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THDL Language and Linguistics Collections

Language is a uniquely human ability, which is shared by all cultures, and expressed in a diversity of ways, including speech, writing, and gesture (sign language). Linguistics aims to understand and explain the genesis, evolution, acquisition and knowledge of language. In Tibet and the Himalayas, we find two major language families: Sino-Tibetan, represented by the Tibeto-Burman sub-family, which includes the different varieties of Tibetan; and Indo-European, which includes languages such as Nepali and Assamese. In addition to having languages with rich literary traditions, this region also has dozens of vibrant spoken languages.

Language and Linguistics Collections currently contain materials for Tibetan language instruction as well as materials on Tibetan scripts, fonts, and transliteration schemes. The Library expects to expand these resources over time to encompass the entire Himalayan region. THDL is eager to support projects on Tibetan and Himalayan Languages and Linguistics that draw on the media in our Library, or those that aim to develop new media collections.

Directors: Nicolas Tournadre (Paris 8 University/CNRS-Lacito [Langues et Civilisations à Tradition Orale]) and David Germano (University of Virginia)

Board: Edward Garrett (Eastern Michigan University), Boyd Michailovsky (CNRS-Lacito), Martine Mazaudon (CNRS-Lacito), Matthew Kapstein (University of Chicago), Mark Turin (Cornell University)