The Indo-Aryan Languages

In his ambitious survey of the Indo-Aryan languages, Colin Masica has provided a fundamental introduction which will interest not only general and theoretical linguists but also students of one or more of these languages who want to acquaint themselves with the broader linguistic context. Generally synchronic in approach, concentrating on the phonology, morphology and syntax of the modern representatives of the group, the volume also covers their historical development, areal context, writing systems and aspects of sociolinguistics. The survey is organised not on a language-by-language basis but by topic, so that salient theoretical issues may be discussed in a comparative context.

• Comprehensive, up-to-date survey of major language group • Of interest to theoretical linguists but also accessible to students of particular Indian languages • Includes appendices of Indo-Aryan languages and dialects and their subclassifications

1. Introduction; 2. The modern Indo-Aryan languages and dialects; 3. The historical context and development of Indo-Aryan; 4. The nature of the New Indo-Aryan lexicon; 5. NIA descriptive phonology; 6. Writing systems; 7. Historical phonology; 8. Nominal forms and categories; 9. Verbal forms and categories; 10. Syntax; Appendix I Inventory of NIA languages and dialects; Appendix II Schemes of NIA subclassification.

‘Masica’s new book provides the urgently needed comprehensive and linguistically sophisticated survey of NIA, and will remain the standard work for a long time to come.’ Journal of Asian Studies

‘No anthropological linguist planning work in South Asia should leave home without it.’ American Anthropologist