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Languages
A language in conjunction with culture, religion and history is an important
component of nationality formation. Languages plays a very important role in
different transitional phases. About 420 languages and dialects of different
languages families are used in a complex and wide ranging ethno and
socio-linguistic configuration in north-east India.
The dialect of the Tripuris is known as Kak-Barak, the literal meaning of which
is the language of men (kak means words and barak means men). The dialect
belongs to the Tibeto-Burman group of languages and its root can be traced to
Sino-Tibetan speech family. The Kal-Barak dialect has no script of its own and
is written in Bengali script.
Bengali is the most important and dominant languages of the state. The
erstwhile rulers of the state accepted Bengali as the state languages and as a
language of administration. About 80% of the people use Bengali in their
day-to-day activities. Tripuri, the language of the community, is also written
in Bengali script. Almost all Tripuris can speak and understand Bengali. A large
number of Tripuras (Tripuris) who know Bengali much better than Tripuri have
recorded the former languages as their mother tongue. As a language next to Bengali comes Tripuri which is mostly prevalent in
Sadar, Khowai, Amarpur and Kailashahar sub division, besides some areas adjoining the
Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Halam is the mother tongue of Halam tribe and Rankhal, is
their dialect which is considered to be an offshoot of the Halam dialect. Most
of the Halam can follow Tripuri language.
The influence of Bengali over the Chakma language is quite predominant. The Mogh
community whose number is not large, speak the language of Burma, and is found
mostly in Sabrum and Belonia sub-divisions.
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