Determinants and correlates of language shift among the tribals of Central India

Abstract

Language shift from traditional language to non-traditional has become an important aspect of the study in various disciplines including social and regional sciences besides linguistics. The geographers have studied the patterns of spatial distribution and the processes through which the shift occurs and also analysed the factors which are responsible for the shift. Socio-economic and political implications of the shift have been adequately emphasized in geographical studies. The present study is an attempt in this direction by selecting some of the important tribal groups of Central India.

The paper attempts to establish the relationship between language shift and socio-economic conditions among the Bhils, the Korkus, the Mundas and the Santals of Central India. The stepwise regression model has been applied to understand the causality of the shift while the degree of linguistic exposure has been calculated to determine the magnitude of language shift among them for a comparative analysis. Both primary and secondary data have been analysed for this study.

Though language shift among the tribal population has exposed them to the outside world and helped them to achieve higher levels of socio-economic development, its consequences seem to be more serious as it has led to the division of the tribal society and formation of separate groups of people who have been alienated from the traditional people. Thus, the process of linguistic shift is held responsible for the loss of tribal identity and their traditional culture.