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)
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