PIONEER-PRICE 1993 OF THE NWO 


      Dr G.L. van Driem, a linguist from Leiden University, has
received the "Pioniersprijs 1993" of one million Dutch guilders
for his Himalayan Languages Project. The Netherlands Organization
for Scientific Research (NWO) has initiated this prize to support
researchers to set up or extend research in their field of study.
      Dr. G.L. van Driem is the co-ordinator of a team of young
linguistic researchers who are trying to transcribe the still
unrecorded languages of Nepal and Bhutan. Each linguistic
description contains information about indigenous literature and
grammar as well as a glossary. The research project also focuses
on oral history, indigenous belief, eschatology, and local
rituals. So as to be able to collect their data, the researchers
have a thorough command of the Nepalese and Dzongka language. 
      The Himalayas are inhabited by a wide range of mixed ethnic
groups, cultures, and language families. In the less accessible
areas, however, there are still communities who retain the
linguistic knowledge of the original ethnic communities. These
original ethnic communities are seen as the last representatives
of the rich culture and history of this area. 
      By order of the Buthanese government the researchers are
describing the grammar of the national language of Buthan. They
are also collecting data on a wide number of languages and
cultures of indigenous shamanistic tribes. Due to this research
project the linguistic data of different ethnic groups in the
Himalayas is being systematically mapped for the first time.