Oyda

The main aim of the project is to collect, annotate and archive a large body of audio and video material on the Oyda language through recording of texts dealing with salient cultural practices and economic activities. With the consent of the community, we will observe the practice of dabo, which is a form of co-operation and mutual assistance among villagers during house constructions or agricultural activities such as ploughing, weeding or harvesting. Using the annotated texts, we aim to compile a practical dictionary with about 2000 entries which can be used by the Oyda people for educational purposes. A sketch grammar of the language will be written by the two principal investigators; this will be useful for comparative studies as well as the preservation of the language.