KUSUNDA

KUSUNDA explores how immersive storytelling techniques can be used to archive and preserve endangered languages.

According to UNESCO, almost half of all languages are threatened with extinction. This also applies to Kusunda, the language of an indigenous society in the Himalayan mountains in Nepal, which is only spoken by a few village members.

Using this example, the documentary-fictional, interactive virtual reality experience KUSUNDA explores what it means to lose a language and how we can help preserve it. The users immerse themselves in the world of the last Kusunda speakers and gain an insight into their village life. They also experience the challenges of preserving indigenous identities in modern

society. KUSUNDA is an artistic case study that explores the question of how endangered languages and traditions can be preserved in the long term.

A language is not just words; it is a culture, a tradition and a marker of the community’s uniqueness. KUSUNDA raises awareness of indigenous languages and cultures and explores innovative ways to preserve them – we support this approach.