Linguistic ecology: Bihar

The proposed volume presents an overview of the ethno-linguistic aspects of major languages spoken in the Indian state of Bihar. With a population size close to 100 million, the state has rich linguistic diversity. The book initiates special discussion on linguistic habitat of one of the profoundest multilingual states of India in synchronic and diachronic contexts. This volume is not a textbook in a strict sense, but has been designed to serve as main source of reading for linguists looking forward towards a comprehensive material on linguistic ecosphere of Bihar. Languages like Maithili, Magahi, Bhojpuri, Bajjika, Kurmali and Eastern Hindi varieties have been discussed in details in different chapters. Some of the chapters provide an excellent read on folklore, traditional ecological knowledge and linguistic landscape of the region including the languages spoken by migrant communities. The volume would immensely benefit students and researchers studying languages including lesser known languages and language varieties spoken in Bihar and adjoining areas. This book would also be resourceful to linguists working in the areas of language contact, sociolinguistics, language documentation, language typology, language planning and policy making. In addition to linguists, political scientists and anthropologists, this volume will also prove to be useful for ecological studies, regional studies and gender studies. Some chapters will also be useful to non-specialists including educators, politicians, social activists and government officials concerned with linguistic habitat.