Rajend Mesthrie Knihy

Originally published in 1991. The transplantation of thousands of Indian workers to South Africa under indenture between 1860 and 1911 was a political act with far-reaching consequences for their linguistic traditions. In this book, the history of one of these Indic languages, Bhojpuri, and its adaptations to its new context are traced to the point where a distinct South African Bhojpuri koine (generally known as Hindi) came into being. The roots and subsequent evolution of this language variety, as well as the events contributing to its demise, form the basis of this study. Current patterns of usage by different generations are documented in the form of traditional folk tales, proverbs, riddles and songs, alongside personal interviews. This study offers a partial history of Bhojpuri speakers, who have been otherwise largely silent in the history of colonial Natal.

Sociolinguistics is one of the central branches of modern linguistics and deals with the place of language in human societies. This introductory textbook expertly synthesises the main approaches to the subject.

The book explores the emergence of a distinct form of English among Indian migrant workers in Natal, South Africa, highlighting the historical and linguistic shifts that occurred in this immigrant setting. It delves into the parallels between second language acquisition and the processes of pidginization and creolization. Additionally, it compares South African Indian English with other regional dialects, as well as English varieties in India and globally, providing a comprehensive analysis of language evolution in a multicultural context.