This inaugural volume of the CoRSAL Occasional Publications is a collection of traditional and personal texts in Thadou, Saihriem, Hrangkhol, and Ranglong, four languages of the Barak Valley region of Northeast India. The narratives were collected, transcribed, and translated by Dr. Pauthang Haokip, who is an Associate Professor of Linguistics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India and a member of the Thadou community. This text collection includes grammatical analysis presented in the form of interlinear glossing and accompanied by audio recordings in the Languages of the Barak Valley collection in the Computational Resources of South Asian Languages archive. The collection will be of lasting interest to historical, comparative, and typological linguists, as well as speakers connecting or reconnecting with cultural and linguistic traditions.

Recording of an elicitation of words for insects, etc. The native speaker consultant, Aurangzeb, provides the English prompt while both Aurangzeb and Mohammad Suleman provide the Mankiyali singular and plural forms. Muhammad Suleman is a male teacher who is 36 years old at the time of recording.

Recording of an elicitation of noun forms based on number and gender to demonstrate the Mankiyali lexical stress patterns in various word forms. In this elicitation, the native speaker, Aurangzeb (a 34-year old male teacher), provides the English word as a prompt and another native speaker, Muhammad Suleman (a 36-year old male teacher) provides the Mankiyali equivalent of that word.

Recording of an elicitation of a word list for names of different professions in Mankiyali. English equivalents are used as prompts. Gohar Rehman is a male shop keeper who is 38 years old at the time of recording.

This dissertation presents in-depth description and analysis the Zophei sound system within the context of the closely-related Maraic languages. Zophei (or Zyphe, ISO 639-3 ZYP), a previously undocumented member of the Maraic branch of Kuki-Chin (or South-Central Tibeto-Burman) spoken in Southern Thantlang Township, Chin State, Burma/Myanmar and by thousands of speakers in Indianapolis, Indiana. Using primary data elicited during three years of fieldwork, the sound systems of Lawngtlang, Tlawngrang, and Nuitah Zophei are investigated in detail. Special attention is paid to the segmental, syllable structure, and tonal inventories. A long history of language contact in the Maraic-speaking world has brought on radical innovations in syllable structure, vowel systems, and tone that have, as of yet, seen little linguistic analysis. Outside of the present research program, no previous linguistic work on Zophei exists. As such, this thesis endeavors to describe and analyze the sound systems of Zophei varieties.

This is the master word list from the dissertation "The Sound Systems of Zophei Dialects and Other Maraic Languages" which includes the form in both varieties (Tlawngrang and Lawngtlang), tone analysis, English gloss, and part of speech.

This extremely valuable collection of texts in the Lahu language represents the language and culture in the 1960’s, a time when the heritage language and culture were still vibrant and not yet globalized, hence the title Window on a Vanished World. It is also one of the largest collections of texts in any Tibeto-Burman language. The texts are available as a book and online with the audio (originally from 1960’s magnetic tape). This is a massive achievement for all involved in the recording, conversion, and editing.

This study is the very first detailed description of the (finite) verb morphology in Azamgarhi, a unique Awadhic Indo-Aryan language spoken exclusively by a significant number of Muslims of the Azamgarh region of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is a part of a broader goal of holistic and comprehensive documentation of the Azamgarhi language, filling a gap in the descriptive literature, beginning with a detailed discussion on the social and linguistic background of the language in question and then moving to discuss the morphology of verb stems and their uses. The data presented here is based on analysis of elicited and textual materials from mainly the Southern dialect. Azamgarhi verbal morphology constitutes derivation and inflection.

Group discussion about ongoing language documentation activities in the Rabha community.

In this enlightening discussion, Prof. Tadeusz Slupski of Poland, a visitor to Zangskar since November 1977, discusses the cultural shifts over the decades with a couple from Sani village. Slupski narrates the socio-cultural transformations he witnessed since his initial visit and invites the couple to expand on these changes from their firsthand experiences. They discuss the nuances of the architectural evolution of Zangskari houses, delving into traditional heating and lighting methods, recalling cherished olden poems, songs, and dances—emphasizing the "chham" (Chham) dance and costumes, and reminisce about traditional weddings marked by horseback marriage processions. Dr. Jamphel Sheyan, Assistant Professor of English at GMDC, skillfully interprets the conversation, bridging Zangskari and English. Recorded in Sani village, Ladakh Union Territory, India.

In this insightful discussion, Gyafo (King) Phuntsok Dawa, the King of Padum, answers the questions raised on Zangskar and its history by Dr. Tadeusz Slupski, a regular visitor to Zangskar since 1977. Gyafo Dawa delves into the rich heritage of his lineage and the Zangskari royal family. He recounts the pivotal moment in June 1948 when Zangskar faced invasion from Pakistani forces, prompting his father and the entire family, accompanied by Kushok Bakula Rimpoche, to seek refuge in Himachal Pradesh. Dr. Slupski further inquires about the demographics of Zangskar, leading the discussion towards the significant societal and cultural changes Zangskar has experienced over the past four and a half decades, since he first visited. Recorded in Old Padum village, Ladakh Union Territory, India.

Consent and speaker background of Lalawmpuii including education, languages spoken, and places lived. Recorded in Old Bagbahar.

Consent and speaker background of Linda Saihriem including education, languages spoken, and places lived. Recorded in Old Bagbahar.

Consent and speaker background of Jeremy Aimol including education, languages spoken, and places lived. Recorded in Balisor, Silchar, Assam, India.

Consent and speaker background of Hauva including education, languages spoken, and places lived. Recorded in Old Bagbahar.

Dharendra Basumatary is a businessman with a BA-level education who speaks Hindi and Assamese in addition to Boro, 48 years old at the time of recording. He describes how the Bur river is destroying their village. The Bur river (also called Nizla river) comes from the Bhutan hills and it passes through their village. Nizla river eroded most of the lands of his village. Recorded in Laokhriguri village, Deosri. Transcription and translation into English.

Lachit Basumatary is a daily laborer who speaks Hindi and Assamese in addition to Boro, 31 years old at the time of recording. He describes how he saved fellow villagers during the time flood. He cultivated rice and jute crops, but flood water destroyed everything and didn't get anything. His house's walls also got damaged, and his house is now only 50 meters away from the river. Recorded in Laokhriguri village, Deosri. Transcription and translation into English.

Swmkhang Narzary is a daily laborer who speaks Hindi and Assamese in addition to Boro, 27 years old at the time of recording. He tells about the loss of his land. He says that the river is about to reach his village by eroding day by day, and that 50 houses of his village were damaged in recent floods. He tells that when it rains in Bhutan hills, a sudden flood comes into their village. Recorded in Laokhriguri village, Deosri. Transcription and translation into English.

Uday Basumatary is a farmer who speaks Assamese in addition to Boro, 40 years old at the time of recording. Most of the agricultural land he owned now is eroded by rivers. Earlier he had 15 bighas of land, but almost all the land is eroded by flood water. Now his home is only 50 meters away from the river and he has shifted his house to another place. Recorded in Laokhriguri village, Deosri. Transcription and translation into English.

Mahen Basumatary is a farmer who speaks Assamese in addition to Boro, 42 years old at the time of recording. He describes how he survived the recent flood. His wife was sick during the time of the flood. He somehow managed to save his wife. His wife couldn't walk and he carried his wife on his back to a safe place. Wild elephants also frequently come to his house in search of food. Recorded in Laokhriguri village, Deosri. Transcription and translation into English.

Nila Basumatary is a home maker who speaks Assamese in addition to Boro, 55 years old at the time of recording. Her 10 bigha land was eroded by the recent flood. Every year due to the flood they have to take shelter in another place during the rainy season. They stayed almost two months in the relief camps. Recorded in Laokhriguri village, Deosri. Transcription and translation into English.

Dipen Brahma is a daily laborer who speaks Assamese in addition to Boro, 65 years old at the time of recording. He says he was living happily in the village for decades, but the recent flood has changed his life. He cultivated jute, rice, etc., but the recent flood has destroyed everything and the land is also eroded by the river. He says now he doesn't have any agricultural land for cultivation. Recorded in Laokhriguri village, Deosri. Transcription and translation into English.

Kale Narzary is a farmer who speaks Assamese in addition to Boro, 55 years old at the time of recording. He tells about the loss of his domestic animals in the recent flood. He somehow managed to save his pig and piglets. He has lost all his land to the erosion of the river. Now, as a result of the flood, he became landless and he is now a daily wage laborer. Recorded in Laokhriguri village, Deosri. Transcription and translation into English.

Solen Brahma is a farmer who speaks Assamese in addition to Boro, 56 years old at the time of recording. He describes damages done by the Tarong river. The main reason for floods in their village is the Tarong river which is flowing just 150 meters away from their village. Every year during the monsoon season, Tarong River overflows and destroys everything in the village. Recorded in Saraguri village, Choraikhola. Transcription and translation into English.