Jarawa language (Andaman Islands)

Not to be confused with Jarawa language (Nigeria).
Jarawa
Aong ॳङ्
Pronunciation[əŋ]
Native toIndia
RegionAndaman Islands; interior and south central Rutland island, central interior and south interior of South Andaman island, Middle Andaman island, west coast, 70 square km reserve.
EthnicityJarawa
Native speakers
266, 70% of ethnic population (2001–2002)[1]
Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%.
Ongan
  • Jarawa
DialectsNone known
Unwritten, sometimes transcribed with Devanagari.
Language codes
ISO 639-3anq
Glottologjara1245
ELPJarawa
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Järawa or Jarwa is one of the Ongan languages. It is spoken by the Jarawa people inhabiting the interior and south central Rutland Island, central interior, and south interior South Andaman Island, and the west coast of Middle Andaman Island.[2]

Järawa means "foreigners" in Aka-Bea, the language of their traditional enemies. Like many peoples of the world, they call themselves "people" in their language, aong.

The Jarawa language of the Andaman Islands is considered vulnerable.[3]

  1. ^ Paty, Chittaranjan Kumar (2007). Forest, Government, and Tribe. Concept Publishing Company. p. 102. ISBN 9788180694066.
  2. ^ Kumar 2012.
  3. ^ "Endangered Languages Project: Jarawa".