Toto Language

Why in news?

• A dictionary titled “Toto Shabda Sangraha” is set to be released with the aim of preserving the Toto language.

About Toto Shabda Sangraha

• The trilingual dictionary will translate Toto words into Bengali and English, making it accessible to a wider audience, as the Toto script is still in its early stages of development, and the tribe is more familiar with the Bengali script.

About Toto language

• Toto is a Sino-Tibetan language. It is primarily spoken orally and is currently written in the Bengali script.
• It is spoken by barely 1,600 people living in parts of West Bengal bordering Bhutan.
• It is listed as a critically endangered language by UNESCO.

About Toto people

• The Toto is a primitive and isolated tribal group residing only in a small enclave called Totopara in the Jalpaiguri of West Bengal, India.
• The total population of Totos is less than 2000 according to the 2001 census, all living in Totopara.
• The Totos are considered Mongoloid people.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

With reference to India, the terms ‘Toto, Kui and Santali’ pertain to?

(a) Tribal languages

(b) Musical instruments

(c) Pre-historic cave paintings

(d) Dance forms of Northwest India

Answer