Quotidian Language Practices as Silent Enforcers of Caste Discrimination in India

In Indian society, the caste system profoundly influences cultural norms and social interactions, manifesting through various facets of life including language. This article explores the intersection of caste and language, focusing on how linguistic practices both reflect and perpetuate caste identities and inequalities. Caste, though a social construct rather than an inherent attribute, continues to shape social dynamics through established norms and behaviours. As visual markers of caste such as skin colour and attire have become less prominent, language has emerged as a crucial tool for identifying and sustaining caste distinctions. By analysing the structure, content and usage of language in different contexts, this study reveals how linguistic discourse reinforces caste hierarchies. It examines how certain languages or dialects are valorized or stigmatized based on caste and how language reproduces social hierarchies through caste-related vocabulary, expressions and other elements. The research draws on various theories to demonstrate how language not only reflects but actively sustains power dynamics intrinsic to the caste system. The findings emphasize the need for linguistic reforms as part of broader anti-caste initiatives, advocating for a lexicon free from discriminatory connotations to combat entrenched biases. This study contributes to the understanding of how language intersects with caste stratification and calls for integrating linguistic justice into efforts aimed at achieving social equity.