Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is hosting a public seminar titled ‘In Search of Language X’ presented by the renowned linguist and writer-in-residence, Prof Dr Peggy Mohan. The seminar, organized by the Department of Philosophy under the Faculty of Liberal Arts – Humanities and Social Sciences, will delve into how new languages in South Asia emerge through a unique model of language mixture, inspired by the creole model.
Prof Dr Peggy Mohan will explore how ancient local languages persist as the ‘operating systems’ of modern languages, while newer languages of power in the region contribute their vocabulary. Her research takes attendees on a linguistic journey, uncovering ‘ancient bones’ and tracing sounds and grammars back to pre-Sanskrit and Prakrit times in the Indus Valley region.
Event Details:
- Date: March 18
- Time: 11:00 AM
- Venue: Department of Philosophy (DoP), First Floor, Old WGSHA Building, MAHE, Manipal
- Registration: No prior registration required; open to all
About Prof Dr Peggy Mohan: A distinguished linguist with over four decades of experience, Prof Mohan holds a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Michigan. She has held academic positions at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University and Ashoka University. Her groundbreaking research includes the Prakrit-creole paradigm and expanded frameworks for bilingual practices in South Asia. She is also a prolific author, with works such as Wanderers, Kings, Merchants: The Story of India Through Its Languages, and the forthcoming Father Tongue, Motherland: The Birth of Languages in South Asia. Her contributions earned her the 2023 Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters’ Book of the Year Award.
About the Department of Philosophy (DoP), MAHE: The DoP focuses on advancing research in humanities and social sciences, with a special emphasis on Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS). The department regularly organizes events that foster academic discourse on various topics, including language evolution and cultural analysis.
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