Volume : 2, Issue : 6, June - 2013

Languages in India and their Mixed Use : A Sociolinguistic Study

Dr. Rajeev K. Doley

Abstract :

India is home to 22 scheduled languages, 100 non–scheduled languages and more than 1500 dialects. This linguistically highly diversified country is divided into 28 states and seven union territories on linguistic lines. The plural nature of the Indian society has given rise to a plurality in linguistic behaviour amongst its citizens. The use of two or more languages during interpersonal communications, particularly verbal ones, is already a prevalent sociolinguistic phenomenon although varying region–wise. But it is observed that language change during speech is not merely a matter of habit alone, there are specific intentions behind the shift as well. Apart from listing the Indian languages, the paper attempts to find out the reasons why the people of India talk in two or even three languages in a single conversation. The excerpts of various conversations made under different situations recorded through participatory observation and non–participatory observation are given and examined for the purpose.