Language Log
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A short history of ‘India’ versus ‘Bharat’
The BJP wants to make the Hindi ‘Bharat’ the country’s only name.
Shoaib Daniyal
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Italy wants its businesses to stop using English. Will it succeed?
It’s estimated that 1.5 billion people globally speak English, so its dominance in international business is not going away anytime soon.
Natalie Victoria Wilmot, The Conversation
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Kannad, Keral, Karnatak: Why do Hindi speakers ‘mispronounce’ South Indian names?
India's North versus South culture wars take a phonological turn.
Shoaib Daniyal
Trending
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By mixing Carnatic and Hindustani, Mysore’s kings helped create a unique body of music
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We will leave India if told to break encryption: WhatsApp tells Delhi HC
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Why is BJP wooing Bengali-origin Muslims in Assam?
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‘My son lost his job during demonetisation but at least it removed black money’
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‘Juna Furniture’ review: A simplistic crusade against the neglect of senior citizens
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How a unique Tamil dialect survived among a fishing community in Sri Lanka
Negombo Fishermen’s Tamil, which is spoken by around 50,000 people, has been influenced by Sinhala and sounds different from other dialects in the country.
Ajay Kamalakaran
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Meet the young Indians who are bringing an Adivasi language into the digital age
Ho was languishing on the sidelines of the internet – until a few youngsters took it upon themselves to tear down the digital divide.
Karishma Mehrotra
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From love songs to kurta ads, Urdu is popular with Indians. Why do Hindutva backers hate it so much?
How long will the nineteenth-century politics of Hindi versus Urdu continue?
Shoaib Daniyal
Video
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Watch: K-Pop singer Aoora sings in Assamese as he collaborates with Nilotpal Bora in a new folk song
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Watch Anu Malik and Sonu Nigam’s impromptu performance of ‘Main Hoon Na’ at Farah Khan’s home
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Watch: Doordarshan newsreader faints on live TV in Kolkata owing to severe heat
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Watch: Spice Girls sing ‘Stop’ as bandmates reunite to celebrate Victoria Beckham’s 50th birthday
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Watch: Over 350 ballerinas come together to break the world record for standing on tip toes
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How the Mesopotamian word for ‘elephant’ indicates Dravidian language existed in Indus Civilisation
A new research paper shows that it was migration that took the Dravidian languages from the Indus basin to their modern location in South India.
Shoaib Daniyal
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Hindi might not be the national language – but it is growing rapidly across India
This would explain the recent anxieties around Hindi imposition.
Shoaib Daniyal
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An American teacher’s online Malayalam lessons have won her a following even in Kerala
EliKutty, or Eliza Keyton, has brought a fun perspective to learning a language.
Vandana Menon
The Reel
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The story behind the ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ title track: ‘Just write very simple poetry’
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‘Juna Furniture’ review: A simplistic crusade against the neglect of senior citizens
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‘Late Night with the Devil’ review: A deft satire on the price of success
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Watch: In ‘The Big Cigar’, the Black Panther founder flees America through a fake movie
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‘Dil Dosti Dilemma’ review: A feelgood entertainer about young love and old ties
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Why is India obsessed with English-medium education – when it goes against scientific consensus?
Several empirical studies support what the New Education Policy is proposing about education in the mother tongue early on, adding English later.
Shoaib Daniyal
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How a Bihari lost her mother tongue to Hindi – but is now trying to get it back
I tried to expel Angika from my life. But it, thankfully, wouldn’t leave me.
Archana Singh
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We’re on ‘coronacation’ while we wait for ‘lexit’: How coronavirus is changing our language
A ‘covidiot’ is someone who ignores public health advice. ‘Zoombombing’ is intrusion into a video call.
Kate Burridge and Howard Manns, The Conversation
The Field
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Archery, World Cup Shanghai: Jyothi Vennam and Abhishek Verma reach the mixed compound final
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Cricket: Former Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof retires from international cricket
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Athletics, Asian U20 C’ships: India wins nine medals including four gold on Day 2
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Badminton, Thomas and Uber Cup 2024: Two years on, Indian men’s team hope to defend crown jewel
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IPL 2024: Royal Challengers Bengaluru end losing run with convincing win over Sunrisers Hyderabad