Certificate Course on
Immersive Language Learning and Articulatory Phonetics
Venue: NIELAC, Guwahati
Date: 08 July 2024 – 27 July 2024
Mode: On-site
Course Overview
The “Immersive Language Learning and Articulatory Phonetics” course is a foundational program designed for learners with a passion for language acquisition and research, particularly within the Northeast Indian linguistic landscape. This course offered a specialized focus on Articulatory Phonetics, ear training, Language Learning Methods, and the challenges of Language Endangerment. Through intensive training in these areas, participants gained both theoretical knowledge and practical skills essential for engaging in language research, documentation, and revitalization initiatives.
Throughout the course, learners not only developed a deep understanding of speech production, tone recognition, and language structure but also gained a profound appreciation for the physicality of speech and the cultural context of language use. This immersive experience emphasized the importance of preserving linguistic diversity, cultural heritage, and the endangered languages of Northeast India.
Prospective participants were carefully selected through an application and interview process, ensuring that those chosen were well-suited to benefit from and contribute to the course. Upon successful completion, participants left with a solid foundation in linguistics, ready to embark on further studies or professional work in language preservation and revitalization.
Module 1: Articulatory Phonetics and Ear Training
This foundational module introduced participants to the intricate dance of the tongue, lips, and vocal cords in speech production. Understanding these mechanics was crucial in helping learners master the technicalities of language. Through a combination of theoretical lessons, intensive ear training, and hands-on practice, participants explored the articulation of consonants and vowels.
The course emphasized the physicality of speech, turning abstract sounds into tangible actions. The practice sessions, filled with tongue twists and facial exercises, were not only fun but pivotal in improving phonetic skills.
Module Content:
- Understanding the mechanisms of speech production.
- Theoretical grounding in articulatory phonetics.
- Practical exercises: Intensive training in the recognition, transcription, and reproduction of sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
Module 2: Introduction to Tone
In the Tone module, participants explored how tone is produced and perceived across different languages, with a particular focus on the tonal variations in Northeast Indian languages. Understanding how tone influences meaning expanded learners’ ability to interpret and use languages more effectively, despite the initial challenges.
Module Content:
- Overview of tonal and non-tonal languages.
- Understanding the basic concept of tone.
- Practical exercises: Intensive training in tone recognition and production.
Module 3: Learning Unwritten Languages
Unlike traditional methods, this module introduced learners to immersive language learning, which drives participants directly into the environment where the language is spoken. This method mimics the natural way we learn our first language, making it remarkably effective.
Through engaging with native speakers, participating in cultural activities, and living the language, participants not only developed linguistic skills but also cultural empathy and awareness. The Growing Participator Approach highlighted the importance of building relationships and understanding cultural contexts, making the learning experience holistic and deeply personal.
Module Content:
- Techniques for learning a new language as adults.
- Language acquisition through cultural immersion.
- Strategies for acquiring vocabulary and sentence structure.
- Practical exercises: Learning the rudiments of an unfamiliar language with guidance from a language consultant.
Module 4: Basic Morphology and Sentence Structure
This module provided an in-depth exploration of the morphological and syntactic structures of languages. Participants gained insights into how words are formed and how sentences are constructed, which are fundamental aspects of understanding and analyzing any language.
The sessions delved into the grammatical frameworks that underpin language use, offering a blueprint for understanding how different elements of language come together to create meaning. The exploration of morpho-syntax was particularly enriching, providing learners with the tools to analyze and interpret complex linguistic data.
Module Content:
- Introduction to morphology: Word formation and structure.
- Sentence structure (syntax): Understanding how sentences are constructed.
- Practical exercises: Analyzing and constructing sentences using different morphological rules.
Module 5: Endangered Languages and Linguistic Justice
Endangered languages and linguistic justice focused on the linguistic diversity of Northeast India, providing an overview of the region’s languages, their features, and typology. Participants engaged deeply with the challenges of language endangerment, understanding that languages are more than just tools of communication—they are vessels of culture, history, and identity.
The course anchored itself in the mission to document and revitalize endangered languages, inspiring participants to become champions of linguistic justice. Recognizing the critical importance of this work, the module emphasized the need for language preservation efforts as a moral imperative.
Module Content:
- Introduction to the language families of India, with a focus on Northeast India.
- Exploration of lesser-known or endangered languages of Northeast India.
- Understanding language, dialect, pidgin, creole, and language variation.
- Discussion on the need for language documentation, description, and revitalization.
Conclusion
The “Immersive Language Learning and Articulatory Phonetics” course offered a comprehensive blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice. Through its thoughtfully structured modules, the course not only equipped learners with the essential skills in articulatory phonetics, tone analysis, language learning methodologies, and the complexities of morphology and syntax but also instilled a deep understanding of the urgent need to preserve endangered languages. The course’s focus on Northeast India’s linguistic diversity highlighted the cultural richness of the region, while the immersive learning approach fostered a deeper connection with the languages and the people who speak them. Participants left the course not only with technical proficiency but also with a renewed sense of purpose in advocating for linguistic justice and cultural preservation.
In short, the course was more than just an educational endeavor—it was a call to action, urging all who took part to contribute to the ongoing efforts to protect and celebrate the linguistic heritage of Northeast India. As these new champions of language preservation move forward, they carry with them the tools, insights, and passion needed to make a lasting impact on the world of linguistics and beyond.
