What are the extinct langauges of India?
Topic started by Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on Mon May 26 00:22:07 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.
I would like to know, besides Sanskrit, what are the other extinct langauges of India.
Responses:
- From: Venki (@ 12-241-5-72.client.attbi.com)
on: Mon May 26 05:31:58 EDT 2003
It would be very difficult to say what languages are extinct in India. Most of the data we have comes from the census which was started in 1881.
So look at the following links for more data.
http://www.censusindia.net/cendat/language/language_main.html
http://www.censusindia.net/cendat/language/intro_language.html
http://www.censusindia.net/cendat/language/language_data.html
If you look at languages listed historically by name, most of the languages used pre-10th century are extinct. Many have evolved into the modern day languages. Some common ones you see are Pali, Ardha-Magadhi, Peisachi etc that are no longer in use. Pali of course is used a language of liturgy and the cannons by Theravada Buddhists.
- From: Venki (@ 12-241-5-72.client.attbi.com)
on: Mon May 26 05:54:16 EDT 2003
Another site with many links on Indian langauges follows.
http://indic-computing.sourceforge.net/faq/indian-languages.html
A link there claims 418 languages in India of which 407 are extant and 11 are extinct. Of course this is just one view.
http://www.culturopedia.com/Languages/language_intro.html
- From: KK (@ pool-68-160-217-207.ny325.east.verizon.net)
on: Mon May 26 13:31:30 EDT 2003
Sanskrit is not extinct. It is spoken as a mother toungue by over 55,000 people.
- From: Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg)
on: Mon May 26 20:17:14 EDT 2003
Ok, Sanskrit is not extinct as some 55,000 people were made to speak that language.
- From: KK (@ pool-68-160-217-207.ny325.east.verizon.net)
on: Mon May 26 21:51:20 EDT 2003
Nobody can be made to "change a mother toungue!"
They were historical speakers. And BTW, Sanskrit literature is still Alive. It is still published to this date.
http://www.loc.gov/acq/ovop/delhi/salrp/sanskrit.html
- From: salapathy (@ ac8b2374.ipt.aol.com)
on: Mon May 26 22:48:48 EDT 2003
>> Ok, Sanskrit is not extinct as some 55,000 people were made to speak that language.
MORE people in America speak Klingan!
By the way, where did you get the 55000 number?
- From: Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg)
on: Mon May 26 23:09:55 EDT 2003
Hi, salapathy the figure is just plucked from the air!
Just half a century ago it was just 500 speakers.
You just need to fill up the census forms for the illiterate - any there you are - there will be nearly half a billion sanskrit speakers overnight.
- From: KK (@ pool-68-160-217-207.ny325.east.verizon.net)
on: Tue May 27 00:45:19 EDT 2003
That number in from the Department of Census, Govt of india. And BTW, I know very well how greatly Sanskrit was regarded by Tamizh saints. I do not need to follow you DMK morons.
- From: Idiappam (@ cache138.156ce.maxonline.com.sg)
on: Tue May 27 02:32:54 EDT 2003
Yep you are right mr KK about the 2001 census report - it shows about 55000 speakers of Sanskrit.
The figure I gave you was from 1931 census of population India. 500 speakers!!
What can you or I say. They are 'official'!
- From: Adi (@ )
on: Tue Aug 24 06:13:58
How far do you think that the linguists can make use of the census data to the maximum and in the best possible way. Do you agree that the census reports do not provide with the exact details of the situation. Whatever data is provided is also quite insufficient and inadequate in terms of the study that you wish to carry.
Tell your friend about this topic
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