Resource Type

Performance of Arpo ritual song

Before the Arpo rituals, Mr. Karma Wangdi performs a song about royalty in Kongü stating that his body and possessions (sword, helmet, belt, boots, body armor, bow, and arrow) belong to King Gaser Gyalpo.
Date: June 18, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of Phoshing and Moshing appeasement rituals

Mr. Karma Wangdi describes the Bon ritual ceremonies used to appease the male spirit Phoshing and the female spirit Moshing. A smoke offering is made by mixing flour with dry meat, wine, and water.
Date: June 18, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of Abi Phôding appeasement rituals

Mr. Karma Wangdi describes the Bon ritual ceremonies used to appease Abi Phôding. If someone suddenly has a hearing problem, they could have been cursed by Abi Phôding. To appease her, they put a ladle, an eggshell, and wine at the tri-junction, call her name three times, and ask her to give her ear.
Date: June 18, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of Tshong Tshongma appeasement rituals and offerings

Mr. Karma Wangdi describes the Bon ritual ceremonies used to appease Tshong Tshongma. This is a very important deity in eastern Bhutan, especially to the people in its vicinity. People bow three times and give offerings. When someone is seriously ill near Tshong Tshongma, they would sacrifice an ox as an offering.
Date: June 18, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of Mamo appeasement rituals

Mr. Karma Wangdi describes the Bon ritual ceremonies used to appease Mamo, the holder of all sickness. Three flags representing the father, mother, and son of Mamo are used to request forgiveness for any wrongdoing.
Date: June 18, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of Lamring Mü ritual

Mr. Karma Wangdi describes the Lamring Mü ritual which is used to chase away spirits before taking a sick person to the hospital. First, some simple ritual ceremonies are performed at home to clear the spirits. This is because if the doctor or nurse injects the sick person, the spirit within the sick person’s body could instantly die. Mr. Wangdi is the last known Bonpo (practitioner of Bon rituals) in Chema village in the Trashi Yangste District of Bhutan. He also belongs to the first generation of Dakpa speakers who started speaking Tshangla in their childhood.
Date: June 18, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of Garpo appeasement rituals

Mr. Karma Wangdi describes the Bon ritual ceremonies used to appease Garpo, also known as Nepo. These involve raising and/or sacrificing a pig, depending on the patient.
Date: June 18, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Performance of an epic poem song

Performance of a song about royalty in Kongü from the epic of King Gaser Gyalpo of Lithang by Mr. Karma Wangdi.
Date: June 18, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Performance of an epic poem introduction

Performance of an introductory song from the epic of King Gaser Gyalpo of Lithang by Mr. Karma Wangdi.
Date: June 18, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Demonstration of astrological prediction and ritual

Mr. Karma Wangdi demonstrates astrology prediction and a ritual to heal from poisoning.
Date: June 18, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description and demonstration of astrological prediction

Mr. Karma Wangdi demonstrates astrology prediction on Gajay using rice, water, incense, and a rosary. When he dips rice into the water, if there is any spirit harming the patient, then the rice will be scattered at the edges of the bowl. If cursed, the rice will stand upward. He concludes that no spirits are harming Gajay; however, he recommends Gajay to offer appeasement wine to the local deity.
Date: June 18, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description and demonstration of Mamo appeasement rituals

Bonism is a traditional form of worship involving rituals related to healing and the earth. Some Bon rituals are performed only by certain individuals (Bonpos). In this recording, Bonpo Karma Wangdi demonstrates a ritual appeasement of Mamo (also known as Lamringbu). His wife and extended family are present because they have not seen this ritual performed for the last 15 years. Mr. Wangdi is the last known Bonpo in Chema village in the Trashi Yangste District of Bhutan. He also belongs to the first generation of Dakpa speakers who started speaking Tshangla in their childhood.
Date: June 18, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about fieldwork in Huonveng village

Hrangkung Tuolor, president and authority of Huonveng village, expresses enthusiasm and consent to record the variety of Ṭhiek spoken in Huonveng village for research and documentation purposes.
Date: August 18, 2023
Creator: Infimate, Marina L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about fieldwork in Retzawl village

Thilsinghluo Tuolor, Gaon Bura of Retzawl village, and Robert Pakhuongte, vice president of the Retzawl HSA, express enthusiasm and consent to record the variety of Ṭhiek spoken in Retzawl village for research and documentation purposes.
Date: August 18, 2023
Creator: Infimate, Marina L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about fieldwork in Boro Muolkoi village

Ngultholien Parate, the headman of Boro Muolkoi village, Hrangsuothang Parate, and Zionthar Vankal express enthusiasm and consent to record the variety of Ṭhiek spoken in Boro Muolkoi village for research and documentation purposes.
Date: August 18, 2023
Creator: Infimate, Marina L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Elicitation of domains of language use and performance of traditional songs

Dartuohau Vankal, an elderly male Ṭhiek speaker, responds to questions about his life and migration, language attitudes, the status of Ṭhiek, and hopes for the future of the language. He also narrates some Ṭhiek stories based on traditional folk songs, some of which he sings. He describes the relationship between traditional Hmar and Ṭhiek songs. Marina L. Infimate asks questions in Hmar.
Date: August 18, 2023
Creator: Infimate, Marina L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about migration and Sikpui

Joseph Tuolor and Dartuohau Vankal discuss the migration of the Ṭhiek people. Then, Joseph Tuolor tells the traditional story Siel Sun as told to him by his father and talks briefly about Sikpui and its pronunciation.
Date: August 18, 2023
Creator: Infimate, Marina L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Personal narrative about the Sikpui festival

Joseph Tuolor describes the Sikpui festival and explains that some believe the festival is about enjoying the fruits of one's labour.
Date: August 18, 2023
Creator: Infimate, Marina L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Elicitation of domains of language use

Vanlalzawn Tuolor, a female speaker of Ṭhiek from Huonveng village, gives consent for recording her and briefly shares her life story. She responds to questions about her family, her attitude towards the Ṭhiek language, domains of language use, and her hopes for the future of the language.
Date: August 18, 2023
Creator: Infimate, Marina L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about language attiudes

Ngultholien Parate, the headman of Boro Muolkoi village, along with Zionthar Vankal, Hrangsuothang Parate, and Emmanuel Tuolor, discuss the history of Ṭhiek, the relationship between Ṭhiek and literary Hmar based on folk songs, and the collective opinion that the variety of Ṭhiek spoken in Boro Muolkoi village is considered pure.
Date: August 18, 2023
Creator: Infimate, Marina L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Historical narrative about migration to Khawhmunlien

Dartuohau Vankal, an elderly male Ṭhiek speaker, narrates how his family established their home at Khawhmunlien village in 1933 and lived there for 50 years.
Date: August 18, 2023
Creator: Infimate, Marina L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Personal narrative about a late relative

Dartuohau Vankal, an elderly male Ṭhiek speaker, reflects on an event involving his late relative, Sangawi Pa, narrating the events that transpired while on their way to record traditional songs on a particular Sunday.
Date: August 18, 2023
Creator: Infimate, Marina L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Elicitation of domains of language use

Robert Pakhuongte, a male speaker of Ṭhiek from Retzawl village, responds to elicitation questions put forth by Emmanuel Tuolor about the number of houses and the approximate number of Ṭhiek speakers in Retzawl village.
Date: August 18, 2023
Creator: Infimate, Marina L.
System: The UNT Digital Library

Personal narrative of Hrangkung Tuolor

Hrangkung Tuolor, president and authority of Huonveng village, introduces himself and expresses his pride for the Ṭhiek language. He talks about Dr. Vanlalthluonga Bapui's book 'Thiek Tawng' being the only written document in Ṭhiek, and his regrets that there are not more written resources in the language. He encourages continued work to document the language.
Date: August 18, 2023
Creator: Infimate, Marina L.
System: The UNT Digital Library