EFFORT TO PRESERVE ENDANGERED LANGUAGES

EXCHANGING .....UMS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah (second from left) and Acting Director of SIL Malaysia, Cynthia M. Spoelman exchanging MoU documents agreement, witnessed by Prof. Dr. Vincent Pang (left) and Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Pugh-Kitingan (right).

TO AVERT the extinction of some of the native languages of Sabah, University Malaysia Sabah (UMS) seeks to preserve and develop certain native dialects in joint effort with the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL), an organization that specializes in documenting and study of endangered languages around the world.

The joint effort is the subject of a Memorandum of Understanding between UMS and SIL that was signed at the University's Center for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language (PPIB). Representing UMS was it's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah while SIL Malaysia was represented by the Acting Director, Cynthia M. Spoelman. Also present were Dean of PPIB, Prof. Dr. Vincent Pang, and Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Pugh-Kitingan, holder of the KadazanDusun Chair.

In his remarks at the signing, Prof. Harun said that the MoU would help efforts to stimulate research and teaching of the native languages in the state.

He said the younger generations are disinclined to learn and use their native dialects and there is a real danger that some local dialects may face extinction in the future.

"Hopefully through this collaboration many linguists will take the challenge to preserve the native languages in Sabah so that they will not be buried over time," he said.

According to university sources, part of the agreement is that UMS researchers can now use the data that have been collected by SIL Malaysia since 1978.

He also said that both parties would allow the exchange of academic staff and cooperate in the documentation of languages as well as train local workers from the relevant linguistic groups to record and archive certain native languages for the purpose of preservation. (Insight Sabah)