Ehsaan Yousf
Srinagar September 28: The Department of Linguistics, University of Kashmir (KU), began a three-day national conference on ‘Sociosyntax and the Bharatiya Linguistic Area: Structure, Variation and Contact’ at the Main Campus, with a focus on advancing interdisciplinary research at the interface of grammar, culture and society in Bharat.
Sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, and the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, the conference aims to explore the relationship between language structure, social variation and linguistic contact, while providing a platform for scholars to exchange ideas and strengthen interdisciplinary research.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Vice-Chancellor, KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan highlighted the importance of linguistic research in understanding India’s rich linguistic diversity and cultural heritage.
“Language is a reflection of our history, culture and social diversity. Such academic engagements provide an important platform to explore our linguistic heritage and strengthen research through interdisciplinary collaboration,” she said.
Padma Shri awardee and renowned linguist, Prof. Anvita Abbi, highlighted India’s extraordinary linguistic diversity and the importance of documenting and studying its languages. She also noted the rich linguistic heritage of the Kashmir Valley and the need for sustained research to understand its linguistic features and diversity.
Dean Academic Affairs, KU, Prof. Shariefuddin Pirzada, emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary academic engagements in expanding the scope of linguistic research and encouraging meaningful scholarly exchanges.
Dean Research, KU, Prof. Bashir Ahmad Ganaie, and Registrar, KU, Prof. Naseer Iqbal, in their remarks, highlighted the importance of promoting research-oriented initiatives and promoting academic collaborations to strengthen the University’s research ecosystem.
Earlier, Head, Department of Linguistics, KU, and conference convener, Prof. Musavir Ahmad, highlighted the objectives of the conference and stressed on the need to promote research on the relationship between language, society and culture.
The three-day conference features research paper presentations, expert lectures, panel discussions and interactive sessions, bringing together scholars and researchers from the campus and institutions across the country.
The event proceedings were conducted by Dr. Nazima, and vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Zahid Bashir, faculty members, Department of Linguistics, KU.
