UOG hosts workshop on the preservation of language

A WORKSHOP on the preservation of indigenous linguistic heritage through basic oral language documentation (BOLD) was held this week at the University of Goroka. 
Visiting academic and facilitator Associate Prof Steven Bird, from the University of Melbourne, conducted the workshop voluntarily to students and staff from the language and literature department. 
The workshop is an exciting step forward from the study of the Alekano language offered to students by the language and literature department. 
UOG is participating in the workshop as part of the BOLD project.
Day one involved demonstration on the use of a digital voice recorder, 35 of which have been donated by Associate Prof Bird to the language and literature department through the generosity of Olympus electronics. 
Participants also had practical lessons on how to use the recorders, and practised on each other the new techniques learnt. 
The workshop was also attended by representatives of the Alekano Gako Oti’tive (Alekano language revitalisation group) and three volunteers from the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL). 
UOG Vice-Chancellor Dr Gairo Onagi, who opened the workshop, said: “Language is very important to us as it is life.” 
Dr Onagi thanked Associate Prof Bird for teaching staff and student’s new technology and methodology to record and preserve languages.