Dynamic Language Infrastructure - Documenting Endangered Languages Fellowships
Division of Research Programs
THE DEADLINE FOR THIS CYCLE HAS PASSED.
Updated guidelines will be posted in advance of the next deadline. In the meantime, please use these guidelines to get a sense of what is involved in assembling an application.
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The Dynamic Language Infrastructure – Documenting Endangered Languages (DLI-DEL) Fellowships are offered as part of a joint, multi-year funding program of NEH and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop and advance scientific and scholarly knowledge concerning endangered human languages.
Addressing the imminent loss of linguistic knowledge is a major concern and a priority for both agencies. The broad range of human languages are vital for understanding human behavior and cognition, but roughly half of the world's seven thousand languages are endangered and at risk of extinction. These endangered languages constitute an irreplaceable resource, not only for the communities who speak them, but also for scientists and scholars.
DLI-DEL Fellowships support individuals who are junior or senior linguists, linguistic anthropologists, and sociolinguists to conduct research on one or more endangered or moribund languages. DLI-DEL Fellowships prioritize scholarly analysis and publication, including but not limited to lexicons, grammars, databases, peer-reviewed articles, and monographs. Awards also support fieldwork and other activities relevant to digital recording, documenting, and sustainable archiving of endangered languages.
For projects involving collaborating scholars affiliated with an eligible institution, project directors should consider applying for a Senior Research Grant through the DLI-DEL program offered by NSF in collaboration with NEH’s Division of Preservation & Access.
On July 22nd, 2022, NEH staff hosted a webinar describing the program, discussing its goals, the application and review process, budgetary issues, and suggestions for writing an effective application. The presentation included questions and answers from participants. You can view the webinar here and the slides here.
Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity and study the application to ensure you understand all the expectations and restrictions for projects delivered under this grant and are prepared to write the most effective application.
Application Materials
Program Resources
Dynamic Language Infrastructure Frequently Asked Questions, 2021 (PDF)
Recently-funded Documenting Endangered Languages Fellowships
Samples Application Narratives
The narrative samples below should not serve as models but should give you a sense of how you might craft a successful application. Note that these applications may not follow the current guidelines. Follow the requirements in the current Notice of Funding Opportunity to ensure that your application is complete and eligible.
Narrative Sample: Turning Phrases: Exploring Expressive Potential in Morpheme Combinations of Nuwä Abigip (PDF)
Narrative Sample: Conversations of the Meskwaki People: Today’s Voices Recorded and Published with Audio (PDF)
Narrative Sample: Coeur d'Alene (cda) Narratives Project (PDF)
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