SHILLONG, OCT 24: Initiative for the creation of Khasi dictionary was taken at MAD Gallery in Umsohsun with linguistic presentation and demonstration of the software to collect and compile the dialects from across Khasi and Jaintia hills.
Dr Hiram Ring, a research scholar on Pnar language from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, initiated the discussion as his area of work is in the Pnar region even as he has endeavoured to collect the different dialect from all over Khasi and Jaintia hills.
The computer programme ‘WeSay‘ developed by Summer Institute of Linguistics: www.palaso.org was demonstrated by Dr Ring to enable lay person to make random collection of words, prior to analysis and definition of specific meaning.
Seng Khasi Seng Kmie president Bantei Singh Rumnong who graced the occasion as chief guest lauded the effort of Riti Academy, who was behind the event organised on Saturday, who ventured in this important exercise that is bound to benefit the Khasi society. He claimed “Khasi language is very rich, but the usage of genuine words in conversation has diminished due to the convenience of loan words from other foreign languages like English and Hindi”.
Rumnong lamented at the contemporary situation and the trend to uphold the English language as the primary mode of communication, even as he admitted the importance of learning English.
Delivering his lecture Dr Hiram Ring stated, “Our main intention is to expose specialists to an inclusive understanding of the Khasi language as comprising more than standard Khasi. Although the use of a standard variety is important and necessary to aid communication, by focusing only on the standard, the richness of the Khasi language is hidden from the world and from its own speakers.”
Dr Ring said this focus also threatens to cause division, as it ignores the important linguistic contributions that different varieties have made and continue to make to the broader Khasi milieu.
The gathering on Saturday also resolved to constitute the core group to enable stakeholders from the city and from the remote villages to contribute in the exercise of words collection and compilation.
The group is led by Raphael Warjri and DR Michael Buam, the conveners of the discussion. The group will engage linguists and language experts from academic institutions and grassroots people from the specific region to involve in the project.
Riti Academy has already been in the process of compilation of Khasi words and coinage of new words. The exercise is being undertaken by Sumar Sing Sawian and Raphael Warjri, while contribution from other persons in the field are being considered.
Both, however, admitted that it is not authentic and standardise pending the scholastic intervention of linguist and language experts.-By Our Reporter
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