Documentation of endangered languages and cultures in the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland
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Grant Holder:
David Zeitlyn
The Nigeria-Cameroon borderland is one of the most linguistically diverse regions of the world, with many languages either near extinction or severely endangered. This project builds on previous work by the participants in surveying and documenting endangered languages in this region. One example is the language of the Somyewe, a small group of blacksmiths whose language and culture are on the verge of disappearing. Documentation of two other local languages will also be undertaken. Documentation will follow best practice procedures as developed by the EMELD initiative, and will be situated in context of the linguistic and cultural ecology of the region.
| Project start date: 2005-04 | Project end date: 2009-09 |
Subject domains:
Era(s):
Country/region(s):
| Methods used | Category |
|---|---|
| Sound recording | Data capture |
| Documentation | Strategy and project management |
| Sound analysis | Data analysis |
| preservation | Strategy and project management |
Funding sources:
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Content types created:
Sound, Text
Software tools used:
Microsoft Word, Endnote, Praat, Word, OpenOffice, FileMaker Pro Advanced 8.5, NLTK - The Natural Language Toolkit (Python Library), SIL's Field Linguist's Toolbox Audacity, SIL Field Language Explorer, Freekey, Excel
Source material used:
Field recordings from Cameroon and Nigeria
Digital resource created:
Endangered languages were documented and the results deposited in the Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR) http://www.hrelp.org/archive/. Some PhD related data will not be deposted until late 2010, early 2011.
Data is on the following languages: Somyev (Kila, Nigeria, language code: kgt); Njanga (Kwanja, Cameroon, language code: knp) and Wawa (Cameroon, language code: www). The data consist of word lists, some songs and proverbs, natural language and folk stories. Somyev had the fewest speakers and so the data relating to it is the most restricted.
Access to digital resource:
Open Access
Data Formats created:
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Microsoft Excel Worksheet (XLS), Microsoft Word Document (DOC)
Metadata standards employed:
Other
Project staff and expertise:
| Principal staff member: | David Zeitlyn (PI), Bruce Connell (Project Officer), Sascha Griffiths (PhD), Laura Robson (PhD), Marieke Martin (self funded PhD) |
|---|---|
| Other staff: | PhD student(s), Postdoctoral researcher(s) / Research assistant(s) |
| External expertise: |
| Metadata on this arts-humanities.net record | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) of record | David Zeitlyn |
| Title | Documentation of endangered languages and cultures in the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland |
| Record created | 2010-07-23 |
| Record updated | 2011-04-28 16:24 |
| URL of record | http://www.arts-humanities.net/node/3553 |
| Citation of record | David Zeitlyn: Documentation of endangered languages and cultures in the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland. <http://www.arts-humanities.net/node/3553> created: 2010-07-23, last updated 2011-04-28 16:24 |