Language Shift and Endangerment of Mising, a Tani Language in Northeast India

Abstract

This study presents a qualitative evaluation of the endangerment level of Mising (ISO 639-3: mrg), a Tibeto-Burman language of the Tani branch, spoken predominantly in the Upper Assam region and parts of Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India. This research employs the nine-factor language vitality assessment framework proposed by UNESCO (2003), with data collected through sociolinguistic questionnaires, community observations, and in-depth interviews. Findings indicate that intergenerational transmission, though still present, is increasingly threatened, with younger generations showing a worrying decline in fluency and consistent use.