Is Nagaland University Pioneering Grammar Development for 18 Naga Languages?

Kohima, Sep 1 (NationPress) The esteemed Nagaland University, recognized as the only central university in the state, is collaborating with the Directorate of School Education to launch a groundbreaking project aimed at creating written grammar for the 18 officially recognized languages of this Northeastern state, as confirmed by officials on Monday.

This initiative aims to establish structured pedagogical grammars that will be integrated into school textbooks ranging from Class 5 to Class 12, ensuring compliance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

While Naga languages have been a part of school curricula for many years, they have lacked dedicated written grammars essential for effective teaching and learning.

The project aims to systematically document grammatical structures, including parts of speech, tense, aspect, phrase and clause formations, and tonal variations, while also enhancing vocabulary and clarifying orthographic standards as necessary.

This long-term initiative not only reinforces the vision of multilingual education outlined in NEP 2020 but also combats the threat of language marginalization, ensuring that every Naga language is regarded with the same importance as more dominant languages, the official emphasized.

The developed grammar will be added to school textbooks alongside prose, poetry, and translation materials, under the guidance of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE).

To aid in the effective teaching of grammar in classrooms, teacher training programs are set to commence, starting with refresher courses organized by Nagaland University.

The project is spearheaded by Dr. Mimi Kevichusa Ezung, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Tenyidie at Nagaland University. Tenyidie serves as the standardized form of the Angami language, which is spoken by the Angami community as well as nine other tribes that belong to the Tenyimia group.

Reiterating the university’s commitment to local community development, Prof. Jagadish K Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University, expressed, “It brings me immense joy to announce that the Department of Tenyidie has taken the lead in a historic effort to create grammar resources for the 18 state-recognized languages of Nagaland for incorporation into school textbooks.”

“This initiative transcends mere academic goals; it embodies a cultural mission aimed at preserving, enhancing, and promoting our linguistic heritage,” he stated.

Prof. Patnaik further stated, “This endeavor would not have been achievable without the dedication of our faculty, scholars, language experts, and community elders who collaborated in this project. It also moves us closer to achieving the vision outlined in the National Education Policy 2020, which highlights the importance of education in the mother tongue and the preservation of India’s diverse linguistic landscape.”

Dr. Mimi Kevichusa Ezung emphasized the cultural importance of this project, stating, “The two fundamental elements of language are vocabulary and grammar. A written grammar serves as a formal portrayal of the abstract characteristics of a language.”

She noted that at a time when Naga languages are being standardized, the creation of pedagogical grammars is essential.

“It ensures consistency in writing and speech while fostering pride in one’s mother tongue. This initiative is about more than just textbooks; it pertains to preserving identity, culture, and indigenous knowledge,” she asserted.

The project is inherently collaborative, involving various stakeholders, including Language Literature Boards, the State Centre of Naga Languages (SCNL), SCERT, and NBSE.

The Language Literature Boards will assist in selecting a language variety for standardization, coining new terms, and overseeing textbooks for Classes 9 to 12. The SCNL, under the Directorate of School Education, has developed textbooks for Classes 1 to 8 and collaborates closely with Literature Boards for translation, proofreading, and final approval.

SCERT and NBSE will incorporate grammar into the official curriculum. Technical workshops at the Department of Tenyidie in Nagaland University are equipping language officers from SCNL with the necessary tools for translating and documenting grammatical categories in their respective languages, as stated.

The 18 languages included in this initiative are Ao, Chang, Chokri, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Kuki, Kuzhale (Khezha), Liangmai, Lotha, Nthenyi (Southern Rengma), Nzonkhwe (Northern Rengma), Phom, Pochury, Sangtam, Sümi, Tenyidie (Angami), Yimkhiung, and Zeme. Presently, only a handful of these languages, including Tenyidie, Ao, Lotha, and Sümi, are taught beyond Class 8, with Tenyidie offered up to M.A. and Ph.D. levels.

This grammar-writing initiative will establish a foundation for expanding the reach of other languages to higher education levels, as noted in the statement.