Kids lack native language: Translator

INTERNATIONAL professional translator Dr Ellis Deibler says Papua New Guinean children are not learning indigenous languages from their parents.
“This is a worrying problem. Language is the shrine of a person’s soul, and to lose language is to lose your culture,” she said at a seminar on language translation work.
The May 13 seminar was hosted by University of Goroka (UOG) language and literature department and Deibler was a guest presenter with 20 years experience in PNG and the Alekano and Yaweyuha languages.
The seminar was conducted as part of the department’s celebration of and participation in the United Nation’s proclamation on the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures. 
The seminar was officially opened by acting dean of the humanities faculty Dr Lynus Yamuna who said the UN’s proclamation was timely for UOG which was focusing on indigenous languages and cultures.
The seminar was aimed at staff, students and communities with interests in documenting their own languages.
Other topics covered included the meaning of translation, types of translations, reasons to translate, translation versus interpretation, and career opportunities available through the work of translation.
The gathering concluded with participants looking forward to Deibler’s next seminar to be held at UOG on May 27.