The People's Linguistic Survey of India provides an overview of the extant and dying languages of India, as perceived by their speakers. It is the culmination of a nation-wide survey of languages, documented by linguists, writers, social activists and, most importantly, members of different speech communities. The work chronicles the evolution of these languages until 2011, and incorporates their socio-political and cultural dimensions. Critically, it encapsulates the world view of the speakers of the languages.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands provides a unique canvas for studying its languages: both because of its indigenous peopling, and its immigrant demography. Unlike mainland India or any states of India, the ethnic spatialisation of the Islands reflects its plurality with a difference. In this second volume of the People's Linguistic Survey of India, the languages of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are discussed in detail, their linguistic features are examined, and the number of speakers listed. Folktales, folk songs, origin myths and vocabulary lists are also provided.
G. N. Devy is the chief editor of the PLSI series. He taught at the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, till 1996 before leaving to set up the Bhasha Research Centre in Baroda and the Adivasi Akademi at Tejgadh. There, he worked towards conserving and promoting the languages and culture of indigenous and nomadic communities. Apart from being awarded the Padma Shri, he has received many awards for his work in literature and language conservation.
M. Sreenathan is Professor and Dean, Faculty of Linguistics, Thunchathu Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, Kerala. He has previously taught at the Central University of Kerala and Dravidian University, Andhra Pradesh, and was associated with the Anthropological Survey of India. His research experience in anthropological linguistics includes work on the paleolithic remnants of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and on tribal and caste groups in mainland India. He is the co-editor of the volume The Languages of Kerala and Lakshadweep of the People's Linguistic Survey of India.
The People’s Linguistic Survey of India The National Editorial Collective List of Volumes Acknowledgements Foreword A Nation Proud of Its Language Diversity: Chief Editor’s Introduction Introduction to the Volume Contributors to the Volume An Appeal to Readers List of Languages Covered in this Volume
1. Colonisation and Primordial Diversity PART I: INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES 2. The Languages of the Andaman Islands 3. Great Andamanese 4. Jarawa 5. Onge 6. Sentinelese 7. The Languages of the Nicobar Islands 8. Nicobarese 9. Shompen PART II: IMMIGRANT LANGUAGES 10. Bangla 11. Bhattu or Bhantu 12. Burmese 13. Kannada 14. Karen 15. Tribal Languages from Chota Nagpur 16. Malayalam 17. Odia 18. Tamil 19. Telugu 20. Urdu 21. Other Languages Bibliography Index LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table I: Distribution of Indian Languages Figure I: Distribution of Indian Languages Figure II: Political map of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Figure III: Linguistic map of Andaman and Nicobar Islands