HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, March 12: “When a language faces the threat of extinction, it leads to the loss of cultural diversity and human heritage,” said Prof C Yashwant Singh, a noted academician of linguistics and formerly dean of Arts, Manipur University, while delivering his keynote address at the National Conference on Language and Linguistics organised by the department of Linguistics and Language Technology (LLT), Tezpur University on Tuesday, marking its second anniversary. Prof Singh further added that languages are not just tools for communication; they are intricate expressions of culture, history, and identity.
Attending as the chief guest at the conference focused on the linguistics of the languages of north-east, many of which are from Tibeto-Burman languages, vice-chancellor of Tezpur University Prof Shambhu Nath Singh said that India’s north-east region is the most linguistically diverse and culturally vibrant area in the country, with a confluence of languages from at least four language families, several of which are lesser-known or understudied. “It is our duty not only to study these languages for academic purposes but also to help the speakers in multiple ways by encouraging them to preserve their linguistic, cultural, and ecological heritage,” he added. Prof Singh also released a book titled ‘Select Papers from National Conference on Linguistics and Language Technology 2023’ launched as part of the event.
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Delivering the welcome address, Prof Gautam K Borah, head of the department of LLT, said that north-east is known for its linguistic diversity, but many of the 220 languages spoken in the region are currently endangered. In this context, the department has been conducting research on several endangered and previously unresearched languages of North East India.
Prof. Borah further stated that given the importance of the department in this region, it shall offer a four-year undergraduate programme in Linguistics and Language Technology from the next academic year. Currently, it is offering a two-year Master’s in Linguistics and Language Technology and guides PhD research in the discipline.
Senior Prof Madhumita Barbara, who has been closely associated with the erstwhile department of English & Foreign Languages for nearly three decades, expressed her views on the future activities of the department. Prof Farheena Danta, dean of Humanities & Social Sciences, said that research on endangered languages in the department will play an important role in the discussions on the introduction of mother tongue medium under the National Education Policy.
In conjunction with the programme, the students displayed wall posters on various topics in about 11 languages of the north-east.
