The People’s Linguistics Survey of India tries to give an idea of the extant and dying languages of India. 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. The volume documents the languages prevalent in the state of Uttarakhand. Critically, the book encapsulates the world view of the speakers of the discussed languages.

The languages of Uttarakhand have a wide variety as well as rich heritage because of the various linguistic influences of the different settlers who came to India from time to time. Here, languages of the Tibeto-Burman family are spoken along with Austro-Asiatic languages. This volume attempts to document these varieties of languages so as to preserve them in this globalised world, where migration and other factors are resulting in loss of languages.

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

Uma Bhatt retired as Professor of Hindi and Linguistics from Kumaon University, Nainital. She has been editing the women’s quarterly Uttara with her team for last twenty-five years. She is also associated with PAHAR (People’s Association for Himalayan Area Research) and other organisations working on Himalayan languages and literature.

Shekhar Pathak taught at Kumaon University, Nainital; was Fellow at IIAS, Shimla and Nehru Fellow at Centre for Contemporary Studies, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi and now works voluntarily with PAHAR and has been editing their annual journal of same name for the last three decades.

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

Note on the Scripts used in Uttarakhand

List of Languages Covered in the Volume

PART I: TRIBAL LANGUAGES

1. Buksa/Buksari

Jagdish Pant

2. Jad/Tchhongsa

Suresh Chandra Mamgai

3. Jaunsari

Indra Singh Negi

4. Johari

Sher Singh Pangtey

5. Marchha

Bhupendra Singh Rana

6. Raji

Sobha Ram Sharma

7. Rang Lvu

D. R. Singh Seepal

8. Tharu

Sidheswar Singh

PART II: NON-SCHEDULED LANGUAGES

9. Bangani

Balbir Singh Rawat

10. Garhwali

A. N. Jakhmola

11. Jaunpuri

Surender Pundir

12. Kumaoni

Kailash Chandra Lohani, Uma Bhatt, Chandra Kala Rawat

13. Ranwalti

Mahavir Ranwalta

Nazir Ahmed Dhar