Hello Language Lovers!
In this episode of Speaking Tongues, we’re so excited to be talking with Kambai about the Tyap language. Kambai hails from the Middle Belt (central) of Nigeria. He is a minoritized language advocate and speaks the Tyap language.
Between 2007 and 2020, he developed a writing system called the Akai script for the Nenzit languages. In June 2014, he started the Tyap Language Institute of Nigeria - The TyALIN, to actively promote Tyap language development through social media. Later in the same year, he self-published a few copies of a Tyap-English dictionary. Today, he leads all Tyap-related projects on Wikimedia; he co-founded the Tyap Wikipedia (2022), Tyap Wiktionary (2023), Tyap Wikimedians User Group (2022), and its incorporated Organisation (2023). These initiatives are aimed at making it easier for language learners of all ages to link back to their roots through technology, and support native speakers to boost their self-esteem as a people to protect, develop, and promote their identity.
In this episode we discuss:
🇳🇬 Kambai's early language experiences and the impact of growing up in a diverse linguistic landscape.
📖 The challenges and triumphs of creating educational resources for the Tyap language, including his work on a dictionary project.
🌍 The significance of cultural identity and the role language plays in community and personal history.
🎓 The process of advocating for Tyap on platforms like Wikipedia, and the importance of representation for lesser-known languages.
🌱 Kambai's vision for the future of Tyap and the need for a printing press to support language development and preservation.
Speaking of printing press, if any of our listeners are able to help Kambai with his vision for establishing a printing press for the Tyap language, please reach out and let us know.
Big thank you to Kambai for sharing your hard work, dedication, your language and Atyap culture with all of us. If you enjoyed this episode of Speaking Tongues, please subscribe, rate, and review the Speaking Tongues Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and like and subscribe on YouTube so that other language lovers can find the show! You can now pledge ongoing support for the show on Buy Me a Coffee dot com or on Patreon dot com. And as you know, I wrote a book! My food ‘zine of international language and cuisine, Taste Buds Vol 1. is available now for purchase! Check social media for sneak peeks inside the book and make sure you purchase for yourself and your friends! Links to all platforms are below!
To Connect with Kambai:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camylevsky/
Tyap Wikimedians organisation https://kcgwikimedia.org.ng/
The Tyap Language Institute of Nigeria : Facebook: web.facebook.com/thetyalin / Instagram: instagram.com/tyap_language_learning
Tyap language: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyap
Atyap: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atyap
Southern Kaduna: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Kaduna
Tyap Wikipedia: https://kcg.wikipedia.org
Tyap Wiktionary: https://kcg.wiktionary.org
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