Language of the snakes : Prakrit, Sanskrit, and the language order of premodern India

Author(s)

• Ollett, Andrew

Bibliographic Information

Language of the snakes : Prakrit, Sanskrit, and the language order of premodern India

Andrew Ollett

（South Asia across the disciplines）

University of California Press, c2017

• : pbk

Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 259-295) and index

Summary: "Language of the Snakes traces the history of the Prakrit language as a literary phenomenon, starting from its cultivation in courts of the Deccan in the first few centuries of the common era. Although little studied today, Prakrit was an important vector of the "kavya movement," and once joined Sanskrit at the apex of classical Indian literary culture. The opposition--as well as underlying identity--between Prakrit and Sanskrit was at the center of an enduring "language order" in India, a set of ways of thinking about, naming, classifying, representing, and ultimately using languages. As a language of classical literature that nevertheless retained its associations with more demotic language practices, Prakrit both embodies major cultural tensions--between high and low, transregional and regional, cosmopolitan and vernacular--and provides a unique perspective onto the history of literature and culture in South Asia."--Provided by publisher

Description and Table of Contents

Description

At publication date, a free ebook version of this title will be available through Luminos, University of California Press's Open Access publishing program. Visit www.luminosoa.org to learn more. Language of the Snakes traces the history of the Prakrit language as a literary phenomenon, starting from its cultivation in courts of the Deccan in the first few centuries of the common era. Although little studied today, Prakrit was an important vector of the "kavya movement," and once joined Sanskrit at the apex of classical Indian literary culture. The opposition-as well as underlying identity-between Prakrit and Sanskrit was at the center of an enduring "language order" in India, a set of ways of thinking about, naming, classifying, representing, and ultimately using languages. As a language of classical literature that nevertheless retained its associations with more demotic language practices, Prakrit both embodies major cultural tensions-between high and low, transregional and regional, cosmopolitan and vernacular-and provides a unique perspective onto the history of literature and culture in South Asia.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations List of Tables Acknowledgments 1. Prakrit in the Language Order of India 2. Inventing Prakrit: The Languages of Power 3. Inventing Prakrit: The Languages of Literature 4. The Forms of Prakrit Literature 5. Figuring Prakrit 6. Knowing Prakrit 7. Forgetting Prakrit Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Notes Bibliography Index

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

• NCID: BB25078086
• ISBN:
  • 9780520296220
• LCCN: 2017018705
• Country Code: us
• Title Language Code: eng
• Text Language Code: eng
• Place of Publication: Oakland, Calif.
• Pages/Volumes: xi, 308 p.
• Size: 23 cm
• Classification:
  • LCC : PK4994
  • DC23 : 891/.3
• Subject Headings:
  • LCSH : Prakrit literature -- History and criticism
  • LCSH : Prakrit languages
  • LCSH : Sanskrit literature -- History and criticism
  • LCSH : Language and culture -- India
• Parent Bibliography ID:
  • BB04942401