Ebook: The Kashmiri Language and Society

Indian Institute of Language Studies, 2005 - 15p.Language and society are closely related. The relationship can be studied in two ways: (i) use of
language in society and (ii) sociology of language. Keeping in view the main theme of the volume, it would be relevant and of interest to study the relationship between the Kashmiri language and society from the point of view of the use of language in Kashmiri society. However, certain remarks will be made with respect to the sociology of language. Without going into theoretical aspects of sociolinguistics, we will confine our description and analysis to certain linguistic characteristics of Kashmiri, issues related to its development with special reference to its use in different domains, its standardisation and modernisation. Language is a strong mark of social and ethnic identity in its natural environment. Language identity faces challenges in a situation where the speakers of a particular language group move out of its natural environment to a distant land as a result of socioeconomic and political factors. We will point out certain social parameters of the language with special reference to language identity, language loss and language maintenance of Kashmiri by emigrant or displaced children. Language reflects the society as clearly as the society is reflected in it. To illustrate this point,
it would be necessary to make special references to the linguistic characteristics of personal names, surnames and nicknames of Kashmiri. They reflect the socio-cultural, religious, and linguistic patterns of the society. Most of the personal names in Kashmiri represent two main religious streams. Besides some genuine surnames, a large number of surnames and nicknames have developed by the local influences and common socio-cultural patterns characterising Kashmiri society. Well-defined religious boundaries do not seem to have a role in them. Kashmiris are very productive in the coinage of names and nicknames and, perhaps, it is the strong texture with which the concept of Kashmiriat is woven. Similarly, in a day-to-day communicative situation, the use of kinship terms, modes of address and modes of greetings represent socio-cultural milieu of Kashmiri society. They are illustrated with special reference to