Recording
Nyishi
Paya lincho · thank you
Papum Pare, Kurung Kumey, East Kameng and more
Photo: Dolangpoly1, CC BY-SA 4.0
A living dictionary of Arunachal Pradesh
Our languages, in our own voices.
Words, phrases and the sound of them, written down with the people who speak them, village by village.
Apatani valley, Ziro · Photo: Vishnu P, CC BY-SA 4.0
Why this matters
In Arunachal, a language can change from one valley to the next. Many have no standard script and no dictionary. They live in kitchens and fields, in songs and festivals, and in the memory of our elders.
When an elder goes quiet, words go with them.
Vocal of Local writes those words down, with the sound of them, so that the next generation can still hear them.
5languages with word sheets filled in by speakers
1,108words and phrases written down so far
636words and phrases in our starting list, for every language
The idea
One stem, many flowers.
The foxtail orchid, Arunachal’s state flower, carries dozens of small flowers on a single stem. Our languages grow the same way: one language, a slightly different voice in every village. VOL keeps each one, side by side, instead of choosing a single “correct” version.
Pick a word
Thank you
Spellings as written by speakers in VOL’s word sheets. Recordings are on their way.
Being recorded now
Four languages to begin with. Many more to come.
Arunachal is home to dozens of languages. We start with four, do them carefully, and grow from there.
Recording
Adi
Aido · thank you
East Siang, Siang, Upper Siang and more
Photo: RIWATCH, CC BY-SA 4.0
Recording
Galo
Ekke Ja · thank you
West Siang, Lepa Rada, Lower Siang
Photo: Vyjayrao, CC BY-SA 4.0
Recording
Wancho
Namphui · thank you
Longding
Photo: MonyaRiba, CC BY-SA 4.0
Still in bud: 23 more languages
Every language of Arunachal deserves its place. These are on our list, and each will bloom in its turn.
- Apatani TaniiUp next
- Aka HrussoComing soon
- Bugun KhowaComing soon
- DeoriComing soon
- Digaru Mishmi TaraonComing soon
- Idu MishmiComing soon
- KhambaComing soon
- Khamti Tai KhamtiComing soon
- MembaComing soon
- Meyor ZakhringComing soon
- Miji SajolangComing soon
- Miju Mishmi KamanComing soon
- Mishing MiriComing soon
- MonpaComing soon
- NocteComing soon
- Puroik SulungComing soon
- SartangComing soon
- SherdukpenComing soon
- SingphoComing soon
- TaginComing soon
- TangsaComing soon
- TutsaComing soon
- Yobin LisuComing soon
Don’t see your language? Tell us, and help us add it →
How a word is kept
Every word blooms slowly.
A word is not “done” the moment it is written down. It grows through four checks, and we always show you how far it has come.
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1
Written down
A speaker says the word. We write the local spelling and a simple way to say it.
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2
Checked by the speaker
The speaker hears it back and confirms: yes, that is how we say it.
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3
Checked by more speakers
Other speakers from the same area agree, so it is not one person’s word alone.
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4
Reviewed by the community
Elders and the community give the final word. Then it is ready for everyone.
Real voices first
A real speaker’s recording always plays first. Where there isn’t one yet, an AI voice fills in, and it is always labelled “AI voice”.
Your language, your say
Anyone can mark a word as disputed. A language belongs to the people who speak it, and we listen.
Every layer kept
Local spelling, a simple pronunciation, the recording, IPA for researchers, verb forms and notes, each kept separately.
Coming soon
A phrasebook for your pocket.
Posted to a school in a far valley? Visiting family in the village? Learning your grandmother’s language? The VOL app will carry the phrases you need, in each language, with the sound of them.
- Teachers and officials posted far from home
- Travellers who want to say more than “hello”
- Young people reconnecting with their mother tongue
Android coming soon
iPhone coming soon
Phrasebook
Galo ▾
Search a phrase…
Help and safety
Help!
Hika ridum la ke
Getting by
Thank you
Ekke Ja
Good morning
Rogam Be
How much?
Yad gobre?
Water
Issi
PhrasesWordsSaved
Where the words live
Every valley has its own way of speaking.
Join us
Be the bridge.
A language lives as long as someone speaks it. If you speak Nyishi, Adi, Galo, Wancho, or any language of Arunachal, help us keep it for the ones who come after.
Speakers and elders
Share the words you grew up with. We come to you, listen, and record with care.
Students and researchers
Help collect and check words in your own village or district.
Schools and teachers
Bring your children’s mother tongue into the classroom.
Write to us
vocaloflocal2026@gmail.com
Cane bridge over the Dri river, Dibang Valley · Photo: goldentakin, CC BY 2.0