In this video, Sora speaker Arjun Sabar demonstrates the Sora Sompeng writing system. The symbols and sounds of this alphabet represent Sora gods as well as agricultural, spiritual and health-related concepts in Sora daily life. Sora [srb] is South Munda language spoken mainly in Ganjam and Gajapati districts of Orissa (as well as a few other districts of this Indian State) and in adjacent hilly tracts of neighboring Andhra Pradesh State. The co-lead scientist on the Sora documentation project is Opino Gomango. He is a native Sora scholar and multimedia creator who has been working for over 10 years as a trained, professional linguist, in collaboration with Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages. SORA NAMES IN THIS VIDEO Sundang-sum [sund̺aŋ-sum]: The pillar god. सुनडङ सुम: स्तम्भ के देवता Tangor-sum [t̪aŋor-su̜m]: The road god. ताङोर सुम: सड़क के देवता Babu-sum [babu-su̜m]: The Babu god. बाबु सुम: बाबु देवता Sandi-sum [tsand̺i-su̜m]: The courtyard god. सानडि सुम: आँगन के देवता Danki-sum [d̺aŋki-su̜m]: The pot god. डानकि सुम: मटके का देवता Garra-sum [ɡaɽa-su̜m]: The creek god. गड़ा सुम: नहर के देवता Mundarra-sum [mund̺aɽa-su̜m]: The Mundara god. मुनदाड़ा सुम: मुनदाड़ा देवता Labo-sum [ləbo-su̜m]: The earth god. लाबो सुम: किसानों के देवता Na’a-sum [naʔa-su̜m]: The name god. नाः सुम: नाम के देवता Waro-sum [waro-sum]: The week god. वारो-सुम: सप्ताह का देवता Gamang [ɡamaŋ]: The village head. गमाङअन: गांव का मुखिया Yuyu-boj [juju-bodʒ]: Old lady smallpox spirit. योयोबुज: चेचक की आत्मा Rangi-sum [raŋɡi-sum]: The wind god. राङी सुम: हवा के देवता Haro-sum [haro-su̜m]: The garland or necklace god. हारोसुम: माला का देवता Ketung-sum [ket̪uŋ-su̜m]: The god who plays the violin. केतुङ-सुम: सारंगी बजाने वाले देवता Jananglo-sum [dʒanaŋlo-su̜m]: The dry crop field god. जनाङलो सुम: सुखी फसल का खेत के देवता Nyana-sum [ɲana-sum]: The walking god. ञाना सुम: चलता हुआ देवता Jorra-pur [dʒoɽa-pu̜r]: The river festival. जोड़ा पुर: नदी का त्योहार CREDITS Filmed by Opino Gomango Demonstration and narration by Arjun Sabar Directed by Opino Gomango and Dr. Gregory D. S. Anderson Produced by Anna Luisa Daigneault, Opino Gomango, Dr. Gregory D. S. Anderson, Dr. Luke Horo and Dr. Bikram Jora for Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages Sound mix and editing by Anna Luisa Daigneault English subtitles by Dr. Gregory D. S. Anderson and Anna Luisa Daigneault SUPPORT This film project was funded by a National Geographic Citizen Science Grant entitled: "Citizen science and cinematography: Documenting stories and technology of the Sora tribe" (India, 2019-2021). The Sora language data was analyzed under NSF BCS Award #1844532 (Sora Typological Characteristics: Towards a Re-Evaluation of South Asian Human History). The support from these grants is gratefully acknowledged.

• published: 21 Apr 2022
• views: 1849