Language Loss and Marginalisation in India: Migration, Caste, and the Waddar Speech Community - Hardcover

Ghodke, Digambar M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3032353351 ISBN 13: 9783032353351

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2026

Synopsis

This book examines how caste, poverty, migration, and education contribute to language loss in India through the case of the Waddar community, a semi-nomadic De-notified Tribe whose ancestral Dravidian language, Waddari, is endangered. It combines sociolinguistics, ethnography, and political economy to explain why marginalized communities experience rapid language shift. Across its chapters, the book traces the historical legacy of colonial criminalisation, caste-based exclusion, labour migration, and state language and education policies that weaken intergenerational language transmission. Drawing on extensive fieldwork and interviews with Waddar speakers across generations, it explores changing language use, bilingualism, identity, and aspirations for social mobility. Situating the Waddar experience within broader debates on language endangerment, linguistic justice, and multilingual education, the book offers insights relevant to India and the Global South. It will appeal to researchers and students of sociolinguistics, anthropology, education, caste studies, and language policy.

About this title

About the Author

Digambar M. Ghodke is Professor of English at Sangamner Nagarpalika Arts, D. J. Malpani Commerce and B. N. Sarda Science College (Autonomous), Maharashtra, India. A sociolinguist, translator, and poet, his research focuses on language endangerment, multilingualism, caste, and linguistic justice, with projects funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC), British Council, and Savitribai Phule Pune University, India.

From the Back Cover

This book examines how caste, poverty, migration, and education contribute to language loss in India through the case of the Waddar community, a semi-nomadic De-notified Tribe whose ancestral Dravidian language, Waddari, is endangered. It combines sociolinguistics, ethnography, and political economy to explain why marginalized communities experience rapid language shift. Across its chapters, the book traces the historical legacy of colonial criminalisation, caste-based exclusion, labour migration, and state language and education policies that weaken intergenerational language transmission. Drawing on extensive fieldwork and interviews with Waddar speakers across generations, it explores changing language use, bilingualism, identity, and aspirations for social mobility. Situating the Waddar experience within broader debates on language endangerment, linguistic justice, and multilingual education, the book offers insights relevant to India and the Global South. It will appeal to researchers and students of sociolinguistics, anthropology, education, caste studies, and language policy.

Digambar M. Ghodke is Professor of English at Sangamner Nagarpalika Arts, D. J. Malpani Commerce and B. N. Sarda Science College (Autonomous), Maharashtra, India. A sociolinguist, translator, and poet, his research focuses on language endangerment, multilingualism, caste, and linguistic justice, with projects funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC), British Council, and Savitribai Phule Pune University, India.

Edition details

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3032353351
• ISBN 13: 9783032353351
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 340