Kutchi language
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Kachhi (also spelled, Cutchi or Kachchhi) is an Indo-Aryan Language spoken in the Kutch region of the Indian state of Gujarat, with approximately 866,000 speakers. It is spoken by the Kutchi people; specifically, these are the Bhanushalis (traditionaly known as Bhunsari in Kutchi), Bhatias, Brahmins (Rajgor Ganyathy - Bhuj) Megvals, Visa Oshwal and Dasa Osval (Oshwal) Jains, Lohanas, followers of satpanth, and various Muslim communities in the region, including the Khojas and Kutchi Memons. Bhavika is the most common name for Kutchi's.
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[edit] Closely-related languages
Kachhi is closely related to Sindhi, spoken in neighboring Sindh, Pakistan. Kachhi is often mistakenly thought to be a mixture of Sindhi, Gujarati, Punjabi, and Rajasthani. This may be because Kachhi phonology is very much like that of Sindhi, but the vocabulary is closer to that of Gujarati. Most likely, the similarities are the result of migrations over the centuries across the desert stretching from present-day Sindh to Saurashtra and Kutchh to the east, and Rajasthan and even Punjab to the north.
Most Kachhis living in India are bilingual or trilingual, due to exposure to closely-related neighbouring languages such as Gujarati and Hindi.
[edit] Most common words
There are distinct regional accents and variations in grammar. As in many languages spoken along Asian trade routes, there is substantial borrowing from Farsi and Arabic -- words like "duniya" (world), "jahannum" (hell), and "naseeb" (fate), are routinely used by many speakers of Kachhi. Many Kachhi speakers also speak Gujarati as a separate language, especially as it is the language in which Kachhi-speakers customarily write. Kachhi speakers' Gujarati accent and usage tends towards the standardly accepted forms that any Gujarati speaker would be able to understand.
Some sample Kachhi phrases:
Aai acho tha - are you coming? (polite)
Kurro karyo tha - what are you doing?(polite)
Kithe vino tha - where are you going? (polite)
Keen' ayo - how are you? (polite)
To give an indication of dialects and regional variations, the question "Kithe vino tha?" (where are you going?) may also be posed as "Keda veno tha?"
The following words are commonly used by individuals of descending from the Kutch rural area of Gujarat, India. They are colloquial forms of general phrases that are often used in daily conversation in villages, particularly of the Kutchi predominance and are Gujaratisized versions of Kutchi words. An example of such follows:
-Su kerero? (Gujarati "shun' karo chho" meaning "what are you doing?")
-Awwaro/Jawwaro ( Gujarati - Aawun' chhun' / Jaaun' chhun' - I am coming / going)
-Kichri Khawhero? (Gujarati - Kichri khaao chho? - Are you eating Kichri?)
[edit] Writing system
Kachhi is normally written using a modified version of the Gujarati script. Many books and magazines are published the language using the modified Gujarati script, including Vadhod ("Inquiry"). Kachhi is also written in the Devanagari script by some speakers. In earlier times it used to be written in Khojki script, which is now extinct. Koro - What
Barobar - Ok
Laat - Nice
Khapay - Want
Mukay day - Give me
Jagya - Place
Bhokh - Hunger
Kadaa - where
Halya - welcome
Maadu - Man
Chhoro - Boy
Naalo - Name
Kotoo - Dog
Manee - Cat
Aundhar - Rat
Andar - In
Achija - Bye
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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