WAJID AH at 21:30, 4 August 2025

2025-08-04T21:30:17Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian linguist and scholar}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Anvita Abbi
| image = Anvita Abbi.jpg
| imagesize = 250
| caption = Abbi at [[Indian Institute of Technology Madras]].
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1949|01|09}}
| birth_place = [[Agra]], [[United Provinces (1937–50)|United Provinces]], [[Dominion of India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| othername =
| occupation = Scholar and linguist
| yearsactive =
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
| children =
| parents =
| website = www.andamanese.net
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] ''Rashtriya Lok Bhasha Sammaan'' All India Institute of Advanced Study Fellowship Gold Medal - Delhi University [[SOAS, University of London|SOAS]] ''Leverhume Professor'' [[Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology|Max Planck Institute]] Visiting Scientist Kenneth Hale Award - Linguistic Society of America (2015)
}}
'''Anvita Abbi''' (born 9 January 1949) is an Indian linguist and scholar of minority languages, known for her studies on tribal languages and other minority languages of [[South Asia]].<ref name="Lsi">{{cite web | url=http://www.lsi.org.in/lsi.img/Prof.%20Abbi.pdf | title=Lsi | publisher=Lsi | date=2013 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714065103/http://lsi.org.in/lsi.img/Prof.%20Abbi.pdf | archive-date=14 July 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2013, she was honoured with the [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest civilian award by the [[Government of India]] for her contributions to the field of [[linguistics]].<ref name="Padma 2013">{{cite web | url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=91838 | title=Padma 2013 | publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India | date=25 January 2013 | access-date=10 October 2014}}</ref>

==Biography==
Anvita Abbi was born on 9 January 1949, in [[Agra]]<ref name="JNU CV">{{cite web | url=http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/anvita/Abbi.pdf | title=JNU CV | publisher=JNU CV | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028124609/http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/anvita/Abbi.pdf | archive-date=28 October 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Andamanese CV">{{cite web | url=http://www.andamanese.net/Anvita%20Abbi%20CV.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722045240/http://www.andamanese.net/Anvita%20Abbi%20CV.pdf | url-status=usurped | archive-date=22 July 2012 | title=Andamanese CV | publisher=Andamanese | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref> to a family that had produced a number of Hindi writers.<ref name="JNU Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/Abbi/ | title=JNU Profile | publisher=JNU | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309095121/http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/Abbi/ | archive-date=9 March 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> After schooling at local institutions, she graduated in economics ([[Bachelor of Economics|BA]] Hons) from the [[University of Delhi]] in 1968.<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /> Subsequently, she secured a master's degree (MA) in [[linguistics]] from the same university with first division and first rank in 1970<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /> and continued her studies to obtain a PhD from [[Cornell University]], Ithaca, USA, in 1975,<ref name="Faculty Profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.jnu.ac.in/FacultyStaff/ShowProfile.asp?SendUserName=anvita | title=Faculty Profile | publisher=JNU | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028124407/http://www.jnu.ac.in/FacultyStaff/ShowProfile.asp?SendUserName=anvita | archive-date=28 October 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> with a major in General Linguistics and minor in South Asian Linguistics.<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" />
She worked as professor of linguistics at Centre for Linguistics, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies.<ref name="HRELP">{{cite web | url=http://www.hrelp.org/aboutus/staff/index.php?pid=925 | title=Hans Rausing Endangered Languages Project | publisher=Hans Rausing Endangered Languages Project | date=2011 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908092752/http://www.hrelp.org/aboutus/staff/index.php?pid=925 | archive-date=8 September 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> She currently lives in [[New Delhi]].

==Legacy==
[[File:Great Andamanese couple.jpg|thumb|Great Andamanese couple - an 1876 photograph]]
Anvita Abbi is credited with extensive research on the six language families in India<ref name="HRELP" /> and the languages and culture of the [[Great Andamanese]]<ref name="Andamanese Intro">{{cite web | url=http://www.andamanese.net/AnvitaAbbi.html | title=Andamanese Intro | publisher=Andamanese | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028120941/http://www.andamanese.net/AnvitaAbbi.html | archive-date=28 October 2014 | url-status=usurped }}</ref> which she did as a part of the ''Endangered Languages Documentation Project'' (ELDP) project on ''Vanishing Voices of the Great Andamanese'' (VOGA),<ref name="Vanishing Voices of the Great Andamanese">{{cite web | url=http://elar.soas.ac.uk/deposit/0014 | title=Vanishing Voices of the Great Andamanese | publisher=SOAS, University of London | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="Terra Lingua">{{cite web | url=http://www.terralingua.org/bcdconservation/?p=125 | title=Terra Lingua | publisher=Terra Lingua | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414221519/http://www.terralingua.org/bcdconservation/?p=125 | archive-date=14 April 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref> [[SOAS, University of London]].<ref name="ELDP">{{cite web | url=http://www.hrelp.org/grants/ | title=ELDP | publisher=HRELP | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026043851/http://www.hrelp.org/grants/ | archive-date=26 October 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Her studies of 2003-2004 have helped in identifying the distinct characteristics of two Great Andamanese languages, [[Jarawa language (Andaman Islands)|Jarawa]] and [[Önge language|Onge]] which promoted the concept of a sixth language family of India.<ref name="Andamanese Intro"/><ref name="JNU Research">{{cite web | url=http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/Abbi/ResearchWorks.htm | title=JNU Research | publisher=JNU Research | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028124308/http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/Abbi/ResearchWorks.htm | archive-date=28 October 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Later researches on [[Andamanese people|Andamanese]] people by other scholars have reported to have confirmed Abbi's findings by discovering two distinct [[haplogroups]] of the region, viz. M31 and M32.<ref name="HRELP" />

She resumed her research on the topic in 2006, concentrating on the [[morpho-syntax]] and lexicon of three dying languages of Andaman Islands and unearthed evidence proving that Great Andamanese belongs to a linguistically different language family.<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Research" /> She has also compiled an English-Great Andamanese-Hindi Dictionary.<ref name="A Dictionary of the Great Andamanese Language: English-Great Andamanese-Hindi" /> Her current project covers the grammar and the evolution of [[Great Andamanese languages|Great Andamanese]] languages and its people.<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="HRELP" />

A teacher at the [[Jawaharlal Nehru University|JNU]], Abbi has assisted 20 PhD and 29 MPhil students in their researches.<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="HRELP" />

==Positions==
Abbi has held many positions of importance, both at administrative and academic levels. Current position: Director, Center of Oral and Tribal Literature Sahtiya Akademi, New Delhi India. Adjunct Professor, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and the President of the Linguistic society of India.<ref name="JNU Positions">{{cite web | url=http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/Abbi/Mem_Exp.htm | title=JNU Positions | publisher=JNU | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028124703/http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/Abbi/Mem_Exp.htm | archive-date=28 October 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> She has served as an advisor to institutions such as [[UNESCO]] (since 2002) and [[Sahitya Akademi]]. He is a / She is a life member of the ''Linguistic Society of India'' at their [[Dravidian Linguistics Association]] wing and has also sat on the editorial board of two journals, ''Indian Linguistics'' (1991–95) and the ''International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics''<ref name="IJDL">{{cite journal | url=http://linguistlist.org/pubs/journals/get-journals.cfm?JournalID=14100 | title=International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics | journal=International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics | issn=0378-2484 | access-date=28 October 2014 | archive-date=10 July 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710142200/http://linguistlist.org/pubs/journals/get-journals.cfm?JournalID=14100 | url-status=dead }}</ref> (1992–96).<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Positions" />

The list of academic and organizational responsibilities Professor Anvita Abbi has carried out may be listed as:<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Positions" />

{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* Chairperson, Centre of Linguistics and English, [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|Jawaharlal Nehru University]], New Delhi - 1995-97 and since 2007
* Proctor - [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|Jawaharlal Nehru University]]
* Member of the [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]] (UGC) Review Committee- 1996
* Member - Advisory Committee - [[Central Institute of Indian Languages]], Mysore - [[Ministry of Human Resource Development]], India - 1996 & 1999
* Member - Advisory Board - [[Sahitya Akademi]] for ''Bhasha Samman awards'' in Tribal and Lesser known languages - since 2002
* Advisor - [[Linguapax Institute]], [[UNESCO]], since 2000
* Member - Board of Directors - [[Terralingua]], Washington DC, US - 1998, 2001-2004 and 2004–2006.
* Member - Review Committee - [[Dravidian University]], [[Kuppam]], Andhra Pradesh - 2006
* External member - Centre of German Studies - Jawaharlal Nehru University - 1990–2002
* External member - Centre of East Asian Studies - Jawaharlal Nehru University - 1990–2002
* External member - Centre of French studies - Jawaharlal Nehru University - 1990–2002
* Member - Governing body - [[Daulat Ram College]] - 1995–2001
* Member - Advisory Board - International University of Hindi, Wardha - 1998–2000
* External Member - Faculty of Arts, [[University of Delhi]], Delhi - 1995–2000
* Member - Bifurcation Committee - Centre of Afro-Asian Studies
* Member - Academic Council - Jawaharlal Nehru University - 1995–1997
* Member - Telecommunication Committee - Jawaharlal Nehru University - 1995–1996
* Member - Equivalence Committee - Jawaharlal Nehru University - 1986–1988
* President - Music Society - Jawaharlal Nehru University - 1982–1986
* Advisor - Konkani Survey - Konkani Academy, Goa - 1991–1992
* Advisor - Post Graduate Hindi Linguistics Courses - [[University of Delhi]] - 1991–1992
* Director - South Asia Media Centre - [[Kansas State University]], Kansas - 1975–76
* Member - Advisory Board - Sahitya Akademi for (Classical Language selection)
{{div col end}}

==Professional assignments and memberships==
Abbi has been invited by several universities around the world as visiting professor.<ref name="JNU Memberships">{{cite web | url=http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/Abbi/Visiting_Pro.htm | title=JNU Memberships | publisher=JNU | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028124859/http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/Abbi/Visiting_Pro.htm | archive-date=28 October 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> She has taught at the following universities:<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Kansas State University]] - 1986<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* Advanced Centre of Linguistics, [[Osmania University]], Hyderabad - 1990<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* South Asia Institute, [[University of Heidelberg]], Heidelberg - 1998<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization]] (UNESCO), the Basque country, Spain - 2000<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[Cornell University]]<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[Syracuse University]]<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[University of Illinois]]<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[University of Texas]]<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[University of California]], Berkeley campus<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* University of California, Santa Barbara campus<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[Ohio State University]], Columbus<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[Rutgers University]], New Jersey<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[Stuttgart University]]<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology|Max Planck Institute]]<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[University of Heidelberg]], Germany<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[University of Toulouse]], France<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* University of Vitoria Gasteiz, The Basque Country, Spain<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* Universitas Bung Hatta, Padang, Indonesia<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
* [[Kobe University]], Japan<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Memberships" />
{{div col end}}

Anvita Abbi, an honorary life member of the [[Linguistic Society of America]]<ref name="Faculty Profile" /> and the [[Dravidian Linguistics Association]],<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Positions" /> sits on the advisory board of [[Terralingua]] and the [[UNESCO]].<ref name="Faculty Profile" /><ref name="HRELP" /> She has also served as a Director Board member of Terralingua during 1998–2008.<ref name="Faculty Profile" />

==Lectures==
Anvita Abbi has presented papers and delivered keynote addresses at various platforms and at many institutions of repute.<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="HRELP" /> A selection of her lectures are:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Venue !! Date || Topic || Country
|-
| Cairns Institute, [[James Cook University]] || 8 November 2010 || The endangered languages of the Andaman Islands: Reconstructing the knowledge-base of the Pre Neolithic tribes of India<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="HRELP" /> || Australia
|-
| Cairns Institute, [[James Cook University]] || 11 January 2011 || Semantics of inalienability and grammaticalization of body part terms in [[Great Andamanese languages|Great Andamanese]]<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="HRELP" /> || Australia
|-
| Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology || 18 September 2010 || In search of language contact between [[Jarawa language (Andaman Islands)|Jarawa]] and [[Aka-Bea]]: the languages of South Andaman<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="HRELP" /> || Germany
|-
| [[University of Würzburg]] || 1 July 2010 || Contact language in Northeast India<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="HRELP" /> || Germany
|-
| [[University of Oslo]] || 23 September 2010 || Hindi as a contact language of India<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="HRELP" /> || Norway
|}

==Publications==
Anvita Abbi is credited with 19 books, authored, coauthored and edited.<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Profile" /><ref name="Academia">{{cite web | url=https://jnu.academia.edu/AnvitaAbbi | title=Academia | publisher=Academia | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref><ref name="Amazon">{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.com/Anvita-Abbi/e/B001ICJ0VE | title=Amazon | publisher=Amazon | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref> Her writings cover the typology, structures and ethnolinguistic aspects of languages and their documentation.<ref name="HRELP" /> Her work has spanned the entire Indian subcontinent<ref name="JNU Publications">{{cite web | url=http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/Abbi/Publications.htm | title=JNU Publications | publisher=JNU | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028124032/http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/Abbi/Publications.htm | archive-date=28 October 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and the most known among her works is her project, ''Vanishing Voices of the Great Andamanese''.<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Profile" /><ref name="Vanishing Voices of the Great Andamanese" />
* Endangered Languages of the Andaman Islands<ref name="Endangered Languages of the Andaman Islands">{{cite book | title=Endangered Languages of the Andaman Islands | publisher=Lincom Europa | date=1 January 2006 | author=Anvita Abbi | pages=117 | isbn=978-3895868665}}</ref>
* A Manual of Linguistic Fieldwork and Structures of Indian Languages<ref name="A Manual of Linguistic Fieldwork and Structures of Indian Languages">{{cite book | title=A Manual of Linguistic Fieldwork and Structures of Indian Languages | publisher=Lincom Europa | date=1 January 2001 | author=Anvita Abbi | isbn=978-3895864018}}</ref>
* Language Structure and Language Dynamics in South Asia (Select papers from the SALA XVIII)<ref name="Language Structure and Language Dynamics in South Asia">{{cite book | title=Language Structure and Language Dynamics in South Asia | date=1 January 2001 |author1=Anvita Abbi |author2=R.S. Gupta |author3=Ayesha Kidwai |author4=R. S. Gupta |author5=Ayesha Kidwai | pages=432 | isbn=978-8120817654}}</ref>
* Languages of Tribal and Indigenous Peoples of India. The Ethnic Space<ref name="Languages of Tribal and Indigenous Peoples of India. The Ethnic Space">{{cite book | title=Languages of Tribal and Indigenous Peoples of India. The Ethnic Space | publisher=Motilal Banarsidass | date=1 July 1997 | author=Anvita Abbi | pages=508 | isbn=978-8120813748}}</ref>
* Language and The State. Perspectives on the Eighth Schedule<ref name="Language and The State. Perspectives on the Eighth Schedule">{{cite book | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/15816099?versionId=18567589 | title=Language and The State. Perspectives on the Eighth Schedule | publisher=Creative Books | date=1995 | access-date=28 October 2014 |author1=R.S. Gupta |author2=Anvita Abbi |author3=Kailash S. Aggarwal | pages=225 | isbn=8186318208}}</ref>
* Semantic Universals in Indian Languages<ref name="Semantic Universals in Indian Languages">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wlljAAAAMAAJ | title=Semantic Universals in Indian Languages | publisher=Indian Institute of Advanced Study | date=1994 | access-date=28 October 2014 | author=Anvita Abbi | pages=113| isbn=9788185952178 }}</ref>
* India as a Linguistic Area Revisited<ref name="India as a Linguistic Area Revisited">{{cite book | oclc=470322193 | title=India as a Linguistic Area Revisited | publisher=Pergamon Press | date=1991 | author=Anvita Abbi}}</ref>
* Reduplication in South Asian Languages. An Areal, Topological and Historical Study<ref name="Reduplication in South Asian Languages. An Areal, Topological and Historical Study">{{cite book | url=http://linguistlist.org/people/personal/get-personal-page2.cfm?PersonID=2525 | title=Reduplication in South Asian Languages. An Areal, Topological and Historical Study | publisher=Allied | author=Anvita Abbi | year=1991 | location=New Delhi | access-date=28 October 2014 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121017/http://linguistlist.org/people/personal/get-personal-page2.cfm?PersonID=2525 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Studies in Bilingualism<ref name="Studies in Bilingualism">{{cite book | url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Studies-Bilingualism-Anvita-Abbi/dp/B002A9P3A6 | title=Studies in Bilingualism | publisher=Bahri Publications | author=Anvita Abbi | year=1986 | asin=B002A9P3A6}}</ref>
* Semantic Theories and Language Teaching<ref name="Semantic Theories and Language Teaching">{{cite book | url=http://www.abebooks.com/Semantic-Theories-Language-Teaching-Abbi-Anvita/858708610/bd | title=Semantic Theories and Language Teaching | publisher=Allied | date=1986 | access-date=28 October 2014 | author=Anvita Abbi | isbn=9788170230809}}</ref>
* Semantic Grammar of Hindi. A Study of Reduplication<ref name="Semantic Grammar of Hindi. A Study of Reduplication">{{cite book | title=Semantic Grammar of Hindi. A Study of Reduplication | publisher=Bahri Publications | date=1980 | author=Anvita Abbi | isbn=978-8170340201}}</ref>
* A Dictionary of the Great Andamanese Language: English-Great Andamanese-Hindi<ref name="A Dictionary of the Great Andamanese Language: English-Great Andamanese-Hindi">{{cite book | title=A Dictionary of the Great Andamanese Language: English-Great Andamanese-Hindi | publisher=Ratna Sagar | author=Anvita Abbi | date=30 October 2011 | pages=480 | isbn=978-9350361252}}</ref>
* A Grammar of the Great Andamanese Language. An Ethnolinguistic Study. 2013. Brill Publications. Leiden. {{ISBN|978-90-04-23527-4}} (hardback); 978-90-04-24612-6
* Unwritten Languages of India (edited) 2017. Sahitya Akademi Publications, Delhi. {{ISBN|978-81-260-5266-0}}

Her Hindi short story anthology, ''Mutthhi Bhar Pahcaan'', was published in 1969.<ref name="Short Story">{{cite web | url=https://edulibs.org/get_paper.php?id=7419525 | title=Short Story | publisher=EDU Libs | date=2014 | access-date=28 October 2014 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20141028095340/https://edulibs.org/get_paper.php?id=7419525 | archive-date=28 October 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Mutthhi Bhar Pahcaan (A Handful of Recognition). A collection of short stories 1969. Radhakrishan Prakashan, Delhi.

Anvita Abbi has also published over 80 articles in national and international peer-reviewed journals.<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU Profile" /> Some of her notable articles are:
* Vanishing Voices of the Great Andamanese (VOGA)<ref name="Vanishing Voices of the Great Andamanese" />
* Universal Grammar, Language Evolution, and Documenting an Ancient Language. Language Documentation and Linguistic Theory<ref name="Universal Grammar, Language Evolution, and Documenting an Ancient Language">{{cite book | url=http://store.soas.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&modid=1&catid=214&prodid=976 | chapter=Universal Grammar, Language Evolution, and Documenting an Ancient Language | author=Anvita Abbi |title=Proceedings of Conference on Language Documentation and Linguistic Theory | publisher=SOAS | year=2011 | volume=3 | access-date=28 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110133320/http://store.soas.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&modid=1&catid=214&prodid=976 | archive-date=10 November 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Is Great Andamanese genealogically and typologically distinct from Onge and Jarawa?<ref name="Is Great Andamanese genealogically and typologically distinct from Onge and Jarawa?">{{cite journal | title=Is Great Andamanese genealogically and typologically distinct from Onge and Jarawa? | author=Anvita Abbi | journal=Language Sciences | year=2009 | volume=31 | issue=6 | pages=791–812 | doi=10.1016/j.langsci.2008.02.002}}</ref>

==Awards and recognitions==
Anvita Abbi has been honoured by several institutions and establishments.<ref name="HRELP" /><ref name="JNU awards">{{cite web | url=http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/Abbi/Awards.htm | title=JNU awards | publisher=JNU | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028124027/http://www.jnu.ac.in/Faculty/Abbi/Awards.htm | archive-date=28 October 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> She has held the position of the Visiting Scientist at the [[Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology]], [[Leipzig]], Germany for three years, 200, 2003 and 2010.<ref name="Faculty Profile" /><ref name="HRELP" /> She was a ''Leverhume Professor'' at the [[SOAS, University of London]] in 2011<ref name="Faculty Profile" /> and a fellow of Humanities and Social Sciences at the [[Cornell University]], New York, US in 1990 and a visiting fellow of the [[La Trobe University]], Melbourne in 2003.<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="Faculty Profile" /><ref name="HRELP" /><ref name="JNU awards" /> Abbi was a visiting professor at the Cairns Institute, [[James Cook University]], Australia during 2010–2011.<ref name="Faculty Profile" /><ref name="HRELP" /> Some of the other honours she has received are:
* Kenneth Hale Award by the Linguistic Society of America. 'For outstanding lifetime contributions to the documentation and description of languages of India, with particular note of her extraordinary contributions to the documentation of the Great Andamanese language, a moribund language that is a key isolate in understanding the peopling of Asia and Oceania.' 2015.
* ''Rashtriya Lok Bhasha Sammaan'' - Gandhi Hindustani Sahitya Sabha - 2003<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="Faculty Profile" /><ref name="HRELP" /><ref name="JNU awards" />
* Fellowship - All India Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla - 2001<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU awards" />
* Gold Medal - Delhi University - 1970<ref name="JNU CV" /><ref name="Andamanese CV" /><ref name="JNU awards" />

In 2013, the [[Government of India]] honoured Anvita Abbi by awarding her the civilian award of [[Padma Shri]].<ref name="Padma 2013" /><ref name="Faculty Profile" />

==See also==
* [[Great Andamanese people]]
* [[Jarawa language (Andaman Islands)]]
* [[Önge language]]
* [[Lists of endangered languages]]
{{portal|India}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite web | url=http://elar.soas.ac.uk/deposit/0014 | title=Vanishing Voices of the Great Andamanese | publisher=SOAS, University of London | date=2014 | access-date=27 October 2014}}
* {{cite book | title=Endangered Languages of the Andaman Islands | publisher=Lincom Europa | date=1 January 2006 | author=Anvita Abbi | pages=117 | isbn=978-3895868665}}
* {{cite book | title=A Manual of Linguistic Fieldwork and Structures of Indian Languages | publisher=Lincom Europa | date=1 January 2001 | author=Anvita Abbi | isbn=978-3895864018}}
* {{cite book | title=Language Structure and Language Dynamics in South Asia | date=1 January 2001 |author1=Anvita Abbi |author2=R.S. Gupta |author3=Ayesha Kidwai |author3-link=Ayesha Kidwai |author4=R. S. Gupta |author5=Ayesha Kidwai | pages=432 | isbn=978-8120817654}}
* {{cite book | title=Languages of Tribal and Indigenous Peoples of India. The Ethnic Space | publisher=Motilal Banarsidass | date=1 July 1997 | author=Anvita Abbi | pages=508 | isbn=978-8120813748}}
* {{cite book | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/15816099?versionId=18567589 | title=Language and The State. Perspectives on the Eighth Schedule | publisher=Creative Books | date=1995 | access-date=28 October 2014 |author1=R.S. Gupta |author2=Anvita Abbi |author3=Kailash S. Aggarwal | pages=225 | isbn=8186318208}}
* {{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wlljAAAAMAAJ | title=Semantic Universals in Indian Languages | publisher=Indian Institute of Advanced Study | date=1994 | access-date=28 October 2014 | author=Anvita Abbi | pages=113| isbn=9788185952178 }}
* {{cite book | oclc=470322193 | title=India as a Linguistic Area Revisited | publisher=Pergamon Press | date=1991 | author=Anvita Abbi}}
* {{cite book | url=http://linguistlist.org/people/personal/get-personal-page2.cfm?PersonID=2525 | title=Reduplication in South Asian Languages. An Areal, Topological and Historical Study | publisher=Allied | author=Anvita Abbi | year=1991 | location=New Delhi | access-date=28 October 2014 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304121017/http://linguistlist.org/people/personal/get-personal-page2.cfm?PersonID=2525 | url-status=dead }}
* {{cite book | url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Studies-Bilingualism-Anvita-Abbi/dp/B002A9P3A6 | title=Studies in Bilingualism | publisher=Bahri Publications | author=Anvita Abbi | year=1986 | asin=B002A9P3A6}}
* {{cite book | url=http://www.abebooks.com/Semantic-Theories-Language-Teaching-Abbi-Anvita/858708610/bd | title=Semantic Theories and Language Teaching | publisher=Allied | date=1986 | access-date=28 October 2014 | author=Anvita Abbi | isbn=9788170230809}}
* {{cite book | title=Semantic Grammar of Hindi. A Study of Reduplication | publisher=Bahri Publications | date=1980 | author=Anvita Abbi | isbn=978-8170340201}}
* {{cite book | title=A Dictionary of the Great Andamanese Language: English-Great Andamanese-Hindi | publisher=Ratna Sagar | author=Anvita Abbi | date=30 October 2011 | pages=480 | isbn=978-9350361252}}
* Mutthhi Bhar Pahcaan (A Handful of Recognition). A collection of short stories 1969. Radhakrishan Prakashan, Delhi.

== External links ==
* {{cite web | url=http://www.theindianpanorama.com/2013/04/08/president-confers-padma-awards/ | title=Padma Awards List | publisher=Indian Panorama | date=2014 | access-date=12 October 2014}}
* {{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR5WNevm5-c | title=Padma Shri awarded Anvita Abbi's live interview on National Channel DD1 | publisher=Doordarshan | work=YouTube video | date=13 February 2013 | access-date=28 October 2014}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Literature & Education}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbi, Anvita}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Agra]]
[[Category:Cornell University alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Delhi]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian linguists]]
[[Category:Indian women science writers]]
[[Category:Scholars from Delhi]]
[[Category:Women scientists from Delhi]]
[[Category:Women writers from Delhi]]
[[Category:Indian women linguists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women scientists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:Linguists of Hindi]]
[[Category:Linguists of Indo-Aryan languages]]
[[Category:Linguists of Great Andamanese languages]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature and education]]
[[Category:Academic staff of South Asia Institute Heidelberg]]

Anvita Abbi - Revision history

WAJID AH at 21:30, 4 August 2025