Description
George A. Grierson’s An Introduction to the Maithili Language of North Bihar (1881–82) is a pioneering linguistic study in two parts. Part I presents a detailed grammar of Maithili, outlining its phonetics, morphology, syntax, and unique linguistic features, distinguishing it from Hindi and Bengali. Part II is a chrestomathy—a collection of texts including folk tales, songs, and proverbs—accompanied by an extensive vocabulary. Sourced from native speakers and scholars, Grierson’s work highlights Maithili’s rich oral and literary traditions. The book remains a foundational text for scholars of Indo-Aryan languages and affirms Maithili’s status as an independent and vibrant language.
