The most important feature of human existence is language which helps humans to communicate with each other and develop relationships between them.
We know that India is the 7th largest country in the world by area as well as the most populous country in the world. India’s population is more than 1.3 billion. Many religions are prevalent in our country.
Languages in India
Did you know that according to a census analysis, India, with a population of over 121 crores, has 121 languages that are spoken by 10,000 or more people? According to census analysis, more than 19,500 languages or dialects are spoken as the mother tongue in India. Let’s read about the most spoken languages and speakers in India as per the 2011 census. Here, we are discussing only the top 10 most spoken languages in India.
1. Hindi Language (52.83 crore speakers)
Hindi is the most spoken language in India. It is one of the official languages of India. According to the 2011 census, the number of people speaking Hindi as their mother tongue has increased in 2011 compared to the 2001 census. In 2001, 41.03% of people spoke Hindi as their mother tongue, while in 2011 this increased to 43.63%. Hindi is the fourth most spoken language in the world, after Mandarin, Spanish and English. It is spoken in almost all states of the country including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.
Hindi originates from the Sanskrit language and is influenced by Dravidian, Arabic, Portuguese, English, Persian and Turkish languages. Languages spoken in Hindi include Awadhi, Braj and Khadi languages. Do you know that Hindi words are divided into five categories, Tatsam, Ardhatasam, Tadbhava, Deshaj and Vaisheshik?
2. Bengali Language (9.72 crore speakers)
The second most spoken language of India is Bengali, which is spoken by 9.72 crore citizens i.e. 8.03% of the total population.
Bengali is an Indo-Aryan language mostly spoken in South Asia. It is the most prominent language in most of the northeastern states of India, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Bengali was initially a secular language of the old Indo-Aryans and was influenced by Persian and Arabic. Language varies from state to state, particularly in usage, pronunciation, words, and phonetics. In India, Bengali is spoken mostly in the eastern states of West Bengal. Bengali also forms a part of the programs offered by the University of Karachi.
3. Marathi Language (8.30 crore speakers)
A total of 8.30 crore people speak Marathi in the country, which is 6.86% of the total population.
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken as the official language of the states in the western part of the country, including Goa and Maharashtra. There are approximately 42 different dialects spoken in Marathi.
4. Telugu Language (8.11 crore speakers)
Telugu is a Dravidian language widely spoken in many states of India. This language is mainly spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Yanam. Its dialects include Berad, Vadaga, Domara, Salavari, Nellore, Komtao and Kamathi, among others.
5. Tamil Language (6.90 crore speakers)
The roots of the Tamil language are linked to the Dravidian language. However, it is the official language of both Singapore and Sri Lanka and is also widely spoken in India. Tamil is spoken by 6.90 crore people in India. Did you know that Tamil is remarkably known as the oldest living language in India? Its literary tradition dates back more than 2,000 years. Most of the Tamil language is spoken in southern India along the Sri Lankan coast.
6. Gujarati Language (5.54 crore speakers)
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by 5.54 crore people in India. It is the official language of Gujarat, a state in northwest India. Let us tell you that the Gujarati language was developed from Sanskrit.
7. Urdu Language (5.07 crore speakers)
There are about 5.07 crore Urdu speakers in India. Urdu is also one of the country’s official languages. It is also listed as an official language in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana, and Jharkhand.
8. Kannada Language (4.37 crore speakers)
Like Tamil, Kannada is also a Dravidian language. It is spoken by 43.7 million people in India. Many of these speakers are also members of the Indian expatriate. It is estimated that Kannada has about 20 different dialects.
9. Odia Language (3.75 crore speakers)
Odia is the official language of Odisha and the majority of its speakers are concentrated in the state of Odisha. This language is spoken by 3.75 crore speakers nationwide.
10. Malayalam Language (3.48 crore speakers)
Malayalam is spoken by approximately 3.48 crore speakers in India in the states of Kerala, Puducherry and Lakshadweep. This language also has its roots in the Dravidian language.
Must Read:
