Shillong, August 07: The Workshop cum Intensive Training in Documentation and Description of Tribal and Endangered Languages of North-East India organised by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore and the Department of Khasi, NEHU, Shillong kicked started today the 7th August 2017 at NEHU, Shillong. Speaking as the Chief Guest at the inaugural function, Prof. Henry Lamin, Pro Vice-Chancellor of NEHU expressed that he is happy to know that the CIIL, Mysore and the Department of Khasi have ventured to start this kind of workshop and training programme which is important for the languages of N-E India.
Prof. P.P. Giridhar, Former Deputy Director, CIIL, Mysore has stated that “every language in the universe has a right to exist, therefore every language even with a very few speakers need to be documented, preserved and promoted. Prof. Suhnuram Sharma of the Deccan College has remarked that every language is unique in its own way. The Introduction to the workshop was given by Prof. Umarani Pappuswami, Deputy Director, CIIL, Mysore who stressed on the importance of giving intensive training to young linguists to document and describe tribal languages.
Prof. Antoinette Kharmalki, Head, Department of Khasi, NEHU in the Chairperson remark share her views that language go hand in hand with our culture and identity, hence there is a need to preserve our language. The function was concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Marbhador M. Khymdeit. The five-day workshop is attended by linguists and participants from Manipur University, Assam University, Tezpur University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indian Institute of Technology (Assam), the English and Foreign Languages University (Shillong), Sikkim University, North-Eastern Hill university and Central Institute of Indian Languages (Mysore).
