Kala Biŋawalo

Language documentation

Our research team included a linguistic anthropologist and an environmental anthropologist from the University of British Columbia, a linguist from the University of Hawai‘i, and a marine biologist from Bishop Museum. We focused on aquatic environment because of its importance in Kala-speakers’ lives.

Kala speakers proudly identify themselves as coastal people. Thus, the ocean (ta in Kala) is a key part of Kala life. But they are also horticultural people. The six Kala-speaking villages are richly endowed with rivers (alẽ in Kala) along which most gardens are located.