Re: Subcontinental Language Isolates

Eamon Graham wrote:
>I'm looking for information - linguistic, cultural or historical -
>about a few language isolates from India/Pakistan.
>
>The first is Burushashki which I have quite a bit of linguistic info
>but nothing really about the history.
>
>The other two are Bhatola and Nihali.  I found a Swadesh list for
>Nihali but nothing else.  I'm not even quite sure what Bhatola is,
>if it is in fact a language isolate or if I got some bogus info.
>
>In addition to language, I'm very interested in learning about the
>peoples themselves, ethnically and historically.  (Is "peoples
>themselves" anywhere near good English grammar?)
>
IIRC a rather thorough "Linguistic Survey of India" was published in the
(late?) 19th C or early 20th.  However, isolated and "minor" languages are
liable to have received short shrift-- reports from earnest missionaries,
military, civil servants-- all in a mish-mash of idiosyncratic
transcriptions.  (Same problems as affect Indonesian reports.)  But better
than nothing.  A really good Univ. library should have it, or at last resort
the British Museum.

Reply