Blowback by Neil Devotta
In the 1950s Sinhalese linguistic nationalism precipitated a situation in which the movement to replace English as the main language and replace with it with Sihala and Tamil was abandoned and Sinhala alone became the official language. This work looks at the subsequent outcome this had.
"DeVotta has submitted an elaborate, interesting, theory-led study of the Sri Lankan conflictFocusing on the language politics, he allude to a highly sensitive topic in the history of Tamil-Sinhalese ethnic relations. In addition, the extensive quotations enable the reader to comprehend the political view of the Sinhala and Tamil elites at that time." -- Internationales Asienforum
"DeVotta's detailed historical approach makes the book a fine case study for social scientists in general and for anyone with a serious interest in ethnic conflict in South Asia." -- Journal of Asian Studies
"The resounding strength of DeVotta's book is that it provides a truly nuanced understanding of the productive ideological linking of language to collective notions of peoplehood within the postcolonial state. His book richly illustrates the ways that language ideologies are created, linked to competing versions of national identity, and intimately embedded in institutionalized positions of power." -- Journal of Anthropological Research
"Neil DeVotta's devastating indictment of Sinhala linguistic nationalism offers a well-researched historical narrative and theoretical discussion of the origins of the conflict." -- ANTHROPOLOGICAL LINGUISTICS
"DeVotta's detailed historical approach makes the book a fine case study for social scientists in general and for anyone with a serious interest in ethnic conflict in South Asia." -- Journal of Asian Studies
"The resounding strength of DeVotta's book is that it provides a truly nuanced understanding of the productive ideological linking of language to collective notions of peoplehood within the postcolonial state. His book richly illustrates the ways that language ideologies are created, linked to competing versions of national identity, and intimately embedded in institutionalized positions of power." -- Journal of Anthropological Research
"Neil DeVotta's devastating indictment of Sinhala linguistic nationalism offers a well-researched historical narrative and theoretical discussion of the origins of the conflict." -- ANTHROPOLOGICAL LINGUISTICS
Neil DeVotta is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Hartwick College, New York.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780804749244 |
| ISBN 10 | 0804749248 |
| Title | Blowback |
| Author | Neil Devotta |
| Series | Contemporary Issues In Asia And The Pacific |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Stanford University Press |
| Year published | 2004-04-09 |
| Number of pages | 304 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |