Video of a presentation from the 2020 workshop 'Language Then and Now: Language Endangerment and Political Instability.' Ana Roeschley discusses her experience of how political instability and violence break apart communities and erode their ability to pass down their written and spoken word in the Balkans. She talks about the siege of Sarajevo and the destruction of the National and University Library of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Video of a presentation from the 2020 workshop 'Language Then and Now: Language Endangerment and Political Instability.' Rex Khullar discusses his experience of how political instability and violence break apart communities and erode their ability to pass down their written and spoken word in the hills of Manipur, India. He talks about how village life can be disrupted when children have to go to larger cities to make money for their families.

Tshering Garmo and Tshering Dolma, sisters from the village of Karsha in Zangskar, share personal narratives about their family and life in Zangskar. Assisted by Sonam Phalkay, we delve into memories of his grandmother and her younger sister. A candid pre-interview exchange unfolds between the Tshering sisters and Chhuskit Angmo (Sonam's mother) while the recording equipment was being set up, which enriches the narrative. Recorded in Youlang village, Ladakh Union Territory, India.

This is a recording of Mr. Anwar reciting a joke on the wit of an Indian involved in an argument with an American and a Russian.

This is a discussion about the language and language varieties spoken in the districts of the Pūrvānchal region of the state of Uttar Pradesh, such as Maū, Balliā, and Āzamgaṛh. The speaker Mr. Maqsood Khan initiates with a short monologue on the election season in his mother tongue Bhojpuri spoken in his village Jogarī. He then proceeds to the varieties spoken in the region as he seems to have excellent knowledge on the same. The monologue then turns into a discussion about the differences of culture and language of Āzamgaṛh and Maū. It then shifts to the state of Urdu in India.

This is a video recording of a conversation between Aquil Ahmad and two women farm laborers who can be seen braiding the stalks of paddy in someone's farms while others are heaping the stalks in the background. The conversation starts with Mr. Aquil discussing a laborer who had ditched him. Then he talks about the current year's weather condition and the farm produce.

This is a video recording of a conversation of Aquil Ahmad at his farm with the farm laborers and when visiting his farms. The conversation starts with Mr. Aquil introducing and enumerating the benefits of technology in agriculture, such as the ‘Superseeder’ machine that plows the stubble left after harvesting and sows the seeds. Then he directs his workers on how to scatter the seeds and fertilizer. After that, Mr. Musafir arrives, and Mr. Aquil discusses the various farm produce in recent years and the required efforts and challenges involved. Then he asks Mr. Musafir to share his personal accounts with the researcher. Mr. Aquil too shares his personal experiences from the past. Later on, they both talk about political issues.

This is a monologue on the Pardhaani (village head) elections in Rampur in the Bhojpuri language. The elections were approaching closer at the time of recording, and the speaker Mr. Jameel who was the ex- village headman of Rampur, was contesting this time. He speaks on the history of these elections and his contesting of the same. He then moves on to give information on Rampur village and nearby villages.

This is a conversation between Abdul Malik (an 85-year old male) and Abdul Rehman (an 80-year old male) about the cutting of grass. The speaker talks about a man who was trying to show his efficiency while cutting the grass and the speaker taught him a lesson.

The speaker narrates about the preparation for community fishing. In order to go fishing, some twenty or thirty people go to identify the spot. Based on everyone’s opinion, they decided on a place to do the fishing. A day before fishing, some members also go deep to the forest to collect katu, the herb used for fishing. Each member contributes their labor even before the real fishing begins.

The speaker describes the process of beating the katu, an herb used in community fishing. Bundles of katu are beaten with a wooden rod to produce juice and bubbles.

The speaker identifies the different varieties of fish caught in the community fishing expedition.

The speaker narrates about earlier times when their ancestors used to built grand house and conduct ceremonies and pull pillars, posts, and big logs to build bridges. Before they start pulling the bridge materials, their ancestors performed a ritual called kaphi-kapaibo. While performing the ritual, the log will be cleaned with different types of leaves from end to end. This ritual is done so that they would carry the bridge materials easily. It is done to ward off injury or to avoid any sickness so that the villagers would reach their destination without any hindrance.

This narration is about the practice of pulling logs for pillar and post. The speaker narrates about some accompanying activities like elders beating drum and singing while logs are being pulled in the olden days.

The speaker narrates about the practice of pulling big logs to build a bridge. This practice was passed down from many generations and it is still in practice today. Because this practice has been done since since our ancestors' time, people selflessly take part in pulling big stones and logs. Every villager contributes in this community work.

The speaker narrates about the traditional practice of community fishing in Tharon village called makukha zuanbo. Tharon people do this from time to time during March-April.

This is a monologue by Muhammad Aslam (a 38-year old male teacher) about a master and his domestic help. The master asks his helper to bring a sharpening tool and the helper brings sand instead. He could not differentiate between the two words because they were homophonous. The other native speaker present during this recording is Gohar-Ur Rehman (a 39-year old male shopkeeper).

This is a personal narrative by Muhammad Younas (a 60-year old male and retired factory worker) about a time when he was working in Karachi. Muhammad Younas talks about his life in Karachi, other community members who lived there, and some incidents that happened during that time. The other speaker present during this recording is Abdul Qayoum (a 60-year old male).

This is a retelling of the story of the thirsty crow by Akbar Khan (a 46-year old male teacher). Once upon a time, a crow was very thirsty. He flew in search of water and saw a pitcher. He sat on the pitcher to drink water, but the surface of the water was low and he could not reach it. He then gathered some small pebbles and put them in the pitcher one by one. The water level raised. He drank water and flew away. The other speaker present during this recording is Gohar-Ur Rehman (a 40-year old male shopkeeper).

Video presentation on archiving community work in northeastern India. It was presented at the CoRSAL 4th Annual Meeting held on October 1, 2020.

This is a conversation where Mr. Satsri Mangal, a resident of Chaudhrīpūr in Rāmpūr village, places his demands before Mr. Jameel, the former and currently contesting Pardhān (village head) of Rampur. Mr. Jameel listens to his demands, and then Mr. Satsri Mangal narrates some incidents. After that, Mr. Jameel starts a conversation with the village children who were playing cricket a while ago and gathered around the recording place after noticing some recording taking place.

This is a conversation primarily with Mr. Jameel, the former and currently contesting Pardhān (village head) of Rampur village. Mr. Jameel gives the researcher information regarding the presence of dichotomy in speech among the population of Azamgarh and the variety spoken in Rampur and other nearby Muslim-dominated villages. In the last part of the recording, Mr. Jameel talks with a villager who passes by.

This is a personal narrative by the son of Sahngi. Sahngi and Mahngi were two brothers who worked on the farms of Sadruddin, Maaz’s great grandfather. Mr. Toofani first introduces Maaz to Mr. Sahngi’s son and his relative and then leaves for work. Mr. Sahngi’s son narrates some incidences of Sadruddin and his contesting of the Pardhānī (village head) elections. He then talks about Maaz’s family members and his relationship with them. After that, he narrates his early adulthood time spent in Delhi, old times in Sonwārā village, and changing times.

This is a performance of a traditional song by the title ‘Dulahē kī ammā’ (Eng. O the mother of the bridegroom). In this song, the bridegroom’s mother is asked to bless her son on this auspicious marriage occasion. Such folksongs are of great significance to the community; however, until recently, their popularity and importance have started dwindling because of the penetration of urban culture into rural society. This folksong is in the Eastern dialect of Urdu.