SOCIO LINGUISTIC STUDY OF LAMBADA IN TELANGANA: AN OBSERVATION

Abstract

Linguistic variables help sociolinguists study the subtle ways in which language reflects social identity. Multilingualism is the norm in most societies across the globe where speakers regularly use multiple languages. Sociolinguistics examines how people navigate these languages, choosing which one to use based on social context. Lambadi is an Indo-Aryan language of the Lambada community, which is essentially script-less, and is bound to be expressed in the scripts of host languages like Telugu, Hindi, etc. Majority of the educated Lambadas can’t be identified by their dressing patterns but they can be identified through their language, pronunciation and accent. Old generation of Lambadas are identified through their dressing pattern whereas new generation of Lambadas are identified through their Language, vocabulary and pronunciation. In course of time as they adapt changes in their life style, their language and culture also influenced due to the impact of cultural and linguistic hegemony of other dominant and powerful languages in the society. The present paper try to discuss socio linguistics of Lambada tribe in Telangana.