10-day workshop on Shina language concludes at KU

Srinagar: 10-day workshop on Shina language concludes at KU KL News Network The 10-day workshop ‘Standardization of Shina language’ concluded at the University of Kashmir on Wednesday. It was organised by the Department of Linguistics to promote the Shina language, spoken in several areas in J&K, including Gurez and Drass.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi emphasised the need to concentrate on promotion of lesser-known languages of J&K that are otherwise facing any threat of extinction. Referring to UNESCO’s Red-Book of Languages, Prof Andrabi said research is being carried out on small ethnic communities for development of related grammars, dictionaries and scripts and cultural encyclopedias.

Dean Academic Affairs Prof MA Wani stressed upon the importance of taking up linguistic research on metaphors, proverbs and sayings of a small ethnic communities to decipher their cultural history. A Shina-language script has been developed by Dr. Musavir who has been working on a UGC-sponsored project entitled “Description, Documentation and Preservation of Shina” for several years.

Highlighting problems of Shina-speaking community, Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmed, a native Shina speaker from Gurez and a Zonal Education Officer in School Education department, appreciated the role of the University in taking up promotion of Shina, especially the development of its script. Famous Shina folk singer Mohammad Yousuf Naseem was also part of the workshop.

The Department of Linguistics has been actively engaged in promotion of Shina language that has a pan-LOC presence and a descriptive grammar has already been developed. Around 25 native speakers of Shina hailing from Gurez, Tulail and Drass participated in the workshop. These included 11 officials deputed from by Directorate of School Education.

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