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.
Arunachal Pradesh ki Bhashayen (PLSI Volume 4, Part 1) documents and discusses the major languages that are spoken in the state–not only the languages of well-known tribes, but also lesser known ethno-linguistic groups that are found within the larger ethnic groupings.
The main objective of this volume is to bring numerically smaller ethno-linguistic communities into focus and provide them with a platform to share their views about their language and culture as they perceive it.
A total of 20 languages are covered in this volume. The book describes linguistic features as well as folktales, riddles, popular phrases and proverbs. For the convenience of readers, Hindi translations of examples and quotations are provided.
The Editors
Ganesh 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 Shri (2014), he has received many awards for his work in literature and language conservation.
Lisa Lomdak is Assistant Professor of Linguistics in Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh. She has presented papers on languages of Arunachal Pradesh in international and national seminars. Her work on ‘Arunachalee Hindi’ – a colloquial form of Hindi spoken only in the state – is research on how a completely different language has been accepted as the lingua franca by diverse speech communities of the state.
The Translators
Jamuna Bini (M.A. Hindi [Gold Medal], Ph.D.) is Associate Professor in the Department of Hindi at Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh. Four of her works have been published, and many of her poems and stories have been translated into different languages and included in school and college curriculum. She has been awarded ’Rashtrabhasha Gaurav Samman’ by Akhil Bharatiya Hindi Sevi Sansthan, ‘Saraswati Singh Samman’ by North East Hindi Academy and ‘Yuva Kavi Samman’ by Arunachal Pradesh Literary Society.
Rajeev Ranjan Prasad is Assistant Professor in the Department of Hindi at Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh. He has a special interest in language, psychology, cinema and journalistic writing. His articles are published regularly in various journals and journals of national level. He is constantly working for the interdisciplinary and global role and propagation of official language Hindi.
