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.
Kerala aur Lakshadweep ki Bhashayen (PLSI Volume 15, Part 1) discusses and documents the languages spoken in Kerala and Lakshadweep. This volume consists of two parts. Part one includes the scheduled language of Kerala, Malayalam, as well as the minor languages: 1. Byari, 2. Konkani, 3. Tulu, and tribal languages: 1. Adiya, 2. Irula, 3. Kattunaika, 4. Koraga, 5. Kurichiya, 6. Kurumba, 7. Mannan, 8. Muduga, 9. Muduvan, 10. Paniya, and 11. Vettakuruma. Part two covers the Union Territory of Lakshadweep's languages, including Lakshadweep Malayalam (a variety of Malayalam) and Mahal. The book describes various linguistic features as well as folklore, folk songs, riddles, popular phrases and proverbs.
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.
M. Sreenathan is Professor and Dean, Faculty of Linguistics, Thunchathu Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, Kerala. He has 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 also the editor of the volume The Languages of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Volume 2) in the PLSI series.
Joseph Koyippally is Professor and Dean, Department of English and Comparative Literature, Central University of Kerala. He is the first regular Head of the Department and the first regular Dean of the School at the Central University of Kerala, as well as the founding head of the Department of Hindi and Linguistics. He has worked in the English Departments of higher education institutions in Bhutan (Sherubtse College, Kanglung); India (Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi); and Saudi Arabia (University of Hail, Hail). He has published three books (two translated and one edited). He has written over 40 articles and given more than 80 visited lectures.
THE TRANSLATOR
Vijayakumaran C.P.V. was Professor of Hindi Department at the Central University of Kerala and Calicut University Centre in Lakshadweep. He also served as a visiting professor of Hindi on deputation to the Indian Council for Cultural Relations at the University of Valladolid, Spain. His published works include Hindi Fasil (Spanish-Hindi Manual), Ramcharitamanasaur Sanskritik Anuvad, Bharat Vibhajan aur parvarti hadson ka Hindi upanyason me chitran, Kerala: Dasha evam dishayen. He has been awarded the National Award for his book on folk cultural studies, Excellent Teacher Award from Kannur University, Rashtrabhasha Ratna and Saraswat Samman from the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan.
