[lg policy] Chai calls for collective efforts for language policy, script development

[Harold Schiffman]

 Chai calls for collective efforts for language policy, script development
March 1, 2018
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*ITANAGAR, Feb 28:* Research Minister, Dr Mohesh Chai has suggested
collective efforts by the Research department, Arunachal Institute of
Tribal Studies (AITS, RGU) and the Education department to save the
indigenous languages from extinction.
Chai’s suggestion came during a brain storming consultative meeting of
resource persons of these two departments, the AITS RGU and experts at the
Jawaharlal Nehru State Museum’s conference hall here on Wednesday.
An integrated road map may be designed to adopt appropriate policy to
develop one’s own script; the script that is to be adopted in the education
system and to establish methodology for determining actual status of each
speech community, he said.
“It is the moral duty of all Arunachalees irrespective of the department to
save their own identity by safeguarding indigenous languages” the minister
said.
Invitee resource person, Dr Roger Blench of Cambridge University, who
recently developed the Mishmi script, delivered a presentation on the need
of development of indigenous scripts, methodology and modus operandi of it.
According to Dr Roger, “Script development is the need of the hour so that
the next generation can read, learn and speak its own language and feel
pride of own associate identities”.
On methodological aspect, Dr Blench suggested for GPS marking, enumeration
of households, mother tongue speaking children at home and elsewhere,
detection of focus groups, interview with CBOs, and languages used in media
to chalk out language development strategy.
“After the field study, the field researchers have to analyze the sound of
language by writing the sound in international phonetic alphabets for
undertaking phonetic analysis,” he said.
Research Secretary, Dani Salu emphasized on preparing common list of speech
community of the state and priority sector for the development of
indigenous languages. He also pointed out on the need of technical training
for field research officers to accomplish the work successfully.
During the technical session, resource persons and experts in the
consultative meeting recommended some important points to the government
and said that language policy should be evidence based and in accordance
with the Constitution.
Advocating for prioritization of lesser known languages for development of
the script, they also recommended involvement of CBOs and NGOs, and
harmonization of scripts, if possible.
The consultative meeting further recommended that third language may be
introduced from class-I with the prior acceptance of CBOs.
‘There should be a policy for appointing expert committee for textbook
preparation with involvement of CBOs and creation of language education and
language teaching policy’, they suggested.
Earlier, Research Director Batem Pertin initiated the discussion.
State Editor Gazetteer S Kri, Dr Tarun Mene, Assistant Professor, AITS,
Prof Jumyir Basar, AITS, Lisa Kamduk, Assistant Professor, Bango Palon,
Deputy Director, Elementary Education, Jimi Pulu, Deputy Director of
Research (Philology), Dr. S.K. Ghosh, Deputy Director (Museum & Archive), R
N Koley, OSD took part in the consultative discussion.


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 Harold F. Schiffman

Professor Emeritus of
 Dravidian Linguistics and Culture
Dept. of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305

Phone:  (215) 898-7475
Fax:  (215) 573-2138

Email:  haroldfs at gmail.com
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/

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