Atlas of the languages and ethnic communities of South Asia
- New Delhi Sage Publications 1997
- 230p.
[17:50, 15/02/2022] Rashid Ali: This geographical atlas constitutes the first systematic presentation of the spatial and quantitative characteris- tics of the distribution of languages in the seven countries of South Asia. Utiliz- ing a semiographic analysis and com- bining and comparing language data from various national censuses covering a forty year period, this atlas enables read- ers to actually see the geographical loca- tion, extension and linguistic affinities of any of the numerous languages spoken in South Asia. The atlas is divided into two parts. In the first part, Professor Breton introduces the reader to the general relationship be- tween language and the complex ethno- cultural structure of the subcontinent, and raises interesting considerations on language as a component of cultural identity. He stresses both the importance of and difficulties in analyzing the vitality of South Asian language groups. Exa- mining the similarities and differences in language use and various ethnic traits among similar population groups, Professor Breton explores the relation- ship between language on the one hand and race, tribe, caste and religion on the other.