The CauLaGe Summer Program in Linguistic Field Research was launched in 2024 as the first initiative worldwide dedicated to immersive training in linguistic field research with a focus on hands-on data collection with speakers of under-studied languages from a formal/theoretical perspective. It opens participation to students and researchers from around the world. Our program combines morning lectures with afternoon team-based fieldwork alongside native speakers, and evening discussions to consolidate methods and address challenges. In each group, experienced researchers and learners work together in real field conditions, gaining practical skills that are applicable well beyond the Caucasus.
The 2024 trial edition, held in the Tsova-Tush-speaking village of Zemo Alvani (East Caucasian) in collaboration with Ilia State University, aimed to establish connections with the community and gain logistical experience. Building on this foundation, the 2025 edition was able to expand significantly thanks to the generous support of the Van Riemsdijk Foundation: applications rose from 26 in 2024 to 96 in 2025, reflecting strong international demand. The funding allowed us to cover food and accommodation for all unfunded students who requested support, ensuring that financial obstacles did not prevent anyone from taking part. It also made possible the involvement of international lecturers and consultants, which guaranteed both the high quality of the training and the scientific rigor of the research carried out.
The school has three core objectives: (1) to train students in theory-informed, team-based fieldwork; (2) to promote Caucasian languages both as valuable sources for linguistic theory and as community languages, through materials that foster maintenance; and (3) to foster collaboration across disciplines and backgrounds. The success of the 2024 and 2025 editions has now paved the way for a permanent expansion: from 2026 the program will become multisite, with a new field station in Zemo Alvani and the next summer school already planned in Peria, where the language of study will be Abkhaz (West Caucasian). This evolution demonstrates how the Foundation’s support transformed an experimental pilot into a sustainable, unique, and well-regarded program in linguistic field research.