I practically got nothing to prove yet...

[Rejie Talagtag]

Hi,

I got my interest in documenting endangered languages after I watched testimonies of people who are doing it all over the world in Nat Geo. I strongly believe in this cause and wanted to help. As I went on investigating if there are other native languages in my province here in the Philippines besides from Inati, I found out that there is another distinct language that is spoken by a small group of people in the high mountains of Tibiao, one of the towns in my province, Antique. 

According to my relative who was able to talk to a couple of them, this language has no name neither the people that are speaking it. He said these people talked like birds and they sounded like they are speaking Latin. 

I got no proofs of it yet aside from what my relative said but I am planning to unveil the mystery behind this language. I would like to preserve their language as well (with their permission of course) so I am currently furnishing my plans to go to there village on the coming months. 

It will be a challenging journey for me as I have no background on how to do this and got no idea of what to do when I get there. I got some online assistance from the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages through the materials and documentations they sent me as guidelines and also coordinating with the professionals in the country to fasten my trip. 

I would like to ask some more ideas and tips on how to make this impossible journey of mine a success.

Thank you.

[Marta Piqueras-Brunet]

Hi Rejie,

I think it is awesome that you got inspired by a documentary and now are taking this on your own: well done!

I'll be replying to you in private to get more details since I have some experience documenting languages and will probably be in the Philippines toward the end of the year (although maybe not in the areas you're planning to be in...).

Best,

Marta

[Rejie Talagtag]

Hi Martha,

I've read your email and sent you a response.

Thank you for your generous offer.