Specimens of Languages of India

First published in 1874, this collection of language specimens covers the dialects and languages of several tribes of Bengal, Central Provinces and eastern frontier, which indicate Aryan, Dravidian and aboriginal linguistic types. In his Introduction, the author hopes that the number and variety of specimens, including those of lesser-known languages, and the abundant raw material will enable a greater degree of comparison and prove to be beneficial to a philologist.

The selection of words and phrases in this work provide scope to test radical affinities, and tribes can be better classified than done hitherto. Indeed, this was the very objective of the author in undertaking this work.

On the basis of the language and dialect specimens, Campbell has shown that most of the aboriginal tribes of the Central Provinces and from western Bengal are radically associated to the Dravidians. Likewise, a group of languages, quite comparable to each other, that are found in the border areas of eastern Bengal, Assam, Cachar, and the surrounding lower hills, are closely cognate with that of a large number of tribes that have very different names and live under very different conditions. He has shown more such instances.

Spread over eighteen chapters, Campbell has covered the different regions and various tribes, presented the language specimens in tabular format, with the English translation of the word or phrase given alongside, in a column.