The Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR) is a digital repository for preserving multimedia collections of endangered languages from all over the world, making them available for future generations.

ELAR’s mission is to:

• provide a safe long-term repository for language documentation collections
• train and support depositors in collection creation and preservation
• make collections accessible free of charge to researchers, communities, and the public
• support users in discovering and accessing recordings

In ELAR’s collections you can find recordings of every-day conversations, instructions on how to build fish traps or boats, explanations of kinship systems and the use of medicinal plants, and learn about art forms like string figures and sand drawings. ELAR’s collections are unique records of local knowledge systems encoded in their languages, described by the holders of the knowledge themselves. The ELAR Blog allows you to delve into our collections behind the scenes.

Recent posts

Share Your Lullaby with ELAR at the Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften

2 June 2025

The Endangered Languages Archive (ELAR), together with Landesmusikrat Berlin, invites you to take part in a special recording session during...

Call for nominations for the 2026 DELAMAN Award

16 May 2025

Nominations for the 2026 DELAMAN Award are now being accepted. The deadline to submit a nomination is 02 November 2025.

WeSearch event

14 May 2025

Join us for the WeSearch event “When Tree Trunks Speak: Drummed Language in Colombia and Peru” on 22 May 2025...

Annual DELAMAN Members Meeting in Berlin

9 April 2025

ELAR is hosting the 2025 meeting of the DELAMAN archives — The Digital Endangered Languages and Musics Archives Network —...

Fiyango Storytime Event by the Young Historians of Sonsorol

21 November 2024

Today on the ELAR blog, Vasiliki Vita and Daphne Nestor tell us about the Fiyango Storytime Event organized by Wonoula...

Documentation of Ososo language and Ovbiko maiden initiation rite

8 March 2024

Today on the ELAR blog, ELDP Grantee and ELAR Depositor Agnes Legbeti discusses her project ‘Documentation of Ósósọ̀  language and Ovbiko Maiden Initiation...

Empowering Communities through Education: ELAR Celebrates International Day of Education

24 January 2024

As we mark the International Day of Education, the ELAR takes pride in being a trusted repository forlanguage documentation projects...

Exclusive interview for Shamiram Media

8 January 2024

In today's ELAR Blog, Lidia Napiorkowska shares insights into her recent interview with Shamiram Media, where she discussed her project...

Illustration for Linguistic Projects

29 November 2023

Today on the ELAR blog, linguist and illustrator Lena Pointner tells us about her work creating illustrations for language materials...

Teaavagaraga na Jowi go Marina ‘Jowi and Marina’s Wedding’: Producing a documentary as a community output

8 November 2023

Today on the ELAR blog, ELDP Grantee and ELAR Depositor Catriona Malau shares her insights on the traditional wedding practices...