Official State Languages query

[Peter J. Claus]

Needless to say, perhaps: This is a political distinction between 
language and dialect, not a linguistic one.  And one which causes much 
confusion between scholars and laymen.  It is also responsible for much 
linguistic rivalry and many bitter political disputes in India.  A 
linguistic definition of language would be based in mutual comprehesion.

Peter Claus

On Mon, 19 Aug 1996, Pullat Devadas Das Menon wrote:

> Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 03:12:09 BST
> From: Pullat Devadas Das Menon <dmenon at pacific.net.sg>
> To: Members of the list <indology at liverpool.ac.uk>
> Subject: Re: Official State Languages query
> 
> I believe that Marwari is a dialect amd mot a language - a language being
> defined as having a script, and more importantly its own literature. There
> are over 200 dialects in India, all of which are in use. Since these are
> dialects they do not find mention in the list of official languages.
> 
> Das Menon
> 
> At 01:45 PM 8/16/96 BST, you wrote:
> >And how can India not recognize the important of Marwari?
> >David Magier
> >
> >
> 
> 
>