Assamese language in the past. There are also significant Assamese-speaking communities in Australia, Dubai, the United Kingdom, Canada, Nepal and the United States. Assamese is the official language of Assam, and one of the 23 official languages recognised by the Republic of India. The Assam Secretariat functions in Assamese. The Assamese phonemic inventory consists of eight vowels, ten diphthongs, and twenty-three consonants (including two semivowels). Consonant clusters in Assamese include thirty three pure consonant letters in the Assamese alphabet. Each letter represents a single sound with an inherent vowel, the short vowel . The first twenty-five consonants letters are called "sparxa barna"
Assamese cuisine fish are available in abundance in the valley. It is a staple item in the Assamese palate. There is no traditional ethnic community in Assam that does not eat fish. Most traditional rural households have their own ponds for pisciculture. Some of the most popular big fishes are the "Borali" (freshwater dhark), "rou", and "cital" (big), "khoria" (medium) (Chitala chitala), "maagur", Xingi, "borali", "bhokua" or "bahu", "Xaal", "Xol", etc. The small varieties of fish available and eaten in Assam like "puthi", "Ari" (long-whiskered catfish), "Goroi" (green snake head/ spotted snake head ), "Koi" or "Kawoi" (climbing perch "Anabas testudineus"), "Kholihona"