{"product_id":"language-of-disenchantment-the","title":"Language of Disenchantment, The","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Language of Disenchantment explores the ways in which Protestant ideas concerning language influenced British colonial attitudes toward and proposals to reform Hinduism. Protestant literalism, mediated by the textual economy of the printed book, inspired colonial critiques of Indian mythological, ritual, linguistic, and legal traditions. Central to these developments was the transportation of the Christian opposition of monotheism and polytheism or\n\u003cbr\u003eidolatry into the domain of language. Polemics against verbal idolatry that had been applied previously to Catholic and sectarian practices in Britain -including the elevation of a scriptural canon over heathenish\n\u003cbr\u003ecustom, the attack on the personifications of mythological language, and the critique of \"vain repetitions\" in prayers and magic spells-were applied by colonialists to Indian linguistic practices. In order to remedy these diseases of language, the British attempted to standardize and codify Indian traditions as a step toward both Anglicization and Christianization. The colonial understanding of a perfect language as the fulfillment of the monotheistic ideal echoed earlier Christian myths\n\u003cbr\u003eaccording to which the Gospel had replaced the obscure discourses of pagan oracles and Jewish ritual. By uncovering the historical roots of the British re-ordering of South Asian discourses, Yelle's work\n\u003cbr\u003echallenges representations of colonialism, and the modernity that it ushered in, as simply rational or secular.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44157116580078,"sku":"9780199924998","price":264.42,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/bookland.com.au\/products\/language-of-disenchantment-the","provider":"Book Land AU","version":"1.0","type":"link"}