Himalayan Linguistics

Oral tradition serves as a vital medium for transmitting wisdom, values, and collective memory across generations. Among the Lainong people of northwestern Myanmar, Kaīvi and Kaīvi Yuīnyiū represent distinctive oral genres that embody cultural knowledge, ritual practice, and poetic expression. This study investigates these traditions through ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Lahe, Myanmar, where the Kaīvi festival continues to be celebrated. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, the research integrates semi-structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews, document analysis, and autoethnographic reflection. Findings reveal that Lainong speakers demonstrate a strong commitment to preserving Kaīvi and Kaīvi Yuīnyiū despite the sociopolitical and urban pressures threatening their survival. The narrative-poetic form of these songs, composed in an archaic register of the Lainong language, encodes communal values and lived experiences through rich metaphorical language. This study contributes to anthropological linguistics by highlighting how oral traditions function as vehicles of identity and resilience within an endangered linguistic community.