In a systematic narrative, this book traces the colonial language policies and practices responsible for creating a sense of “self-identity” and culminates in the evolution of nationalist fervor in colonial India. The British policy of language as a weapon of domination for their administrative convenience led to the parallel development of Indian dialects: poets, novelists, writers and journalists produced great and fascinating works that conditioned and guided India’s path to independence. This book advances a theoretical claim that language as identity is a colonial construction in India and further proves it by tracing the events, policies and changes that led to the development and agitation of Indian national sentiments and attitudes. It bears witness to the language journey of India from a British colony to a modern nation.
本书以系统的叙述方式, 追述了负责创造“自我认同感”的殖民地语言政策和行为, 并将殖民地印度的民族主义热情的演变推向高潮。英国为其行政便利推行作为统治武器的语言政策导致了印度方言的平行发展: 诗人、小说家、作家和记者创作了伟大而迷人的作品, 制约和引导了印度的独立之路。本书提出了一个理论主张, 认为作为身份的语言在印度是一种殖民主义的建构, 并通过追踪导致印度民族情感和态度的发展和搅动的事件、政策和变化来进一步证明。它见证了印度从英国殖民地到现代国家的语言历程。
本书以系统的叙述方式, 追述了负责创造“自我认同感”的殖民地语言政策和行为, 并将殖民地印度的民族主义热情的演变推向高潮。英国为其行政便利推行作为统治武器的语言政策导致了印度方言的平行发展: 诗人、小说家、作家和记者创作了伟大而迷人的作品, 制约和引导了印度的独立之路。本书提出了一个理论主张, 认为作为身份的语言在印度是一种殖民主义的建构, 并通过追踪导致印度民族情感和态度的发展和搅动的事件、政策和变化来进一步证明。它见证了印度从英国殖民地到现代国家的语言历程。
