| Source: Handbook of information 2007-08 | DEPARTMENT OF
ANTHROPOLOGICAL LINGUISTICS AND PUNJABI LEXICOGRAPHY PUNJABI UNIVERSITY, PATIALA |
|||||
|
The Department of Anthropological Linguistics and Punjabi Language (originally the department of Linguistics and Anthropological Linguistics) was established in 1966 for the scientific study of the Punjabi language. Initially the major thrust area was to study the speech of the Punjabi language. The year 1968 marked a turning point in the scientific study of the Punjabi Language and the discipline of Linguistics was soon to become an important component of language instruction programmes, at the secondary and tertiary levels of education in Punjab, in the years to come. This vision was ambitiously projected by the foresight and drive of Professor Harjeet Singh Hill, who after having researched in the United States of America and later in France, with frontline linguists, anthropologists and philosophers of the mid-twentieth century, embarked on the pilot project 'The linguistic Survey of the Punjab'. The project has fetched the following kinds of comments : Eminent linguist, RK Sprigg, from The University of London. "The Indian View (on dialect classification) has been most cogently advanced in the most substantial production of Indian Punjabi linguistics. The Patiala Linguistic Atlas whose detailed maps certainly call into question the validity of traditional dialect labels of eastern Punjab". Christopher Shackle, in The Transactions of The Philological Society, Oxford. Over the years, a carefully selected team of scholars was assembled under his stewardship, both for research and teaching and an interdisciplinary department was established in 1971 with a basic thrust in linguistic, literary and cultural studies. This interdisciplinary integration between language and culture was unique to university education in India and this was evident in the emergence of trend-setting semiotic studies in the various disciplines of the humanities, in the latter half of the twentieth century. Patiala has been recognised as an important centre of semiotic studies by Thomas Sebeok in his History of semiotic studies around the world. Besides M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. Programmes, the department conducts short term courses in 'Teaching of Punjabi as a Second/Foreign Language'. A centre for Punjabi Studies and Sikh Studies has been started at Espanola, New Mexico, USA under the provisions of MOU signed by the University with the Chief Executive of Sikh Dharma USA. Diploma course for Teaching of Punjabi as a foreign language has been planned. This is a beginner level 'start-up', program for school and adult learners. The course is designed with the objective of enhancing the learner's communicative skills of the Punjabi Language. This course is especially useful for western students and is based on the extensive, classroom experience of teaching 'The Punjabi language' to learners from different nationalities. The course is intended to provide bilingual access to Punjabi language instruction at the convenience of the learner's place and time. The learning modules are focused around class-room, tutorial workgroup instruction schedules and are ideally suited to 8-10 learners per time-slot. There will be a strong emphasis on student interaction and computer-aided instruction. Computer Aided Language Learning (CALL), will support classroom teaching and will be the basic feature for the Language Learning Laboratory for enhancing the communicative competence of the individual student's language skills. The course is structured on the modern methodologies of languageThe response to the short term course conducted by 'The Centre for Teaching of Punjabi as a Second/Foreign Language' has been very encouraging and a centre has been set up in New Mexico, USA, for this purpose. Tamil Chair is another special feature of the department. This chair was set up in 1971. Prof. S. Vaidyanathan joined on 19.11.1973 and retired on superannuation on 31.7.1993. The incumbent was a renowned scholar of Tamil as well as Sanskrit traditions. He taught not only Tamil language and literature but also ancient Sanskrit tradition. A special volume of the departmental journal Pakha Sanjam was brought about to highlight the latest researches in the field of Dravidian Studies. Earlier, the U.G.C. instituted, the Faculty Improvement Programme in the department and under this scheme a large number of college teachers completed their M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees. The students of the department have performed at national and international levels. The department publishes its own journal titled 'Pakha Sanjam'. The following information provides a synoptic view of the contribution made by the Department:
Future Plans :
|
||||||