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| Ancient Indian language dies out | Ancient Indian language dies out |
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| The last speaker of an ancient language in India's Andaman Islands has died at the age of about 85, a leading linguist has told the BBC. | The last speaker of an ancient language in India's Andaman Islands has died at the age of about 85, a leading linguist has told the BBC. |
| Professor Anvita Abbi said that the death of Boa Sr was highly significant because one of the world's oldest languages - Bo - had come to an end. | Professor Anvita Abbi said that the death of Boa Sr was highly significant because one of the world's oldest languages - Bo - had come to an end. |
| She said that India had lost an irreplaceable part of its heritage. | She said that India had lost an irreplaceable part of its heritage. |
| Languages in the Andamans are thought to originate from Africa. Some may be 70,000 years old. | |
| The islands are often called an "anthropologist's dream" and are one of the most linguistically diverse areas of the world. | The islands are often called an "anthropologist's dream" and are one of the most linguistically diverse areas of the world. |
| 'Infectious' | 'Infectious' |
| Professor Abbi - who runs the Vanishing Voices of the Great Andamanese (Voga) website - explained: "After the death of her parents, Boa was the last Bo speaker for 30 to 40 years. | Professor Abbi - who runs the Vanishing Voices of the Great Andamanese (Voga) website - explained: "After the death of her parents, Boa was the last Bo speaker for 30 to 40 years. |
| "She was often very lonely and had to learn an Adamanese version of Hindi in order to communicate with people. | "She was often very lonely and had to learn an Adamanese version of Hindi in order to communicate with people. |
| "But throughout her life she had a very good sense of humour and her smile and full-throated laughter were infectious." | "But throughout her life she had a very good sense of humour and her smile and full-throated laughter were infectious." |
| She said that Boa Sr's death was a loss for intellectuals wanting to study more about the origins of ancient languages, because they had lost "a vital piece of the jigsaw". | She said that Boa Sr's death was a loss for intellectuals wanting to study more about the origins of ancient languages, because they had lost "a vital piece of the jigsaw". |
| "It is generally believed that all Andamanese languages might be the last representatives of those languages which go back to pre-Neolithic times," Professor Abbi said. | "It is generally believed that all Andamanese languages might be the last representatives of those languages which go back to pre-Neolithic times," Professor Abbi said. |
| "The Andamanese are believed to be among our earliest ancestors." | "The Andamanese are believed to be among our earliest ancestors." |
| 'Imported illnesses' | 'Imported illnesses' |
| She said that two languages in the Andamans had now died out over the last three months and that this was a major cause for concern. | She said that two languages in the Andamans had now died out over the last three months and that this was a major cause for concern. |
| Professor Abbi and Boa Sr became firm friends | Professor Abbi and Boa Sr became firm friends |
| Academics have divided Andamanese tribes into four major groups, the Great Andamanese, the Jarawa, the Onge and the Sentinelese. | Academics have divided Andamanese tribes into four major groups, the Great Andamanese, the Jarawa, the Onge and the Sentinelese. |
| Professor Abbi says that all apart form the Sentinelese have come into contact with "mainlanders" from India and have suffered from "imported illnesses". | Professor Abbi says that all apart form the Sentinelese have come into contact with "mainlanders" from India and have suffered from "imported illnesses". |
| She says that the Great Andamanese are about 50 in number - mostly children - and live in Strait Island, near the capital Port Blair. | She says that the Great Andamanese are about 50 in number - mostly children - and live in Strait Island, near the capital Port Blair. |
| Boa Sr was part of this community, which is made up of 10 "sub-tribes" speaking at least four different languages. | Boa Sr was part of this community, which is made up of 10 "sub-tribes" speaking at least four different languages. |
| The Jarawa have about 250 members and live in the thick forests of the Middle Andaman. The Onge community is also believed to number only a few hundred. | The Jarawa have about 250 members and live in the thick forests of the Middle Andaman. The Onge community is also believed to number only a few hundred. |
| "No human contact has been established with the Sentinelese and so far they resist all outside intervention," Professor Abbi said. | "No human contact has been established with the Sentinelese and so far they resist all outside intervention," Professor Abbi said. |
| It is the fate of the Great Andamanese which most worries academics, because they depend largely on the Indian government for food and shelter - and abuse of alcohol is rife. | It is the fate of the Great Andamanese which most worries academics, because they depend largely on the Indian government for food and shelter - and abuse of alcohol is rife. |