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Prabodh Bechardas Pandit

プラボッド・パーンディット

Prabodh Pandit

Aliases: Prabodh B. Pandit / P. B. Pandit

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1923-06-23 （Vala, Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India）
Died
1975-11-28 age 52
Nationality
Indian
Languages
Gujarati, Sanskrit, English
Residence History
Vala, Gujarat (birth) → Ahmedabad (studied and taught) → London (SOAS, doctoral studies) → Pune (Deccan College) → Delhi (Delhi University)

Career

Occupations
Linguist, Academic, Researcher
Active Years
1944-1975
Affiliations
L.D. Arts College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat University (Department of Linguistics), Deccan College, Pune, Delhi University (Linguistics lecturer), University of Michigan (visiting lecturer), University of Nairobi (visiting lecturer), University of California, Berkeley (visiting lecturer), Cornell University (visiting lecturer)
Influenced By
Jules Bloch, Ralph Lilley Turner
Influenced
Yogendra Vyas (doctoral student)

Education

Navchetan High School (matriculation)
Degree: Matriculation
Period: 〜1939
Year of Graduation: 1939
Country: India
Studied in Ahmedabad
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Sanskrit and Linguistics
Degree: Master of Arts
Period: 1944–1946
Year of Graduation: 1946
Country: India
MA in Sanskrit and Linguistics
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
Linguistics
Degree: PhD
Period: 1947–1950
Year of Graduation: 1950
Country: United Kingdom
PhD under Ralph Lilley Turner

Awards

Sahitya Akademi Award
1967
Work: Gujarati Bhashanun Dhvaniswarup ane Dhvani-Parivartan
Organization: Sahitya Akademi
Result: 受賞
Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak
1973
Organization: Gujarati Sahitya Parishad
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Gujarati Bhashanun Dhvaniswarup ane Dhvani-Parivartan

1966 Linguistics (phonology, historical phonology)

A detailed study of the phonological system and sound changes of Gujarati, covering phoneme inventory, vowel history, and phonetic developments.

PhonologyHistorical phonologyGujarati language

Prakrit Bhasha

1954 Linguistics (Prakrit studies)

An overview study of Prakrit languages, discussing historical context and linguistic structure.

Ancient North Indian languagesHistorical linguistics

(/ɛ/) and (/ɔ/) in Gujarati

1955 Phonology

An analysis of the contrast and distribution of the two vowels (/ɛ/ and /ɔ/) in Gujarati.

Vowel systemsSpeech analysis

Nasalization, Aspiration and Murmur in Gujarati

1957 Phonetics

Analytical study of nasalization, aspiration, and murmur in Gujarati phonetics.

PhoneticsFeature analysis

Historical Phonology of Gujarati Vowels

1961 Historical phonology

Tracks historical developments of Gujarati vowels and clarifies regularities in their changes.

Vowel changeHistorical linguistics

Language in Plural Society

1976 Sociolinguistics

Discusses language contact and linguistic expressions of social distance in multilingual, multicultural societies.

SociolinguisticsLanguage contactSocial distance

Bibliography

  • Prakrit Bhasha (1954)
  • (/ɛ/) and (/ɔ/) in Gujarati (1955)
  • Nasalization, Aspiration and Murmur in Gujarati (1957)
  • Historical Phonology of Gujarati Vowels (1961)
  • Borrowing: A Study of Linguistic Expression of Social Distance (1961)
  • Gujarati Bhashanun Dhvaniswarup ane Dhvani-Parivartan (1966)
  • Phonemic and Morphemic Frequencies of the Gujarati Language (1968)
  • Some Observations Studies in Speech Analysis (1971)
  • India as a Sociolinguistic Area (date unknown)
  • Language in Plural Society (1976)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Scholarly and analytical stylePrecise exposition using technical terminologyEmpirical, data-driven approach
Recurring Motifs
Detailed analysis of phonology and phoneticsDialectal and sociolinguistic perspectivesLanguage contact and borrowing

Legacy

Prabodh Pandit is regarded as a pioneer of Gujarati linguistics and sociolinguistics in India. He left foundational research in phonology and sociolinguistics that significantly influenced later scholars.

Academic Societies

  • Gujarati Sahitya Parishad
  • Academic communities associated with the Sahitya Akademi

Trivia

  • Participated in the 1942 Quit India Movement and was jailed for six months.
  • Published a total of ten books in Gujarati.
  • Doctoral adviser was R. L. Turner; his doctoral student included Yogendra Vyas.