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.

This nineteenth volume of the People’s Linguistic Survey of India attempts to document the languages of the State of Meghalaya, beginning at the grassroots and involving speakers from all walks of life, so as to bring to readers the linguistic and cultural heritage of the state. Apart from the dominant languages spoken in the state, Khasi, Pnar and Garo, the varieties of these languages too are described in great detail.

In the discussions about the languages, there is information about their contemporary status, while the sections on the main languages also contain information about their historical evolution and structural aspects. The linguistic maps included in the volume indicate where the main languages are spoken.

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 Shree, he has received many awards for his work in literature and language conservation.

Esther Syiem is Professor and Head, Department of English, NEHU, Shillong. A bilingual writer, fluent in both English and Khasi, she has published two volumes of poetry and a play in Khasi. She has done extensive work on the Khasis and has also published articles on Khasi folk literature and has a book on the oral discourse in the Khasi folk narrative. She has also been involved in translation projects, translating works from Khasi to English. 

The Translators

Madhvendra Prasad Pandey is Professor, Department of Hindi, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shilong. His area of interests are literature of North-East India, languages, oral literature, Indian poetry and Western criticism. He has more than 30 years of experience in teaching.  

Shruti Pandey is Head and Associate Professor, Department of the Hindi, Shillong College, Shillong. She has participated in various seminars, talks and television shows.

विषयानुक्रम     CONTENTS

भारतीय भाषा लोक सर्वेक्षण     The People's Linguistic Survey of India
राष्ट्रीय सम्पादक मंडल     The National Editorial Collective
भारतीय भाषा लोक सर्वेक्षण ग्रंथमाला     List of Volumes
आभार     Acknowledgements
भूमिका     Foreword
मुख्य सम्पादकीय     A Nation Proud of Its Language Diversity: Chief Editor's Introduction
सम्पादकीय     Introduction to the Volume
अनुवादकीय     Translator's note 
पाठकों से निवेदन     An Appeal to Readers
मेघालय खंड का परिचय     An introduction to this volume
मेघालय में प्रयुक्त होने वालीं लिपियाँ     Scripts used in Meghalaya
भारतीय भाषा वितरण : जनगणना 2011 के आधार पर     Indian Language Census
मेघालय खंड के संकलन की प्रक्रिया     The process of compilation of this volume
अकारादि क्रम में मेघालय की भाषाएँ और उनके विभिन्न भाषा-रूप     List of Languages and their varieties covered in this Volume

भाग 1: खासी     PART I : KHASI
1.  मानक खासी
1. Standard Khasi
2. जयन्तिया पहाड़ियों में प्रचलित खासी का प्नार रूप
2. The Pnar Variety of Khasi in the Jaiñtia Hills
3. दक्षिणी जयन्तिया पहाड़ियों के नॉगंतालांग, दारांग तथा उमलागांग भाषा-रूप
3. The Nongtalang, Darrang and Umladang Varieties of the Southern Jaiñtia Hills
4. जयन्तिया पहाड़ियों के पूर्वी तथा उत्तरी भाग में बोली जाने वाली बियाते तथा हादेम भाषाएँ
4. The Biate and Hadem Languages of the Eastern and Northern Jaiñtia Hills
5. रि-भॉय के लासा यापंगार, नॉगंब्रि तथा म्नार भाषा-रूप
5. The Lasa Ïapngar, Nongbri and Mnar Varieties of Ri-Bhoi
6. रि-भॉय की मिकिर, तिवा और मारंगार भाषाएँ
6. The Mikir, Tiwa and Marngar Languages of Ri-bhoi
7. ईस्ट खासी हिल्स के ऊपरी मध्य भाग का नॉगंक्रेम भाषा-रूप
7. The Nongkrem Variety of the Central Upland Region in East Khasi Hills
8. पूर्वी खासी पहाड़ियों के रि वार के खादार-ब्लांग, नॉगंश्केन तथा उम्निउह-त्मार भाषा-रूप
8. The Khadar Blang, Nongshken and Umñiuh-Tmar Varieties of the Ri War (Valley Dwellers) in the Eastern Khasi Hills
9. दक्षिणी-मध्यवर्ती खासी पहाड़ियों के रि वार का शेल्ला भाषा-रूप
9. The Shella Variety of the Ri War (Valley Dwellers) in the South-Central Khasi Hills
10. माव्सेनराम, फ्लांग्वानब्राय, वार्डिंग, मावपेन भाषा-रूप एवं दक्षिणी-केंद्रवर्ती खासी पहाड़ियों के पर्वतीय क्षेत्रों से लेकर घाटियों तक की विभिन्न भाषाएँ
10. The Mawsynram, Phlangwanbroi, Warding, Mawpen Varieties –Transition from the Hill to Valley Varieties in the South-Central Khasi Hills
11. पश्चिमी खासी पहाड़ियों के माइरंग, माराम, लेंगगाम तथा लांगरिन भाषा-रूप
11. The Mairang, Maram, Lyngngam and Langrin Varieties of the Western Khasi Hills

भाग 2: गारो     PART II : GARO
12. गारो भाषा और उसके विविध रूपों का परिचय
12. Introduction to the Garo Language and its Varieties
13. उत्तरी गारो पहाड़ियों का आवे/आकावे भाषा-रूप
13. The A·we/A·kawe Variety of the Northern Garo Hills
14. पूर्वी गारो पहाड़ियों का चिसाक भाषा-रूप
14. The Chisak Variety of the Eastern Garo Hills
15. गारो पहाड़ियों के माताबेंग और मात्ची भाषा-रूप
15. The Matabeng and Matchi Varieties of the Garo Hills
16. पश्चिमी गारो पहाड़ियों का आबेंग भाषा-रूप
16. The A·beng Variety of the Western Garo Hills
17.  दक्षिणी गारो पहाड़ियों के आतोंग, दुआल, गारा-गान्चिंग, चिबोक तथा रूगा भाषा-रूप
17. The Atong, Dual, Gara-Gan·ching, Chibok and Ruga Varieties of the Southern Garo Hills

परिशिष्ट-I        मानचित्र     Maps
परिशिष्ट -II      लेखक-अनुवादक परिचय     Authors'-Translators' introductions

शब्द-अनुक्रमणिका     Index