Communication through speech is facilitated by language, which consists of a set of sounds collectively understood by a community to convey specific meanings. Languages in India are categorized into various language families, falling under the Indo-Aryan group, derived from the larger Indo-European family. Despite this, certain language groups are native to the Indian subcontinent. India, characterized by its abundant diversity in religion, caste, and tribes, is a melting pot of languages.

Families of Language in India

• Languages related by a common ancestor before recorded history fall into language families.
• Dialects, localized variations of a language, can emerge from a single language.
• Indo-Aryan and Dravidian Families:
  • Predominant languages in India belong to the Indo-Aryan and Dravidian families.
  • Indo-Aryan languages, including Hindi, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Oriya, Assamese, Sanskrit, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Punjabi, are spoken by 3-4% of the population.
  • Dravidian family includes languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, prominent in Southern India.
• English in India:
  • English is the most widely used language within the Indo-European language group.
• Ancient Scripts and Language Origins:
  • Majority of languages trace their origin to ancient scripts.
  • Three main script families—Devanagari, Dravidian, Grantha—derive from the Brahmi Script.
  • Languages like Sanskrit, Pali, and Hindi are rooted in these ancient scripts, contributing to India’s linguistic heritage.

Classification of Languages in India

Indian languages are systematically grouped into various categories, including the Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Sino-Tibetan, Austric, and miscellaneous classifications as detailed below.

Indo-Aryan Group This division, originating with the Aryans and part of the larger Indo-European language family, encompasses languages spoken by approximately 74% of the Indian population. The Indo-Aryan Group further breaks down into three groups based on historical timelines:

• Old Indo-Aryan Group
• Middle Indo-Aryan Group
• Modern Indo-Aryan Group

Languages in India – Dravidian Group

Primarily comprising languages spoken in the southern regions of India, about 25% of the population uses languages from this group. The 21 Dravidian languages trace their roots to Proto-Dravidian. Prominent languages include Telugu, while Malayalam is the youngest and least spoken. Subcategories include:

• Northern Group
• Central Group
• Southern Group

Languages in India – Sino-Tibetan Group

Originating in northeastern India, the Sino-Tibetan language group extends across sub-Himalayan tracts. Considered older than Indo-Aryan languages, it is mentioned in ancient Sanskrit literature as Kiratas. Spoken by 0.6% of the Indian population, this group further subdivides into:

• Tibeto-Burman
• Siamese-Chinese

Languages in India – Austric

Austric languages in India belong to the Austro-Asiatic sub-family, represented by languages of the Munda or Kol group spoken in central, eastern, and northeastern India. It also includes languages of Mon-Khmer groups like Khasi and Nicobarese, predating the arrival of the Aryans and referred to as Nisadas in ancient Sanskrit literature.

Others

This category encompasses languages spoken by tribal or Adivasis, such as Gondi, Oraon, Kurukh, Mal-Pahariya, Khond, and Parji, which are distinctive and defy classification under any specific group.

Official Languages of India

• According to Article 343(1) of the Indian Constitution, “the official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script.”
• Official languages of India are addressed in Part XVII of the Constitution, spanning from Article 342 to 351.
• In 1963, the Official Languages Act was enacted, designating Hindi in the Devanagari script as the Union’s official language.
• English is recognized as the union’s “subsidiary official language.”
• The 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution includes a list of 22 languages. Initially, there were 14 languages, but amendments expanded the recognition to 22 official languages.
• India’s official languages include Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Santhali, and Maithili.

Classical Languages in India

In 2004, the Government of India declared a criteria-based recognition for languages as “Classical Languages in India.”

In February 2014, the Ministry of Culture in the Rajya Sabha outlined guidelines for declaring a language as classical, which include:

1. High antiquity of its early texts recorded in history.
2. A body of ancient literature/texts considered a valuable heritage by the generation of speakers.
3. The literary tradition is original and not borrowed from another speech community.
4. Distinctiveness between the classical language and literature from the modern, potentially involving a discontinuity.

Adhering to these conditions, currently, six languages have been recognized as classical over the years: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Oriya (2014).

Ancient Scripts of India

• A script, also known as a writing system or orthography, is a method of representing the various components of a spoken language by creating specific marks on a medium (paper, rocks, birch-bark, etc).
• In India, two ancient scripts stand out: the Brahmi script and the Kharosthi script.
• The majority of ancient and modern scripts in India trace their origins to the Brahmi script, encompassing Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Odia, Assamese/Bengali, and others.
• This influence positions Brahmi as the progenitor of scripts, earning it the title of the “mother of scripts.”
• Notably, Urdu employs an Arabic-derived script, while some minor languages like Santhali utilize independent scripts.

Throughout history, human writings have served as mirrors reflecting the culture, lifestyle, society, and governance of their respective contemporary societies. Each culture, during its historical journey, crafted its unique language and accumulated an extensive literary heritage. This rich tapestry of literature provides valuable insights into the evolution of languages and cultures across centuries.

In India, traditional languages, rooted in diverse cultural ethos, form an extensive and varied linguistic landscape. These languages are categorized based on factors such as region and socio-cultural traditions. Remarkably, India boasts the fourth-highest number of languages globally, showcasing the immense linguistic diversity that contributes to its cultural tapestry.

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FAQs on Languages in India

1. Are there 700 languages in India?
   • Yes, India is noted for its vast cultural diversity, traditions, religions, and languages. There are over 700 different languages spoken in India. However, it’s important to note that according to the Indian constitution’s 8th schedule, 22 scheduled or official languages receive government recognition and support.
2. What are the 22 languages of India?
   • The 22 scheduled languages of India, recognized by the constitution, include Assamese, Bangla, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kashmiri, Kannada, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Santali, Sindhi, and Urdu, in addition to Sanskrit.
3. Does India have 1200 languages?
   • The claim of 1200 languages in India is not accurate. There are over 700 languages spoken in the country. While estimates of the exact number may vary, it is important to recognize that according to the Indian constitution, 22 languages are officially recognized and supported by the government. The claim of 1200 languages may include various dialects and regional variations. Scholars suggest that there are more than 1600 languages spoken in India, contributing to its linguistic diversity.