Renowned linguist Prof. Anvita Abbi delivered a thought-provoking lecture on “Endangered Languages of India: An Assessment by UNESCO” at DCT’s Dhempe College of Arts and Science on 22nd January 2025. The lecture was held as part of the Visiting Research Professors Programme under B.B. Borkar Chair Professor in Comparative Literature. The talk was jointly facilitated by the Departments of English and Indian Languages of Dhempe College.

Prof. Abbi shed light on the various parameters used to measure language endangerment, underscoring the need for concerted efforts to preserve linguistic diversity. Her insights on the role of ‘language vitality’, the role of ‘contact languages’ in multilingual India and a focused emphasis on the ‘attitude’ of speakers in keeping a language functional engendered fruitful interactions with the student community and general public attending the lecture.