Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://idr.l1.nitk.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/15608
Title: Languages, Castes and Hierarchy: Basel Mission in Nineteenth-Century Coastal Karnataka
Authors: Koudur S.
Issue Date: 2020
Citation: South Asia Research Vol. 40 , 2 , p. 250 - 265
Abstract: In the former South Kanara or south coastal Karnataka region, the presence of overlapping languages, mainly Tulu and Kannada, posed prolonged dilemmas in the nineteenth century for the Basel Mission. The choice of language was important for their evangelical work, supported by important language-related activities such as dictionary making, grammar writing and translations. Since language use was intertwined with caste hierarchy, this raised issues over the position of lower castes, mainly Billavas, for the native elites and upper castes. This article argues that the prioritisation of Kannada, and relegation of Tulu to a secondary position, was an outcome not only of missionary perceptions of the larger Kannada context, but also more importantly can be traced back to elite representations regarding the subaltern Tulu culture and lifeworld. As missionary intervention in education and native language use challenged the status quo of social hierarchy among local communities, this sparked efforts by the native elites to reclaim and restore the earlier hierarchy. In the process, the native elite representations of Tulu language and culture became at the same time an effort at dismissal and appropriation. © 2020 SAGE Publications.
URI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0262728020915563
http://idr.nitk.ac.in/jspui/handle/123456789/15608
Appears in Collections:1. Journal Articles

Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.