Miri conference highlights urgent need to preserve indigenous languages
MIRI (July 27): Indigenous languages should be celebrated for their richness and diversity, as they play a vital role in shaping the cultural identities, heritage and knowledge systems of the indigenous people.
In stressing this, Malaysia Evangelical Theological Seminary (METS) Miri Campus chairman Philip Ngo hailed these languages as beyond being merely means of communications, as they also stood as living testaments to the history, traditions and ancestral wisdom of communities.
According to him, in Sarawak alone, there are 27 native ethnic groups, each with its own distinct tongue.
'Unfortunately for some of these tribes, their languages are in danger of being forgotten or even being lost,' he said in his opening address at the Borneo Indigenous Linguistic Conference 2025, held at a hotel here yesterday.
Adding on, Ngo regarded this conference as being in line with the goal of the United Nations International Decades of Indigenous Languages (UNIDIL), declared in 2022 and on-going until 2032.
'The purpose of the conference is to create a platform meant to celebrate indigenous languages of Borneo, the literature, and the traditional songs.
'At the same time, it provides a forum to raise awareness of the current status of the languages.
'We hope to also ignite a wave of cultural resurgence with the inaugural launches of indigenous dictionaries, the Bible translation, children's books, as well as songs to nurture and revitalising the languages for generations to come.
'The conference also aims to promote awareness within Sarawak, especially the indigenous communities, of the importance of safeguarding and revitalising indigenous languages, in alignment with the UNIDIL 2022-2032,' he elaborated.
Among the keynote speakers of the conference was Dr Lorna Wanosts'a7 Williams, who is the Associate Professor Emeritus of Indigenous Education – Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Victoria in Canada.
Ngo said Williams' presence at the conference offered a unique opportunity for the participants to learn more about indigenous communities in Canada, as well as the advanced processes of language protection and revitalisation being undertaken at University of Victoria.
In her sharing-session, Williams talked about the revitalisation of indigenous languages and also the UNIDIL.
There were other speakers as well: Dr Jeannet Stephen who presented 'Bridging Worlds: Borneo Voices in Global Conversation'; Dr Roselind Wan who discussed 'Language Documentation in Practice: A case study of the Kayan language'; Ricky Yakub Ganang who spoke about 'The Lun Dayeh Language Dictionary'; Elya Bit who delivered the report on 'Compiling the Tring Dictionary'; Mutang Urud and Agan Uru who jointly talked about 'Kelabit Language in Transition and Bridging Generations: The Digital Kelabit Lexicon'; and Komeok Joe Tungang who gave a presentation on 'Penan: Oral History & Pre-School'. Borneo Indigenous Linguistic Conference lead miri native languages
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Malaysia
2 days ago
- Herald Malaysia
Witnesses of faith on a Jubilee pilgrimage of hope
Three young pilgrims of hope offer powerful testimonies of faith, rediscovery, and love at the pre-vigil of the Jubilee of Youth in Tor Vergata, Rome. Their stories, different in language and life experience, converge in a shared desire to respond to God's love with their own lives. Aug 03, 2025 By Linda BordoniIn the warmth of the setting Roman sun, hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims of hope awaited the arrival of Pope Leo XIV in Rome's Tor Vergata space, giving life to an evening of prayer, music, remembrance and sharing on the eve of the culmination of their Jubilee on Sunday morning. From different countries, cultures and in different idioms, they all spoke the language of faith and fraternity; and joined in their love for Christ, they effortlessly reached out to their peers from all over the world with the passion of youth and the joy of belonging. Antoine: 'I met Christ and everything changed' Antoine Saint-Claire, 18, from France, began his story by painting the image of a happy childhood in a loving Christian family. Faith, he said, was always present, yet somewhat routine: Mass on Sundays, catechism, the sacraments shared with friends. It was during his teenage years, he added, that a deeper yearning began to stir in him. 'I looked at other young people and saw something more,' he said. 'They wept during adoration, they had favourite Bible verses, they spoke to God like a friend, and I wondered why I didn't feel that way.' With these questions within, Antoine attended the FRAT pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2023. There, he said, during a moment of adoration after confession, something shifted: 'I knelt before the Blessed Sacrament, and in my heart I heard the Lord say: 'One day, you will see my love.'' A few months later, in the silence of his home, he continued, he had a profound spiritual encounter with Jesus, a moment of peace, love, and deep joy. 'That encounter gave meaning to my life,' Antoine affirmed. 'I now know I am loved, and I want to love in return, with all I am.' 'Let us open our hearts,' Antoine urged at the end of his testimony, 'each one different, but all capable of receiving love and spreading it. By God's grace, we will succeed. Amen.' Gustavo: "I want to sing the praises of the Lord" Gustavo Eterno, a Brazilian member of the Shalom Catholic Community, spoke about how, for the past 22 years, he has been consecrated in the Shalom Community. 'Fifteen of those years I lived as a celibate. Today, I walk the path of a seminarian, and with God's grace, I hope to one day be ordained to the priesthood,' he said, introducing himself. Gustavo described how music played a significant role in his spiritual and personal journey. In his youth, he said, music was a private refuge, a way to express emotions and find solace amid personal struggles. Over time, he added, this interior world began to lose meaning for him, explaining that as he sought love and freedom in secular experiences, ultimately he felt disoriented and distant from God. 'I came to the point of no longer believing in the possibility of true love,' he recalled. 'The songs that once spoke of life and friendship began to speak of death.' His turning point came during a moment of Eucharistic adoration. 'My eyes were opened, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus,' he said. 'There, I encountered the love I had been seeking.'Eterno concluded by expressing his desire to share this experience through music and witness: 'Every second of my life that God allows me to live on this earth, I want to sing the praises of the Lord and help others encounter the same joy that He poured into my life.' Olimpia: 'Chosen to love' Olimpia Iacono, a physician from Ischia, Italy, offered a deeply personal witness of her vocation to love, not only as a doctor, but as a Christian woman called to serve with her heart. After completing her medical degree, Olimpia's life seemed on track, but she added that a sudden breakup and an unexpected move left her disoriented. A mission trip to Argentina became a turning point. During a moment of prayer, inspired by the Gospel of the blind man of Jericho, she said she heard a message whispered to her: 'The Lord has chosen you to love.' 'I had always thought my vocation was to be a good doctor or a good wife,' she noted, 'But I had never considered the universal vocation of every baptised person: the call to love.' This call took concrete form when Olimpia met Francesco, a terminally ill patient in her hospital. Through simple gestures, she narrated how she accompanied him through his final weeks. 'His hospital room became a small church,' she recalled. On his birthday, Francesco entered eternal life, she said: 'That day, I understood that what seemed like useless suffering had become a time of grace.'--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
4 days ago
- Herald Malaysia
Church affirms deaf inclusion at Jubilee 2025 in Bangkok
St Louis Church in Bangkok recently hosted a special 'Open House' event for deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholics in celebration of the Church's Jubilee 2025 theme: Pilgrims of Hope. Attendees came from Bangkok and neighbouring provinces, marking a significant step toward greater inclusion and accessibility for a long-overlooked community within the Church. Aug 01, 2025 Narong Thanomlek (left), Yindee Poonvithayakij (centre), and a fellow attendee flash the 'I love you' sign during the Jubilee 2025 Open House for Deaf Catholics in Bangkok. (LiCAS News photo) BANGKOK: St Louis Church in Bangkok recently hosted a special 'Open House' event for deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholics in celebration of the Church's Jubilee 2025 theme: Pilgrims of Hope. Attendees came from Bangkok and neighbouring provinces, marking a significant step toward greater inclusion and accessibility for a long-overlooked community within the Church. Fr Peter Bhuravaj Searaariyah, chaplain of the Deaf Catholic Association of Thailand and national coordinator for Deaf Ministry, emphasised that the event was both a celebration and a necessary pastoral response to the deep isolation many deaf Catholics experience. He noted that religious communication barriers often leave them feeling unseen, particularly during services where traditional liturgy excludes non-hearing members. 'By bringing them together,' Fr Peter said, 'they experience the support of community and the love of God in a language they understand.' Fr Peter has been leading efforts to make Catholic life more accessible, including Bible sharing, retreats, sign language interpretation, and even developing a visual 'picture language' version of the Bible. However, significant challenges remain. Only two of Thailand's eleven dioceses offer real support for deaf Catholics, and there are just two trained sign language teachers nationwide, with two more in training. Narong Thanomlek, the first Catholic graduate with a degree in Sign Language Teaching from the Princess Sirindhorn Institute, highlighted the unique challenges of religious ministry in sign language. He explained that sign languages differ by country and require facial expressions and body movement — elements often missing from traditional Church practices. The event also spotlighted powerful personal stories. Yindee Poonvithayakij, who lost her hearing at 12, recalled a traumatic moment when a priest rejected her written confession. For decades, she felt cut off from her faith. Now, she volunteers with joy, finding healing through community. Many deaf Catholics have stopped attending Mass due to the inability to understand or participate. Fr Peter stressed that this spiritual exclusion must be addressed, especially as the community prepares for the upcoming Asian Deaf Catholic Congress in Korea. He hopes participants will return with renewed faith and help Church leaders better grasp their needs. He also noted the struggles of deaf children growing up in families where no one speaks sign language, limiting both communication and faith formation. Yet signs of hope are emerging. Some non-Catholics, drawn by the Church's increasing inclusivity, are exploring conversion. One participant expressed newfound joy after joining the group, saying they no longer feel invisible. For many, St Louis Church and its Holy Spirit Chapel have become places of spiritual refuge, offering sign language Mass, confession, and community tailored to their needs. In this Jubilee Year, Thailand's deaf Catholics are making their message clear: they are not forgotten — they are pilgrims of hope, proclaiming a Gospel felt through heart and hand. --LiCAS News
Borneo Post
27-07-2025
- Borneo Post
Miri conference highlights urgent need to preserve indigenous languages
Williams hit the gong to kick off the Borneo Indigenous Linguistic Conference 2025 in Miri. MIRI (July 27): Indigenous languages should be celebrated for their richness and diversity, as they play a vital role in shaping the cultural identities, heritage and knowledge systems of the indigenous people. In stressing this, Malaysia Evangelical Theological Seminary (METS) Miri Campus chairman Philip Ngo hailed these languages as beyond being merely means of communications, as they also stood as living testaments to the history, traditions and ancestral wisdom of communities. According to him, in Sarawak alone, there are 27 native ethnic groups, each with its own distinct tongue. 'Unfortunately for some of these tribes, their languages are in danger of being forgotten or even being lost,' he said in his opening address at the Borneo Indigenous Linguistic Conference 2025, held at a hotel here yesterday. Adding on, Ngo regarded this conference as being in line with the goal of the United Nations International Decades of Indigenous Languages (UNIDIL), declared in 2022 and on-going until 2032. 'The purpose of the conference is to create a platform meant to celebrate indigenous languages of Borneo, the literature, and the traditional songs. 'At the same time, it provides a forum to raise awareness of the current status of the languages. 'We hope to also ignite a wave of cultural resurgence with the inaugural launches of indigenous dictionaries, the Bible translation, children's books, as well as songs to nurture and revitalising the languages for generations to come. 'The conference also aims to promote awareness within Sarawak, especially the indigenous communities, of the importance of safeguarding and revitalising indigenous languages, in alignment with the UNIDIL 2022-2032,' he elaborated. Among the keynote speakers of the conference was Dr Lorna Wanosts'a7 Williams, who is the Associate Professor Emeritus of Indigenous Education – Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Victoria in Canada. Ngo said Williams' presence at the conference offered a unique opportunity for the participants to learn more about indigenous communities in Canada, as well as the advanced processes of language protection and revitalisation being undertaken at University of Victoria. In her sharing-session, Williams talked about the revitalisation of indigenous languages and also the UNIDIL. There were other speakers as well: Dr Jeannet Stephen who presented 'Bridging Worlds: Borneo Voices in Global Conversation'; Dr Roselind Wan who discussed 'Language Documentation in Practice: A case study of the Kayan language'; Ricky Yakub Ganang who spoke about 'The Lun Dayeh Language Dictionary'; Elya Bit who delivered the report on 'Compiling the Tring Dictionary'; Mutang Urud and Agan Uru who jointly talked about 'Kelabit Language in Transition and Bridging Generations: The Digital Kelabit Lexicon'; and Komeok Joe Tungang who gave a presentation on 'Penan: Oral History & Pre-School'. Borneo Indigenous Linguistic Conference lead miri native languages
