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The Bonda Language, also known as Remo, is an endangered tribal language spoken in what was formerly known as Southern Orissa (now Odisha) in India. Tenses share similarities between Bonda and Gutob and the same five vowels are utilized in both Bonda and Gutob. In the Bonda Language there are 33 consonants.

Name

The Bonda language derives its name from the tribe of the Bonda people, a tribal group located in Odisha known as the Bonda Highlanders. In their native language, the Bonda people regard themselves as "Remo', which translates to human, and derive their language name from that root, calling their language as the human language or 'Remosam' in their native tongue.

Classification

The Bonda language is a tribal language, derived from the Southern Munda language branch, which stems from the Austroasiatic language family. Bonda is a spoken language with no tradtional written system recorded. Bonda is a part of the Gutob-Remo branch, due to the similarities Bonda shares with another Southern Munda Language named Gutob.

Geographic distribution

The language differs slightly, classified according to whether it can be categorized as Plains Remo or Hill Remo.

Plains Remo

A subdivision of Bonda, localized in 35 villages throughout the Khairpat within the Malkangiri district in Odisha. In 1941, 2,565 people categorized the Plains Remo. That number nearly doubled in 1971, with 4,764 people classifying themselves as Plains Remo. The increase in population was not correlated with language extension.

Hill Remo

A subdivision of Bonda, localized in the Jeypore Hills region of Odisha.

Phonology

Stress

In Bonda, primary stress is placed on the last syllable in a word, syllables with diphthongs, glottal stops, or checked consonants. However, Plains Remo primarily stresses the second syllable in a word.

Diphthongs

Diphthongs are placed either in the beginning or middle of a word, usually used in combination of two different vowel types.

Bonda	Translation
lean	tongue
bois	age
guidag	to wash
otoi	not to be
dau	small

Consonants

There are 33 consonants in the Bonda language.

Initial Consonants
p	t	č	k
b	d	ǰ	g
m	s	n	r
	l

Vowels

Bonda is comprised of 5 vowel phonemes:

i	u
e	o
a

In Bonda, vowels are nasalized and clusters are commonplace.

Grammar

Syntax

Bonda follows the SOV (Subject + Object + Verb) sequence.

Gender

Age and gender serve as classification denominations for individuals. Female names end in /-i/ and male names end in /-a/. Animals are also distinguished by gender.

Compound Verb

The compound verb is not frequently used in Bonda and can be used as a conjunctive participle.

Vocabulary

Kinship Terminology

In Kinship terms, the velar nasal, ŋ, is often used. Various kinship terms also represent multiple positions

Bonda	Translation
ba?	Father
iyɔŋ	Mother
remɔ	Man
mpɔr	Husband
kunui	Wife
bɔrai	Aunt
busã	Uncle
tata	Grandfather
ya/iya	Father's Mother/Mother's Mother
maŋ	Eldest brother
miŋ	Elder sister
ile?ǐ	Grandchild
masɔ	Nephew