Santali is a Dravidian language spoken by the Santal people, who primarily inhabit the Indian subcontinent, including parts of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. It is recognised as one of the scheduled languages in India and has its own script, known as Ol Chiki. Santali is part of the Austroasiatic language family.

The Santali language has a rich oral tradition, with a variety of folk literature, songs, and stories that play a significant role in Santal culture. The Ol Chiki script, developed in the early 20th century by Pandit Raghunath Murmu, is used for writing Santali. The script is syllabic and has contributed to the preservation and promotion of the language.

Efforts have been made to standardise Santali and incorporate it into education, with Santali-language schools established to preserve the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Santal community. Despite facing challenges, including influences from dominant languages and the need for greater recognition, Santali remains a crucial part of the identity and cultural expression of the Santal people.