The Department of Languages, Culture & Society, College of Engineering & Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, in association with the Dr. T. R. Paarivendhar Multidisciplinary Research Centre for Indigenous Language Studies, organized an Expert Talk on “Language, Culture and Environment” on Thursday, 7 August 2025, at 3:00 PM in UB 1116. The talk was delivered by Dr. Gail Coelho, Professor, Department of Linguistics, University of Delhi.
Marking the occasion of World Tribal Day, the event aimed to shed light on the intricate interconnections between language, culture, and environment, particularly in the context of indigenous communities. Drawing from her extensive fieldwork with the Betta Kurumba community, Dr. Coelho shared valuable insights into the documentation and preservation of endangered languages, highlighting their cultural and ecological significance. She emphasized the urgent need to safeguard linguistic diversity amidst globalization and underlined the role of ethnobiological knowledge in sustaining both cultural heritage and environmental stewardship.
The session was highly interactive, with participants engaging in discussions on language ecology, cultural resilience, and the collaborative role of academia and communities in language revitalization. Faculty members, research scholars, and students from various disciplines attended the event, gaining a deeper appreciation for the preservation of indigenous languages and traditions.
The program was coordinated by Dr. Mahesh M and Dr. Arul Dayanad from the Department of Languages, Culture & Society, SRMIST. The event successfully fostered dialogue on preserving indigenous linguistic heritage, aligning with the department’s mission to blend language learning with cultural understanding for meaningful global engagement.
