ERIC Number: ED618113
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0975-7945
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Exploring the Indigenous Language of Gujjar and Bakerwal Communities
Bhat, Zahoor Ahmad; Khan, Mahmood Ahmad
Online Submission, Kala: The Journal of Indian Arts History Congress v26 n2 p107-115 2020-2021
The study aimed to explore the indigenous language of Gujjar and Bakerwal tribal communities of district Ganderbal of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The design of the study is qualitative in nature. The researcher employs purposive sampling in selecting the sample. The researcher surveyed 81 Gujjar and Bakerwal households and interviewed 22 (19 Male and 3 Female) members of both the communities chosen from villages of Hayan Palpora, Ganwan, Harignawan, Jara Pati, Thune, Syed Basti (Surfraw), Chount Waliwar, and Yechihama of Ganderbal district. The researcher employed semi-structured questionnaire, interview schedule, focused group discussion and observation methods to collect data pertaining to the study. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The study concluded that the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities are multi-lingual and, their mother tongue is gojri. Variation in mother tongue with respect to mannerism, tone and symbolic meaning of things has been observed between two communities. In intra community settings, mother tongue primarily used and in inter community settings, they mostly interact in Urdu language. Furthermore, in religious observances, both Arabic and Gojri is used. Gojri language has a close resemblance with Mewari and Urdu languages. The speakers of gojri language are declining as dominant languages like English and Urdu are much preferred in school and other settings. The school going children of both the communities learn and speak these dominant language instead of their own mother tongue that becomes a threat for the survival of the gojri language. The development of content in gojri language and financial support to the writers of gojri literature will be helpful in promoting gojri. The translation of school curriculum in gojri and the inclusion of gojri as a separate language subject besides, the usage of gojri as pedagogical method in educational settings will save the language form extinction.
Descriptors: Tribes, Native Language, Indians, Ethnic Groups, Interviews, Language Attitudes, Multilingualism, Language Variation, Intonation, Semantics, Pragmatics, Language Usage, Urdu, Intercultural Communication, Semitic Languages, Religion, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Educational Environment, Language Maintenance, Language Skill Attrition, Financial Support, Translation, Curriculum, Native Language Instruction, Teaching Methods, Foreign Countries, Indo European Languages
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: India
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