A book on the languages of Jammu and Kashmir was released by the vice-chancellor of Kashmir University, A M Shah, at its campus here today and the book's first copy was presented to state Governor N N Vohra.
The book, 'The Languages of Jammu and Kashmir', is part of the 50-volume series on all Indian languages compiled by the People's Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI).
The survey for the compilation of 'The Languages of Jammu and Kashmir (PLSI-Volume 12)' was carried out by renowned linguist Omkar Nath Koul under the PLSI, headed by G N Devy.
'The Languages of Jammu and Kashmir' is divided into three sections. The first section is devoted to Dogri and Kashmiri that are listed in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution.
The second section is devoted to other languages in alphabetic order: Balti, Badarwahi, Broksat, Burushaski, Gojri, Kishtawari, Kohistani, Ladakhi, Pashto, Poguli, Punchi, Sheikh Gal, Shina and Siraji.
Koul said the third section is devoted to other languages namely Sanskrit, Persian, Hindi and Urdu that have prominent place in the state for various reasons.
Koul and Devi also called on Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here and presented him the first copy of the book.
The Governor, who is also chancellor of the university, congratulated Devy and Koul for the monumental work, and expressed hope that the volume would be acquired and closely studied by students in all educational institutions in the state, concerned state departments.
Koul said the PLSI is the culmination of a nation-wide survey of languages, documented by linguists, social activists and members of speech communities.
He said the survey was conducted by Bhasha Research and Publication Centre, Vadodara during the period 2010-2013 and it presents nomenclature and history of languages, their linguistic characteristics, texts and select vocabulary.
The survey focuses on the languages of indigenous people, minority communities with an effort to bring them to the centre of contemporary language debates in a globalised world, Koul said.
