This thirty-eighth volume of the People’s Linguistic Survey of India is devoted to the Indian Sign Language (ISL), the language of the Deaf in India. The articles in the volume are divided into four parts. The first discusses both its formal linguistic and ‘orthographic’ features; the second presents the sociolinguistic themes of the ISL such as bilingualism and language variety as well as language planning and policy issues. Part three presents various synchronic aspects of the ISL. The final part comprises articles on themes interfacing Sign Languages and other knowledge systems. This very first collection of articles on the ISL, is a critically important contribution to the discipline. About The Authors: G. N. Devy, taught at the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda till 1996, before leaving to set up the Bhasha Research Centre in Baroda and the Adivasi academy at Tejgadh where he has since worked towards conserving and promoting the languages and culture of indigenous and nomadic communities. He has also been the recipient of many awards for his work in literature, tribal craft and language conservation. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2014. He is the Chief Editor of the PLSI series. Volume Editor Esther Syiem is Professor and Head, Department of English NEHU, Shillong. A bilingual writer, fluent in both English and Khasi, she has published two volumes of poetry and a play in Khasi. She has done extensive work on the Khasis and has also published articles on Khasi folk literature and has a book on the oral discourse in the Khasi folk narrative. She has also been involved in translation projects, translating works from Khasi to English.

Table of Contents:
The People’s Linguistic Survey of India vii The National Editorial Collective ix List of Volumes xiii Acknowledgements xvii Foreword xix A Nation Proud of Its Language Diversity: Chief Editor’s Introduction xxiii Editorial xxxiii Introduction to the Volume xxxvii Contributors to the Volume xxxix An Appeal to Readers xli A Note on the Scripts used in Meghalaya xlv The Process of Compilation of the People’s Linguistic Survey of India, Meghalaya xlix List of Languages and their Varieties Covered in this Volume liii List of Abbreviations liv PART I : KHASI 1. Standard Khasi 3 2. The Pnar Variety of Khasi in the Jaiñtia Hills 51 3. The Nongtalang, Darrang and Umladang Varieties of the Southern Jaiñtia Hills 63 4. The Biate and Hadem Languages of the Eastern and Northern Jaiñtia Hills 77 5. The Lasa Ïapngar, Nongbri and Mnar Varieties of Ri-Bhoi 98 6. The Mikir, Tiwa and Marngar Languages of Ri-bhoi 117 7. The Nongkrem Variety of the Central Upland Region in East Khasi Hills 129 8. The Khadar Blang, Nongshken and Umñiuh-Tmar Varieties of the Ri War (Valley Dwellers) in the Eastern Khasi Hills 137 9. The Shella Variety of the Ri War (Valley Dwellers) in the South-CentralKhasi Hills 158 10. The Mawsynram, Phlangwanbroi, Warding, Mawpen Varieties – Transition from the Hill to Valley Varieties in the South-Central Khasi Hills 168 11. The Mairang, Maram, Lyngngam and Langrin Varieties of the Western Khasi Hills 186 PART II : GARO 12. Introduction to the Garo Language and its Varieties 227 13. The A•we/A•kawe Variety of the Northern Garo Hills 251 14. The Chisak Variety of the Eastern Garo Hills 270 15. The Matabeng and Matchi Varieties of the Garo Hills 284 16. The A•beng Variety of the Western Garo Hills 310 17. The Atong, Dual, Gara-Gan•ching, Chibok and Ruga Varieties of the Southern Garo Hills 322 Index 381 LIST OF MAPS Figure I Distribution of Indian languages Figure II Language distribution data of Meghalaya Figure III Meghalaya political Figure IV Khasi and Garo inhabited areas Figure 1.1 The Khasi and Jaiñtia Hills Figure 13.1 A·we speaking areas in the Garo Hills Figure 14.2 Chisak speaking areas in the East Garo Hills Figure 15.1 Matabeng speaking villages Figure 15.2 Matchi inhabited areas of the Garo Hills Figure 16.1 A·beng speaking areas Figure 17.1 Atong settlements in the Garo Hills Figure 17.2 Baigonkona: The dual settlement Figure 17.3 Gara-Gan·ching area in South Garo Hills Figure 17.4 Chibok speaking areas Figure 17.5 Ruga settlements in South Garo Hills