Refugee languages documented

A university programme in Idaho is helping to document the endangered languages of refugees.

Researchers and students at Boise State are documenting the Kizigua and Maay Maay languages of the Somali-Bantu people. The research project’s goals include giving students some practical fieldwork experience, and producing a dictionary of the Kizigua language. Students are excited about the programme and the opportunity to give back to their community.

For most people, the idea of documenting an endangered language is a new concept, especially when it comes to a language not many Americans have ever heard of.

“Before I was asked to join this project, I never even heard of the language,” Kelli Jones, junior linguistics major said. “I figured the best way to get involved with something that you’re interested in is just to dive right in.”

Jones is the student editor of the Kizigua dictionary. She proofreads the Kizigua-to-English dictionary and takes notes of the video recordings of the Somali-Bantu consultant.

“It’s my first experience with a language I’ve never heard of, that I’ve never had any experience with,” Jones said. (Source: Arbiter Online)

What a great programme.