}}
|ऒ {{IPA|o}}
|ओ {{IPA|oː}}
|- align="center"
![[Open vowel|Open]]
| colspan="2" |ऍ
{{IPA|æ}}~{{IPA|ɛ}}
|ॴ {{IPA|a}}̈
|आ {{IPA|äː}}
| colspan="2" |अ<sup>ऽ</sup> {{IPA|ɔ}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[Diphthongs]]
|
|
|ꣾ əe̯
|
|
|
|
|
|ॵ əo̯
|-
|-
! colspan="3" | [[Approximant]]
| ({{IPA link|ʋ}}~{{IPA link|w}}) {{grapheme|व}}
|
|
|ऐ aːɪ̯
|
|
| ({{IPA link|j}}) {{grapheme|य}}
|
|
|
|
|औ aːʊ̯
|}
|}


* All vowels have nasal counterparts, represented by "~" in IPA and ँ on the vowels, like आँ  ãː .
====Stops====
*All vowel sounds are realized as nasal when occurring before or after a nasal consonant.<ref>{{Cite book |title=A Reference Grammar of Maithili |last=Yadav |first=Ramawatar |location=Berlin |publisher=Mouton de Gruyter |year=1996  |pages=15–27}}</ref>
There are four series of stops- [[Bilabial stop|bilabials]], [[Coronal stop|coronals]], [[Retroflex stop|retroflex]] and [[Velar stop|velar]], along with an [[Palatal affricate|affricate]] series. All of them show the four way contrast like most of the modern [[Indo-Aryan languages]]:
* Sounds eː and oː are often replaced by diphthongs əɪ̯ and əʊ̯.
*æ is a recent development.
*ɔ is replaced by ə in northern dialects and by o in southernmost dialects.
*There are three short vowels, as described by Grierson, but not counted by modern grammarians. But they could be understood as syllable break :- ॳ / ɘ̆ /,  इऺ/ ɪ̆ /,  उऺ/ ʊ̆ / . Or as syllable break ऺ in Devanagari and "." in IPA.
* ꣾ is a Unicode letter in Devanagari, (IPA /əe̯/) which is not supported currently on several browsers and operating systems, along with its mātrā (vowel sign).
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File: Devanagari extended AY.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.5|[[Devanagari Extended]] AY vowel|link=Special:FilePath/Devanagari_extended_AY.jpg]] --><!-- Deleted image removed: [[File: Devanagari extended AY vowelsign.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.5|[[Devanagari Extended]] AY vowel sign]] -->
 
====Diphthongs====


अय़(ꣾ) / əi̯ / ~ /ɛː/ - अय़सनऺ (ꣾ सनऺ) / əi̯sənᵊ / ~ /ɛːsɐnᵊ/ 'like this'                                 <br />अव़(ॵ) / əu̯ / ~ /ɔː/- चव़मुुखऺ(चॏमुखऺ) / tɕəu̯mʊkʰᵊ / ~ /tɕɔːmʊkʰᵊ/ 'four faced'<br />अयॆ / əe̯ / - अयॆलाः / əe̯la:h / 'came'<br />अवॊ (अऒ) / əo̯ / - अवॊताः / əo̯ta:h / 'will come'<br />'''/ a:i̯ / - ऐ / a:i̯ / 'today'<br />औ / a:u̯ / - औ / a:u̯ / 'come please''''<br />आयॆ (आऎ) / a:e̯ / - आयॆलऺ / a:e̯l / 'came'<br />आवॊ (आऒ) / a:o̯ / - आवॊबऺ / a:o̯bᵊ / 'will come'<br />यु (इउ) / iu̯/ - घ्यु / ghiu̯ / 'ghee'<br />यॆ (इऎ) / ie̯ / - यॆः / ie̯h / 'only this'<br />यॊ (इऒ) / io̯ / - कह्यो / kəhio̯ / 'any day'<br />वि (उइ) / ui̯ / - द्वि / dui̯ / 'two'<br />वॆ (उऎ) /ue̯/ -  वॆ: / ue̯h / 'only that'
* [[Tenuis consonant|tenuis]], as /p/, which is like ⟨p⟩ in English ''spin''
* [[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]], as /b/, which is like ⟨b⟩ in English ''bin''
* [[Aspirated consonant|aspirated]], as //, which is like ⟨p⟩ in English ''pin'', and
* [[Breathy voice|murmured]] or [[aspirated voiced]], as //.


===Svarabhakti (Vowel Epenthesis)===
Apart from the retroflex series, all the rest four series show full phonological contrast in all positions. The retroflex tenius ʈ and ʈʰ show full contrast in all positions. ɖ and ɖʱ show phonological contrast mainly word-initially.<ref name=":1" /> Both are defective phonemes, occurring intervocalically an word finally only if preceded by a nasal consonant. Word finally and postvocalically, ɖʱ surfaces as {{IPA|ɽʱ}} or {{IPA|r}}ʱ.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Yadav |first=Ramawatar |title=A Reference Grammar of Maithili |location=Berlin |publisher=Mouton de Gruyter. |year=1996 |chapter=Trends in Linguistics: Documentation, 11. |pages=15–27}}</ref> Non-initially, both are interchangeable with  {{IPA|ɽ}} or {{IPA|r}} and {{IPA|ɽʱ}} or {{IPA|rʱ}} respectively.<ref name=":1" />


A peculiar type of phonetic change is recently taking place in Maithili by way of epenthesis i.e. backward transposition of final i and u in all sort of words.<ref name="Maithili">{{Cite web|url=http://lisindia.ciil.org/Maithili/Maithili.html|title=Maithili|website=lisindia.ciil.org|access-date=22 April 2020}}</ref> Thus:
====Fricatives====
{{IPA|s}} and {{IPA|h}} are most common fricatives. They show full phonological opposition. {{IPA|ɕ}} and {{IPA|ʂ}}, which is present in tatsama words, is replaced by {{IPA|s}} most of the times, when independent. {{IPA|ɕ}} occurs before {{IPA|tɕ}} and {{IPA|ʂ}} before {{IPA|ʈ}}. {{IPA|x}} and {{IPA|f}} occurs in Perso-Arabic loanwords, generally replaced by {{IPA|kʰ}} and {{IPA|pʰ}} respectively. {{IPA|x}} and {{IPA|ɸ}} also occurs in Sanskrit words ([[Visarga|jihvamuliya and upadhmaniya]]), which is peculiar to Maithili.


'''Standard Colloquial -''' Common Pronunciation
* Fricative sounds {{IPA|[ʂ, ɕ]}} only occur marginally, and are typically pronounced as a dental fricative /{{IPA|s}}/ in most styles of pronunciation.ः is always added after a vowel.


'''अछि / əchi / -''' अइछऺ / əich / 'is'
====Sonorants====
 
{{IPA|m}} and {{IPA|n}} are present in all phonological positions. {{IPA|ŋ}} occurs only non-initially and is followed by a homorganic stop, which may be deleted if voiced, which leads to the independent presence of ŋ. {{IPA|ɳ}} occurs non-initially, followed by a homorganic stop, and is independent only in tatsama words, which is often replaced with n. {{IPA|ɲ}} occurs only non-initially and is followed by a homorganic stop always. It is the only nasal which does not occur independently.
'''रवि / rəbi / -''' रइबऺ / rəib / 'Sunday'
* In most styles of pronunciation, the retroflex flap {{IPA|[ɽ]}} occurs marginally, and is usually pronounced as an alveolar tap /{{IPA|r}}/ sound.
* Approximant sounds {{IPA|[ʋ, w, j]}} and  fricative sounds {{IPA|[ɸ, f, z, ʑ, x]}}, mainly occur in words that are borrowed from Sanskrit or in words of Perso-Arabic origin. From Sanskrit, ''puʂp(ə)'' as ''puɸp(ə)''. Conjunct of ''ɦj'' as ''ɦʑ'' as in ''graɦjə'' as ''graɦʑə''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Grierson |first=George Abraham |url=https://archive.org/details/introductiontoma00grierich |title=An introduction to the Maithili dialect of the Bihari language as spoken in North Bihar |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bengal |year=1909 |edition=2 |location=Calcutta}}</ref>


'''मधु / mədhu / -''' मउधऺ / məudh / 'honey'
There are four non-syllabic vowels in Maithili-
 
i̯, u̯, e̯, o̯ written in Devanagari as य़, व़, य़ॆ, व़ॊ. Most of the times, these are written without nukta.
'''बालु / ba:lu / -''' बाउलऺ / ba:ul / 'sand'


==Morphology==
==Morphology==
{{Main|Maithili grammar}}
{{Main|Maithili grammar}}


===Grammatical cases===
===Nouns===
Nouns are inflected for several cases. Grammarians consider only few of them to be pure inflection.
An example declension:
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Case name
!Postpositions
!Examples
!English translation
!Singular Inflection
!Plural Inflection*
|-
! colspan="2" |Nominative
({{lang-sa2|कर्ता}} ''kartā'')
|
|'''नेन<sup>ऽ</sup>''' खैतऺ छॏ।
|Boy is eating.
|∅ (Inherent Vowel)
| -(अ)नऺ,
-(अ)निऺ
 
(ə)nᵊ, (ə)nɪ̆
|-
! rowspan="2" |Accusative
({{lang-sa2|कर्म}} ''karma'')<ref name="Maithili"/>
!Definite Object
(without determiners)
|के ke
|ऊ '''नेनाके''' खिलैैतꣿ।
|He/she will feed the boy.
| colspan="2" |Postposition used
|-
!Indefinite
Object
|
|बियाहकऺ बादऺ ऊ पालऺतꣿ '''नेना'''।
|He/she nurture a boy, after marriage
| colspan="2" |∅
|-
! colspan="2" |Instrumental
({{lang-sa2|करण}} ''karaṇa'')
|सँ<sup>ऽ</sup> sɔ̃
|'''नेनासँ<sup>ऽ</sup>''' गिरलऺ रहꣿ।
|It was fallen by the boy.
|  -एँ ẽː**
| -(अ)न्हिऺ
(ə)nʰɪ̆
|-
! colspan="2" |Dative
({{lang-sa2|सम्प्रदान}} ''sampradāna'')
|कॅ, लॅ, लेलऺ
kæ læ, leːlᵊ
|'''नेनाकॅ''' खाना खिलौ।
|Feed the boy the food.
| -(अ)ल
(ə)lə
|Postposition used ←
|-
! colspan="2" |Ergative<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lisindia.ciil.org/Maithili/Maith_vari.html|title=Maithili Variation|website=lisindia.ciil.org|access-date=22 April 2020}}</ref>
(सापेक्ष)‡
|न, नॆ nə, ne
|'''नेनेँ''' पेड़ दॆखलऺकꣿ।
|The boy saw the tree.
| -एँ ẽː
| rowspan="2" |No forms
|-
! colspan="2" |Ablative
({{lang-sa2|अपादान}} ''apādāna'')
|सॆ se
|'''पेड़ऺसॆ''' फलऺ गिरलॏ।
|Fruit fell from the tree.
|  -(अ)तः
(ə)təh
 
-(अ)हु*
|-
! colspan="2" |Genitive
({{lang-sa2|सम्बन्ध}} ''sambandha'')
|करऺ kərᵊ
|'''नेनाकऺ''' खॆॆलॏनऽ छॏ।
|The toy is of the boy.
| -(अ)कऺ
(ə)kᵊ
 
-(अ)रऺ (ə)rᵊ
| -केरऺ, -आँँकऺ
keːrᵊ, ãːkə̆ᵊ
|-
! colspan="2" |Locative
({{lang-sa2|अधिकरण}} ''adhikaraṇa'')
|मेँ mẽː (Inessive),
पर्, पॅ pər, pæ (Superessive)
|'''छतऺपर्''' रखऺने छꣿ।<br />
|It is placed on the terrace.
|  -ए eː**<br />-(अ)हि*
| -आँ ãː
|-
! colspan="2" |Postpositional
(परसर्गीय parasargīya)§
|
|अगऺलऽ '''महीना'''मेँ हॊय़तꣿ।
|It will happen in next month.
|∅
(In र, ड़, ढ़, ल, न, ब stems
 
-आ aː)
| rowspan="2" | -(अ)नऺ,
-(अ)निऺ
 
(ə)nᵊ, (ə)nɪ̆
 
(ə)nᵊ, (ə)nɪ̆
|-
! colspan="2" |Vocative
({{lang-sa2|सम्बोधन}} ''sambodhana'')
|
|'''रॏ नेनऽ'''! औ।
|O boy! Come.
|∅
|}
 
*<nowiki>*These forms are abundant in literature, but are less used in spoken language.</nowiki>
*†It is a form came from locative.
*‡'''Ergative''' is more used in eastern and southern dialects. Maithili also has parallel accusative structure and both can be used. If '''ergative''' is used, then nominative is used as '''absolutive'''.
*Used only in neuter and inanimates.
*§It is used, when a postposition is added to the word. Some other postpositions are-
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Case name
!Postposition
|-
! colspan="2" |Allative
| दक dəkə
|-
! colspan="2" |Terminative
|तकऺ, लऻ təkᵊ, laː
|-
! colspan="2" |Abessive
|बिनु bɪnʊ
|-
! colspan="2" |Adverbial
|जकऻँ , सोँ dʑəkãː, sõː
|-
! rowspan="3" |Genitive adjectives
!Masculine object
|क<sup>ऽ</sup>, र<sup>ऽ</sup> kɔ, rɔ
|-
!Feminine object
|कि, रि kɪ, rɪ
|-
!Neuter object
|कऽ, रऽ kəː, rəː
|}
Some postpositions are added to the genitive too.
 
*Inflectional plural is less in use than the Periphrastic one, and is mostly found in literature.
*Periphrastic Plural is made by suffixes like सभऺ səbʰᵊ; लोकनिऺ loːknɪ̆, सबहिऺ səbəɦɪ̆, गण ɡəɳᵊ, जन dʑənᵊ could be used for animates and आरनिऺ aːrənɪ̆, सनि sənɪ for all.
 
====Common vowel stem ====
 
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Case name
! rowspan="2" |Case name
Line 464: Line 329:
!Nominative
!Nominative
| -इ ɪ
| -इ ɪ
| -अ<sup>ऽ</sup> ɔ
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" | -आ/अ꣱ aː
|  -अऽ əː
| -इन ɪn
| -इनऺ ɪnᵊ
| -अन, -अनि
| -अनऺ, -अनिऺ
ən, ənɪ̆
ənᵊ, ənɪ̆
| rowspan="2" | -अन, -अनि
| rowspan="2" | -अनऺ, -अनिऺ
ən, ənɪ̆
ənᵊ, ənɪ̆
|-
|-
!Accusative
!Accusative
(Indefinite)
(Indefinite)
| -ई iː
| -ई iː
| colspan="2" |  -अऽ əː
| -ई iː
| -ई iː
| -अऽ əː
| -आ aː
|-
|-
!Instrumental
!Instrumental
Line 483: Line 346:
| -एँ ẽː
| -एँ ẽː
| colspan="2" |Postposition used
| colspan="2" |Postposition used
| -अन्हिऺ
| -अन्हि
ənʰɪ̆
ənʰɪ̆
|-
|-
Line 494: Line 357:
|-
|-
!Ergative
!Ergative
| -इयेँ ɪẽː
| -इएँ ɪẽː
| colspan="2" | -एँ ẽː
| colspan="2" | -एँ ẽː
|-
|-
Line 503: Line 366:
|-
|-
!Genitive
!Genitive
| -इकऺ ɪkᵊ, इर॑ ɪrᵊ
| -इक ɪk, इर ɪr
| colspan="2" | -अकऺ əkᵊ, -अरऺ ərᵊ
| colspan="2" | -अक ək, -अर ər
| -ईंकऺ ĩːkᵊ
| -ईंक ĩːk
| colspan="2" | -आँँकऺ
| colspan="2" | -आँँक
ãːkᵊ
ãːk
|-
|-
!Locative
!Locative
Line 518: Line 381:
!Vocative
!Vocative
| -इ ɪ/ई iː
| -इ ɪ/ई iː
| colspan="2" | -अऽ əː
| colspan="2" | -आ/अऽ aː/əː
| -इनऺ ɪnᵊ
| -इन ɪn
| colspan="2" | -अनऺ, -अनिऺ
| colspan="2" | -अन, -अनि
ənᵊ, ənɪ̆
ən, ənɪ̆
|}
|}


Line 534: Line 397:
|-
|-
!Definite
!Definite
| -क<sup>ऽ</sup>
| -का/क꣱ kaː/kɔ
| -कि/किऺ kɪ/kɪ̆
| -कि/कि kɪ/kɪ̆
|कऽ kəː
|का/कऽ kaː/kəː
|-
|-
!Indefinite
!Indefinite
| -अ<sup>ऽ</sup> ɔ
| -आ/अ꣱ aː
| -इ/इऺ ɪ/ɪ̆
| -इ/ɪ/ɪ̆
|/अऽ ᵊ/əː
|/अऽ ᵊ/əː
|}
|}


===Pronouns===
===Pronouns===
{{Main|Maithili grammar#Pronouns}}
{{Main|Maithili grammar#Pronouns}}
Pronouns in Maithili are declined in similar way to nominals. However, genetic case has a different form in most of the pronouns. The lower forms are Accusative and Postpositional. Periphrastic Plural is used to form Plurals.
Pronouns in Maithili are declined in similar way to nominals, though in most pronouns the genitive case has a different form. The lower forms below are accusative and postpositional. The plurals are formed periphrastically.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Person
! colspan="2" |Person
Line 554: Line 417:
|-
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |First Person
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |First Person
| colspan="3" | हमऺ ɦəmᵊ
| colspan="3" | हम ɦəm
अपऺना ɐpᵊnaː (Inclusive)
अपना ɐpᵊnaː (Inclusive)
|-
|-
| colspan="3" |हमऺरा ɦəmᵊraː
| colspan="3" |हमरा ɦəmᵊraː
अपऺना ɐpᵊnaː (Inclusive)
अपना ɐpᵊnaː (Inclusive)
|-
|-
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Second Person
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Second Person
|तोँहऺ tõːɦᵊ
|तोँह tõːɦᵊ
| rowspan="2" |अहाँ ɐɦãː
| rowspan="2" |अहाँ ɐɦãː
| rowspan="2" |अपऺने ɐpᵊneː
| rowspan="2" |अपने ɐpᵊneː
|-
|-
|तोँहऺरा tõːɦᵊraː
|तोँहरा tõːɦᵊraː
|-
|-
! rowspan="8" |Third Person
! rowspan="8" |Third Person
Line 572: Line 435:
| colspan="2" |ए eː
| colspan="2" |ए eː
|-
|-
|ऎकऺरा ekᵊraː
|ऎकरा ekᵊraː
| colspan="2" |हिनऺका ɦɪnᵊkaː
| colspan="2" |हिनका ɦɪnᵊkaː
|-
|-
| colspan="3" |ए eː (Neuter)
| colspan="3" |ए eː (Neuter)
Line 583: Line 446:
| colspan="2" |ओ oː
| colspan="2" |ओ oː
|-
|-
|ऒकऺरा okᵊraː
|ऒकरा okᵊraː
| colspan="2" |हुनऺका ɦʊnᵊkaː
| colspan="2" |हुनका ɦʊnᵊkaː
|-
|-
| colspan="3" |ऒ o (Neuter)
| colspan="3" |ऒ o (Neuter)
Line 593: Line 456:
==Writing system==
==Writing system==
[[File:The consonants of the Mithilakshar script and the corresponding Devnagari.jpg|right|thumb|Consonants in Mithilakshar]]
[[File:The consonants of the Mithilakshar script and the corresponding Devnagari.jpg|right|thumb|Consonants in Mithilakshar]]
Maithili was traditionally written in their own script which is known as [[Mithilakshar]] or [[Tirhuta]]. This script is similar to the [[Bengali–Assamese script|Bengali-Assamese script]]. [[Devanagari script]] is most commonly used since the 20th century.<ref>Pandey, A. (2009). [http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n3765.pdf Towards an Encoding for the Maithili Script in ISO/IEC 10646.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514002714/http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n3765.pdf |date=14 May 2011 }} The University of Michigan, Michigan.</ref>
Beginning in the 14th century, the language was written in the [[Tirhuta script]] (also known as Mithilakshara or Maithili), which is related to the [[Bengali-Assamese script]].<ref name="Pandey2009" /> By the early 20th century, this script was largely associated with the Mithila Brahmans, with most others using [[Kaithi script|Kaithi]], and [[Devanagari]] spreading under the influence of the scholars at [[Banaras]].<ref name="Brass1974">{{Cite book |last=Brass |first=P. R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SylBHS8IJAUC&pg=PP1 |title=Language, Religion and Politics in North India |publisher=iUniverse |year=2005 |isbn=0-595-34394-5 |location=Lincoln |page=67 |access-date=1 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511082055/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=SylBHS8IJAUC&lpg=PA67&pg=PP1 |archive-date=11 May 2018 |url-status=live |orig-year=1974}}</ref> Throughout the course of the century,  Devanagari grew in use eventually replacing the other two, and has since remained the dominant script for Maithili.<ref name="Yadava2013">Yadava, Y. P. (2013). Linguistic context and language endangerment in Nepal. [http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/nepling/pdf/Nep_Ling_28.pdf Nepalese Linguistics 28] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231341/http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/nepling/pdf/Nep_Ling_28.pdf |date=3 March 2016 }}: 262–274.</ref><ref name="Pandey2009" /><ref name="Brass1974" /> Tirhuta retained some specific uses (on signage in north Bihar as well as in religious texts, genealogical records and letters), and has seen a resurgence of interest in the 21st century.<ref name="Pandey2009">{{Cite report |url=http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n3765.pdf |title=Towards an Encoding for the Maithili Script in ISO/IEC 10646 |last=Pandey |first=Anshuman |page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514002714/http://std.dkuug.dk/JTC1/SC2/WG2/docs/n3765.pdf |archive-date=14 May 2011 |year=2009}}.</ref>


The [[Tirhuta (Unicode block)|Tirhuta]] (Mithilakshar) and [[Kaithi (Unicode block)|Kaithi]] scripts are both currently included in Unicode.
The [[Tirhuta (Unicode block)|Tirhuta]] and [[Kaithi (Unicode block)|Kaithi]] scripts are both currently included in Unicode.


==Maithili calendar==
==Literature==
{{Main|Tirhuta Panchang}}
{{Main|Maithili literature}}
The Maithili calendar or [[Tirhuta Panchang]] is followed by the Maithili community of India and [[Nepal]]. It is one of the many [[Hindu calendar]]s based on [[Vikram Samvat]]. It is a [[Sidereal clock|sidereal]] [[solar calendar]] in which the year begins on the first day of Baisakh month, i.e., Mesh Sankranti. This day falls on 13/14 April of the Georgian calendar. [[Pohela Baishakh]] in [[Bangladesh]] and in [[West Bengal]], Rangali Bihu in Assam, [[Puthandu]] in Tamil Nadu, and Vaishakhi in Punjab are observed on the same day. These festivals mark the beginning of new year in their respective regions.
 
==Sample Text==
The following sample text is Maithili translation of Article 1 of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]]:
 
'''Maithili in the [[Tirhuta]] alphabet'''
:{{Lang|mai|{{script|Tirh|'''𑒁𑒢𑒳𑒔𑓂𑒕𑒹𑒠 𑓑:'''𑒮𑒦 𑒧𑒰𑒢𑒫 𑒖𑒢𑓂𑒧𑒞𑓁 𑒮𑓂𑒫𑒞𑒢𑓂𑒞𑓂𑒩 𑒁𑒕𑒱 𑒞𑒟𑒰 𑒑𑒩𑒱𑒧𑒰 𑒂 𑒁𑒡𑒱𑒏𑒰𑒩𑒧𑒹 𑒮𑒧𑒰𑒢 𑒁𑒕𑒱। 𑒮𑒦𑒏𑒹𑒿 𑒁𑒣𑒢–𑒁𑒣𑒢 𑒥𑒳𑒠𑓂𑒡𑒱 𑒂 𑒫𑒱𑒫𑒹𑒏 𑒕𑒻𑒏 𑒂𑒍𑒩 𑒮𑒦𑒏𑒹𑒿 𑒋𑒏 𑒠𑒼𑒮𑒩𑒏 𑒣𑓂𑒩𑒞𑒱 𑒮𑒾𑒯𑒰𑒩𑓂𑒠𑒣𑒴𑒩𑓂𑒝 𑒫𑓂𑒨𑒫𑒯𑒰𑒩 𑒏𑒩𑒥𑒰𑒏 𑒔𑒰𑒯𑒲।}}}}


{| class="wikitable"
'''Maithili in the [[Devanagari]] alphabet'''
|+'''Names and approximate lengths of Maithili months'''<ref>Maithili Calendar, published from Darbhanga</ref>
 
|-
:{{lang|mai|'''अनुच्छेद १:'''सभ मानव जन्मतः स्वतन्त्र अछि तथा गरिमा आ अधिकारमे समान अछि। सभकेँ अपन–अपन बुद्धि आ विवेक छैक आओर सभकेँ एक दोसरक प्रति सौहार्दपूर्ण व्यवहार करबाक चाही।}}
! No.
 
! Name
'''Maithili in [[IAST]]'''
! Maithili <small>(Tirhuta)</small>
 
! Maithili <small>(Devanagari)</small>
:'''Anuccheda Eka:''' Sabha mānaba janmataha svatantra achi tathā garimā ā adhikārme samāna achi. Sabhkẽ apana-apana buddhi ā bibeka chaika āora sabhkẽ eka dosarāka prati sauhardapurna byabahāra karabāka cāhī.
! [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]
 
! Days <small>(Traditional Hindu sidereal solar calendar)</small>
'''Translation'''
|-
| 1
| Baisakh
| 𑒥𑒻𑒮𑒰𑒐
| बैसाख
| वैशाख
| 30 / 31
|-
| 2
| Jeth
| 𑒖𑒹𑒚
| जेठ
| ज्येष्ठ
| 31 / 32
|-
| 3
| Asadh
| 𑒁𑒮𑒰𑒜𑓃
| असाढ़
| आषाढ
| 31 / 32
|-
| 4
| Saon
| 𑒧𑒰𑒍𑒢
| साओन
| श्रावण
| 31 / 32
|-
| 5
| Bhado
| 𑒦𑒰𑒠𑒼
| भादो
| भाद्रपद, भाद्र, प्रोष्ठपद
| 31 / 32
|-
| 6
| Aasin
| 𑒂𑒮𑒱𑒢
| आसिन
| आश्विन
| 31 / 30
|-
| 7
| Katik
| 𑒏𑒰𑒞𑒱𑒏
| कातिक
| कार्तिक
| 29 / 30
|-
| 8
| Agahan
| 𑒁𑒑𑒯𑒢
| अगहन
| अग्रहायण, मार्गशीर्ष
| 29 / 30
|-
| 9
| Poos
| 𑒣𑒳𑒮
| पूस
| पौष
| 29 / 30
|-
| 10
| Magh
| 𑒧𑒰𑒒
| माघ
| माघ
| 29 / 30
|-
| 11
| Phagun
| 𑒤𑒰𑒑𑒳𑒢
| फागुन
| फाल्गुन
| 29 / 30
|-
| 12
| Chait
| 𑒔𑒻𑒞𑒱
| चैति
| चैत्र
| 30 / 31
|}


==Literature==
:'''Article 1:''' All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They possess conscience and reason. Therefore, everyone should act in a spirit of brotherhood towards each other.
{{Main|Maithili literature}}


==See also==
==See also==
Line 703: Line 485:
* [[List of Indian languages by total speakers]]
* [[List of Indian languages by total speakers]]


== General bibliography ==
==Notes==
* {{cite book |title=An Introduction to the Maithili dialect of the Bihari language as spoken in North Bihar |author=George A. Grierson |publisher=Asiatic Society |location=Calcutta  |year=1909|url=https://archive.org/stream/introductiontoma00grierich#page/n3/mode/2up }}
{{notelist}}
* {{cite book |title=Maithili Language and Linguistics: Some Background Notes |author=Ramawatar Yadav |publisher=University of Cambridge |url=http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/kailash/pdf/kailash_08_0102_04.pdf }}


== Citations ==
== Citations ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
{{notelist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Interwiki|code=mai}}
{{Interwiki|code=mai}}
{{Commons category|Maithili language}}
 
{{wikivoyage|Maithili phrasebook|Maithili|a phrasebook}}
 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101230084755/http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/Profile.aspx?menu=004&LangID=199 UCLA Language Materials Project : Maithili]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101230084755/http://www.lmp.ucla.edu/Profile.aspx?menu=004&LangID=199 UCLA Language Materials Project : Maithili]
* [https://archive.today/20121219224725/http://www.ntm.org.in/languages/maithili/default_maithili.asp National Translation Mission's (NTM) Maithili Pages]
* [https://archive.today/20121219224725/http://www.ntm.org.in/languages/maithili/default_maithili.asp National Translation Mission's (NTM) Maithili Pages]
* [http://www.videha.co.in/ Videha Ist Maithili] {{ISSN|2229-547X}}
* [http://www.videha.co.in/ Videha Ist Maithili] {{ISSN|2229-547X}}
* [https://sites.google.com/a/videha.com/videha-pothi/ Maithili Books]
* [https://sites.google.com/a/videha.com/videha-pothi/ Maithili Books]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130908063356/http://www.udbodhana.com/ Udbodhana Regd International e journal]


{{Bihari languages}}
{{Bihari languages}}
Line 736: Line 515:
[[Category:Languages of Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Languages of Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Languages of Nepal]]
[[Category:Languages of Nepal]]
[[Category:Languages officially written in Indic scripts]]
[[Category:Official languages of India]]
[[Category:Official languages of India]]
[[Category:Sahitya Akademi recognised languages]]
[[Category:Languages of Bagmati Province]]
[[Category:Languages of Koshi Province]]
[[Category:Languages of Madhesh Province]]
[[Category:Languages of Lumbini Province]]
[[Category:Languages written in Devanagari]]

Latest revision as of 08:58, 22 July 2023


Maithili
मैथिली
Maithili language.svg
The word "Maithili" written in Devanagari script
PronunciationTemplate:IPA-mai
Native toIndia and Nepal
RegionMithila[lower-alpha 1]
EthnicityMaithil
Native speakers
(34 million cited 2000)[3]
Early forms
Dialects
Devanagari and others
Official status
Official language in
 India[lower-alpha 2]
Regulated by
Language codes
ISO 639-2mai
ISO 639-3mai
Glottologmait1250
Maithili map.png
Maithili-speaking region of India and Nepal

Template:Constitutionally recognised languages in India

Maithili (English: /ˈmtɪli/[5]) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in parts of India and Nepal. It is native to the Mithila region, which encompasses parts of the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand as well as Nepal's eastern Terai. It is one of the 22 officially recognised languages of India[6][1][2] and the second most spoken language in Nepal.[7][8]It was once described by linguist Sir George Abraham Grierson as the "sweetest language".[9]

The language is predominantly written in Devanagari, but there were two other historically important scripts: Tirhuta, which has retained some use until the present, and Kaithi.

Official status[edit]

In 2003, Maithili was included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution as a recognised Indian language, which allows it to be used in education, government, and other official contexts in India.[6] Maithili language is included as an optional paper in the UPSC Exam. In March 2018, Maithili received the second official language status in the Indian state of Jharkhand.[10]

Gopal Jee Thakur of the Bharatiya Janata Party is the first Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha who speaks in the Maithili language in the Parliament of India.[11] He is currently the MP for Darbhanga.[12]

The Language Commission of Nepal has recommended Maithili language to be made an official administrative language in Koshi province and Madhesh Province.[13]

Geographic distribution[edit]

In India, Maithili is spoken mainly in Bihar and Jharkhand in the districts of Darbhanga, Saharsa, Samastipur, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Begusarai, Munger, Khagaria, Purnia, Katihar, Kishanganj, Sheohar, Bhagalpur, Madhepura, Araria, Supaul, Vaishali and Deoghar as well as other districts of Santhal Pargana division.[14][15] Darbhanga, Madhubani, Saharsa and Purnia constitute cultural and linguistic centers.[16]

In Nepal, Maithili is spoken mainly in the Outer Terai districts including Sarlahi, Mahottari, Dhanusa, Sunsari, Siraha, Morang and Saptari Districts. Janakpur is an important linguistic centre of Maithili.[16]

Classification[edit]

In the 19th century, linguistic scholars considered Maithili as a dialect of a Bihari language along with other languages of Bihar. Hoernlé compared it with the Gaudian languages and recognised that it shows more similarities with the Bengali languages than with Hindi. Grierson recognised it as a distinct language and published its first grammar in 1881.[17][18]

Chatterji grouped Maithili with the Magadhi Prakrit.[19]

Dialects[edit]

Maithili varies greatly in dialects.[20] The standard form of Maithili is Central Maithili[21] which is mainly spoken in Darbhanga, Begusarai district , Madhubani district and Saharsa district in Bihar, India.[22]

Origin and history[edit]

The name Maithili is derived from the word Mithila, an ancient kingdom of which King Janaka was the ruler (see Ramayana). Maithili is also one of the names of Sita, the wife of King Rama and daughter of King Janaka. Scholars in Mithila used Sanskrit for their literary work and Maithili was the language of the common folk (Abahattha).

The beginning of Maithili language and literature can be traced back to the 'Charyapadas', a form of Buddhist mystical verses, composed during the period of 700-1300 AD. These padas were written in Sandhya bhasa by several Siddhas who belonged to Vajrayana Buddhism and were scattered throughout the territory of Assam, Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. Several of Siddas were from Mithila region such as Kanhapa, Sarhapa etc. Prominent scholars like Rahul Sankrityanan, Subhadra Jha and Jayakant Mishra provided evidence and proved that the language of Charyapada is ancient Maithili or proto Maithili.[30] Apart from Charyapadas, there has been rich tradition of folk culture, folk songs and which were popular among common folks of Mithila region.[31]

After the fall of Pala rule, disappearance of Buddhism, establishment of Karnāta kings and patronage of Maithili under Harisimhadeva (1226–1324) of Karnāta dynasty dates back to the 14th century (around 1327 AD). Jyotirishwar Thakur (1280–1340) wrote a unique work Varnaratnākara in Maithili prose.[32] The Varna Ratnākara is the earliest known prose text, written by Jyotirishwar Thakur in Mithilaksar script,[17] and is the first prose work not only in Maithili but in any modern Indian language.[33]

In 1324, Ghyasuddin Tughluq, the emperor of Delhi invaded Mithila, defeated Harisimhadeva, entrusted Mithila to his family priest and a great Military Scholar Kameshvar Jha, a Maithil Brahmin of the Oinwar dynasty. But the disturbed era did not produce any literature in Maithili until Vidyapati Thakur (1360 to 1450), who was an epoch-making poet under the patronage of king Shiva Singh and his queen Lakhima Devi. He produced over 1,000 immortal songs in Maithili on the theme of love of Radha and Krishna and the domestic life of Shiva and Parvati as well as on the subject of suffering of migrant labourers of Morang and their families; besides, he wrote a number of treaties in Sanskrit. His love-songs spread far and wide in no time and enchanted saints, poets and youth. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu saw the divine light of love behind these songs, and soon these songs became themes of Vaisnava sect of Bengal. Rabindranath Tagore, out of curiosity, imitated these songs under the pseudonym Bhanusimha. Vidyapati influenced the religious literature of Asama, Bengal, Utkala and gave birth to a new Brajabuli language.[34][35]

The earliest reference to Maithili or Tirhutiya is in Amaduzzi's preface to Beligatti's Alphabetum Brammhanicum, published in 1771.[36] This contains a list of Indian languages amongst which is 'Tourutiana.' Colebrooke's essay on the Sanskrit and Prakrit languages, written in 1801, was the first to describe Maithili as a distinct dialect.[37]

Many devotional songs were written by Vaisnava saints, including in the mid-17th century, Vidyapati and Govindadas. Mapati Upadhyaya wrote a drama titled Pārijātaharaṇa in Maithili. Professional troupes, mostly from dalit classes known as Kirtanias, the singers of bhajan or devotional songs, started to perform this drama in public gatherings and the courts of the nobles. Lochana (c. 1575 – c. 1660) wrote Rāgatarangni, a significant treatise on the science of music, describing the rāgas, tālas, and lyrics prevalent in Mithila.[38]

During the Malla dynasty's rule Maithili spread far and wide throughout Nepal from the 16th to the 17th century.[39][40] During this period, at least seventy Maithili dramas were produced. In the drama Harishchandranrityam by Siddhinarayanadeva (1620–57), some characters speak pure colloquial Maithili, while others speak Bengali, Sanskrit or Prakrit.[41]

After the demise of Maheshwar Singh, the ruler of Darbhanga Raj, in 1860, the Raj was taken over by the British Government as regent. The Darbhanga Raj returned to his successor, Maharaj Lakshmishvar Singh, in 1898. The Zamindari Raj had a lackadaisical approach toward Maithili. The use of Maithili language was revived through personal efforts of MM Parameshvar Mishra, Chanda Jha, Munshi Raghunandan Das and others.[42][43]

Publication of Maithil Hita Sadhana (1905), Mithila Moda (1906), and Mithila Mihir (1908) further encouraged writers. The first social organisation, Maithil Mahasabha,[44] was established in 1910 for the development of Mithila and Maithili. It blocked its membership for people outside of the Maithil Brahmin and Karna Kayastha castes. Maithil Mahasabha campaigned for the official recognition of Maithili as a regional language. Calcutta University recognised Maithili in 1917, and other universities followed suit.[45]

Babu Bhola Lal Das wrote Maithili Grammar (Maithili Vyakaran). He edited a book Gadya Kusumanjali and edited a journal Maithili.[46] In 1965, Maithili was officially accepted by Sahitya Academy, an organisation dedicated to the promotion of Indian literature.[47][48]

In 2002, Maithili was recognised on the VIII schedule of the Indian Constitution as a major Indian language; Maithili is now one of the twenty-two Scheduled languages of India.[49]

The publishing of Maithili books in Mithilakshar script was started by Acharya Ramlochan Saran.[50][51]

Phonology[edit]

Vowels[edit]

Front Central Back
short long short long short long
Close ɪ Template:Grapheme Template:Grapheme ʊ Template:Grapheme Template:Grapheme
Mid e Template:Grapheme Template:Grapheme ə~ɐ Template:Grapheme əː Template:Grapheme o Template:Grapheme Template:Grapheme
Open æ~ɛ Template:Grapheme a Template:Grapheme Template:Grapheme ɔ Template:Grapheme
Diphthongs əɪ̯ Template:Grapheme əe̯ Template:Grapheme əʊ̯ Template:Grapheme əo̯ Template:Grapheme
  • All vowels have nasal counterparts, represented by "~" in IPA and ँ on the vowels, like आँ ãː .
  • All vowel sounds are realised as nasal when occurring before or after a nasal consonant.[52]
  • Sounds eː and oː are often replaced by diphthongs əɪ̯ and əʊ̯.[citation needed]
  • ɔ is replaced by ə in northern dialects and by o in southernmost dialects.
  • There are three short vowels that were described by Grierson, but are not counted by modern grammarians. But they could be understood as syllable break: ॳ / ɘ̆ /, इ/ ɪ̆ /, उ/ ʊ̆ / . Or as syllable break ऺ in Devanagari and "." in IPA.
  • ꣾ is a Unicode letter in Devanagari, (IPA /əe̯/) which is not supported currently on several browsers and operating systems, along with its mātrā (vowel sign).

The following diphthongs are present:[53]

अय़(ꣾ) / əe̯ / ~ /ɛː/ - अय़सन (ꣾ सन) / əe̯sən / ~ /ɛːsɐn/ 'like this'
अव़(ॵ) / əo̯ / ~ /ɔː/- चव़मुख(चॏमुख) / tɕəo̯mʊkʰ / ~ /tɕɔːmʊkʰ/ 'four faced'
अयॆ / əe̯ / - अयॆलाः / əe̯laːh / 'came'
अवॊ (अऒ) / əo̯ / - अवॊताः / əo̯taːh / 'will come'
आइ / aːi̯ / - आइ / aːi̯ / 'today'
आउ / aːu̯ / - आउ / aːu̯ / 'come please'
आयॆ (आऎ) / aːe̯ / - आयॆल / aːe̯l / 'came'
आवॊ (आऒ) / aːo̯ / - आवॊब / aːo̯b / 'will come'
यु (इउ) / iu̯/ - घ्यु / ghiu̯ / 'ghee'
यॆ (इऎ) / ie̯ / - यॆः / ie̯h / 'only this'
यॊ (इऒ) / io̯ / - कह्यो / kəhio̯ / 'any day'
वि (उइ) / ui̯ / - द्वि / dui̯ / 'two'
वॆ (उऎ) /ue̯/ - वॆ: / ue̯h / 'only that'

A peculiar type of phonetic change is recently taking place in Maithili by way of epenthesis, i.e. backward transposition of final i and u in all sort of words.[54] Thus:

Standard Colloquial - Common Pronunciation

अछि / əchi / - अइछ / əich / 'is'
रवि / rəbi / - रइब / rəib / 'Sunday'
मधु / mədhu / - मउध / məudh / 'honey'
बालु / ba:lu / - बाउल / ba:ul / 'sand'

Consonants[edit]

Maithili has four classes of stops, one class of affricate, which is generally treated as a stop series, related nasals, fricatives and approximant.

Labial Dental/
Alveolar
Retroflex Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m Template:Grapheme n Template:Grapheme ɳ Template:Grapheme (ɲ) Template:Grapheme ŋ Template:Grapheme
Plosive/
Affricate
voiceless unaspirated p Template:Grapheme t Template:Grapheme ʈ Template:Grapheme Template:Grapheme k Template:Grapheme
aspirated Template:Grapheme Template:Grapheme ʈʰ Template:Grapheme tɕʰ Template:Grapheme Template:Grapheme
voiced unaspirated b Template:Grapheme d Template:Grapheme ɖ Template:Grapheme Template:Grapheme ɡ Template:Grapheme
aspirated Template:Grapheme Template:Grapheme ɖʱ Template:Grapheme dʑʱ Template:Grapheme ɡʱ Template:Grapheme
Fricative voiceless (ɸ~f) Template:Grapheme s Template:Grapheme (ʂ) Template:Grapheme (ɕ) Template:Grapheme (x) Template:Grapheme -(h)* Template:Grapheme
voiced (z) Template:Grapheme (ʑ) Template:Grapheme (ɦ) Template:Grapheme
Rhotic unaspirated ɾ~r Template:Grapheme (ɽ) Template:Grapheme
aspirated (ɽʱ) Template:Grapheme
Lateral l Template:Grapheme
Approximant (ʋ~w) Template:Grapheme (j) Template:Grapheme

Stops[edit]

There are four series of stops- bilabials, coronals, retroflex and velar, along with an affricate series. All of them show the four way contrast like most of the modern Indo-Aryan languages:

Apart from the retroflex series, all the rest four series show full phonological contrast in all positions. The retroflex tenius ʈ and ʈʰ show full contrast in all positions. ɖ and ɖʱ show phonological contrast mainly word-initially.[55] Both are defective phonemes, occurring intervocalically an word finally only if preceded by a nasal consonant. Word finally and postvocalically, ɖʱ surfaces as ɽʱ or rʱ.[56] Non-initially, both are interchangeable with ɽ or r and ɽʱ or respectively.[55]

Fricatives[edit]

s and h are most common fricatives. They show full phonological opposition. ɕ and ʂ, which is present in tatsama words, is replaced by s most of the times, when independent. ɕ occurs before and ʂ before ʈ. x and f occurs in Perso-Arabic loanwords, generally replaced by and respectively. x and ɸ also occurs in Sanskrit words (jihvamuliya and upadhmaniya), which is peculiar to Maithili.

  • Fricative sounds [ʂ, ɕ] only occur marginally, and are typically pronounced as a dental fricative /s/ in most styles of pronunciation.ः is always added after a vowel.

Sonorants[edit]

m and n are present in all phonological positions. ŋ occurs only non-initially and is followed by a homorganic stop, which may be deleted if voiced, which leads to the independent presence of ŋ. ɳ occurs non-initially, followed by a homorganic stop, and is independent only in tatsama words, which is often replaced with n. ɲ occurs only non-initially and is followed by a homorganic stop always. It is the only nasal which does not occur independently.

  • In most styles of pronunciation, the retroflex flap [ɽ] occurs marginally, and is usually pronounced as an alveolar tap /r/ sound.
  • Approximant sounds [ʋ, w, j] and fricative sounds [ɸ, f, z, ʑ, x], mainly occur in words that are borrowed from Sanskrit or in words of Perso-Arabic origin. From Sanskrit, puʂp(ə) as puɸp(ə). Conjunct of ɦj as ɦʑ as in graɦjə as graɦʑə.[55]

There are four non-syllabic vowels in Maithili- i̯, u̯, e̯, o̯ written in Devanagari as य़, व़, य़ॆ, व़ॊ. Most of the times, these are written without nukta.

Morphology[edit]

Nouns[edit]

An example declension:

Case name Singular Inflection Plural Inflection
Feminine Masculine Neuter Feminine Masculine Neuter
Nominative -इ ɪ -आ/अ꣱ aː/ɔ -इन ɪn -अन, -अनि

ən, ənɪ̆

-अन, -अनि

ən, ənɪ̆

Accusative

(Indefinite)

-ई iː -ई iː -आ aː
Instrumental Postposition used
-एँ ẽː Postposition used -अन्हि

ənʰɪ̆

Dative Postposition used
-इल ɪlə -अल ələ No forms
Ergative -इएँ ɪẽː -एँ ẽː
Ablative -इतः ɪtəh -अतः

ətəh

Genitive -इक ɪk, इर ɪr -अक ək, -अर ər -ईंक ĩːk -आँँक

ãːk

Locative Postposition used -ए eː Postposition used -आँ

ãː

Vocative -इ ɪ/ई iː -आ/अऽ aː/əː -इन ɪn -अन, -अनि

ən, ənɪ̆

Adjectives[edit]

The difference between adjectives and nouns is very minute in Maithili. However, there are marked adjectives there in Maithili.

Masculine Feminine Neuter
Definite -का/क꣱ kaː/kɔ -कि/कि kɪ/kɪ̆ का/कऽ kaː/kəː
Indefinite -आ/अ꣱ aː/ɔ -इ/इ ɪ/ɪ̆ अ/अऽ ᵊ/əː

Pronouns[edit]

Pronouns in Maithili are declined in similar way to nominals, though in most pronouns the genitive case has a different form. The lower forms below are accusative and postpositional. The plurals are formed periphrastically.

Person First Grade Honour Honorofic High Honorofic
First Person हम ɦəm

अपना ɐpᵊnaː (Inclusive)

हमरा ɦəmᵊraː

अपना ɐpᵊnaː (Inclusive)

Second Person तोँह tõːɦᵊ अहाँ ɐɦãː अपने ɐpᵊneː
तोँहरा tõːɦᵊraː
Third Person Proximate ई iː ए eː
ऎकरा ekᵊraː हिनका ɦɪnᵊkaː
ए eː (Neuter)
ऎहि, ऍ, अथि eɦɪ, æ, ɐtʰɪ (Neuter)
Non-Proximate ऊ, वा uː, ʋaː ओ oː
ऒकरा okᵊraː हुनका ɦʊnᵊkaː
ऒ o (Neuter)
ऒहि, ॵ oɦɪ, əʊ (Neuter)

Writing system[edit]

Consonants in Mithilakshar

Beginning in the 14th century, the language was written in the Tirhuta script (also known as Mithilakshara or Maithili), which is related to the Bengali-Assamese script.[57] By the early 20th century, this script was largely associated with the Mithila Brahmans, with most others using Kaithi, and Devanagari spreading under the influence of the scholars at Banaras.[58] Throughout the course of the century, Devanagari grew in use eventually replacing the other two, and has since remained the dominant script for Maithili.[59][57][58] Tirhuta retained some specific uses (on signage in north Bihar as well as in religious texts, genealogical records and letters), and has seen a resurgence of interest in the 21st century.[57]

The Tirhuta and Kaithi scripts are both currently included in Unicode.

Literature[edit]

Sample Text[edit]

The following sample text is Maithili translation of Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Maithili in the Tirhuta alphabet

𑒁𑒢𑒳𑒔𑓂𑒕𑒹𑒠 𑓑:𑒮𑒦 𑒧𑒰𑒢𑒫 𑒖𑒢𑓂𑒧𑒞𑓁 𑒮𑓂𑒫𑒞𑒢𑓂𑒞𑓂𑒩 𑒁𑒕𑒱 𑒞𑒟𑒰 𑒑𑒩𑒱𑒧𑒰 𑒂 𑒁𑒡𑒱𑒏𑒰𑒩𑒧𑒹 𑒮𑒧𑒰𑒢 𑒁𑒕𑒱। 𑒮𑒦𑒏𑒹𑒿 𑒁𑒣𑒢–𑒁𑒣𑒢 𑒥𑒳𑒠𑓂𑒡𑒱 𑒂 𑒫𑒱𑒫𑒹𑒏 𑒕𑒻𑒏 𑒂𑒍𑒩 𑒮𑒦𑒏𑒹𑒿 𑒋𑒏 𑒠𑒼𑒮𑒩𑒏 𑒣𑓂𑒩𑒞𑒱 𑒮𑒾𑒯𑒰𑒩𑓂𑒠𑒣𑒴𑒩𑓂𑒝 𑒫𑓂𑒨𑒫𑒯𑒰𑒩 𑒏𑒩𑒥𑒰𑒏 𑒔𑒰𑒯𑒲।

Maithili in the Devanagari alphabet

अनुच्छेद १:सभ मानव जन्मतः स्वतन्त्र अछि तथा गरिमा आ अधिकारमे समान अछि। सभकेँ अपन–अपन बुद्धि आ विवेक छैक आओर सभकेँ एक दोसरक प्रति सौहार्दपूर्ण व्यवहार करबाक चाही।

Maithili in IAST

Anuccheda Eka: Sabha mānaba janmataha svatantra achi tathā garimā ā adhikārme samāna achi. Sabhkẽ apana-apana buddhi ā bibeka chaika āora sabhkẽ eka dosarāka prati sauhardapurna byabahāra karabāka cāhī.

Translation

Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They possess conscience and reason. Therefore, everyone should act in a spirit of brotherhood towards each other.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. Eastern Bihar and northeastern Jharkhand in India;[1][2] Province No. 2 and Province No. 1 in Nepal)
  2. It is one of 22 Eighth Schedule languages

Citations[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "मैथिली लिपि को बढ़ावा देने के लिए विशेषज्ञों की जल्द ही बैठक बुला सकते हैं प्रकाश जावड़ेकर". NDTV. 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "मैथिली को भी मिलेगा दूसरी राजभाषा का दर्जा". Hindustan. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  3. Maithili at Ethnologue (21st ed., 2018)
  4. "झारखंड : रघुवर सरकार कैबिनेट से मगही, भोजपुरी, मैथिली व अंगिका को द्वितीय भाषा का दर्जा". Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  5. "Maithili". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. Template:OEDsub
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Constitutional provisions relating to Eighth Schedule" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  7. "Nepal". Ethnologue. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  8. Sah, K. K. (2013). "Some perspectives on Maithili". Nepalese Linguistics (28): 179–188.
  9. "Maithili gets cultural boost". Hans India. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  10. "झारखंड : रघुवर कैबिनेट से मगही, भोजपुरी, मैथिली व अंगिका को द्वितीय भाषा का दर्जा". Prabhat Khabar (in हिन्दी). 21 March 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  11. The Hindu Net Desk (18 November 2019). "Parliament proceedings updates: Chit Funds (Amendment) Bill under consideration in Lok Sabha". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  12. "Darbhanga Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 Live Updates: Bihar Lok Sabha Election (Polls) Results 2019, Winner, Runner-Up". 2 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  13. "सरकारी कामकाजको भाषाका आधारहरूको निर्धारण तथा भाषासम्बन्धी सिफारिसहरू (पञ्चवर्षीय प्रतिवेदन- साराांश) २०७८" (PDF). Language Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  14. "बिहार में मैथिली भाषा आजकल सुर्खियों में क्यों है? त्रेता युग से अब तक मैथिली का सफर".
  15. "मैथिली को भी मिलेगा दूसरी राजभाषा का दर्जा". Hindustan (in हिन्दी). 6 March 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 Lewis, M. P., ed. (2009). "Maithili". Ethnologue: Languages of the World (Sixteenth ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Yadav, R. (1979). "Maithili language and Linguistics: Some Background Notes" (PDF). Maithili Phonetics and Phonology. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Kansas, Lawrence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  18. Yadav, R. (1996). A Reference Grammar of Maithili. Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin, New York.
  19. Chatterji, S. K. (1926). The origin and development of the Bengali language. University Press, Calcutta.
  20. Brass, P. R. (2005). Language, Religion, and Politics in North India. iUniverse, Lincoln, NE.
  21. Yadav, R. (1992). "The Use of the Mother Tongue in Primary Education: The Nepalese Context" (PDF). Contributions to Nepalese Studies. 19 (2): 178–190. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  22. Choudhary, P.K. 2013. Causes and Effects of Super-stratum Language Influence, with Reference to Maithili. Journal of Indo-European Studies 41(3/4): 378–391.
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  24. Ray, K. K. (2009). Reduplication in Thenthi Dialect of Maithili Language. Nepalese Linguistics 24: 285–290.
  25. 2011 Census of India, Population By Mother Tongue
  26. "language | Munger District, Government of Bihar | India". munger.nic.in. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  27. "LSI Vol-5 part-2". dsal. p. 95. Southern Maithili
  28. "LSI Vol-5 part-2". dsal. p. 13.
  29. "Eastern Maithili Dialect "www.mustgo.com". Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  30. Mishra, J. (1949). A History Of Maithili Literature. Vol. 1.
  31. "Madhubani Paintings: People's Living Cultural Heritage". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  32. Chatterji, S. K. (1940). Varna Ratnakara Of Jyotirisvara Kavisekharacarya.
  33. Reading Asia : new research in Asian studies. Richmond, Surrey: Curzon. 2001. ISBN 0700713719. OCLC 48560711.
  34. Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra; Pusalker, A. D.; Majumdar, A. K., eds. (1960). The History and Culture of the Indian People. Vol. VI: The Delhi Sultanate. Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 515. During the sixteenth century, a form of an artificial literary language became established ... It was the Brajabulī dialect ... Brajabulī is practically the Maithilī speech as current in Mithilā, modified in its forms to look like Bengali.
  35. Morshed, Abul Kalam Manjoor (2012). "Brajabuli". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  36. Ded. St. Borgiae Clementi, XIV. Praef. J. Chr. Amadutii (1771). Alphabetum Brammhanicum Seu Indostanum Universitatis Kasi (in Latina). Palala Press. pp. viii. ISBN 9781173019655.
  37. Thomas Colebrooke, H. (1873). Miscellaneous essays. With life of the author by his son Sir T.E. Colebrooke, Volume 3. p. 26. ISBN 9781145371071.
  38. Mishra, Amar Kant (23 November 2018). Ruling Dynasty Of Mithila: Dr.Sir Kameswar Singh. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64429-762-9.
  39. Ayyappappanikkar; Akademi, Sahitya (January 1999). Medieval Indian literature: an anthology, Volume 3. p. 69. ISBN 9788126007882. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  40. Gellner, D.; Pfaff-Czarnecka, J.; Whelpton, J. (6 December 2012). Nationalism and Ethnicity in a Hindu Kingdom: The Politics and Culture of ... p. 243. ISBN 9781136649561. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  41. Rahmat Jahan, 1960- (2004). Comparative literature : a case of Shaw and Bharatendu (1st ed.). New Delhi: Sarup & Sons. p. 121. ISBN 81-7625-487-8. OCLC 58526278.
  42. Jha, Pankaj Kumar (1996). "Language and Nation : The Case of Maithili and Mithila in the First Half of Twentieth Century". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 57: 581–590. JSTOR 44133363. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  43. Tripathi, Shailaja (14 October 2010). "Moments for masses". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
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  45. Mishra, Jayakanta (1977). "Social Ideals and Patriotism in Maithili Literature (1900-1930)". Indian Literature. 20 (3): 96–101. ISSN 0019-5804. JSTOR 24157493.
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  50. Horst, Kristen Nehemiah (12 October 2011). Acharya Ramlochan Saran. Dign Press. ISBN 978-613-7-39524-0.
  51. @biharfoundation (11 February 2020). "Acharya Ramlochan Saran, born on 11 February 1889, in #Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, was a Hindi littérateur, grammarian and publisher" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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  57. 57.0 57.1 57.2 Pandey, Anshuman (2009). Towards an Encoding for the Maithili Script in ISO/IEC 10646 (PDF) (Report). p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2011..
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External links[edit]

Template:Bihari languages

Template:Languages of Nepal Template:Maithili language