Roula Svorou and Chris Donlay

Preserving Endangered Languages

Partnering with colleagues at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Roula Svorou and Chris Donlay are successfully working toward the preservation of Domaaki, a severely endangered language spoken only in northern Pakistan. As with many endangered languages, Domaaki has no written system, so the Pakistani team captures the language, area history, stories, songs, and recipes in audio and video recordings. They then collaborate remotely with their 菠菜网lol正规平台 counterparts to analyze the data and develop a digital compilation 语言的.

Svorou’s intrigue with language began with a fascination for the systematicity of Greek and Latin grammar, and after a single linguistics course in college she was 钩状的. Donlay left a successful corporate career to pursue the field, became a language documentation specialist, and hasn’t looked back.

Linguists have studied only a fraction of the world’s languages, which is of concern 给斯沃罗和唐雷.

“Encouraging speakers to keep endangered languages alive preserves information about customs, social institutions, and local environments,” explains Svorou.

“Language is inextricably intertwined with 一个’s identity and culture,” adds Donlay. “Helping communities preserve their languages is important on a humanitarian level.”

Ayesha Bukhari (left), part 语言的 documentation team in Pakistan, with Chashman Bibi, 一个 of the few Domaaki speakers left in Nagar Valley.

语言学 & Language Development, College of 人文与艺术
Sponsor: National 科学 Foundation

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