Pushpa Pai


Hello & welcome to my website. I am a linguist by training and applied linguist by profession.
My main interest as an Applied Linguist is the use of language in education. Many language teachers do not know the difference between teaching a language, teaching about a language and teaching in a language (medium of instruction). I have worked extensively in educating teachers about this and also bringing awareness about teaching children the standard variety of a language when they know only their dialects.

I am also interested in lexicography, use of dictionaries and encyclopedia in education. I specifically believe in preparing dictionaries of different kinds that cater to specific needs such that can be handled by children easily and they understand its usefulness. I am very curious to see how children learn the range of meanings of words and their use in repertoires.
 
Some of my other interests are language acquisition during growing years and language disorders, children's literature in different languages and translation.

Sample Publications

Navii VaLakh

Navii VaLakh by Rajhans Prakaashan
Konkani primer used in 1st Standard in Goan Schools.

GoshTi BaaraakhaDichyaa

GoshTi BaaraakhaDichyaa by DilipRaj Prakaashan
Short stories for each letter of the Marathi Alphabet.

Baay Go

Baay Go by Goa Konkani Akademi
Hindi Novel by Krishna Sobti translated into Konkani

More

Interests

  • Language Disorders and issues involved
  • Intercultural problems and Translation
  • Role of Philosophy in determining meaning
  • Language in Education
  • Literature for children between 8 to 18
  • Lexicography
  • Active vocabulary  of a person with basic education.

Qualifications

Positions Held

Retired - Working on Independent Projects

(2014-current)

Head of the Department of Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching at S.N.D.T. Women‘s University Mumbai.

(1990-2005 super annuity)

Visiting Teacher at Mumbai University

(1982- 1992)

Linguistic Consultant at Language Development Project, Bombay Municipal Corporation

(funded by Ford Foundation.) (1980-1983)

Junior Research Officer at Central Institute of Indian Languages, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development.

(1970-1973)

Research Assistant at Deccan College, Pune Maharashtra India

(1967 -1970)