Specimens of Languages of India: Including those of the Aboriginal Tribes of Bengal the Central Provinces, and the Eastern Frontier

First published in 1874, this collection of language specimens covers the dialects and languages of several tribes of Bengal, Central Provinces and eastern frontier, which indicate Aryan, Dravidian and aboriginal linguistic types. In his Introduction, the author hopes that the number and variety of specimens, including those of lesser-known languages, and the abundant raw material will enable a greater degree of comparison and prove to be beneficial to a philologist.

The selection of words and phrases in this work provide scope to test radical affinities, and tribes can be better classified than done hitherto. Indeed, this was the very objective of the author in undertaking this work.

On the basis of the language and dialect specimens, Campbell has shown that most of the aboriginal tribes of the Central Provinces and from western Bengal are radically associated to the Dravidians. Likewise, a group of languages, quite comparable to each other, that are found in the border areas of eastern Bengal, Assam, Cachar, and the surrounding lower hills, are closely cognate with that of a large number of tribes that have very different names and live under very different conditions. He has shown more such instances.

Spread over eighteen chapters, Campbell has covered the different regions and various tribes, presented the language specimens in tabular format, with the English translation of the word or phrase given alongside, in a column.

Table of Contents

• 1.Aryan Languages Of Bengal, Hindustan, And The Bombay Territories - 2 To 21
• 2.Languages Of The Punjab And Neighbouring Countries ... 24 To 41
• 3.Dravidian Languages Of Southern And Central. India 44 To 57
• 4.Dialects Of Behar ... ... 60 To 75
• 5.Aboriginal Languages Of ""Western Bengal (Kolarian Type) ... 78 To 91
• 6.Further Aboriginal Languages Of Western Bengal (Chiefly Dravidia.N Type) 94 To 107
• 7. Aboriginal Languages Of The Central Provinces (Kolarian And Dravidian)... . 110 To 123
• 8.Further Aboriginal Languages Of The Central. Provinces (Dravidian, Chiefly Gond) ... 126 To 139
• 9.Thibetan And Bhootea Languages ... 142 To 147
• 10.-,-Cooch Behar, Darjeeling (Sikhim), And Nepalese Languages. 150 To 165
• 11.Assam Languages . 168 To 186
• 12.Languages Of The Tipperah, Chittagong, And Cachar Frontier 188 To 201
• 13.Further Languages From Tipperah And Cachar... 204 To 217
• 14.Languages Of _Hills Surrounding Assam And Cachar 220 To 235
• 15.Languages Of The North-East Of Assam 238 To 251
• 16.Dialects Of Naga Tribes Of The Seebsaugor Frontier 254 To 269
• 17.Languages Of The Kela.Si And Jynte A H Hills 272 To 283 18.Languages. Of Burmajt Compared With Others ... 286 To 303