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 outcome of a nationwide survey of languages that has been documented by linguists, writers, social activists, and members of different speech communities. Critically, it encapsulates the world view of the speakers of the languages.
Andhra Pradesh Ki Bhashayen presents the languages spoken in this southern state of India. There are 16 languages covered in this volume— 1. Telugu, 2. Deccani Urdu, 3. Scheduled Languages as Minority Languages in Andhra Pradesh, 4. Yerukala, 5. Kui, 6. Kupiya, 7. Kuvi, 8. Konda/Kubi, 9. Koya, 10. Gadaba, 11. Gondi, 12. Chenchu, 13. Muliya 14. Lambadi/Banjara, 15. Savara, and 16. The lesser-known languages of Andhra Pradesh. The grammatical features, domains of use, folk tales, folk songs and vocabulary lists are provided for all languages.
Telugu is the major language of this state and Deccani Urdu is the second major language. Languages and dialects of the Dravidian, Indo-Aryan and Austro-Asiatic families are spoken in the state. Details related to languages which have not been recognized till now, have also been included on the basis of information provided by their tribal users.
This volume highlights the status of languages in Andhra Pradesh and explores the multilingual nature of the state. It also describes ethnic groups from other states that have settled in Andhra Pradesh.
The Editors
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, where he worked towards conserving and promoting the languages and culture of indigenous and nomadic communities. Apart from being awarded the Padma Shree (2014), he has received many awards for his work in literature and language conservation.
A. Usha Devi has worked in the field of theoretical and applied linguistics for over four decades. She has taught at M.S. University (Baroda), Telugu University and Addis Ababa University. She received her doctorate degree in linguistics from Osmania University and has published widely in English and Telugu. Some of her important publications include Acquisition of Syntax (1990), Applied Linguistics (edited; 2006) and Andhra Pradesh Telangana Rashtrala Bhashalu (co-edited; 2015). She received the Andhra Pradesh Government's Best Teacher Award (2001) and Telugu University's Kirti Puraskar (2012).
D. Chandrashekhar Reddy worked as a teacher and head of the department in the Oriental Kalashala of Andhra Saraswat Parishad. He worked as a writer and editor of Telugu prose while being on the curriculum committee of government schools of Andhra Pradesh. He received the Andhra Pradesh Government's Best Teacher Award (2005) and Telugu University's Pratibha Puraskar (2009).
The Translators
Annapurna Cherla teaches at the Department of Hindi, Faculty of Humanities, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad. Her published works are 'Vishvambhara' poetry and its Hindi translation: An evaluation, Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya (translated from Telugu), Vemana (translated from Telugu), Sri Dattatreyam (Sri Dattaswami Virachitam) (translated from Telugu), and New Traditions and Dimensions of Translation. Her articles have been published in various newspapers and magazines. She is also a member in various committees.
M. Lakshmikantham has worked as a Hindi professor at The Mothers Degree College for Women, Hyderabad. She has also translated many Telugu stories, poems and novels into Hindi.
