Exploring Ethno-Linguistic Vitality: A Study of the Nature and Extent of Endangerment in Tiwa (Lalung) Language

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The tradition of studies in the broad field of linguistics is pretty old at the Asiatic Society since its inception. Such studies were also extended sporadically around the same time in the region which is known as North-East India at present. Perhaps the first systematic book on record was done by J. H. Lorrain entitled Dictionary of the Lushai Language published by the Society in 1940. The next important reference that is made all over the world is Suniti Kumar Chatterji's Kirata-Jana-Krti published by the Society in 1951. After a long interregnum the Asiatic Society initiated regular academic programmes including publications on North-East Region since 2006.

Dr. Satarupa Dattamajumdar, who was a Research Fellow at the Asiatic Society, undertook the present work among the Tiwa (Lalung) as a Post-Doctoral Fellow of ICSSR, Delhi (2013-15). This scheduled tribe of Assam, who are now bilingual, primarily belong to the Tibeto- Burman family of Languages. focus of the author in a total of six chapters in this study was essentially sociolinguistic in nature. She wanted to highlight the extent of observable threat emerging in some loss in the structural and/or functional use of the language of this speech community, specially in a contact situation where it is in network with other encircling language groups in the vicinity. We are told that this marginal tribal community of Assam has already been declared as 'definitely endangered' by the UNESCO. It is at this point that the author of this work examined the ethno-linguistic vitality of the language of the Tiwa (Lalung). For this purpose she based both on macro and micro linguistic field situations on a wider geographical space spread over Karbi Anglong, Nagaon and Morigaon areas, Assam. Thus, the status of comparative and useful correlates have come into relief so far the codification and elaboration of the current usages of the language are concerned. This approach renders this important work towards framing an indicative or instructive policy issue which may sensitize the language planners in evolving certain measures for safeguarding the probable endangerment of this language and finally help sustain it from reaching the oblivion.

Any language becoming endangered and ultimately becoming extinct should be considered as a loss to mankind in general and to the people of the linguistic area in particular. "Any language is to be regarded as endangered if children do not learn it fully any more or not at all- this will inevitably lead to its death in due course, unless the language gets revitalized as a result of new circumstances or successful application of some efforts maintaining it." (Wurm:1993) Language apart from being a set of arbitrary vocal symbols meant for communication also stands for identity of a speech community. Therefore, loss of language or mother tongue means loss of identity of a community which ultimately leads us to interrogate the situation in the light of the socio-political issues. Hence the need for identifying the nature of language endangerment of a speech community becomes imperative in the multilingual and multicultural context especially of north-east India. Tiwa (also known as Lalung) a language spoken in the states of Assam and Meghalaya which has been mentioned as 'Definitely Endangered' by UNESCO is being considered here as a case in this project.