Exploring Language Contact in the Borders of Meghalaya

This book offers a comprehensive look at language contact within four contact zones of Meghalaya’s borderland drawing on insights from the diverse fields of linguistics, sociology, psychology, and cultural studies. It examines how languages interact and influence one another in these contact regions, resulting in deep multilingual and linguistic interference. Insights into the social, political and economic factors shaping language convergence provide a holistic understanding to the importance of non-linguistic factors that played a vital role in influencing changes in languages. Notably, the pages of the books also explore language attitudes, borrowing, and their implication on intergroup relations. With recommendations for language preservation and cultural understanding which may apply to similar contact zones around the world, the book holds academic and practical value for linguists, educators, policymakers and individuals interested in linguistic diversity. In sum, it presents a glimpse into Meghalaya's intricate linguistic landscape in the borderland and the complex relationship between language and culture.