FATHER TONGUE, MOTHER LAND The Birth of Language in South Asia

4 views

Skip to first unread message

Manish Modi

unread,

Mar 12, 2025, 4:11:25 AMMar 12

to JAIN CLASS, ROZ EK SHER

FATHER TONGUE, MOTHER LAND
The Birth of Language in South Asia
By Peggy Mohan

2025 | 22 × 14 cm | 362 pages | Hardcover | 0.6 kilos | ₹699

Winner of the Mathrubhumi Book of the Year Award 2023

"Never before have I read such an insightful and comprehensive historical account of Indian languages."
— Ganesh Devy, Chief Editor, People’s Linguistic Survey of India

"Mohan offers new perspectives on India’s linguistic prehistory."
— Madhav M. Deshpande, Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan

"Challenging the nineteenth-century picture of language growth, this book reveals the unseen forces that shape new languages."
— Probal Dasgupta, Former Professor of Linguistics, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata

A Major New Work on the Origins of South Asian Languages

Languages are not fixed structures—they are living, evolving entities, shaped by migration, cultural exchange, and the unseen forces of history. In Father Tongue, Mother Land, Peggy Mohan presents a groundbreaking re-examination of South Asia’s linguistic landscape, challenging long-held assumptions about how languages emerge and transform.

Mohan dismantles colonial-era linguistic models, arguing that language development is not a linear process but a complex interaction between past and present, structure and improvisation, tradition, and adaptation. Drawing on insights from linguistics, history, archaeology, and genetics, she reveals how South Asian languages have evolved over millennia—not as isolated systems but as deeply interconnected expressions of human movement and cultural fusion.

More than a study of grammar or phonetics, this book explores identity, migration, and the forces that shape how we speak and think. With the precision of a scholar and the storytelling skill of a seasoned writer, Mohan takes the reader on a journey through the hidden prehistory of Indian languages, shedding light on a world we thought we understood.

Essential Reading for Scholars and Thinkers

Linguists seeking fresh perspectives on language evolution and historical linguistics.
Historians and anthropologists exploring the cultural and migratory patterns of South Asia.
Academics in South Asian studies looking for a comprehensive analysis of linguistic prehistory.
Readers interested in history, culture, and the origins of human communication.

Order Now

Available through our bookstore and mail order service. We offer worldwide shipping and multiple payment options, including UPI, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, Visa, and MasterCard.

For orders and inquiries: