LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 23:1 January 2023
ISSN 1930-2940

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         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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The Challenges of Translating Tai Ahom Copper Plate Inscription of
Aauniati Satra and Its Web Hosting

Dr. Dhrubajyoti Baruah, Satya Ranjan Phukon and Kamal Gayan

Abstract

Translation of ancient scripts has always been a challenging task. If the language is extinct, it is even more difficult to translate the old manuscripts. Such manuscripts get damaged due to unwanted physical and biological factors. Such damages make it more difficult to understand what is actually written on it. Tai Ahom language is an extinct language once used by the Ahom people of the North East India. In this paper, we are presenting the challenges faced while translating an Ahom language manuscript engraved on copper plate, now preserved in Auniati Satra of Majuli, Assam. The translation effort is the initial part of a bigger goal to place the Tai Ahom Language manuscripts in web based technology platform.

Keywords: Tai Ahom language, Assamese language, extinct language, Copper plate, Manuscript, Natural Language Processing.

1. Introduction

The copper plates and manuscripts are parts of historical evidence of existence of the Ahom language. Copper plate was used by the kings and other ministers as an evidence of their work. The writing materials of Ahom periods were Sachi tree bark, Copper plate, Stone pillar, Cloth, Bamboo stick, Coins, Surface of cannon etc. During the early period of Ahom reign, the mother tongue was naturally Tai Ahom whose evidence is hold by the manuscripts. Most of the copper plates provide a brief information of land donation to the institutions and individuals. The text in ancient copper plates are not easy to decipher. The translation of Tai Ahom copper plate writing is a challenging task which is described in this paper.

2. Tai Ahom Language

The Ahoms are the western most Tai group of North-East India. Ahom people migrated to Assam from Mong Mao, which is now in Yunnan province of China[1]. While migrating from China, the Ahom people brought with them a rich cultural and literary heritage. Ahom language was used as the sole language of the Ahom kingdom until the 15th or 16th century, when it started to be replaced by Assamese. By the early 19th century Ahom was no longer used as a spoken language, although it continued to be used in religious ceremonies throughout the 19th century, and since 1920 efforts have been made to revive the Ahom language and culture[2]. Since the early 18th century, there have been no native speakers of the language, though extensive manuscripts in the language still exist today. The tonal system of the language is entirely lost. The language was only partially known by a small group of traditional priests of the Ahom religion and it was being used only for ceremonial or ritualistic purposes.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Dr. Dhrubajyoti Baruah
Associate Professor
Dept. of Computer Application
Jorhat Engineering College
Assam,India
dhrubaghy@gmail.com

Satya Ranjan Phukon
Research Assistant
Dept. of Computer Application
Jorhat Engineering College
Assam, India

Kamal Gayan
Software Developer
Dept of Computer Application
Jorhat Engineering College
Assam, India
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