Ollett, Andrew, 1986- author. text eng "Language of the Snakes traces the history of the Prakrit language as a literary phenomenon, starting from its cultivation in courts of the Deccan in the first few centuries of the common era. Although little studied today, Prakrit was an important vector of the "kavya movement," and once joined Sanskrit at the apex of classical Indian literary culture. The opposition--as well as underlying identity--between Prakrit and Sanskrit was at the center of an enduring "language order" in India, a set of ways of thinking about, naming, classifying, representing, and ultimately using languages. As a language of classical literature that nevertheless retained its associations with more demotic language practices, Prakrit both embodies major cultural tensions--between high and low, transregional and regional, cosmopolitan and vernacular--and provides a unique perspective onto the history of literature and culture in South Asia."--Provided by publisher. Includes bibliographical references (pages 259-295) and index. Prakrit in the language order of India -- Inventing Prakrit: the languages of power -- Inventing Prakrit: the languages of literature -- The forms of Prakrit literature -- Figuring Prakrit -- Knowing Prakrit -- Forgetting Prakrit. Description based on print version record; resource not viewed. Language and culture--India. Prakrit languages. Prakrit literature--History and criticism. Sanskrit literature--History and criticism. Language of the snakes Language of the snakes https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gdc/gdcebookspublic.2020715379 URN:ISBN:9780520968813 URN:ISBN: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International