The Department of Linguistics and the Research and Development Cell, Tetso College invite you to attend a special lecture on the topic “Language Endangerment in the North East – From Despair to Hope”.
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Vijay A. D’Souza, Director, North Eastern Institute of Language and Culture (NEILAC), Guwahati
Date: 30th March 2023
Time: 11:45 AM
Venue: Hall 1994
All interested students and faculty are welcome!
Abstract: The North East region of India is home to a rich diversity of indigenous languages, many of which are endangered. It is estimated that almost 80% of these languages might disappear by the end of this century, which raises concerns about the impact on the cultural heritage of the indigenous communities in the region. In this presentation, Dr. Vijay D’Souza will draw on his two-decade-long work with the Hrusso Aka indigenous community of Arunachal Pradesh to explore the themes of language endangerment, preservation and revival. Dr. D’Souza will discuss the challenges faced by the Hrusso Aka community in their efforts to preserve their language, He will also share insights into the strategies that have worked well for the community, such as the use of social media and community-based language groups. Furthermore, Dr. D’Souza will examine the broader implications of language loss for the indigenous communities in North East India and beyond. He will also explore the potential benefits of language preservation and revival, such as promoting intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge and strengthening community identity.
About the speaker: Rev. Dr. Vijay A. D’Souza is currently Director of the North Eastern Institute of Language and Culture (NEILAC), Guwahati, an Associate Member of the Faculty of Linguistics, University of Oxford and Academic and Research Guide of the Aka (Hrusso) Language Academy, Arunachal Pradesh. He obtained his doctorate in linguistics from University of Oxford, UK in 2021. He has worked with the Hrusso indigenous community of Arunachal Pradesh for over 20 years, contributing to the development of orthography and revival of the Hrusso language. A member of the Jesuit order, he continues the Jesuit tradition of deep respect for indigenous cultures and languages, and seeks to learn from and collaborate with linguistic communities of North East India. He specialises in phonology, language documentation, language description, and revival of endangered languages and cultures. His fields of interest also include language and ecology, language and identity, and mother tongue education.