View Project

1) To design and build a mobile language lab

2) To collect speech data in several tribal languages spoken in and around Palakkad, Kerala in order to document these varieties as a valuable linguistic, cultural and educational resource.

A language lab-on-wheels, first-of-its-kind in India, is proposed to be set up as an innovative means to address a relevant and central, but almost always neglected, aspect of rural development initiatives- language. The development of linguistic and cultural resources in local languages is crucial not only for general communication with diverse communities but also for knowledge sharing, implementation of government initiatives, participation in decision making and better educational outcomes. As a twelve-month pilot project, we will focus on designing and building a mobile language lab to collect and document speech and other linguistic data on tribal language varieties spoken in and around Palakkad, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and home to several indigenous populations whose languages and cultures are endangered. To achieve the objectives of the study, the rear side of a pick-up van will be re-purposed and modified to include an enclosed sound-proof cabin housing audio visual and computing equipment and relevant accessories. This will be supported by the required physical and digital infrastructure to enable the collection and storage of speech data. Two project assistants will be recruited and trained (at least one of whom will be from the community being documented) to collect, transcribe and annotate the data for subsequent analysis. The two main deliverables includes-1) initiating development of speech corpora of endangered tribal languages in the region and 2) partnering with tribal community members in collecting and documenting their own local language varieties to enable them to actively participate in the development of educational materials for future generations. Expected outcomes could also include scope for skill development among youth in communities being documented, job creation and the scalability of the proposed project to a state-wide initiative via collaboration with other government agencies, academic institutions and NGOs working with tribal communities.

1) Initiate development of speech corpora of endangered tribal languages in the region to serve as a foundation for the development of educational materials in the local languages.

2) Partner with members of tribal communities in the region and actively engage with them in designing and developing educational resources in local languages for better educational and other developmental outcomes.

Tribal language documentation helps in development of education, skill development & rural development targeting the population in tribal areas