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DOI: https://doi.org/10.63345/ijrsml.v13.i10.1
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Dr Arpita Roy
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation
Vadesshawaram, A.P., India
Abstract
This study examines the pivotal role that local dialects play in traditional healing practices among communities in Uttarakhand, India. Traditional healing in this Himalayan region is deeply rooted in indigenous knowledge systems, where language acts not only as a medium of transmission but also as a repository of cultural beliefs, metaphors, and ritual formulas. Employing a mixed-methods approach that combines ethnographic fieldwork, semi-structured interviews with healers and community elders, and linguistic analysis of incantations and healing narratives, this research uncovers how dialectal variations shape diagnostic categories, therapeutic sequences, and communal participation in healing ceremonies. Key findings reveal that (1) distinct dialectal terms encode nuanced understandings of illness etiology and prognosis; (2) performance of healing rituals in the healer’s native dialect reinforces social bonds and enhances perceived efficacy; (3) semantic shifts across dialects lead to both empowerment and miscommunication when healing knowledge crosses community boundaries. The study contributes to medical anthropology, sociolinguistics, and public health by highlighting the indispensable function of local dialects in sustaining biocultural resilience. Moreover, it underscores the necessity of integrating dialectal awareness into culturally sensitive health interventions in Uttarakhand and similar multilingual contexts.
Keywords
Local dialects; traditional healing; Uttarakhand; ethnolinguistics; medical anthropology
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