Glossary
This glossary lists preferred terms and terms to avoid when writing about languages, communities, and identities in the context of community language documentation and archiving.
Language terms
| Terms to use | Terms to avoid |
|---|---|
| Adivasi language | Tribal language |
| Local language | Vernacular |
| Mother tongue | Minority language |
| Low-resource language | |
| Dialect / बोली |
Note on “dialect” and बोली: These terms carry a hierarchy that implies the language is lesser or incomplete. Prefer “language”, “mother tongue”, or “local language” unless the speaker themselves uses these words to describe their own speech.
Community and identity terms
| Terms to use | Terms to avoid |
|---|---|
| Dalit | Caste slurs such as “chamar”, “chahar”, “Harijan” — do not use at all unless directly quoting someone; ensure community dignity is maintained |
| Savarna | Upper-caste |
| Women | Female |
| Men | Male |
Note on caste slurs: Words such as “chamar”, “chahar”, and “Harijan” are deeply harmful. Do not use them in documentation, captions, metadata, or descriptions. If you must quote someone who used such a word, make clear it is a direct quotation and add a note about the term’s impact.
Note on “female” / “male”: These are biological/medical classifications. When referring to people in social or community contexts, use “women” and “men”.