Contours of the Linguistic Landscape in Nagaland: History, Contact, and Cultural Dynamics

This paper explores the linguistic landscape of Nagaland, a state in Northeast India marked by immense ethno-linguistic diversity. Drawing from linguistic theory, history, and socio-cultural studies, the paper traces the development of the region's languages through the Tibeto-Burman language family, the influence of American Baptist missionaries, the emergence of Nagamese and English as lingua francas, and the speculative narratives of origin that shape linguistic identities. It also elucidates the cultural factors that influence language usage and preservation in the region.