Welcome to the University College of Arts and Social Sciences

Welcome to the Department of Linguistics

Department Profile

The Department was established in 1962 with the institution of a Tagore centenary Chair in Linguistics funded by the Government of India and the University Grants Commission (UGC) in the year 1977. After its completion, the Department was elevated to the status of a Centre of Advanced Study (CAS) in Linguistics in 1985. The UGC has awarded the 4th phase of CAS status to the department in the year 2013 to 2018 with the grant of 70 Lacks (35 Lacks recurring and 35 Lacks non-recurring). Prof D. Vasanta has served as the coordinator and Sri Mohammad Ansari as Dy. coordinator. The department was sanctioned additional funds to the tune of Rs.13 Lacks by the UGC under 'Assistance for Strengthening of Infrastructure in Humanities and Social Sciences' (ASIHSS) programme for a period of three years, i.e. from 2004 to 2007. Prof.Bh.Krishnamurti, served as principal Art Collage and also served as V.C. at Univeristy of Hyderabad (1986-93), Prof. H.S. Ananthanarayana, Prof. C. Ramarao, Prof.B.Lakshmi Bai and Prof. Aditi Mujherjee, all faculty members of this department have served as Dean, Faculty of Arts, O.U.
Prof.B.Ramakrishna Reddy, served as Registrar, PSR Telugu University Hyderabad and Dravidian University Kuppam.
Prof. C. Rama Rao, Prof B. Lakshmi Bai and Prof. Aditi Mukherjee, all faculty members of this department have served as Dean, Faculty of Arts, O.U.
The following are the major thrust areas of the Department:
Psycholinguistics: Theoretical and Applied (including Neuro and Clinical Linguistics)
Sociolinguistics (including contract and convergence with special reference to the tribal languages of Central India and Dravidian Language)
Applied Linguistics (including Lexicography, Translation Studies and Educational Linguistics)
The M.A. programme in linguistics was started in 1962. P.G. Diploma in Applied Linguistics and the Ph.D programme was introduced in the year 1965. The M.Phil programme was started in 1973. So far, 50 M.Phil and 29 Ph.D. degrees have been awarded.
The Department Seminar Library has about 8,500 books pertaining to different branches of linguistics and it is considered as the second best collection at the national level. Back volumes of many of the journals in Linguistics are available for research and reference. The Department has a Computer Lab with 10-internet-ready computers. The Department brings out the refereed journal Osmania Papers in Linguistics annually. Volume 38 (2012) has been published and Vol.39 & 40 are in progress. In addition, the department has brought out proceedings of select seminars and conferences.
The students and some of the faculty members have been participating in the preparation of textbooks in tribal languages undertaken by Tribal Cultural and Research Centre and Government of Andhra Pradesh.