MIRI: The development of the Kayan Online Ethnographic Dictionary has been described as a timely and relevant initiative to ensure the Kayan language and culture continue to be preserved and passed on to future generations.
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring), Datuk Gerawat Gala, said the project reflects an important effort to safeguard indigenous heritage amid growing concerns over the decline in the use of traditional languages among younger generations.
He said the initiative successfully combines modern technology, academic research, and community knowledge in strengthening the preservation of cultural heritage in the digital era.
“Language is not merely a communication tool. Language is the soul of a community that carries the history, values, customs and identity of a society.
“The preservation of indigenous languages such as Kayan not only protects the heritage of one community, but also safeguards Sarawak’s cultural identity as a whole,” he said.
Gerawat, who is Mulu assemblyman, said this when officiating the launch of the Endangered Language Fund (ELF) Legacy Language Project for the Kayan Online Ethnographic Dictionary at the auditorium of Curtin University Malaysia today.
According to Gerawat, many indigenous languages worldwide are facing threats due to modernisation, migration to urban areas, and the growing influence of global languages in education, media and technology.
He noted that younger generations are increasingly using traditional languages less in their daily lives, raising concerns that these languages may gradually disappear if preservation efforts are not undertaken seriously and consistently.
Besides the online dictionary, the project will also feature an official YouTube channel and a dedicated Kayan language website to further support learning and documentation efforts.
Gerawat stressed that preserving cultural heritage requires close collaboration between the government, educational institutions, researchers and local communities to ensure indigenous languages and traditions remain relevant for future generations.
He also commended Curtin University Malaysia for its active role in advancing research on Bornean heritage, indigenous knowledge, and cultural sustainability through community-based approaches.
Earlier, representative of Curtin Malaysia’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tuong-Thuy Vu said the project led by Dr Roselind Wan goes beyond documenting words by also recording the lived experiences, culture and identity of the Kayan community.
The launch also featured cultural performances, a special video presentation, presentation of appreciation certificates to Kayan elders who contributed to the language documentation project, as well as the Kayan Language Heritage Award.
