KUCHING: More word lists and dictionaries need to be published by Sarawak’s ethnic groups to preserve their languages, said Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Sarawak Branch (DBPCS) director Abang Haliman Abang Julai.
He highlighted the importance of this initiative at the annual Workshop on the Construction and Verification of Sarawak Ethnic Languages and the General Database of Sarawak Ethnic Languages (PDBUSS), which aims to document, map, and strengthen ethnic languages to prevent them from fading away.
“The purpose of the workshop is to gather, verify, and evaluate these languages so they can serve as references for future generations, especially those in danger of extinction,” he said in his remarks at the conclusion of the event.
He added that the workshop also helps document specific and general terms, map languages, and supplement the Kamus Melayu Dewan (Malay Language Dictionary) with words that are synonymous or absent in the Malay language.
The two-day workshop, attended by 20 participants from various ethnic groups, provided a critical platform to ensure that Sarawak’s minority languages remain relevant and continue to be spoken by younger generations.
Abang Haliman also hoped that more Sarawak indigenous ethnic groups would engage in the work of collecting their respective languages by compiling word lists and dictionaries.
He noted that many minority ethnic groups in Sarawak have yet to publish word lists, glossaries, or dictionaries.
Meanwhile, first-time participant Samasu Johari from Kabong said while there is a Sarawak Malay dictionary, Kabong Malay has distinct differences in intonation and vocabulary compared to Sarawak Malay in other regions.
He expressed enthusiasm for documenting Kabong Malay and hoped to see it published in the future.
Jacquluelyne Ekot of Kejaman descent has attended the workshop four times and stressed the importance of DBPCS continuing this initiative to help minority groups document their languages and cultures for future generations.
Erick Drebber Dangan, representing the Sekapan people of Belaga, shared that they are in the process of drafting the Sekapan language to ensure it continues to be spoken.
