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2026

Tshering Om Tamang Registers as PhD Student at Trinity College Dublin

01 March 2026

On 01 March 2026, Tshering Om Tamang officially registered as a PhD student at Trinity College Dublin.

Tshering's doctoral research will focus on the preparation of a descriptive grammar of the Monkha language as spoken in the Riti and Cungseng speech communities in Sarpang district, Bhutan. Her work will form a central component of the Lo-Rig project's long-term documentation and description of Monkha varieties.

Tshering Om Tamang at the Royal University of Bhutan

Tshering Om Tamang at the Royal University of Bhutan.

While Tshering received her visa for Ireland after a four-month wait in early March, she is still waiting for her passport to be returned and is also unable to travel to Dublin due to travel restrictions in the Middle East. The project team looks forward to welcoming her in person once the necessary arrangements have been completed.

The Lo-Rig project is delighted to have Tshering formally join the team and anticipates a productive collaboration in the years ahead.

Research Seminar on Speech Technologies for Under-Resourced Languages

17 February 2026

On 17 February 2026, Lo-Rig researcher Michael Bayona gave a talk titled “Speech Technologies for Under-Resourced Languages: From Development to Application” as part of the Trinity College Dublin Linguistics Research Seminar series.

The talk provided an overview of how speech technologies such as automatic speech recognition and forced alignment can be developed and adapted in under-resourced language settings. Drawing on previous work with Philippine languages, it discussed how speech and language data can support downstream applications such as linguistic analysis, closed captioning, reading tutors, and educational technologies.

The talk also considered methodological issues that remain important for under-resourced language technology development, including limited data availability, speaker variability, pronunciation dictionary development, model adaptation, and the use of newer self-supervised learning approaches.

This addressed questions closely connected to the project's work on AI-assisted workflows for language documentation, particularly the use of speech processing tools to support transcription, analysis, and language technology development.

More information about the seminar is available on the Trinity College Dublin website:

Speech Technologies for Under-Resourced Languages: From Development to Application

Field Visit to Phuzur, Jangbi and Wangling Villages

10-25 February 2026

Sonam travelled to Trongsa district to conduct fieldwork among the speakers of Monkha in the villages of Phuzur (her home village), Jangbi, and Wangling.

During the visit, she completed the sociolinguistic survey of all households in these villages. She also interacted with Pamo Dorjimo, one of the two remaining Pamo (female "Bon" or pre-Buddhist practitioners) in the villages. Pamo Dorjimo provided detailed information on the various patrilineal clans (or "castes") that were once found among the Monpa people and which of these clans still exist today. Sonam also clarified several outstanding questions concerning the transcription and translation of earlier recordings.

From 18 February onwards, Sonam joined the Monpa community in celebrating Dawa Dangpai Losar, the traditional New Year celebration, which lasts several days. During the daytime, men play khuru (darts) and degor (stone put). At the same time, groups of women conduct changkor: they visit every household, sing traditional songs, and are then served ara, singchang, and bangchang, local alcoholic drinks, in return. In the evening, it is the men’s turn to perform changkor.

During Losar, the main meals of the day are taken together

During Losar, the main meals of the day are taken together.

Michael Bayona Joins the Lo-Rig Project

01 February 2026

On 1 February 2026, Michael Bayona joined the Lo-Rig project as a postdoctoral research fellow.

Michael specialises in speech processing and artificial intelligence. Within the project, he will apply and further develop computational methods for the analysis of Gongduk and Monkha, with a particular focus on accelerating the transcription and processing of recorded materials. His work will also contribute to the development of digital tools and applications that speakers can use to support and promote their respective languages.

Michael Bayona, Postdoctoral Research Fellow on the Lo-Rig project.

Michael Bayona, Postdoctoral Research Fellow on the Lo-Rig project.

The Lo-Rig project team warmly welcomes Michael and looks forward to a productive collaboration over the coming three years.

Research Assistant Training in Thimphu

11 January 2026

Tim continued with training the Research Assistants Sonam and Rinchen at the Center for Bhutan and GNH Studies in Thimphu. They had made Monpa speech communities and with the transcription and translation of the recordings. This week, the Lo-Rig team was also joined by Ms. Tshering Om Tamang, the PhD candidate for the Lo-Rig project who will work on the documentation and description of Monkha. Together, the team discussed the research in detail and made a planning for the coming months.

Tshering sharing her knowledge and skills with Sonam and Rinchen during Research Assistant training in Thimphu, January 2026.

Tshering sharing her knowledge and skills with Sonam and Rinchen during Research Assistant training in Thimphu (January 2026).