TAKSING, Nov. 30 : An outreach and book release program was held on November 26, 2024, at Taksing in Upper Subansiri District, Arunachal Pradesh. Organized by the RIWATCH Centre for Mother Languages (RCML) in collaboration with the Centre for Endangered Languages (CFEL) at AITS-Rajiv Gandhi University, the Nah Welfare Society (NWS), and the NGUNUK Foundation, the event marked a milestone in the preservation of the endangered Nah language and culture.
Book Launch
Two significant publications, Ethnographic Profile of the Nah (Tagin) of Arunachal Pradesh and A Dictionary of Nah, were officially released during the event by NWS President Shri Keru Chader and General Secretary Shri Tache Chader. These works are the result of a CFEL-RGU research project titled, Documentation of Endangered Languages, Oral Narratives, and Cultures of the Lesser-Known Tribal Communities of Arunachal Pradesh, supported by the North Eastern Council (NEC), Shillong.
Prof. S. Simon John, Coordinator of CFEL-AITS, RGU, praised the collaborative efforts of the Nah community and the CFEL research team in producing these valuable resources. He highlighted the importance of such documentation in preserving the linguistic and cultural heritage of lesser-known tribal communities.
Importance of Language Documentation
Dr. Mechek Sampar Awan, Centre Head of RCML, emphasized that the research not only contributes to the literature of the Nah community but also establishes linguistic connections between the Nah and Tagin languages, part of the Tani branch of the Tibeto-Burman language family. He announced plans for further initiatives, including developing children’s pictorial glossary books in the Nah language and documenting the Siju Festival for a documentary film.
Support for Cultural Preservation
Founder Director of the NGUNUK Foundation, Dr. Kaling Dabi, assured the Nah community of the foundation’s continued support for promoting and preserving their endangered cultural heritage. He encouraged active participation from the native community in revitalizing their language and traditions.
Activities and Field Studies
The program also included an extempore speech competition in Nah language on November 27, organized by the Nah Welfare Society (NWS) and RCML. Around 20 participants competed, with Shri Tatop Sare and Shri Logu Tarba winning first and second prizes, respectively.
The RCML team conducted field studies in Taksing to document Nah language and culture, focusing on textual data elicitation, audio-visual recordings of oral narratives, and preparations for a digital archive at RIWATCH. These efforts aim to develop accessible resources, such as pictorial glossary books, for future generations.
Attendees and Collaborators The program was attended by notable participants, including Assistant Professor and Assistant Coordinator of CFEL-RGU Dr. Lisa Lomdak, native Nah speakers, and representatives from the Tagin Cultural Society (TCS), Kojum Welfare Society (KWS), and Taksing Buddhist Welfare Society
