Language of the Underworld of West Bengal by Bhaktiprasad Mallik

Language of the Underworld of West Bengal by Bhaktiprasad Mallik, published in 1972. A detailed socio-psycho-linguistic field study examining the specialized argot employed by criminal communities and their associates in the West Bengal region of India. Drawing upon firsthand research, Mallik analyzes the structure, vocabulary, and coded communication of underworld speech while exploring the psychological and social environments that shaped its development. The work stands as an important contribution to criminological linguistics and regional sociological study, illuminating how language functions as identity, protection, and social organization within marginalized communities. Hardcover with original dust jacket showing shelfwear to corners and ends of jacket.