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{{short description|Austroasiatic language spoken in India}}
{{short description|Austroasiatic language spoken in India}}
{{about|the Austroasiatic language of India|the Tibeto-Burman language also known as Ho of China, Vietnam and Laos|Hani language}}
{{about|the Austroasiatic language of India|the Tibeto-Burman language also known as Ho of China, Vietnam and Laos |Hani language}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
| name            = Ho
| name            = Ho
| nativename      = {{big|{{lang|hoc|𑢹𑣉𑣉 𑣎𑣋𑣜}}}}, हो जगर, ହୋ ଜଗର, hōō jagara
| nativename      = {{huge|{{lang|hoc-Wara|𑢹𑣉𑣉 𑣎𑣋𑣜}}}}<span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.65;"><br /><small> {{lang|hoc-Deva|हो जगर}}, {{lang|hoc-Orya|ହୋ ଜାଗାର}}</small></span>
| pronunciation    = {{nowrap|{{IPA|/hoː ʤɐgɐr/}}}}
| pronunciation    = {{IPA|hoc|d͡ʑägär|}}
| image            = [[File:howarang.png|250px]]
| image            = howarang.png
| states          = [[India]]
| states          = [[India]]
| ethnicity        = [[Ho people]]
| ethnicity        = [[Ho people]]
| speakers        = 1,421,418
| speakers        = 1,421,418
| date            = 2011 census
| date            = 2011 census
| ref              = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language_MTs.html|title=Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues – 2011|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=7 July 2018}}</ref>
| ref              = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10191/download/13303/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0000.XLSX
|title=C-16 POPULATION BY MOTHER TONGUE|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=11 July 2024}}</ref>
| familycolor      = Austroasiatic
| familycolor      = Austroasiatic
| fam2            = [[Munda languages|Munda]]
| fam2            = [[Munda languages|Munda]]
| fam3            = North
| fam3            = North
| fam4            = Kherwarian
| fam4            = [[Kherwarian languages|Kherwarian]]
| fam5            = Mundaric
| fam5            = Mundaric
| script          = Official: [[Warang Citi]]  
| script          = *[[Warang Chiti]]
Secondary: [[Devanagari]], [[Latin script]], [[Odia script]], [[Telugu script]]<ref>http://scriptsource.org/cms/scripts/page.php?item_id=language_detail&key=hoc Scripts of Ho</ref>
*[[Devanagari]]
*[[Latin script]]
*[[Odia script]]
*[[Bengali–Assamese script|Bengali–Assamese]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scriptsource.org/cms/scripts/page.php?item_id=language_detail&key=hoc |title=Scripts of Ho |publisher=Scriptsource.org |date= |access-date=2021-08-26}}</ref>
| nation          = {{flag|India}}
| nation          = {{flag|India}}
* [[Jharkhand]] (additional)
* [[Jharkhand]] (additional)
Line 25: Line 29:
| glotto          = hooo1248
| glotto          = hooo1248
| glottorefname    = Ho
| glottorefname    = Ho
| imagecaption    = 'hōō jagara' written in [[Warang Citi]]
| imagecaption    = 'Hoo Jagar' written in [[Warang Chiti]]
| map              = Ho language distribution map.svg
| mapcaption      = {{align|center|Ho language speaking region}}
| map2            = Lang Status 80-VU.svg
| mapcaption2      = {{center|{{small|Ho is classified as Vulnerable by the [[UNESCO]] ''[[Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger]]''}}<ref>{{Cite UNESCO Atlas|pages=46–47}}</ref>}}
}}
}}
{{Contains Warang Citi text}}
{{Contains special characters|Warang Chiti}}
{{Incubator|code=hoc}}
'''Ho''' (<small>[[Warang Chiti]]:</small> {{lang|hoc|{{script|Wara|𑢹𑣉𑣉 𑣎𑣋𑣜}}}}, {{IPA|hoc|hoː dʑägär}}{{efn|Also known as Ho-Kaji; ''Jagar'' is a general term for used across languages like Mundari as well.}}<ref name="ls_Jharkand">{{cite web|title=Linguistic Survey of India - Jharkhand Report|url=https://language.census.gov.in/eLanguageDivision_VirtualPath/LSI_Reports/pdf/2.pdf|website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India|page=70-71|date=21 January 2026}}</ref>) is a [[Munda language]] of the [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]] language family spoken primarily in [[India]] by about 2.2&nbsp; million people (0.202% of India's population) per the 2001 census. It is spoken by the [[Ho people|Ho]], Munda, Kolha and Kol tribal communities of [[Jharkhand]], [[Odisha]], [[West Bengal]] and [[Assam]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orissapost.com/tribals-seek-official-tag-for-ho-(𑢹𑣉𑣉)-language/|title=Tribals seek official tag for Ho (𑢹𑣉𑣉) language - OrissaPOST|date=27 October 2018|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> and is written using [[Warang Chiti]] script. [[Devanagari]], [[Latin]] and [[Odia script]] are also used,<ref name=swarthmore>{{cite web|title=The Warang Chiti Alphabet|url=http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/langhotspots/Ho/alphabet.html|website=Swarthmore.edu|access-date=19 March 2015}}</ref> although native speakers are said to prefer Warang Chiti, invented by [[Lako Bodra]].<ref name=harrison>{{cite web |author=K David Harrison |author2=Gregory Anderson |title=Review of Proposal for Encoding Warang Chiti (Hoorthography) in Unicode|url=http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/langhotspots/Ho/alphabet/Ho_Unicode_review.pdf|access-date=19 March 2015}}</ref>
'''Ho''' ({{Lang|hoc|𑢹𑣉𑣉 𑣎𑣋𑣜}}, IPA: /hoː ʤʌgʌr/) is a [[Munda language]] of the [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic language family]] spoken primarily in [[India]] by about 1.04&nbsp;million people (0.103% of India's population) per the 2001 census. Ho is a tribal language.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/High-hopes-for-Ho/articleshow/9275704.cms|title=High hopes for Ho &#124; Bhubaneswar News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> It is spoken by the [[Ho people|Ho]], Munda, Kolha and Kol tribal communities of [[Odisha]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.orissapost.com/tribals-seek-official-tag-for-ho-language/|title=Tribals seek official tag for Ho language - OrissaPOST|date=27 October 2018|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> [[Jharkhand]], [[Bihar]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[West Bengal]], [[Assam]] and is written with the [[Warang Citi]] script. [[Devanagari]], [[Latin script]], [[Odia script]] and [[Telugu script]] are sometimes used,<ref name=swarthmore>{{cite web|title=The Warang Chiti Alphabet|url=http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/langhotspots/Ho/alphabet.html|website=Swarthmore.edu|access-date=19 March 2015}}</ref> although native speakers are said to prefer a Ho script.<ref name=harrison>{{cite web|last1=Harrison, Anderson|first1=David, Gregory|title=Review of Proposal for Encoding Warang Chiti (Hoorthography) in Unicode|url=http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/langhotspots/Ho/alphabet/Ho_Unicode_review.pdf|access-date=19 March 2015}}</ref> The latter script was invented by Ott Guru Kol [[Lako Bodra]].
 
The name Ho is derived from the native word ''hoo'' meaning ''human being,<ref name="livingtongues">{{cite web |title=Ho (𑢹𑣉𑣉) Web Sketch:Ho (𑢹𑣉𑣉) writing |url=http://www.livingtongues.org/pdf/Ho%20Web%20Sketch.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317100405/http://livingtongues.org/pdf/Ho%20Web%20Sketch.pdf |archive-date=17 March 2016 |access-date=19 March 2015 |website=Livingtongues.org}}</ref>'' with cognates in its sister languages ''hoṛo'' in Mundari, ''ho̠ṛ'' in Santali and ''koro'' in [[Korku language|Korku]].
 
Ho is closely related to [[Mundari language|Mundari]] and [[Santali language|Santali]]. Ho and Mundari are often described as sister languages.<ref name=livingtongues/><ref>{{cite book|editor-last1=Anderson|editor-first1=Gregory S.|title=The Munda languages|date=2008|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=978-0-415-32890-6|edition=1. publ.}}</ref> Ho is closer to the Hasadaḱ dialect of Mundari than the other varieties spoken in Jharkhand.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Hoffmann |first=John |title=Encyclopaedia Mundarica |publisher=Superintendent, Government Printing, Bihar and Orissa |year=1932 |location=Patna |pages=1763}}</ref> While being ethnically and linguistically close, Ho and Mundari speakers form distinct regional identities.
 
==History==
Ho has developed into an independent language as a result of various phonological and semantic changes from earlier forms common to North Munda languages. Most notable among these is the loss of intervocalic /ṛ/, leading to vowel length becoming phonemic. A common North Munda verb ''doho'' 'to put, to place''','' Santali ''do̠ho̠,'' Mundari ''dō'' takes on a vulgar meaning in Ho, many such semantic shifts make conversations with speakers of these related languages difficult.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Deeney |first=John |url=https://michaelyorke.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Ho-Grammar-by-J-Deeney.pdf |title=Ho Grammar (𑢹𑣉𑣉 𑢷𑣁𑣌𑣐𑣁) |date=n.d. |pages=83}}</ref> Ho speakers are believed to have entered [[West Singhbhum district|Singhbhum]] form the North where Mundari, with two major dialects Hasadaḱ and Naguri is spoken. In terms of affinity, Ho is closer to the Hasadaḱ dialect in most respects, including the mutation of the glottalized final consonant {{IPA|/ʔɟ̥̚/}} into {{IPA|/ʔᵉ/}} or {{IPA|/ʔⁱ/}}. John Hoffmann considers there to be much less difference between Hasadaḱ and Ho than between Hasadaḱ and Naguri.<ref name=":0" /> Some forms in southern Kolhan resemble Naguri forms, such as the conjunction ''anḍoḱ'' 'moreover, and', while in northern Singhbhum it's ''oṛoḱ'', as in Hasadaḱ. Ho in the north also maintains the Hasadaḱ contractions in certain verb forms like ''kić'' from ''ket́ić, lić'' from ''let́ić'' and ''-aić'' from ''-at́ić''. Ho is also notable for its tendency to simplify common North Munda forms, Mundari ''oṛoṅ/uṛuṅ/oḍoṅ'', Santali ''oḍok/oḍoṅ'' to /oːʔl/, Mundari, Santali ''selet́'', ''seret́'', ''irit́'', ''ilat́'' etc. to /seːʔl/, /seːʔr/, /iːʔr/ and /iːʔl/.
 
The first published written record of the Ho language is from 1844,<ref name=":1" /> which has a short word list dated 2 April 1824. [[Samuel Tickell]] published ''Grammatical construction of the Ho language'' in 1840.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tickell |first=Samuel Richard |url=https://archive.org/details/biostor-293057/mode/2up?q=tickell+grammatical+construction |title=IV.—Grammatical construction of the Ho language |date=1840 }}</ref> The first published Ho writing by an ethnic Ho is poetry of Kanuram Deogam in 1930.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Asiatic Society of Bengal |url=https://archive.org/details/journal-of-the-asiatic-society-of-bengal/1926-27_num_supp/page/n61/mode/2up?q=kanuram+deogam |title=Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal |date=1930}}</ref>
 
The Latin, Devanagari and Warang Chiti scripts have been used in the field of teaching and learning. Since 1976, the Ho language is being imparted at intermediate and graduate level courses in different colleges under the Ranchi University and Kolhan University.<ref>University Department Of Tribal And Regional Language, Ranchi University, Jharkhand</ref>
[[File:Ho language Adiwasi community by D. Naresh.webm|thumb|With TATA foundation help how HO community developed.]]
In erstwhile Bihar, the Information and Mass Communication department regularly published Ho articles, folk stories, songs in Devanagari script in a weekly named Adivasi Saptahik.
 
There are significant initiatives inculcated in development of Ho language. A pioneering work was started at Ete Turtung Akhara, Jhinkapani to study and develop the Ho language under the leadership of Lako Bodra with the help of Adi Sanskriti Evam Vigyan Sansthan. The institute published a book in 1963 titled ''Ho Hayam Paham Puti'' in Warang Chiti and introduced the letters of Warang Chiti.<ref>Eteh Turtung Akhara, Jhinkapani</ref>
 
A. Pathak and N.K. Verma tried to compare the Warang Chiti with [[Indus script]] in ''Echoes of Indus Valley''.<ref>Echoes of Indus valley by A.Pathak and N.K. Verma</ref> Sudhanshu Kumar Ray in his 'Indus Script' described that the script Warang Chiti resembles the script of Indus that was discovered by Ashok Pagal and Bulu Imam in the caves of Aswara hill near Baraka village.<ref>Indus Script by Sudhanshu Kumar Ray</ref>
 
Xavier Ho Publication, Lupungutu has been publishing Ho books in the Devanagri script. John Deeney published ''Ho Grammar and Vocabulary'' in 1975.<ref>Xavier Ho (𑢹𑣉𑣉) Publication, Lupungutu,1975</ref>
 
==Geographical distribution==
{{Pie chart
|caption=Distribution of Ho language in the state of India (2011 census)<ref>{{cite web|title=C-16: Population by mother tongue, India - 2011 |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10191/download/13303/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0000.XLSX |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India}}</ref>
|value1 = 70
|label1 = Jharkhand
|value2 = 29
|label2 = Odisha
|value3 = 0.4
|label3 = West Bengal
|value4 = 0.2
|label4 = Madhya Pradesh
|other = yes
|other-color = orange
}}
Around half of all Ho speakers reside in [[West Singhbhum district|West Singhbhum]] district of Jharkhand, where they form a majority. Ho speakers are also found in districts of [[East Singhbhum]] in southern Jharkhand, [[Mayurbhanj]] and [[Keonjhar]] in northern Odisha.
 
==Phonology==
[[File:OpenSpeaks-Hoc-Ruum Sakam-Ladura Singh Haiburu-Lalit Singh Banra-Body Parts.webm|thumb|A Ho speaker demonstrates and says the names of body parts in Ho]]
 
===Consonants===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! colspan="2" |
![[Labial consonant|Labial]]
![[Dental consonant|Dental]]/<br />[[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
![[Retroflex consonant|Retroflex]]
![[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
![[Velar consonant|Velar]]
![[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
|{{IPA link|m}}
|{{IPA link|n}}
|({{IPA link|ɳ}})
|{{IPA link|ɲ}}
|{{IPA link|ŋ}}
|
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[Stop consonant|Stop]]/<br />[[Affricate]]
!<small>[[Voicelessness|voiceless]]</small>
|{{IPA link|p}}
|{{IPA link|t}}
|{{IPA link|ʈ}}
|{{IPA link|t͡ɕ}}
|{{IPA link|k}}
|{{IPA link|ʔ}}
|-
!<small>[[Voice (phonetics)|voiced]]</small>
|{{IPA link|b}}
|{{IPA link|d}}
|{{IPA link|ɖ}}
|{{IPA link|d͡ʑ}}
|{{IPA link|ɡ}}
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
|
|{{IPA link|s}}
|
|
|
|{{IPA link|h}}
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
|{{IPA link|w}}
|{{IPA link|l}}
|
|{{IPA link|j}}
|
|
|-
! colspan="2" |[[Tap consonant|Tap]]
|
|{{IPA link|ɾ}}
|{{IPA link|ɽ}}
|
|
|
|}
 
* /b, ɖ/ can be heard as preglottalized [ˀb̥̚, ˀɖ̥̚] when in word-final position.
* /b/ can be heard as a fricative [β] in intervocalic positions.
* /ɳ/ has a limited phonemic distribution, and is typically a realization of /n/ before retroflex sounds.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pucilowski |first=Anna |title=Topics in Ho (𑢹𑣉𑣉) morphophonology and morphosyntax |publisher=University of Oregon |year=2013}}</ref>
* /w/ and /j/ only occur in medial or final positions.
 
===Vowels===
Ho has 5 basic vowels, these can be short, long, nasalized and long and nasalized. Long vowels either result from gemination of short vowels resulting from loss of intervocalic consonants or due to the bimoraic constraint inherited from Proto-Munda.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/mundalanguages0000unse |title=The Munda languages |date=2008 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |via=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-415-32890-6}}</ref>
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Oral vowels
!
![[Front vowel|Front]]
![[Central vowel|Central]]
![[Back vowel|Back]]
|- style="text-align: center;"
![[Close vowel|Close]]
|{{IPA link|i}} {{IPA link|iː}}
|
|{{IPA link|u}} {{IPA link|uː}}
|- style="text-align: center;"
![[Mid vowel|Mid]]
|{{IPA link|e}} {{IPA link|eː}}
|
|{{IPA link|o}} {{IPA link|oː}}
|- style="text-align: center;"
![[Open vowel|Open]]
|
|{{IPA link|a}} {{IPA link|aː}}
|
|}
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Nasal vowels
!
![[Front vowel|Front]]
![[Central vowel|Central]]
![[Back vowel|Back]]
|- style="text-align: center;"
![[Close vowel|Close]]
|{{IPA link|ĩ}}
|
|{{IPA link|ũ}}
|- style="text-align: center;"
![[Mid vowel|Mid]]
|{{IPA link|ẽ}}
|
|{{IPA link|õ}}
|- style="text-align: center;"
![[Open vowel|Open]]
|
|{{IPA link|ã}}
|
|}
 
==Grammar==
Like other languages of the Munda family, Ho has a mostly suffixing agglutinative inflectional morphology and follows accusative morphosyntactic alignment. There is some debate on whether Munda languages have word classes, an item from any word class can function as a verb in Ho. Ho does not have relative pronouns natively and relies on the participle forms of verbs, the forms that includes aspect, object and transitivity, but no mood markers, to form relative clauses.
 
===Nouns and noun phrases===
Number, possession and case suffixes are added to nouns.  Alienable and inalienable possessions are distinguished.
 
====Number and possession====
Ho distinguishes singular, dual and plural numbers. Number suffixes are generally written separate from base nouns.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!
|
!Possessive
|-
! Singular
| {{lang|hoc|Kula}} "tiger"
| {{lang|hoc|Kula'''aḱ'''}} "tiger's"
|-
! Dual
| {{lang|hoc|Kula '''kin'''}} "two tigers"
| {{lang|hoc|Kula kin'''aḱ'''}} "of the two tigers"
|-
! Plural
| {{lang|hoc|Kula '''ko'''}} "tigers"
| {{lang|hoc|Kula ko'''aḱ'''}} "of the tigers"
|}
 
====Number and inalienable possession====
Construction for alienable possessions is different form inalienable possessions, {{lang|hoc|En Eraaḱ Kolom}} "That woman's threshing floor", and {{lang|hoc|En Era Gauńte}} "That woman's aunt". Suffixes for inalienable possessions only occur in the singular.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!
|
!1st person possessor
!2nd person possessor
!3rd person possessor
|-
! Singular
| {{lang|hoc|Gauń}} "aunt"
| {{lang|hoc|Gauń'''iń'''}} "my aunt"
| {{lang|hoc|Gauń'''me'''}} "your aunt"
| | {{lang|hoc|Gauń'''te'''}} "his/her aunt"
|-
! Dual
| {{lang|hoc|Gauń kin}} "two aunts"
| {{lang|hoc|Gauń'''iń''' '''tekin'''}} "my two aunts"
| {{lang|hoc|Gauń'''me''' '''tekin'''}} "your two aunts"
| | {{lang|hoc|Gauń'''te''' '''tekin'''}} "his/her two aunts"
|-
! Plural
| {{lang|hoc|Gauń kin}} "two aunts"
| {{lang|hoc|Gauń'''iń''' '''teko'''}} "my aunts"
| {{lang|hoc|Gauń'''me''' '''teko'''}} "your aunts"
| | {{lang|hoc|Gauń'''te''' '''teko'''}} "his/her aunts"
|}
 
===Pronouns===
Ho personal pronoun distinguish inclusive and exclusive first person and anaphoric and demonstrative third person.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Personal pronouns
| colspan="4" rowspan="1" |
|'''Singular'''
|'''Dual'''
|'''Plural'''
|-
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |'''1st person'''
| colspan="3" rowspan="1" |'''Exclusive'''
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |''ań''
|''aliń''
|''ale''
|-
| colspan="3" rowspan="1" |'''Inclusive'''
|''alaṅ''
|''abu''
|-
| colspan="4" rowspan="1" |'''2nd person'''
|''am''
|''aben''
|''ape''
|-
| colspan="1" rowspan="5" |'''3rd person'''
| colspan="3" rowspan="1" |'''Anaphoric'''
|''ać''
|''akin''
|''ako''
|-
| colspan="1" rowspan="4" |'''Demonstrative'''
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |'''Proximal'''
|''neić''
|''nekin''
|''neko''
|-
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |'''Distal'''
|'''Visible'''
|''enić''
|''enkin''
|''enko''
|-
|'''Audible'''
|''etić''
|''etekin''
|''eteko''
|-
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |'''Remote'''
|''hanić''
|''hankin''
|''hanko''
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Interrogative pronouns
|-
!
! Animate
! Inanimate
|-
! Referential
| {{lang|hoc|okoe}}
| {{lang|hoc|okon}}
|-
! Non-referential
| {{lang|hoc|cenić}}
| {{lang|hoc|cenaḱ}}
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Indefinite pronouns
|-
! &nbsp;
! Animate
! Inanimate
|-
| 'any'
| {{lang|hoc|jahć}}
| {{lang|hoc|jahnaḱ}}
|-
| 'another'
| {{lang|hoc|eṭaḱć}}
| {{lang|hoc|eṭaḱaḱ}}
|}
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Demonstratives
|-
!
! Simple
! Particular
|-
! Proximate
| {{lang|hoc|ne, nen}}
| {{lang|hoc|nea, nena}}
|-
! Distal
| {{lang|hoc|en}}
| {{lang|hoc|ena}}
|-
! Remote
| {{lang|hoc|han}}
| {{lang|hoc|hana}}
|}
 
===Numerals===
Short forms are used in compound words, general counting and counting money, the long forms are used when counting specific objects.
{| class="wikitable" style="vertical-align:middle; background-color:#F8F9FA; color:#202122;"
|-
| rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" | Cardinal
! colspan="2" | Distributive
|-
! Short form
! Long form
! Short form
! Long form
|-
! 1
| {{lang|hoc|mí}}
| {{lang|hoc|miat́}}
| {{lang|hoc|mimit́}}
| {{lang|hoc|mí-miat́}}
|-
! 2
| {{lang|hoc|bar}}
| {{lang|hoc|baria}}
| {{lang|hoc|bá-bar}}
| {{lang|hoc|bá-baria}}
|-
! 3
| {{lang|hoc|apé}}
| {{lang|hoc|apeia}}
| {{lang|hoc|á-pé}}
| {{lang|hoc|á-peia}}
|-
! 4
| {{lang|hoc|upun}}
| {{lang|hoc|upunia}}
| {{lang|hoc|ú-pun}}
| {{lang|hoc|ú-punia}}
|-
! 5
| {{lang|hoc|moe}}
| {{lang|hoc|moeia}}
| {{lang|hoc|mó-moe}}
| {{lang|hoc|mó-móeia}}
|-
! 6
| {{lang|hoc|turui}}
| {{lang|hoc|turuiia}}
| {{lang|hoc|tú-turui}}
| {{lang|hoc|tú-turuiia}}
|-
! 7
| {{lang|hoc|ai}}
| {{lang|hoc|aiia}}
| {{lang|hoc|á-ai}}
| {{lang|hoc|á-aiia}}
|-
! 8
| {{lang|hoc|iril}}
| {{lang|hoc|irilia}}
| {{lang|hoc|í-iril}}
| {{lang|hoc|í-irilia}}
|-
! 9
| {{lang|hoc|are}}
| {{lang|hoc|areia}}
| {{lang|hoc|á-are}}
| {{lang|hoc|á-areia}}
|-
! 10
| {{lang|hoc|gel}}
| {{lang|hoc|gelia}}
| {{lang|hoc|gé-gel}}
| {{lang|hoc|gé-gelia}}
|-
! 20
| {{lang|hoc|hisi}}
| {{lang|hoc|hisiia}}
| {{lang|hoc|hí-hisi}}
| {{lang|hoc|hí-hisiia}}
|}
 
===Postpositions===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Postposition
! Function
|-
| {{lang|hoc|lagit́}}
| Dative
|-
| {{lang|hoc|loḱ}}
| Comitative, along with
|-
| {{lang|hoc|paa}}
| Towards, around
|-
| {{lang|hoc|re}}
| Spatio-temporal location, locative
|-
| {{lang|hoc|paṅ}}
| Temporal, indicates time
|-
| {{lang|hoc|japaḱ}}
| Near
|-
| {{lang|hoc|te}}
| Instrumental, instrument, cause, motion, direction, allative
|-
| {{lang|hoc|leka}}
| Semblative
|-
| {{lang|hoc|taḱ}}
| Adessive
|-
| {{lang|hoc|aete}}
| Ablative, source, origin
|-
| {{lang|hoc|cetan}}
| On top of
|-
| {{lang|hoc|latar}}
| Below
|-
| {{lang|hoc|suba}}
| Under
|-
| {{lang|hoc|jóṅ}}, {{lang|hoc|joka}}
|Terminative
|-
| {{lang|hoc|mutit́}}/''partet́''
| Distributive
|}


The name "Ho" is derived from the native word "{{Lang|hoc|𑣙𑣉𑣉}}" (IPA: /hoː/) which means "Human being".<ref name="livingtongues">{{cite web|title=Ho Web Sketch: Ho writing|url=http://www.livingtongues.org/pdf/Ho%20Web%20Sketch.pdf|website=Livingtongues.org|access-date=19 March 2015}}</ref>
===Particles===
{| class="wikitable"
! Particle
! Function / Meaning
!Examples
|-
| {{lang|hoc|do}}
| Topic marker
|''En Kaji '''do''' nahḱ at́ yna,'' 'That word is now forgotten'
|-
|''ó''
|'''Even/also''<nowiki/>'
|''En Kaji '''ó''' nahḱ do at́ yna'', 'Even that word is forgotten now'
|-
| {{lang|hoc|ge}}
| Emphasis marker
|''En Kaji '''ge''' at́ yna'', 'That very word is forgotten'
|-
| {{lang|hoc|chi}}
| Question particle
|''En Kaji at́ yna '''ci'''?'', 'Has that word been forgotten?'
|-
| {{lang|hoc|ma}}
| ''<nowiki/>'As for that'''
|''En Kaji '''ma''' at́ yna nahḱ do'', 'As for that word, it is lost now'
|-
| {{lang|hoc|rená}}, {{lang|hoc|rengá}}
| Intensifier
|''En Kaji at́ '''rená/rengá''' yna'', 'That word is absolutely forgotten'
|-
| {{lang|hoc|toraṅ}}
| Speculative
|''En Kaji do at́ yna '''toraṅ''''', 'That word is forgotten I suppose'
|-
| {{lang|hoc|ciat́}}/''cit́laṅ/cimat́''
| ''<nowiki/>'As far as I know'''
|''En Kaji do at́ yna '''cimat́''''', 'That word is forgotten (as far as I know)'
|-
|''deraṅ''
|Hearsay
|''En Catom do at́ yna '''deraṅ''''', 'That umbrella was lost (they say)'
|-
| {{lang|hoc|batit́}}/''batit́laṅ/batikam/batil''
| Realization/correction particle
|''En Urić doć at́ yna '''batit́''''', 'That cow has gone missing (I just realized)'; ''Nen Urić batit́ at́ lena'', 'It was this cow that was lost (not the other one, I was mistaken)'
|-
|''honaṅ''
|Irrealis marker
|''En Kaji do at́ yna '''honaṅ''''', 'That word would have been forgotten'
|-
|''auri''
|''<nowiki/>'Not yet'''
|''En Kaji do '''auri''' at́oḱa'', 'That word is yet to be forgotten'
|-
|''gatát́/gatalt́''
|''<nowiki/>'All without exception'''
|''Upun hoo '''gatát́/gatalt́'''kô at́ yna'', 'All the four persons were lost'
|-
|''jaket́/sante''
|''<nowiki/>'As far as even'''
|''En Kaji '''jaket́/sante''' at́oḱ ge'', 'To the extent that even that word may be forgotten'
|-
|''mar''
|Prompt hearer to do something
|''En Merom '''mar''' kumbuu yna'', 'That goat has been stolen (how disappointing, what would you even say to that?)'
|-
|''halte''
|''<nowiki/>'So it was...'''
|''Nen Seta '''halte''' at́ lena,'' 'So it was this dog that was lost'
|-
|''idu''
|Dubitative
|''Nayl kale kumbuu kenakô menea, '''idu''','' 'They say we did not steal the plough (but who knows?)'
|-
|''sumat́/sungat́/suat́/sual''
|''<nowiki/>'Only'''
|''Nen Oaḱ '''sumat́''' sareć yna'', 'Only this house was spared'
|-
|''cite''
|Disbelief
|''En cokoć lekan Oaḱ '''cite'''kô kiriṅ ket́a?'', 'Did they really buy this small house?'
|-
|''oṛoḱ/onḍoḱ''
|''<nowiki/>'What else do you expect?'''
|''Parkom do Gama rem bage let́a, soya yna '''oṛoḱ''''', You had left the cot in the rain, it started rotting, what else do you expect?
|-
|''rongam/rongate''
|''<nowiki/>'I tell you / of course'''
|''Kolom ren Guḍu '''rongam''' Bilae imineć maraṅa,'' 'The bandicoot rat from the threshing floor is big as a cat I tell you'
|}


==Distribution==
===Verbs===
Around half of all Ho speakers are found in [[West Singhbhum]] district of Jharkhand, where they form the majority community. Ho speakers are found in [[East Singhbhum district]] of southern [[Jharkhand]] and in northern Odisha. Ho is closer to the Mayurbhanj dialect of Mundari than the language spoken in Jharkhand. Ho and Mundari are ethnically and linguistically close but the regional identity of the speakers is distinct. Some researchers and scholars said that Ho and Mundari are two sister languages.<ref name=livingtongues/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Anderson|first1=edited by Gregory S.|title=The Munda languages|date=2008|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=978-0-415-32890-6|edition=1. publ.}}</ref>
There is no restrictions as to which word may occupy the role of a verb. Therefore, even proper nouns may act as verbs, ''Lako ket́ińako,'' 'They named me Lako'. Verbs may be serialized or modified with affixes before being put in this verb template:


==Stages of Development==
'''Verb stem + (Aspect marker) + (Transitive/Intransitive marker) + (Object pronoun) + (Mood marker) + (Subject pronoun)'''
The lexicon of the language reflects close association with nature and living proximity with birds and beasts which is typical for tribal languages.<ref>Purty, Dhanursingh, "Ho-Dishum Ho Honko" seven volumes.(1982) Xavier Ho Publications</ref><ref>http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/langhotspots/Ho/ The Ho language webpage by K. David Harrison, Swarthmore College</ref>


The Roman, Devanagari and Warang Citi scripts have been used in the field of teaching and learning. In 1953, the department of Education, Government of Bihar set out instructions to all the Divisional Inspectors of schools.<ref>Department of Education, Government of Bihar,1953</ref> The government maintained that ‘the pupil-teachers whose mother tongue is other than Hindi should be given the option of maintaining their records in their mother tongue. In every junior Training School besides Hindi, a second mother-tongue as accepted in Government resolution no.645ER of 10 August 1953 should be invariably taught.’ The plan has been to provide education in their mother tongue at the primary level.
The verb stem may be modified in the following ways:
{| class="wikitable"
|
|'''Root modification'''
|'''Example with ''kaji'', 'to tell''''
|-
|'''Reciprocal'''
|''-p-''
|''ka'''p'''aji'', 'to tell each other / argue'
|-
|'''Benefactive'''
|''-a''
|''kaji'''a''''', 'to tell someone'
|-
|'''Habitual'''
|''lengthening or reduplication of the first syllable''
|'''''kaá'''ji'', 'to tell habitually'
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Ho aspect markers
| colspan="2" rowspan="1" |
|'''Transitive'''
|'''Intransitive'''
|'''Examples with ''nutum,'' 'to name''''
|-
| colspan="1" rowspan="4" |'''Past'''
|'''Pluperfect'''
|''let́''
|''len''
|''nutum '''let́'''ań,'' 'I had previously named'; ''nutum '''len'''ań,'' 'I was previously named'
|-
|'''Aorist'''
|''ket́''
|''ken*''
|''nutum '''ket́'''ań'', 'I named'; ''nutum '''ken'''ań'', 'I used to name'
|-
|'''Ingressive'''
|''**''
|''yan***''
|''nutum '''yan'''ań'', 'I had begun to be named / I was named'
|-
|'''Perfect'''
|''akat́''
|''akan''
|''nutum '''akat́'''ań'', 'I have named'; ''nutum '''akan'''ań'', 'I have been named (I'm famous)'
|-
| colspan="1" rowspan="6" |'''Non-past'''
|'''Progressive/Continuous/Punctual'''
|''tat́''
|''tan****''
|''nutum '''tat́'''ań'', 'I have (just) named'; ''nutumè '''tan'''ań,'' 'I am naming it'
|-
|'''Present/Future'''
|''-Ø''
|''-oḱ''
|''nuútumań,'' 'I name (habitually)'; ''nutum'''oḱ'''ań,'' 'I will be named'
|-
|
|''lee''
|''leenoḱ''
|''nutum '''lee'''ań'', 'I will first name it'; ''nutum '''leenoḱ'''ań'' 'I will first be famous'
|-
|
|''kee''
|''keenoḱ''
|''nutum '''kee'''ań'', 'I will name it (before doing something else)'
|-
|
|''akaa''
|''akaanoḱ''
|''nutum '''akaa'''àń'', 'I will keep naming'; ''nutum '''akaanoḱ'''ań'', 'I will continue to be named'
|-
|
|''taa''
| -
|''nutum '''taa'''àń'', 'I will name it now'
|}


Since 1976, the Ho language is being imparted at intermediate and graduate courses in different colleges under the Ranchi University. The university opened a separate department named Tribal and Regional Languages in 1981.<ref>University Department Of Tribal And Regional Language, Ranchi University, Jharkhand</ref>
* presence of a transitivity marker indicates past tense and the absence non-past.
* ''ken'' is only used in its original function as an intransitive with a small number of verbs, like ''oṛa '''to bathe' and ''sen'' 'to go', it has now been extended even to transitive verbs, where it shifts the focus from the object of the verb to the subject.
* intransitive counterpart of the ingressive ''yan'' is lost in Ho, while being maintained in Mundari as ''yada/jada'' and in Santali as ''eda. ean'' maintains ingressive meaning only with a limited number of verbs, it mostly functions as the intransitive counterpart of aorist ''ket́.''
* ''tan'' is conjugated differently than other aspect markers, where the object marker occurs right before ''tan'', rather than after the transitivity marker, enabling it to be used even on transitive verbs, where it has taken over the function of ''tat́'' with many verbs, as in ''gama tat́ać'' vs. ''gamaè tanać,'' both having the same meaning with the latter being more common''.'' With a number of transitive verbs, ''tan'' and ''tat́'' contrast and produce progressive-continuous distinction, ''tusiṅ tat́ać'', 'he is wearing' (continuous aspect), ''tusiṅè tanać'', 'he (now) is (in the process of) wearing it' (progressive aspect).
* benefactive stem with ''-a'' cannot take any of the aspect markers, it can only take a transitivity marker, limiting its occurrence either with the past or the non-past tense.


In erstwhile Bihar, the Information and Mass Communication department regularly published Ho articles, folk stories, songs in devanagari script in a weekly named Adivasi Saptahik. The Tribal Research Institute conducted a Study of Ho Dialect.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}
== Vocabulary ==
Most of the Ho basic vocabulary is of Munda origin, with cognates in other Kherwarian languages, undated old borrowings from Indo-Aryan languages also exist, such as ''kolom'', 'threasing floor', ''datarom'' 'a sickle', ''sutam'' 'a thread', ''gotom'' 'ghee' and ''parkom'' 'a cot'. In recent years, increased number of words from Hindi, English and Odia have been entering the language due to increased contact. Ho numbers are almost entirely out of practical use, being supplanted by Hindi numbers, except for one, two and three.


There are significant initiatives inculcated in development of Ho language. A pioneering work was started at Ete Turtung Akhara, Jhinkapani to study and develop the Ho language under the leadership of late Lako Bodra with the help of Adi Sanskriti evam Vigyan Sansthan. The institute published a book in 1963 entitled Ho Hayam Paham Puti in the Barang Chiti lipi script and introduced the letters of Barang Chiti, Kakahara.<ref>Ete Turtung Akhara, Jhinkapani</ref>
Ho lexicon reflects close association with nature, including numerous onomatopoeias arising from cries of different animals along with 'expressives' to describe sounds in nature.<ref>Badenoch, Nathan & Osada, Toshiki. (2019). Dictionary of Mundari Expressives. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335125477_Dictionary_of_Mundari_Expressives</ref>


Sindhu Surin reworked and propagated Owar Ankawa- a reformed script of barang chiti. This has been popularized and disseminated by the institution called Sindhu Jumur.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}
Ho, like other Kherwarian languages, has lexical differentiation in many of its verbs, whereby different words exist to express distinctions within a single concept. For example, ''maḱ'' 'to cut with a striking motion', ''hat́'' 'to cut with a sawing motion', ''ir'' 'to reap with a sickle', ''get́'' 'to cut with cutting tool being stationary', ''paaḱ'' 'to split firewood with an axe', ''laṭaṕ'' 'to clip hair etc.', ''hese'' 'to clear branches etc. by cutting', ''banḍić'' 'to cut the extremities', ''topaṅ/tobaṅ '''to sever with a single striking motion', ''samaḱ'' 'to cut into small pieces'.


A.Pathak and N.K. Verma tried to compare the Warang Chiti lipi with the script of Indus valley in their book the Echoes of Indus valley.<ref>Echoes of Indus valley by A.Pathak and N.K. Verma</ref> Sudhanshu Kumar Ray in his ‘Indus Script’ described that the script Barang Chiti resembles the script of Indus that was discovered by Ashok Pagal and Bulu Imam in the caves of Aswara hill near Baraka village.<ref>Indus Script by Sudhanshu Kumar Ray</ref>
Many words are derived using affixes.
{| class="wikitable"
!Affix
!Examples
|-
|'''a-'''
|''nú'' 'to drink' → ''anu'' 'to cause/make to drink', ''jom'' 'to eat' → ''ajom'' 'to feed', ''kiriṅ'' → ''akiriṅ'' 'to cause to buy (to sell)', ''sen'' 'to walk' → ''asen'' 'to cause to walk (to help someone walk), to transport'
|-
|'''-n-'''
|''nel'' 'to see' → ''nenel'' 'a view, an opinion', ''duṕ'' 'to sit' → ''dunuṕ'' 'a meeting', ''saṕ'' 'to hold' → ''sanaṕ'' 'a handle', ''roḱ'' 'to carve' → ''ronoḱ'' 'a carving'
|-
|'''-p-'''
|''got́'' 'to pluck' → ''gopot́'' 'the petiole', ''kuli'' 'to ask' → ''kupuli'' 'to ask each other', ''kupul'' 'a relative', ''hon'' 'a child' → ''hopon'' 'descendants', ''seet́'' 'son' → ''sepeet́'' 'a youth'
|-
|'''-t-'''
|''numu'' 'a name' → ''nutum'' 'to name; a name', ''bor'' 'to pull out a string etc.' → ''botor'' 'a train of cloth etc.', ''aagom'' 'a levelling plank' → ''ataagom'' 'to level with a plank; a levelling plank'
|-
|'''-m-'''
|''hon'' 'son' → ''homon'' 'a woman's brother's son', ''hoo'' 'human' → ''homoo'' 'the body', ''laḱ'' 'to scrape' → ''lamaḱ'' 'the bean pod of a tree (used as a scraper)'
|-
|'''m-'''
|''arsal'' 'to shine light' → ''marsal'' 'light', ''raḱ'' 'to cry' → ''maraḱ'' 'a peacock'
|-
|'''-r-'''
|''oṅ'' 'to blow' → ''oroṅ'' 'to play a wind instrument', ''ugum'' 'hot and sultry' → ''urgum'' 'warm', ''kaji'' 'to say' → ''karji'' 'a messenger', ''akit́'' 'to gather' → ''arkit́'' 'to abduct', ''teteć'' 'moonlight' → ''terteć'' 'dim light'
|-
|'''r-'''
|anjet́ 'to dry up' → ranjet́ 'to cause to dry up'
|-
|'''k-'''
|eset́ 'to block' → keset́ 'to cause to block'
|}


Xavier Ho Publication, Lupungutu has been publishing a series of books in Devanagri script. Fr. John Deeney wrote Ho Grammar and Vocabulary in 1975.<ref>Xavier Ho Publication, Lupungutu,1975</ref>
==Writing system==
Ho has been written in various scripts, starting from the first written record of 1824<ref name=":1">Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. : Asiatic Society of Bengal : Free download, borrow, and streaming : Internet Archive. (1844). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/journalofasiatic1314asia/page/n47</ref> to the present day, mostly using the [[Latin alphabet]], [[Devanagari]], [[Odia alphabet|Odia]] and more recently using the [[Warang Chiti]] script. Most writing done in Jharkhand tends to use the Devanagari script, while in Odisha it is the Odia script. While community intellectuals have been promoting the usage of Warang Chiti, it is yet to be widely used among Ho people due to it not being a part of school education. In 1985, a committee consisting of intellectuals including [[Ram Dayal Munda]] and [[Bhagey Gobardhan]] deliberated on common script for Ho, and decided in favor of Warang Chiti, eliminating competition from scripts put forth by other inventors such as Sangram Sindhu's Owar Anka Gār Lipi, disseminated by an institution called Sindhu Jumur, [[Rohidas Singh Nag]]'s [[Mundari Bani|Mundari Bani Hisir Champa]], Raghunath Purty's Ho Ol Lipi, Purushottam Godsora's Srishti Lipi among others.<ref>Gagrai, S. (2017). Ho Bhasha Ka Vaigyanik Adhyayan. K. K. Publications, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. https://bharatavani.in/home/book?post_category=book&id=%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%20%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%20%7C%20Ho%20Bhasha%20Ka%20Vaigyanik%20Adhyayan</ref>


4. Change of Status/Course due to important event like linguistic states reorganization: In post-independence era by state reorganization, Ho speaking region bifurcated and demography scattered into Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal. Post independence state reorganization, therefore, was of little help in the development of Ho language.<ref>Anderson, Gregory D. S., Toshiki Osada and K. David Harrison. "Ho and the other Kherwarian Languages" In Gregory Anderson (ed.) Munda Languages. (2008). Routledge. {{ISBN|978-0-415-32890-6}}</ref>
==Sample Text==
The following text is Article 1 of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]], written in Ho:<br>
=== Warang Chiti Script ===
{{lang|hoc-Wara|𑣞𑣗𑣂𑣓 𑣖𑣁𑣓𑣖𑣂 𑣌𑣉𑣁𑣄 𑣙𑣂𑣅𑣁𑣕𑣂𑣊 𑣁𑣓‍𑣑𑣉𑣄 𑣈𑣌𑣕𑣂𑣅𑣜 𑣌𑣉 𑣜𑣈𑣅𑣄 𑣖𑣁𑣖𑣚𑣈 𑣜𑣈 𑣎𑣉𑣓𑣉𑣖𑣈𑣈 𑣕𑣈𑣋𑣈 𑣔𑣓𑣁𑣖𑣃𑣚 𑣁𑣓‍𑣑𑣉𑣄 𑣗𑣜𑣁𑣗𑣜𑣂 𑣜𑣈𑣅𑣄 𑣓𑣖𑣁 𑣌𑣓𑣁. 𑣂𑣓𑣂𑣌𑣃 𑣗𑣃𑣔‍𑣔𑣂 𑣁𑣓‍𑣑𑣉𑣄 𑣎𑣂𑣗𑣉𑣓 𑣗𑣂𑣕𑣜 𑣜𑣈𑣅𑣄 𑣈𑣓𑣈𑣖 𑣓𑣖𑣁 𑣌𑣓𑣁 𑣁𑣓‍𑣑𑣉𑣄 𑣁𑣌𑣉-𑣁𑣌𑣉 𑣜𑣈 𑣙𑣋𑣈𑣅𑣁-𑣗𑣉𑣙𑣅𑣁 (𑣗‍𑣙𑣁𑣆𑣏𑣁𑣜𑣈) 𑣜𑣈𑣅𑣄 𑣎𑣂𑣗𑣉𑣓 𑣃𑣊𑣃𑣄 𑣕𑣈𑣌𑣉 𑣎𑣁𑣓𑣁𑣋𑣜 𑣕𑣈𑣅𑣄 𑣔𑣉𑣜𑣌𑣜.}}<ref name="UDHR_Ho">{{cite web |url=https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/Hoc.pdf|title=Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Ho|trans-title=𑣖𑣓𑣉𑣟𑣁 𑣈𑣌𑣕𑣂𑣅𑣜 𑣜𑣈𑣅𑣄 𑣞𑣓𑣁𑣖 𑣌𑣉𑣟: 𑣚𑣁𑣋𑣂𑣑 𑣑𑣁𑣌𑣜𑣁|website=OHCHR.org|publisher=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights|language=hoc|page=2|access-date=16 February 2026}}</ref>
<br>
=== Devanagari Script ===
{{lang|hoc-deva|सबिन मानमि कोअः हियातिङ अन्डोः एकतियर को रेयः मामले रे जोनोमेए तेगे दनामुल अन्डोः बराबरि रेयः नमा कना। इनिकु बुद्दि अन्डोः जिबोन बितर रेयः एनेम नमा कना अन्डोः अको-अको रे हगेया-बोहया (भाईचारे) रेयः जिबोन उङुः तेको जानागर तेयः दोरकर॥}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://omniglot.com/writing/ho.htm#google_vignette|title=Ho Alphabet and Language|website=Omniglot.com |access-date=15 February 2026}}</ref>
<br>


A new state Jharkhand came into existence in November 2000. In its effort the state government has recently recommended Ho language to be included in the eighth schedule of the Constitution. There is hope in the initiative taken by the government as regard to the development of the Ho language in future.<ref>Study of Ho Dialect by Tribal Research Institute, Jharkhand</ref>
=== IPA transcription ===
sɐbin mʌnmi koɐː hijʌt̪iŋ ənɖoː ekt̪ijɐɾ ko ɾejɐː mʌmle re ɟonomeeː t̪eɡe d̪ɐnʌmul ənɖoː bɐɾɐbɐɾi ɾejɐː nɐmʌ kənʌ. iniku budwi ənɖoː ɟibon bit̪ɐɾ ɾejɐː enem nɐmʌ kənʌ ənɖoː ɐko ɐko ɾe hɐɡejʌ bohɐjʌ ɾejɐː ɟibon uɖuː t̪eko ɟʌnʌɡɐɾ t̪ejɐː doɾkɐr.
<br>


==Rising significance of Ho Language and UGC-NET==
=== Alternative version (Ho Latin) ===
The [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission of India]] has already recognized Ho as a language and literature. Now, UGC is conducting [[National Eligibility Test]] examination in Ho language under the "'subject code 70"' in Tribal and Regional Language/Literature group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ugcnetexam.co.in/ugc-net-tribal-regional-language-literature-syllabus.html|title=Tribal and Regional Language - Literature Syllabus UGC NET 2019-2020|date=26 October 2010|website=UGC NET Exam|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> In Odisha and Jharkhand, Education in Ho at the primary level was introduced in 20 and 449 schools respectively and about 44,502 tribal students are pursuing their studies in the language.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/jharkhand-school-books-to-go-local/|title=Jharkhand school books to go local|date=16 January 2016|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
Honoo sanam raate anḍoḱ Tingunum· Tíjoṅ mipit́teko unduṕ akana. Urumsẽa· Jivmet́'ko emvan te, Hagaea Mepen loḱko ripika enaṅà.


Besides education, Ho has also got its due recognition in the world of mass media. For the last few years, [[All India Radio]] (AIR) has been airing songs in Ho from the AIR centres in [[Keonjhar]], [[Rourkela]] and [[Cuttack]] besides [[Baripada]] in Mayurbhanj district. Regular programs in Ho are broadcast from [[Chaibasa]] and [[Jamshedpur]] AIR centres in Jharkhand. Similarly, from [[Ranchi]] AIR centre in Jharkhand, regional news bulletins are broadcast two days a week Friday and Sunday.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com"/>
=== IPA transcription ===
honoː sanam raːte anɖoʔ tiŋgunum tiːd͡ʑoŋ mipiˀt̚teko undubakana. urumsẽa jiːmeˀt̚ko eman te, hageja mepen loʔko ripikɛ enaŋaʔ.
<br>


==Demand for inclusion in the 8th Scheduled of Indian Constitution==
=== English ===
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.


Odisha government and Jharkhand government has been continuously making demands for inclusion in 8th scheduled of constitution.<ref>https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/tribal-communities-in-odisha-are-speaking-up-to-save-their-dialects/article18713925.ece#!</ref> Ho peoples are also making continuous efforts to fulfill their demands as to be included in 8th scheduled.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.orissapost.com/pradhan-for-inclusion-of-ho-in-8th-schedule/|title=Pradhan for inclusion of 'Ho' in 8th Schedule - OrissaPOST|date=6 December 2018|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> BJP Rajya Sabha MP and Union petroleum and steel minister [[Dharmendra Pradhan]] has also submitted a memorandum demanding that the government of India to include Ho in the Constitution to give it an ''official status'' .The same request has also been made by the Department of personnel, Jharkhand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/include-ho-language-in-8th-schedule-bjp-mp-113082201216_1.html|title=Include Ho language in 8th Schedule: BJP MP|agency=Press Trust of India|date=22 August 2013|access-date=16 December 2019|via=Business Standard}}</ref> Former Home minister [[Rajnath singh]] also assured for Ho language to be included in 8th scheduled of constitution and Minister Rajnath Singh assured to take appropriates steps to fulfil the demand, said union minister Dharmendra Pradhan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/state-editions/rajnath-assures-for-ho-inclusion-in-8th-schedule.html|title=Rajnath assures for Ho inclusion in 8th Schedule|first=The|last=Pioneer|website=The Pioneer|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
==Usage==
Under the Multilingual Education (MLE) programme, Odisha government has been providing primary education in Ho speaking areas.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Multilingual Education (MLE) for Tribal Children of Odisha | url=https://repository.education.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/multilingual-education-mle-for-tribal-children-of-odisha.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124024658/https://repository.education.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/multilingual-education-mle-for-tribal-children-of-odisha.pdf | archive-date=2022-01-24}}</ref>


==Employment opportunities in Ho languages==
[[National Eligibility Test]] conducted by the [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission of India]] includes Ho literature along with literature from other tribal languages under Tribal and Regional Language/Literature subject.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ugcnetexam.co.in/ugc-net-tribal-regional-language-literature-syllabus.html|title=Tribal and Regional Language - Literature Syllabus UGC NET 2019-2020|date=26 October 2010|website=UGC NET Exam|access-date=16 December 2019|archive-date=24 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191224080355/http://www.ugcnetexam.co.in/ugc-net-tribal-regional-language-literature-syllabus.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In Odisha and Jharkhand, Education in Ho at the primary level was introduced in 20 and 449 schools respectively and about 44,502 tribal students are pursuing their studies in the language.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/High-hopes-for-Ho/articleshow/9275704.cms|title=High hopes for Ho &#124; Bhubaneswar News - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=19 July 2011 |access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/jharkhand-school-books-to-go-local/|title=Jharkhand school books to go local|date=16 January 2016|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>


The students who are enrolling in Ho language which has been provided by [[Ranchi University]], Ranchi and [[Kolhan university]], Chaibasa are getting jobs in ''archaeological centres'' and works as ''translator''. After passing class XII, the students can pursue UG Course in Ho language in Ranchi university, Ranchi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/courses-in-tribal-and-regional-language-most-sought-at-ranchi-university/articleshow/69961457.cms|title=Courses in Tribal and regional language most sought at Ranchi University - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> Similarly, Odisha government has also been providing education to Ho tribal students in Ho language called as Multi-lingual education system and the tribal youths are getting jobs as teacher in Ho language and earning good salaries for multilingual education of odisha.<ref name="auto"/>
For the past few years, [[All India Radio]] (AIR) has been airing Ho programs from centres in [[Keonjhar]], [[Rourkela]] and [[Cuttack]] besides [[Baripada]] in [[Mayurbhanj]]. Regular programs in Ho are broadcast from [[Chaibasa]] and [[Jamshedpur]] AIR centres. Similarly, regional news bulletins are broadcast two days a week from AIR [[Ranchi]].<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes.com"/>


==Institutes and universities for Ho language==
===Universities===
===Universities===
* Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/ranchi-universitys-trl-to-have-nine-departments-for-tribal-languages-213497-2013-10-07|title=Ranchi University's TRL to have nine departments for tribal languages|first1=India Today Online New|last1=DelhiOctober 7|first2=2013UPDATED|last2=October 7|first3=2013 14:19|last3=Ist|website=India Today|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
The following universities offer courses on Ho:
* Kolhan University, Chaibasa, Jharkhand<ref>https://www.kolhanuniversity.ac.in/gallery/category/3-trl-book-release-and-hon-ble-governors-interaction-with-students</ref>
* Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/north/story/ranchi-universitys-trl-to-have-nine-departments-for-tribal-languages-213497-2013-10-07|title=Ranchi University's TRL to have nine departments for tribal languages|date=7 October 2013 |magazine=India Today|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
* Kolhan University, Chaibasa, Jharkhand<ref>[https://www.kolhanuniversity.ac.in/gallery/category/3-trl-book-release-and-hon-ble-governors-interaction-with-students]{{dead link|date=August 2021}}</ref>


===Colleges===
===Educational institutions===
* Ho Language Education Council, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://holanguageodishaedu.in/|title=HO LANGUAGE EDUCATION COUNCIL ODISHA|website=holanguageodishaedu.in|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
The following educational institutions offer courses on Ho:
* Ho Language +2 Junior College, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in">{{Cite web|url=http://holanguageodishaedu.in/school_college.html|title=HO LANGUAGE EDUCATION COUNCIL ODISHA|website=holanguageodishaedu.in|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
* Ho Language Education Council, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref>{{cite web|url=http://holanguageodishaedu.in/|title=HO(𑢹𑣉𑣉) LANGUAGE EDUCATION COUNCIL ODISHA|website=holanguageodishaedu.in|access-date=16 December 2019}}{{sps|certain=y|date=September 2025}}</ref>
 
* Ho Language +2 Junior College, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in">{{cite web|url=http://holanguageodishaedu.in/school_college.html|title=HO(𑢹𑣉𑣉) LANGUAGE EDUCATION COUNCIL ODISHA|website=holanguageodishaedu.in|access-date=16 December 2019|archive-date=10 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210175756/http://holanguageodishaedu.in/school_college.html|url-status=dead}}{{sps|certain=y|date=September 2025}}</ref>
===Institutes and schools===
* Kolguru Lako Bodra Ho Language High school, Birbasa, Bhubaneswar, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
* Kolguru Lako Bodra Ho Language High school, Birbasa, Bhubaneswar, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
* Banajyoti Bahubhasi Vidya Mandir, Purunapai, Deogorh, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
* Banajyoti Bahubhasi Vidya Mandir, Purunapai, Deogorh, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
Line 94: Line 760:
* Kolhan High School, Satakosia, Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
* Kolhan High School, Satakosia, Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
* Guru Lako Bodra Ho Language High School, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
* Guru Lako Bodra Ho Language High School, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
* Ho Hayam Seyannoh Moond,Madkamhatu,Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
* Ho Hayam Seyannoh Moond, Madkamhatu, Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
* Sitadevi Warangchity Moond,Khunta,Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
* Sitadevi Warang chiti(𑢹𑣗𑣁𑣜𑣊 𑢯𑣂𑣕𑣂) Moond, Khunta, Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
* P.C.Haibru Warangchity School,Kadadiha,Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>
* P.C.Haibru Warang chiti(𑢹𑣗𑣁𑣜𑣊 𑢯𑣂𑣕𑣂)  School, Kadadiha, Mayurbhanj, Odisha<ref name="holanguageodishaedu.in"/>


==Ho folk literature==
==Literature==
{{Prose|section|date=June 2018}}
{{Prose|section|date=June 2018}}
* Ho folk literature's collection of folk songs by Sharatchandra Rai, Dr. D.N. Majumdar, B. Sukumar, Haldhaar, Kanhuram Devgum etc. (1915–26).
* Ho folk literature's collection of folk songs by Sharatchandra Rai, Dr. D.N. Majumdar, B. Sukumar, Haldhaar, Kanhuram Devgum etc. (1915–26).
* Tuturd, Sayan Marsal by Dr. S.K. Tiyu.
* Tuturd, Sayan Marsal by Dr. S.K. Tiyu.
* The Affairs of a Tribe by Dr. D.N. Majumdaar.
* The Affairs of a Tribe by Dr. D.N. Majumdaar.
* Aandi and Sarjom Ba Dumba by Jaidev Das.
* Aandi and Sarjom Ba Dumba by Jaidev Das.
* Ho Durandh by [[W.G. Archer]].
* Ho Durang by [[W.G. Archer]].
* Folklore of Kolhaan by C.H. Bompaas.
* Folklore of Kolhaan by C.H. Bompaas.
* Sengail (Poems), Satish Rumul (Poems), Ho Chapakarh Kahin, Satish Chandra Sanhita, and Chaas Raiy Takh by Satish Kumar Koda.
* Sengail (Poems), Satish Rumul (Poems), Ho Chapakarh Kahin, Satish Chandra Sanhita, and Chaas Raiy Takh by Satish Kumar Koda.
* Dishum Rumul Mage Durudh by Shivcharan Birua.
* Dishum Rumul Mage Durudh by Shivcharan Birua.
* Adivasi Sivil Durang, Adivasi Deyoan, Adivasi Muni and Urri Keda Kova Red-Ranu by Durga Purti.
* Adivasi Sivil Durang, Adivasi Deyoan, Adivasi Muni and Urri Keda Kova Red-Ranu by Durga Purti.
* Bonga Buru Ko (Ho Religion), Horoh Hoan Ko, Maradh Bonga, and Gosain-Devgum Mage Poraab (on Maage Parv) by Pradhaan Gaagrai.
* Bonga Buru Ko (Ho Religion), Horoh Hoan Ko, Maradh Bonga, and Gosain-Devgum Mage Poraab (on Maage Parv) by Pradhan Gagrai.
* Warangchity (on Ho Lipi), Pompo, Shaar Hora 1-7(Play), Raghuvansh (Play), Hora-Bara, Ho Hayam (Ho Vyakaran), Haladh-Helpudh, Jiboan * * Gumpai Durang,Baa bur Wonga buru and Bonga Singirai (Novel) by otguru kol Lako Bodra.
* Warangchiti (on 𑢹𑣗𑣁𑣜𑣊 𑢯𑣂𑣕𑣂), Pompo, Shaar Hora 1-7 (Play), Raghuvansh (Play), Kol ruul(Hindi and Ho(𑢹𑣗𑣁𑣜𑣊 𑢯𑣂𑣕𑣂) , Homoyom pitika, Hora-Bara, Ho Hayam paam puti, Halang halpung, Ela ol itu ute, Jiboan * * Gumpai Durang, Baa buru Bonga buru and Bonga Singirai (Novel) by Ot Guru Kol [[Lako Bodra]].
* Ho Kudih (Novel) by Dumbi Ho.
* Ho Kudih (Novel) by Dumbi Ho.
* Ho Kudih (Novel) and Adhunik Ho Shishth Kawya by Prof. Janum Singh Soy.
* Ho Kudih (Novel) and Adhunik Ho Shishth Kawya by Prof. [[Janum Singh Soy]].
* Jaira Jeebon Dastur, Durrn Dudugar, and Ho Bhasha Shastra Ayun Vyakaran by Prof. Balram Paat Pingua.
* Jaira Jeebon Dastur, Durrn Dudugar, and Ho Bhasha Shastra Ayun Vyakaran by Prof. Balram Paat Pingua.
* Ho Dishum Ho Hoon Ko by Dhanusingh Purti.
* Ho Dishum Ho Hoon Ko by Dhanusingh Purti.
* Eitaa Bataa Nalaa Basaa, Joaur, Parem Sanadh (Poems), Sarjom Ba Taral, etc. By Kamal Lochan Kohaar.
* Eitaa Bataa Nalaa Basaa, Joaur, Parem Sanadh (Poems), Sarjom Ba Taral, etc. By Kamal Lochan Kohaar.
* Ho Lokkatha by Dr. Aditya Prasad Sinha.
* Ho Lokkatha by Dr. Aditya Prasad Sinha.
* Magazines like Johar, Turturd, Ottoroad, and Sarnaphool also have Ho language articles.<ref name="tribalstuff.wordpress.com">https://tribalstuff.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/ho-the-language-of-ho-tribe/|date=August 2017</ref>
* Magazines like Johar, Turturd, Ottoroad, and Sarnaphool also have Ho language articles.
* HO Language Digital Journal "Diyang"
* Ho Language Digital Journal "Diyang"
*Ho Language monthly journal"Dostur Korang"by Kairasingh Bandiya
* Ho Language monthly journal"Dostur Korang"by Kairasingh Bandiya
* HO Kaboy (Poem) poti "''Tangi Meyanj Sorogo Kore''" by Ghanshyam Bodra
* Ho Kaboy (Poem) poti "''Tangi Meyanj Sorogo Kore''" by Ghanshyam Bodra
*Ho language song"Dureng Dala"by Dibakar Soy
* Ho language song"Dureng Dala"by Dibakar Soy
*Ho linged "Horabara" and "Mage Porob"by Kairasingh Bandiya"
* Ho language learning books "Ol initu" and "Mage Porob"by Kairasingh Bandiya"
* Ho hayam sibil dureng(Ho and Hindi) by Doboro Buliuli
 
==Demand for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule==
 
Apart from the Ho peoples themselves, the governments of [[Odisha]] and [[Jharkhand]] have been making demands for Ho to be included in the [[Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India]].<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/tribal-communities-in-odisha-are-speaking-up-to-save-their-dialects/article18713925.ece#!| title = Tribal communities in Odisha are speaking up to save their dialects - The Hindu| newspaper = The Hindu| date = 3 June 2017| last1 = Barik| first1 = Satyasundar}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.orissapost.com/pradhan-for-inclusion-of-ho-in-8th-schedule/|title=Pradhan for inclusion of 'Ho'(𑢹𑣉𑣉) in 8th Schedule - OrissaPOST|date=6 December 2018|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref> Rajya Sabha member and Union Petroleum and Steel Minister [[Dharmendra Pradhan]] had also submitted a memorandum demanding that the Government of India include Ho in the Constitution to give it an ''official status''.The same request has also been made by the Department of Personnel, Jharkhand.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/include-ho-language-in-8th-schedule-bjp-mp-113082201216_1.html|title=Include Ho language in 8th Schedule: BJP MP|agency=Press Trust of India|date=22 August 2013|access-date=16 December 2019|via=Business Standard}}</ref> Former Home Minister [[Rajnath Singh]] had assured that Ho would be included in the eighth schedule, said union minister Dharmendra Pradhan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/state-editions/rajnath-assures-for-ho-inclusion-in-8th-schedule.html|title=Rajnath assures for Ho(𑢹𑣉𑣉) inclusion in 8th Schedule|first=The|last=Pioneer|website=The Pioneer|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
 
Erstwhile Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has written to the Home Ministry for the inclusion of Ho into the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.<ref>{{cite news| url =https://www.bhaskar.com/local/jharkhand/news/hemant-soren-demands-inclusion-of-mundari-ho-and-kudkhu-tribal-languages-in-eighth-schedule-127640748.html| title =झारखंड: सीएम हेमंत सोरेन ने गृहमंत्री अमित शाह को लिखा पत्र, मुंडारी, कुड़ुख एवं उरांव भाषा को संविधान की आठवीं अनुसूची में शामिल करने की मांग - Jharkhand News| work =Dainik Bhaskar| date =22 August 2020}}</ref>


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* ''Grammar of the Kol'' by Ray A. Nariroat.
* Anderson, Gregory D. S., Toshiki Osada and K. David Harrison. ''Ho and the other Kherwarian Languages'' In Gregory Anderson (ed.) ''Munda Languages''. (2008). Routledge. {{ISBN|978-0-415-32890-6}}
* ''Encyclopaedia Mundarica'' by [[John-Baptist Hoffmann]] has a section on 'Ho Dictionary'.
* ''Ho Grammar and Vocabulary'', ''Ho-English Dictionary'', and ''Ho Sahitya Sarjan'' by Father John J. Deeney [[Society of Jesus|S.J.]]
* Deeney, J. J. (1991). ''Introduction to the Ho language: [learn Ho quickly and well]''. Chaibasa: Xavier Ho Publications.
* Burrows, L. (1915). ''[https://archive.org/details/hogrammarwithvoc00burruoft Ho grammar: with vocabulary]''.
* Burrows, L. (1915). ''[https://archive.org/details/hogrammarwithvoc00burruoft Ho grammar: with vocabulary]''.
* Deeney, J. J. (1975). ''Ho grammar and vocabulary''. Chaibasa: Xavier Ho Publications.
* Deeney, J. J. (1991). ''Introduction to the Ho language: Learn Ho Quickly and Well''. Chaibasa: Xavier Ho Publications.
* Deogam, Chandrabhusan, "Larka Ho", by Chandrabhusan Deogam.
* Deeney, J. J. (1975). ''Ho Grammar and Vocabulary''. Chaibasa: Xavier Ho Publications.
* Uxbond, F.A., "Munda-Magyar-Maori". by F.A.Uxbond.london lUZAC & CO. 46, GREAT RUSSELL STREET.(1928).
* Deeney, J. J. (1978). ''Ho-English Dictionary''. Chaibasa: Xavier Ho Publications.
* Deeney, J. J. (1978). ''Ho-English Dictionary''. Chaibasa: Xavier Ho Publications.
* Anderson, Gregory D. S., Toshiki Osada and K. David Harrison. ''Ho and the other Kherwarian Languages'' In Gregory Anderson (ed.) ''Munda Languages''. (2008). Routledge. {{ISBN|978-0-415-32890-6}}
* Deogam, Chandrabhusan, ''Larka Ho''.
* Hoffmann, Johann [Baptist] & Arthur Van Emelen. 1930-1950. ''Encyclopaedia Mundarica'' [Mundari encyclopaedia]. Patna, Bihar: Superintendent Government Printing, Bihar and Orissa. xv+10+4889+xiipp. (13 vols.)
* Nottrott, A., Fitzgerald, A. G. F. (1905). Grammar of the Kol-language. India: Printed at the G.E.L. Mission Press.
* Perumalsamy P (2021) "Ho language" in Linguistic Survey of India: Jharkhand Volume, Language Division, Office of the Registrar General India: New Delhi pp: 339 – 431. [https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/45248]
* Pucilowski, A. (2013). [https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/1794/13241/Pucilowski_oregon_0171A_10666.pdf Topics in Ho Morphophonology and Morphosyntax] (Doctoral dissertation, University of Oregon).
* Uxbond, F. A. (1928). Munda-Magyar-Maori, an Indian Link Between the Antipodes, New Tracks of Hungarian Origins. Luzac.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Languages of India]]
* [[Languages of India]]
* [[Languages with official status in India]]
* [[Languages with official status in India]]
==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 145: Line 821:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/langhotspots/Ho/ The Ho language webpage by K. David Harrison, Swarthmore College]
{{Incubator|code=hoc}}
*[http://projekt.ht.lu.se/rwaai RWAAI | RWAAI, Lunds universitet] RWAAI (Repository and Workspace for Austroasiatic Intangible Heritage)
* [http://www.swarthmore.edu/SocSci/langhotspots/Ho/ The Ho language webpage by K. David Harrison, Swarthmore College]
*[[hdl:10050/00-0000-0000-0003-A6AC-8@view|http://hdl.handle.net/10050/00-0000-0000-0003-A6AC-8@view]] Ho language in RWAAI Digital Archive
* [http://projekt.ht.lu.se/rwaai RWAAI | RWAAI, Lunds universitet] RWAAI (Repository and Workspace for Austroasiatic Intangible Heritage)
 
* {{Cite web|title=Ho(𑢹𑣉𑣉) language|url=https://corpora.humlab.lu.se/ds/asv/;jsessionid=993AE7A4210859D631621012CBFF3FA9?0&openhandle=hdl:10050/00-0000-0000-0003-A6AC-8|access-date=2021-11-05|website=Lund University Humanities Lab Archive|hdl=10050/00-0000-0000-0003-A6AC-8|archive-date=5 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105153015/https://corpora.humlab.lu.se/ds/asv/;jsessionid=993AE7A4210859D631621012CBFF3FA9?0&openhandle=hdl:10050/00-0000-0000-0003-A6AC-8|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite web|title=Ho(𑢹𑣉𑣉) |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/45248|website=Census India}}
{{Languages of India}}
{{Languages of India}}
{{Austro-Asiatic languages}}
{{Austro-Asiatic languages}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Ho language| ]]
[[Category:Ho language|𑢹𑣉𑣉 𑢹𑣅𑣖]]
[[Category:Munda languages]]
[[Category:Munda languages]]
[[Category:Endangered languages of India]]
[[Category:Endangered languages of India]]
[[Category:Languages of Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Languages of Jharkhand]]
[[Category:Languages of Odisha]]
[[Category:Languages of Odisha]]
[[Category:Languages written in Devanagari]]

Latest revision as of 08:41, 23 March 2026


Ho
Template:Huge
हो जगर, ହୋ ଜାଗାର
'Hoo Jagar' written in Warang Chiti
Pronunciationhoc
Native toIndia
EthnicityHo people
Native speakers
1,421,418 (2011 census)[1]
Official status
Official language in
 India
Language codes
ISO 639-3hoc
Glottologhooo1248
Ho language speaking region
Ho is classified as Vulnerable by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger[3]
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Ho (Warang Chiti: 𑢹𑣉𑣉 𑣎𑣋𑣜, hoc[lower-alpha 1][4]) is a Munda language of the Austroasiatic language family spoken primarily in India by about 2.2  million people (0.202% of India's population) per the 2001 census. It is spoken by the Ho, Munda, Kolha and Kol tribal communities of Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam[5] and is written using Warang Chiti script. Devanagari, Latin and Odia script are also used,[6] although native speakers are said to prefer Warang Chiti, invented by Lako Bodra.[7]

The name Ho is derived from the native word hoo meaning human being,[8] with cognates in its sister languages hoṛo in Mundari, ho̠ṛ in Santali and koro in Korku.

Ho is closely related to Mundari and Santali. Ho and Mundari are often described as sister languages.[8][9] Ho is closer to the Hasadaḱ dialect of Mundari than the other varieties spoken in Jharkhand.[10] While being ethnically and linguistically close, Ho and Mundari speakers form distinct regional identities.

History[edit | edit source]

Ho has developed into an independent language as a result of various phonological and semantic changes from earlier forms common to North Munda languages. Most notable among these is the loss of intervocalic /ṛ/, leading to vowel length becoming phonemic. A common North Munda verb doho 'to put, to place', Santali do̠ho̠, Mundari takes on a vulgar meaning in Ho, many such semantic shifts make conversations with speakers of these related languages difficult.[11] Ho speakers are believed to have entered Singhbhum form the North where Mundari, with two major dialects Hasadaḱ and Naguri is spoken. In terms of affinity, Ho is closer to the Hasadaḱ dialect in most respects, including the mutation of the glottalized final consonant /ʔɟ̥̚/ into /ʔᵉ/ or /ʔⁱ/. John Hoffmann considers there to be much less difference between Hasadaḱ and Ho than between Hasadaḱ and Naguri.[10] Some forms in southern Kolhan resemble Naguri forms, such as the conjunction anḍoḱ 'moreover, and', while in northern Singhbhum it's oṛoḱ, as in Hasadaḱ. Ho in the north also maintains the Hasadaḱ contractions in certain verb forms like kić from ket́ić, lić from let́ić and -aić from -at́ić. Ho is also notable for its tendency to simplify common North Munda forms, Mundari oṛoṅ/uṛuṅ/oḍoṅ, Santali oḍok/oḍoṅ to /oːʔl/, Mundari, Santali selet́, seret́, irit́, ilat́ etc. to /seːʔl/, /seːʔr/, /iːʔr/ and /iːʔl/.

The first published written record of the Ho language is from 1844,[12] which has a short word list dated 2 April 1824. Samuel Tickell published Grammatical construction of the Ho language in 1840.[13] The first published Ho writing by an ethnic Ho is poetry of Kanuram Deogam in 1930.[14]

The Latin, Devanagari and Warang Chiti scripts have been used in the field of teaching and learning. Since 1976, the Ho language is being imparted at intermediate and graduate level courses in different colleges under the Ranchi University and Kolhan University.[15] File:Ho language Adiwasi community by D. Naresh.webm In erstwhile Bihar, the Information and Mass Communication department regularly published Ho articles, folk stories, songs in Devanagari script in a weekly named Adivasi Saptahik.

There are significant initiatives inculcated in development of Ho language. A pioneering work was started at Ete Turtung Akhara, Jhinkapani to study and develop the Ho language under the leadership of Lako Bodra with the help of Adi Sanskriti Evam Vigyan Sansthan. The institute published a book in 1963 titled Ho Hayam Paham Puti in Warang Chiti and introduced the letters of Warang Chiti.[16]

A. Pathak and N.K. Verma tried to compare the Warang Chiti with Indus script in Echoes of Indus Valley.[17] Sudhanshu Kumar Ray in his 'Indus Script' described that the script Warang Chiti resembles the script of Indus that was discovered by Ashok Pagal and Bulu Imam in the caves of Aswara hill near Baraka village.[18]

Xavier Ho Publication, Lupungutu has been publishing Ho books in the Devanagri script. John Deeney published Ho Grammar and Vocabulary in 1975.[19]

Geographical distribution[edit | edit source]

Distribution of Ho language in the state of India (2011 census)[20]

  Jharkhand (70%)
  Odisha (29%)
  West Bengal (0.4%)
  Madhya Pradesh (0.2%)
  Other (0.4%)

Around half of all Ho speakers reside in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, where they form a majority. Ho speakers are also found in districts of East Singhbhum in southern Jharkhand, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar in northern Odisha.

Phonology[edit | edit source]

File:OpenSpeaks-Hoc-Ruum Sakam-Ladura Singh Haiburu-Lalit Singh Banra-Body Parts.webm

Consonants[edit | edit source]

Labial Dental/
Alveolar
Retroflex Palatal Velar Glottal
Nasal m n (ɳ) ɲ ŋ
Stop/
Affricate
voiceless p t ʈ t͡ɕ k ʔ
voiced b d ɖ d͡ʑ ɡ
Fricative s h
Approximant w l j
Tap ɾ ɽ
  • /b, ɖ/ can be heard as preglottalized [ˀb̥̚, ˀɖ̥̚] when in word-final position.
  • /b/ can be heard as a fricative [β] in intervocalic positions.
  • /ɳ/ has a limited phonemic distribution, and is typically a realization of /n/ before retroflex sounds.[21]
  • /w/ and /j/ only occur in medial or final positions.

Vowels[edit | edit source]

Ho has 5 basic vowels, these can be short, long, nasalized and long and nasalized. Long vowels either result from gemination of short vowels resulting from loss of intervocalic consonants or due to the bimoraic constraint inherited from Proto-Munda.[22]

Oral vowels
Front Central Back
Close i u
Mid e o
Open a
Nasal vowels
Front Central Back
Close ĩ ũ
Mid õ
Open ã

Grammar[edit | edit source]

Like other languages of the Munda family, Ho has a mostly suffixing agglutinative inflectional morphology and follows accusative morphosyntactic alignment. There is some debate on whether Munda languages have word classes, an item from any word class can function as a verb in Ho. Ho does not have relative pronouns natively and relies on the participle forms of verbs, the forms that includes aspect, object and transitivity, but no mood markers, to form relative clauses.

Nouns and noun phrases[edit | edit source]

Number, possession and case suffixes are added to nouns. Alienable and inalienable possessions are distinguished.

Number and possession[edit | edit source]

Ho distinguishes singular, dual and plural numbers. Number suffixes are generally written separate from base nouns.

Possessive
Singular Kula "tiger" Kulaaḱ "tiger's"
Dual Kula kin "two tigers" Kula kinaḱ "of the two tigers"
Plural Kula ko "tigers" Kula koaḱ "of the tigers"

Number and inalienable possession[edit | edit source]

Construction for alienable possessions is different form inalienable possessions, En Eraaḱ Kolom "That woman's threshing floor", and En Era Gauńte "That woman's aunt". Suffixes for inalienable possessions only occur in the singular.

1st person possessor 2nd person possessor 3rd person possessor
Singular Gauń "aunt" Gauń "my aunt" Gauńme "your aunt" Gauńte "his/her aunt"
Dual Gauń kin "two aunts" Gauń tekin "my two aunts" Gauńme tekin "your two aunts" Gauńte tekin "his/her two aunts"
Plural Gauń kin "two aunts" Gauń teko "my aunts" Gauńme teko "your aunts" Gauńte teko "his/her aunts"

Pronouns[edit | edit source]

Ho personal pronoun distinguish inclusive and exclusive first person and anaphoric and demonstrative third person.

Personal pronouns
Singular Dual Plural
1st person Exclusive aliń ale
Inclusive alaṅ abu
2nd person am aben ape
3rd person Anaphoric akin ako
Demonstrative Proximal neić nekin neko
Distal Visible enić enkin enko
Audible etić etekin eteko
Remote hanić hankin hanko
Interrogative pronouns
Animate Inanimate
Referential okoe okon
Non-referential cenić cenaḱ
Indefinite pronouns
  Animate Inanimate
'any' jahć jahnaḱ
'another' eṭaḱć eṭaḱaḱ
Demonstratives
Simple Particular
Proximate ne, nen nea, nena
Distal en ena
Remote han hana

Numerals[edit | edit source]

Short forms are used in compound words, general counting and counting money, the long forms are used when counting specific objects.

Cardinal Distributive
Short form Long form Short form Long form
1 miat́ mimit́ mí-miat́
2 bar baria bá-bar bá-baria
3 apé apeia á-pé á-peia
4 upun upunia ú-pun ú-punia
5 moe moeia mó-moe mó-móeia
6 turui turuiia tú-turui tú-turuiia
7 ai aiia á-ai á-aiia
8 iril irilia í-iril í-irilia
9 are areia á-are á-areia
10 gel gelia gé-gel gé-gelia
20 hisi hisiia hí-hisi hí-hisiia

Postpositions[edit | edit source]

Postposition Function
lagit́ Dative
loḱ Comitative, along with
paa Towards, around
re Spatio-temporal location, locative
paṅ Temporal, indicates time
japaḱ Near
te Instrumental, instrument, cause, motion, direction, allative
leka Semblative
taḱ Adessive
aete Ablative, source, origin
cetan On top of
latar Below
suba Under
jóṅ, joka Terminative
mutit́/partet́ Distributive

Particles[edit | edit source]

Particle Function / Meaning Examples
do Topic marker En Kaji do nahḱ at́ yna, 'That word is now forgotten'
ó 'Even/also' En Kaji ó nahḱ do at́ yna, 'Even that word is forgotten now'
ge Emphasis marker En Kaji ge at́ yna, 'That very word is forgotten'
chi Question particle En Kaji at́ yna ci?, 'Has that word been forgotten?'
ma 'As for that' En Kaji ma at́ yna nahḱ do, 'As for that word, it is lost now'
rená, rengá Intensifier En Kaji at́ rená/rengá yna, 'That word is absolutely forgotten'
toraṅ Speculative En Kaji do at́ yna toraṅ, 'That word is forgotten I suppose'
ciat́/cit́laṅ/cimat́ 'As far as I know' En Kaji do at́ yna cimat́, 'That word is forgotten (as far as I know)'
deraṅ Hearsay En Catom do at́ yna deraṅ, 'That umbrella was lost (they say)'
batit́/batit́laṅ/batikam/batil Realization/correction particle En Urić doć at́ yna batit́, 'That cow has gone missing (I just realized)'; Nen Urić batit́ at́ lena, 'It was this cow that was lost (not the other one, I was mistaken)'
honaṅ Irrealis marker En Kaji do at́ yna honaṅ, 'That word would have been forgotten'
auri 'Not yet' En Kaji do auri at́oḱa, 'That word is yet to be forgotten'
gatát́/gatalt́ 'All without exception' Upun hoo gatát́/gatalt́kô at́ yna, 'All the four persons were lost'
jaket́/sante 'As far as even' En Kaji jaket́/sante at́oḱ ge, 'To the extent that even that word may be forgotten'
mar Prompt hearer to do something En Merom mar kumbuu yna, 'That goat has been stolen (how disappointing, what would you even say to that?)'
halte 'So it was...' Nen Seta halte at́ lena, 'So it was this dog that was lost'
idu Dubitative Nayl kale kumbuu kenakô menea, idu, 'They say we did not steal the plough (but who knows?)'
sumat́/sungat́/suat́/sual 'Only' Nen Oaḱ sumat́ sareć yna, 'Only this house was spared'
cite Disbelief En cokoć lekan Oaḱ citekô kiriṅ ket́a?, 'Did they really buy this small house?'
oṛoḱ/onḍoḱ 'What else do you expect?' Parkom do Gama rem bage let́a, soya yna oṛoḱ, You had left the cot in the rain, it started rotting, what else do you expect?
rongam/rongate 'I tell you / of course' Kolom ren Guḍu rongam Bilae imineć maraṅa, 'The bandicoot rat from the threshing floor is big as a cat I tell you'

Verbs[edit | edit source]

There is no restrictions as to which word may occupy the role of a verb. Therefore, even proper nouns may act as verbs, Lako ket́ińako, 'They named me Lako'. Verbs may be serialized or modified with affixes before being put in this verb template:

Verb stem + (Aspect marker) + (Transitive/Intransitive marker) + (Object pronoun) + (Mood marker) + (Subject pronoun)

The verb stem may be modified in the following ways:

Root modification Example with kaji, 'to tell'
Reciprocal -p- kapaji, 'to tell each other / argue'
Benefactive -a kajia, 'to tell someone'
Habitual lengthening or reduplication of the first syllable kaáji, 'to tell habitually'
Ho aspect markers
Transitive Intransitive Examples with nutum, 'to name'
Past Pluperfect let́ len nutum let́ań, 'I had previously named'; nutum lenań, 'I was previously named'
Aorist ket́ ken* nutum ket́, 'I named'; nutum ken, 'I used to name'
Ingressive ** yan*** nutum yan, 'I had begun to be named / I was named'
Perfect akat́ akan nutum akat́, 'I have named'; nutum akan, 'I have been named (I'm famous)'
Non-past Progressive/Continuous/Punctual tat́ tan**** nutum tat́, 'I have (just) named'; nutumè tanań, 'I am naming it'
Present/Future -oḱ nuútumań, 'I name (habitually)'; nutumoḱań, 'I will be named'
lee leenoḱ nutum lee, 'I will first name it'; nutum leenoḱ 'I will first be famous'
kee keenoḱ nutum kee, 'I will name it (before doing something else)'
akaa akaanoḱ nutum akaaàń, 'I will keep naming'; nutum akaanoḱ, 'I will continue to be named'
taa - nutum taaàń, 'I will name it now'
  • presence of a transitivity marker indicates past tense and the absence non-past.
  • ken is only used in its original function as an intransitive with a small number of verbs, like oṛa 'to bathe' and sen 'to go', it has now been extended even to transitive verbs, where it shifts the focus from the object of the verb to the subject.
  • intransitive counterpart of the ingressive yan is lost in Ho, while being maintained in Mundari as yada/jada and in Santali as eda. ean maintains ingressive meaning only with a limited number of verbs, it mostly functions as the intransitive counterpart of aorist ket́.
  • tan is conjugated differently than other aspect markers, where the object marker occurs right before tan, rather than after the transitivity marker, enabling it to be used even on transitive verbs, where it has taken over the function of tat́ with many verbs, as in gama tat́ać vs. gamaè tanać, both having the same meaning with the latter being more common. With a number of transitive verbs, tan and tat́ contrast and produce progressive-continuous distinction, tusiṅ tat́ać, 'he is wearing' (continuous aspect), tusiṅè tanać, 'he (now) is (in the process of) wearing it' (progressive aspect).
  • benefactive stem with -a cannot take any of the aspect markers, it can only take a transitivity marker, limiting its occurrence either with the past or the non-past tense.

Vocabulary[edit | edit source]

Most of the Ho basic vocabulary is of Munda origin, with cognates in other Kherwarian languages, undated old borrowings from Indo-Aryan languages also exist, such as kolom, 'threasing floor', datarom 'a sickle', sutam 'a thread', gotom 'ghee' and parkom 'a cot'. In recent years, increased number of words from Hindi, English and Odia have been entering the language due to increased contact. Ho numbers are almost entirely out of practical use, being supplanted by Hindi numbers, except for one, two and three.

Ho lexicon reflects close association with nature, including numerous onomatopoeias arising from cries of different animals along with 'expressives' to describe sounds in nature.[23]

Ho, like other Kherwarian languages, has lexical differentiation in many of its verbs, whereby different words exist to express distinctions within a single concept. For example, maḱ 'to cut with a striking motion', hat́ 'to cut with a sawing motion', ir 'to reap with a sickle', get́ 'to cut with cutting tool being stationary', paaḱ 'to split firewood with an axe', laṭaṕ 'to clip hair etc.', hese 'to clear branches etc. by cutting', banḍić 'to cut the extremities', topaṅ/tobaṅ 'to sever with a single striking motion', samaḱ 'to cut into small pieces'.

Many words are derived using affixes.

Affix Examples
a- 'to drink' → anu 'to cause/make to drink', jom 'to eat' → ajom 'to feed', kiriṅakiriṅ 'to cause to buy (to sell)', sen 'to walk' → asen 'to cause to walk (to help someone walk), to transport'
-n- nel 'to see' → nenel 'a view, an opinion', duṕ 'to sit' → dunuṕ 'a meeting', saṕ 'to hold' → sanaṕ 'a handle', roḱ 'to carve' → ronoḱ 'a carving'
-p- got́ 'to pluck' → gopot́ 'the petiole', kuli 'to ask' → kupuli 'to ask each other', kupul 'a relative', hon 'a child' → hopon 'descendants', seet́ 'son' → sepeet́ 'a youth'
-t- numu 'a name' → nutum 'to name; a name', bor 'to pull out a string etc.' → botor 'a train of cloth etc.', aagom 'a levelling plank' → ataagom 'to level with a plank; a levelling plank'
-m- hon 'son' → homon 'a woman's brother's son', hoo 'human' → homoo 'the body', laḱ 'to scrape' → lamaḱ 'the bean pod of a tree (used as a scraper)'
m- arsal 'to shine light' → marsal 'light', raḱ 'to cry' → maraḱ 'a peacock'
-r- oṅ 'to blow' → oroṅ 'to play a wind instrument', ugum 'hot and sultry' → urgum 'warm', kaji 'to say' → karji 'a messenger', akit́ 'to gather' → arkit́ 'to abduct', teteć 'moonlight' → terteć 'dim light'
r- anjet́ 'to dry up' → ranjet́ 'to cause to dry up'
k- eset́ 'to block' → keset́ 'to cause to block'

Writing system[edit | edit source]

Ho has been written in various scripts, starting from the first written record of 1824[12] to the present day, mostly using the Latin alphabet, Devanagari, Odia and more recently using the Warang Chiti script. Most writing done in Jharkhand tends to use the Devanagari script, while in Odisha it is the Odia script. While community intellectuals have been promoting the usage of Warang Chiti, it is yet to be widely used among Ho people due to it not being a part of school education. In 1985, a committee consisting of intellectuals including Ram Dayal Munda and Bhagey Gobardhan deliberated on common script for Ho, and decided in favor of Warang Chiti, eliminating competition from scripts put forth by other inventors such as Sangram Sindhu's Owar Anka Gār Lipi, disseminated by an institution called Sindhu Jumur, Rohidas Singh Nag's Mundari Bani Hisir Champa, Raghunath Purty's Ho Ol Lipi, Purushottam Godsora's Srishti Lipi among others.[24]

Sample Text[edit | edit source]

The following text is Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, written in Ho:

Warang Chiti Script[edit | edit source]

𑣞𑣗𑣂𑣓 𑣖𑣁𑣓𑣖𑣂 𑣌𑣉𑣁𑣄 𑣙𑣂𑣅𑣁𑣕𑣂𑣊 𑣁𑣓‍𑣑𑣉𑣄 𑣈𑣌𑣕𑣂𑣅𑣜 𑣌𑣉 𑣜𑣈𑣅𑣄 𑣖𑣁𑣖𑣚𑣈 𑣜𑣈 𑣎𑣉𑣓𑣉𑣖𑣈𑣈 𑣕𑣈𑣋𑣈 𑣔𑣓𑣁𑣖𑣃𑣚 𑣁𑣓‍𑣑𑣉𑣄 𑣗𑣜𑣁𑣗𑣜𑣂 𑣜𑣈𑣅𑣄 𑣓𑣖𑣁 𑣌𑣓𑣁. 𑣂𑣓𑣂𑣌𑣃 𑣗𑣃𑣔‍𑣔𑣂 𑣁𑣓‍𑣑𑣉𑣄 𑣎𑣂𑣗𑣉𑣓 𑣗𑣂𑣕𑣜 𑣜𑣈𑣅𑣄 𑣈𑣓𑣈𑣖 𑣓𑣖𑣁 𑣌𑣓𑣁 𑣁𑣓‍𑣑𑣉𑣄 𑣁𑣌𑣉-𑣁𑣌𑣉 𑣜𑣈 𑣙𑣋𑣈𑣅𑣁-𑣗𑣉𑣙𑣅𑣁 (𑣗‍𑣙𑣁𑣆𑣏𑣁𑣜𑣈) 𑣜𑣈𑣅𑣄 𑣎𑣂𑣗𑣉𑣓 𑣃𑣊𑣃𑣄 𑣕𑣈𑣌𑣉 𑣎𑣁𑣓𑣁𑣋𑣜 𑣕𑣈𑣅𑣄 𑣔𑣉𑣜𑣌𑣜.[25]

Devanagari Script[edit | edit source]

सबिन मानमि कोअः हियातिङ अन्डोः एकतियर को रेयः मामले रे जोनोमेए तेगे दनामुल अन्डोः बराबरि रेयः नमा कना। इनिकु बुद्दि अन्डोः जिबोन बितर रेयः एनेम नमा कना अन्डोः अको-अको रे हगेया-बोहया (भाईचारे) रेयः जिबोन उङुः तेको जानागर तेयः दोरकर॥[26]

IPA transcription[edit | edit source]

sɐbin mʌnmi koɐː hijʌt̪iŋ ənɖoː ekt̪ijɐɾ ko ɾejɐː mʌmle re ɟonomeeː t̪eɡe d̪ɐnʌmul ənɖoː bɐɾɐbɐɾi ɾejɐː nɐmʌ kənʌ. iniku budwi ənɖoː ɟibon bit̪ɐɾ ɾejɐː enem nɐmʌ kənʌ ənɖoː ɐko ɐko ɾe hɐɡejʌ bohɐjʌ ɾejɐː ɟibon uɖuː t̪eko ɟʌnʌɡɐɾ t̪ejɐː doɾkɐr.

Alternative version (Ho Latin)[edit | edit source]

Honoo sanam raate anḍoḱ Tingunum· Tíjoṅ mipit́teko unduṕ akana. Urumsẽa· Jivmet́'ko emvan te, Hagaea Mepen loḱko ripika enaṅà.

IPA transcription[edit | edit source]

honoː sanam raːte anɖoʔ tiŋgunum tiːd͡ʑoŋ mipiˀt̚teko undubakana. urumsẽa jiːmeˀt̚ko eman te, hageja mepen loʔko ripikɛ enaŋaʔ.

English[edit | edit source]

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Usage[edit | edit source]

Under the Multilingual Education (MLE) programme, Odisha government has been providing primary education in Ho speaking areas.[27]

National Eligibility Test conducted by the University Grants Commission of India includes Ho literature along with literature from other tribal languages under Tribal and Regional Language/Literature subject.[28] In Odisha and Jharkhand, Education in Ho at the primary level was introduced in 20 and 449 schools respectively and about 44,502 tribal students are pursuing their studies in the language.[29][30]

For the past few years, All India Radio (AIR) has been airing Ho programs from centres in Keonjhar, Rourkela and Cuttack besides Baripada in Mayurbhanj. Regular programs in Ho are broadcast from Chaibasa and Jamshedpur AIR centres. Similarly, regional news bulletins are broadcast two days a week from AIR Ranchi.[29]

Universities[edit | edit source]

The following universities offer courses on Ho:

  • Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand[31]
  • Kolhan University, Chaibasa, Jharkhand[32]

Educational institutions[edit | edit source]

The following educational institutions offer courses on Ho:

  • Ho Language Education Council, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[33]
  • Ho Language +2 Junior College, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]
  • Kolguru Lako Bodra Ho Language High school, Birbasa, Bhubaneswar, Odisha[34]
  • Banajyoti Bahubhasi Vidya Mandir, Purunapai, Deogorh, Odisha[34]
  • Veer Birsa Warangchity Mondo, Rairangpur, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]
  • Birsa Munda Ho Language High school, Jamunalia, Keonjhar, Odisha[34]
  • Padmashree Tulasi Munda Ho Language High School, Machhgorh, Keonjhar, Odisha[34]
  • Kol guru Lako Bodra Ho Language High School, Dobati, Balasore, Odisha[34]
  • Birsa Munda Ho Language High School, Nuagaon, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]
  • Atteh Turtung Rumtulay mondo, singda, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]
  • Bankipirh Marshal Mondo, Bankidihi, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]
  • Similipal Baa bagan mondo, Thakurmapatna, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]
  • Kolguru Lako Bodra Ho Language High School, Gokul Chandra pur, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]
  • Birsa Munda Ho Language High School, Hadagutu, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]
  • Kolhan High School, Satakosia, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]
  • Guru Lako Bodra Ho Language High School, Thakurmunda, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]
  • Ho Hayam Seyannoh Moond, Madkamhatu, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]
  • Sitadevi Warang chiti(𑢹𑣗𑣁𑣜𑣊 𑢯𑣂𑣕𑣂) Moond, Khunta, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]
  • P.C.Haibru Warang chiti(𑢹𑣗𑣁𑣜𑣊 𑢯𑣂𑣕𑣂) School, Kadadiha, Mayurbhanj, Odisha[34]

Literature[edit | edit source]

  • Ho folk literature's collection of folk songs by Sharatchandra Rai, Dr. D.N. Majumdar, B. Sukumar, Haldhaar, Kanhuram Devgum etc. (1915–26).
  • Tuturd, Sayan Marsal by Dr. S.K. Tiyu.
  • The Affairs of a Tribe by Dr. D.N. Majumdaar.
  • Aandi and Sarjom Ba Dumba by Jaidev Das.
  • Ho Durang by W.G. Archer.
  • Folklore of Kolhaan by C.H. Bompaas.
  • Sengail (Poems), Satish Rumul (Poems), Ho Chapakarh Kahin, Satish Chandra Sanhita, and Chaas Raiy Takh by Satish Kumar Koda.
  • Dishum Rumul Mage Durudh by Shivcharan Birua.
  • Adivasi Sivil Durang, Adivasi Deyoan, Adivasi Muni and Urri Keda Kova Red-Ranu by Durga Purti.
  • Bonga Buru Ko (Ho Religion), Horoh Hoan Ko, Maradh Bonga, and Gosain-Devgum Mage Poraab (on Maage Parv) by Pradhan Gagrai.
  • Warangchiti (on 𑢹𑣗𑣁𑣜𑣊 𑢯𑣂𑣕𑣂), Pompo, Shaar Hora 1-7 (Play), Raghuvansh (Play), Kol ruul(Hindi and Ho(𑢹𑣗𑣁𑣜𑣊 𑢯𑣂𑣕𑣂) , Homoyom pitika, Hora-Bara, Ho Hayam paam puti, Halang halpung, Ela ol itu ute, Jiboan * * Gumpai Durang, Baa buru Bonga buru and Bonga Singirai (Novel) by Ot Guru Kol Lako Bodra.
  • Ho Kudih (Novel) by Dumbi Ho.
  • Ho Kudih (Novel) and Adhunik Ho Shishth Kawya by Prof. Janum Singh Soy.
  • Jaira Jeebon Dastur, Durrn Dudugar, and Ho Bhasha Shastra Ayun Vyakaran by Prof. Balram Paat Pingua.
  • Ho Dishum Ho Hoon Ko by Dhanusingh Purti.
  • Eitaa Bataa Nalaa Basaa, Joaur, Parem Sanadh (Poems), Sarjom Ba Taral, etc. By Kamal Lochan Kohaar.
  • Ho Lokkatha by Dr. Aditya Prasad Sinha.
  • Magazines like Johar, Turturd, Ottoroad, and Sarnaphool also have Ho language articles.
  • Ho Language Digital Journal "Diyang"
  • Ho Language monthly journal"Dostur Korang"by Kairasingh Bandiya
  • Ho Kaboy (Poem) poti "Tangi Meyanj Sorogo Kore" by Ghanshyam Bodra
  • Ho language song"Dureng Dala"by Dibakar Soy
  • Ho language learning books "Ol initu" and "Mage Porob"by Kairasingh Bandiya"
  • Ho hayam sibil dureng(Ho and Hindi) by Doboro Buliuli

Demand for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule[edit | edit source]

Apart from the Ho peoples themselves, the governments of Odisha and Jharkhand have been making demands for Ho to be included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India.[35][36] Rajya Sabha member and Union Petroleum and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had also submitted a memorandum demanding that the Government of India include Ho in the Constitution to give it an official status.The same request has also been made by the Department of Personnel, Jharkhand.[37] Former Home Minister Rajnath Singh had assured that Ho would be included in the eighth schedule, said union minister Dharmendra Pradhan.[38]

Erstwhile Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has written to the Home Ministry for the inclusion of Ho into the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.[39]

Further reading[edit | edit source]

  • Anderson, Gregory D. S., Toshiki Osada and K. David Harrison. Ho and the other Kherwarian Languages In Gregory Anderson (ed.) Munda Languages. (2008). Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-32890-6
  • Burrows, L. (1915). Ho grammar: with vocabulary.
  • Deeney, J. J. (1991). Introduction to the Ho language: Learn Ho Quickly and Well. Chaibasa: Xavier Ho Publications.
  • Deeney, J. J. (1975). Ho Grammar and Vocabulary. Chaibasa: Xavier Ho Publications.
  • Deeney, J. J. (1978). Ho-English Dictionary. Chaibasa: Xavier Ho Publications.
  • Deogam, Chandrabhusan, Larka Ho.
  • Hoffmann, Johann [Baptist] & Arthur Van Emelen. 1930-1950. Encyclopaedia Mundarica [Mundari encyclopaedia]. Patna, Bihar: Superintendent Government Printing, Bihar and Orissa. xv+10+4889+xiipp. (13 vols.)
  • Nottrott, A., Fitzgerald, A. G. F. (1905). Grammar of the Kol-language. India: Printed at the G.E.L. Mission Press.
  • Perumalsamy P (2021) "Ho language" in Linguistic Survey of India: Jharkhand Volume, Language Division, Office of the Registrar General India: New Delhi pp: 339 – 431. [2]
  • Pucilowski, A. (2013). Topics in Ho Morphophonology and Morphosyntax (Doctoral dissertation, University of Oregon).
  • Uxbond, F. A. (1928). Munda-Magyar-Maori, an Indian Link Between the Antipodes, New Tracks of Hungarian Origins. Luzac.

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. Also known as Ho-Kaji; Jagar is a general term for used across languages like Mundari as well.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "C-16 POPULATION BY MOTHER TONGUE". www.censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  2. "Scripts of Ho". Scriptsource.org. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  3. Template:Cite UNESCO Atlas
  4. "Linguistic Survey of India - Jharkhand Report" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 21 January 2026. p. 70-71.
  5. "Tribals seek official tag for Ho (𑢹𑣉𑣉) language - OrissaPOST". 27 October 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  6. "The Warang Chiti Alphabet". Swarthmore.edu. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  7. K David Harrison; Gregory Anderson. "Review of Proposal for Encoding Warang Chiti (Hoorthography) in Unicode" (PDF). Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Ho (𑢹𑣉𑣉) Web Sketch:Ho (𑢹𑣉𑣉) writing" (PDF). Livingtongues.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  9. Anderson, Gregory S., ed. (2008). The Munda languages (1. publ. ed.). London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-32890-6.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Hoffmann, John (1932). Encyclopaedia Mundarica. Patna: Superintendent, Government Printing, Bihar and Orissa. p. 1763.
  11. Deeney, John (n.d.). Ho Grammar (𑢹𑣉𑣉 𑢷𑣁𑣌𑣐𑣁) (PDF). p. 83.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. : Asiatic Society of Bengal : Free download, borrow, and streaming : Internet Archive. (1844). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/journalofasiatic1314asia/page/n47
  13. Tickell, Samuel Richard (1840). IV.—Grammatical construction of the Ho language.
  14. Asiatic Society of Bengal (1930). Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
  15. University Department Of Tribal And Regional Language, Ranchi University, Jharkhand
  16. Eteh Turtung Akhara, Jhinkapani
  17. Echoes of Indus valley by A.Pathak and N.K. Verma
  18. Indus Script by Sudhanshu Kumar Ray
  19. Xavier Ho (𑢹𑣉𑣉) Publication, Lupungutu,1975
  20. "C-16: Population by mother tongue, India - 2011". Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India.
  21. Pucilowski, Anna (2013). Topics in Ho (𑢹𑣉𑣉) morphophonology and morphosyntax. University of Oregon.
  22. The Munda languages. London: Routledge. 2008. ISBN 978-0-415-32890-6 – via Internet Archive.
  23. Badenoch, Nathan & Osada, Toshiki. (2019). Dictionary of Mundari Expressives. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335125477_Dictionary_of_Mundari_Expressives
  24. Gagrai, S. (2017). Ho Bhasha Ka Vaigyanik Adhyayan. K. K. Publications, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. https://bharatavani.in/home/book?post_category=book&id=%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%20%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%20%7C%20Ho%20Bhasha%20Ka%20Vaigyanik%20Adhyayan
  25. "Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Ho" [𑣖𑣓𑣉𑣟𑣁 𑣈𑣌𑣕𑣂𑣅𑣜 𑣜𑣈𑣅𑣄 𑣞𑣓𑣁𑣖 𑣌𑣉𑣟: 𑣚𑣁𑣋𑣂𑣑 𑣑𑣁𑣌𑣜𑣁] (PDF). OHCHR.org (in hoc). Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. p. 2. Retrieved 16 February 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  26. "Ho Alphabet and Language". Omniglot.com. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  27. "Multilingual Education (MLE) for Tribal Children of Odisha" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2022.
  28. "Tribal and Regional Language - Literature Syllabus UGC NET 2019-2020". UGC NET Exam. 26 October 2010. Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  29. 29.0 29.1 "High hopes for Ho | Bhubaneswar News - Times of India". The Times of India. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  30. "Jharkhand school books to go local". 16 January 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  31. "Ranchi University's TRL to have nine departments for tribal languages". India Today. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  32. [1][dead link]
  33. "HO(𑢹𑣉𑣉) LANGUAGE EDUCATION COUNCIL ODISHA". holanguageodishaedu.in. Retrieved 16 December 2019.Template:Sps
  34. 34.00 34.01 34.02 34.03 34.04 34.05 34.06 34.07 34.08 34.09 34.10 34.11 34.12 34.13 34.14 34.15 34.16 34.17 "HO(𑢹𑣉𑣉) LANGUAGE EDUCATION COUNCIL ODISHA". holanguageodishaedu.in. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2019.Template:Sps
  35. Barik, Satyasundar (3 June 2017). "Tribal communities in Odisha are speaking up to save their dialects - The Hindu". The Hindu.
  36. "Pradhan for inclusion of 'Ho'(𑢹𑣉𑣉) in 8th Schedule - OrissaPOST". 6 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  37. "Include Ho language in 8th Schedule: BJP MP". Press Trust of India. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2019 – via Business Standard.
  38. Pioneer, The. "Rajnath assures for Ho(𑢹𑣉𑣉) inclusion in 8th Schedule". The Pioneer. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  39. "झारखंड: सीएम हेमंत सोरेन ने गृहमंत्री अमित शाह को लिखा पत्र, मुंडारी, कुड़ुख एवं उरांव भाषा को संविधान की आठवीं अनुसूची में शामिल करने की मांग - Jharkhand News". Dainik Bhaskar. 22 August 2020.

External links[edit | edit source]