ZIRO, 8 Aug: The RIWATCH Centre for Mother Languages (RCML) on Friday commenced the first phase of an extensive field research in Ziro in Lower Subansiri district as part of its ongoing initiative to document and preserve the Apatani language.

The research team comprises Dr Mechek Sampar Awan, Dr H Kapginlian, Ama Pinky Kago, and Sapna Lingi. Upon their arrival, the team was welcomed byTanii Supun Dukun general secretary Hage Komoand assistant general secretary Takhe Duri.

During the interaction, the representatives of the Tanii Supun Dukun, the apex body entrusted with the promotion and preservation of Tani literature, assured the RCML team of their full cooperation. They pledged to facilitate access to knowledgeable nativeresource persons, provide necessary resources, and assist in sensitising local communities to the importance of promoting, preserving, and revitalising the Apatani language.

The field research seeks to generate empirical data for a comprehensive descriptive study of the language. The objectives include documenting the grammatical structure of the Apatani language, investigating its linguistic features through evidence-based research, and examining its socio-cultural dimensions in the context of ongoing language shift and assimilation into larger language communities.

The study forms part of the research project titled 'Descriptive Grammatical Analysis of Apatani: Documenting an Endangered Tani Language of North East India', supported by the Indian Knowledge Systems Division of the Union Ministry of Education.

According to the RCML, the documentation project will be undertaken in multiple phases. The first phase of fieldwork is currently underway and is scheduled to continue from 6 to 13 August.

The findings are expected to contribute significantly to the documentation, preservation, and revitalisation of one of Northeast India's endangered indigenous languages.