Resumen de Tracing the “extinctness” of Tai Ahom: issues of language loss and death

Dipima Buragohain

• The extinction of Tai Ahom, a language from the Tai-Kadai family that was once spoken in Assam, India, can be contributed to a number of socio-historical, linguistic and cultural factors including the development and strong influence of Assamese, a language from the Indo-Aryan family spoken in that region. In an effort to examine the dynamics that contributed to the loss of Tai Ahom, the current article focuses on a descriptive overview of issues including language shift, variation, and extinction in the case of Tai Ahom. It will also highlight the factors which contributed to its shift and gradual extinction and discuss current efforts to revive the language.