BANGI: The Ministry of National Unity (KPN) has proposed incorporating the study of colloquial language and local dialects as part of the language studies syllabus at higher education institutions. Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang stated that this initiative could be achieved through close cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education. He emphasized that educational programmes involving storytelling, poetry, and performing arts in colloquial languages could enhance students’ appreciation of their linguistic heritage. The initiative aims to integrate gathered information on various languages into the higher education syllabus.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Aaron suggested including dialects and colloquial languages, particularly lesser-used local languages, into dictionaries to enrich vocabulary and contribute to national, official, and educational languages. He highlighted the importance of expanding research on colloquial language and dialects across all states, involving all races, ethnicities, and
indigenous groups in Malaysia, with findings to be published. He also expressed hope for the National Archives to explore digitalisation of old texts, audio recordings, and important documents in colloquial languages to preserve this heritage in digital formats for future generations.
Aaron mentioned that advanced scanning technology and cloud databases could support this digitalisation project to facilitate storage and retrieval. Meanwhile, National Archives Director-General Datuk Jaafar Sidek Abdul Rahman shared that 11 series of Colloquial Language Talks have been conducted since last year to promote language as a tool for unity. Next year, his department plans to collaborate with various parties, including higher education institutions, language researchers, and associations, to gather information on colloquial languages and dialects nationwide. The aim is to document these languages and prevent them from fading, preserving them as national treasures.
The National Colloquial Language Convention, which i
s being held over two days, aims to collect and document information related to colloquial language to ensure its preservation and accessibility for future generations. The convention features discussions from language and cultural scholars, literary and cultural practitioners, academics, and communities from various backgrounds, including Sabah and Sarawak, on strategies to document and sustain colloquial language usage in society.