Self-realisation in mother tongue

A MOTHER tongue is the basis for self realisation, according to an academic.
Language lecturer at the University of Papua New Guinea, Sakarepe Kamene said writing in the mother tongue, helped people keep a record of their own cultural identities and knowledge systems.
He was speaking at the week-long orthography (writing systems) and alphabet design course in Buimo jail yesterday.
He said keeping written records in the mother tongue was being taken lightly by people in preference for English.
Kamene added that many people cannot understand English in a PNG context, making interpretation difficult.
Nineteen inmates, 14 male and five female, two female warders and two warders’ wives, are currently attending the course facilitated by the Papua New Guinea Bible Society (PNGBS).
Last week, 25 inmates and 10 CS officers learned about proposal and report writing and in the course conducted by Dr Steven Winduo, an English lecturer at UPNG.
The courses were the initiatives of the Papua New Guinea Bible Society (PNGBS) through the detainee rehabilitation programme.
Detainees programme officer Cpl Jill Tulo said the PNGBS in 2008 started its literacy programme with Buimo jail as its pilot project.
An adult literacy training of trainers course was conducted in 2008.
It again conducted a writers course last year.