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Languages and Nations: The Dravidian Proof in Colonial Madras
British rule of India brought together two very different traditions of scholarship about language, whose conjuncture led to several intellectual breakthroughs of lasting value. Two of these were especially the conceptualization of the Indo-European language family by Sir William Jones at Calcutta in 1786―proposing that Sanskrit is related to Persian and languages of Europe―and the conceptualization of the Dravidian language family of South India by F.W. Ellis at Madras in 1816―the “Dravidian proof,” showing that the languages of South India are related to one another but are not derived from Sanskrit. These concepts are valid still today, centuries later. This book continues the examination Thomas R. Trautmann began in Aryans and British India (1997). While the previous book focused on Calcutta and Jones, the current volume examines these developments from the vantage of Madras, focusing on Ellis, Collector of Madras, and the Indian scholars with whom he worked at the College of Fort St. George, making use of the rich colonial record. Trautmann concludes by showing how elements of the Indian analysis of language have been folded into historical linguistics and continue in the present as unseen but nevertheless living elements of the modern.
- GenresAcademic
321 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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January 30, 2022
Dravidian -- the term, has shaped and is shaping political thought of Tamil Nadu, India.
Professor Trautmann writes this thorough dense book, with numerous citations to expound on Dravidian Proof. Trautmann had visited Madras Archives. He took the time and effort to do actual research.
Francis Whyte Elis’s central project was writing history of Tamil language and literature, within larger comparative Dravidian languages framework.
For Francis Whyte Ellis, a scholar-administrator says Dravidian Language consists of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada. Ellis says, Telugu is formed, from roots of its own.
Frequently, people mention Robert Caldwell, scholar-missionary as reference for Dravidian Languages.
Robert Caldwell popularized by putting forward a linguistic comparative case proving Dravidian Languages.
Caldwell in his work, acknowledges he builds his work from Francis Whyte Ellis, who worked in St.Fort George, Madras.
In order to build the case for Dravidian Languages, Ellis builds a thorough background on languages, historical context of Indo-European languages.
The Meat of the book is in Chapter 5, Dravidian Proof.
Ellis puts forward his case by comparing root languages of non-Sanskrit language and Sanskrit.
1) He shows contrasting differences in roots of Telugu and Sanskrit
2) From there, he shows intimate radical connection between Telugu, Tamil, Kannada sharing cognate roots
3) And then, he shows relationship among the three languages
4) Although, the roots of the three are common, there is vast difference among idioms
5) Thus Ellis, showed radical case of linguistic roots of Dravidian Language.
If you disagree with his work. I'd suggest writing a decent rebuttal showing why, how, where you disagree, which I think would be a Herculean task without his training and background.
I would recommend this to people interested in linguistics, Political History, Tamil Nadu, South India.
Deus Vult,
Gottfried
Professor Trautmann writes this thorough dense book, with numerous citations to expound on Dravidian Proof. Trautmann had visited Madras Archives. He took the time and effort to do actual research.
Francis Whyte Elis’s central project was writing history of Tamil language and literature, within larger comparative Dravidian languages framework.
For Francis Whyte Ellis, a scholar-administrator says Dravidian Language consists of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada. Ellis says, Telugu is formed, from roots of its own.
Frequently, people mention Robert Caldwell, scholar-missionary as reference for Dravidian Languages.
Robert Caldwell popularized by putting forward a linguistic comparative case proving Dravidian Languages.
Caldwell in his work, acknowledges he builds his work from Francis Whyte Ellis, who worked in St.Fort George, Madras.
In order to build the case for Dravidian Languages, Ellis builds a thorough background on languages, historical context of Indo-European languages.
The Meat of the book is in Chapter 5, Dravidian Proof.
Ellis puts forward his case by comparing root languages of non-Sanskrit language and Sanskrit.
1) He shows contrasting differences in roots of Telugu and Sanskrit
2) From there, he shows intimate radical connection between Telugu, Tamil, Kannada sharing cognate roots
3) And then, he shows relationship among the three languages
4) Although, the roots of the three are common, there is vast difference among idioms
5) Thus Ellis, showed radical case of linguistic roots of Dravidian Language.
If you disagree with his work. I'd suggest writing a decent rebuttal showing why, how, where you disagree, which I think would be a Herculean task without his training and background.
I would recommend this to people interested in linguistics, Political History, Tamil Nadu, South India.
Deus Vult,
Gottfried
Displaying 1 of 1 review