RM150,000 allocated to boost Iban language
KUCHING: The Sarawak government has allocated RM150,000 to support the Association for the Educational Development of Iban Language (AEDIL) in advancing Iban language education across the state. Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas made the announcement during a courtesy call by an AEDIL delegation at Wisma Bapa Malaysia yesterday. Uggah stressed that the Iban […]
Majority of Iban language teachers not qualified
KUCHING: Out of 2,093 Iban language teachers in Sarawak primary schools, 325 of them are properly trained to teach Iban having attended the Program Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan (PISMP) or other related courses. This means 1,741 teachers currently teaching Iban language in primary schools do not hold the qualification to do so effectively. Deputy Premier […]
Need for more Iban language teachers in schools
MIRI: Minister in the Premier’s Department, Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai, has expressed concern over the shortage of Iban language teachers in Sarawak schools. Emphasising the importance of the Iban language, he said its inclusion in the school curriculum is important to enhance and preserve the language. During his speech at the closing of the […]
Google adds Iban language to Google Translate
KUCHING: The Iban language is now supported on Google’s online translation tool, Google Translate, as part of its recent expansion of 110 new languages. Google Translate senior software engineer Isaac Caswell said they are using artificial intelligence (AI) to expand the variety of languages. “Google Translate breaks down language barriers to help people connect and […]
Move to preserve Iban language lauded
SIBU: The Persatuan Intelektual Pribumi Sarawak (PERANTIS) lauded the proposal to set up an Iban Language Study Centre in Sarawak in a move to preserve the language. PERANTIS deputy president Nelly Tawai and women chief Robbia Jarup said the effort to resolve the Iban language teachers’ crisis is appreciated. “The Iban language is no longer […]
A coming-of-age story
I was granted the opportunity to watch Director, Producer and Cinematographer Alaric Soh’s first film, “Kumang — Aku ukai 17 agi”, before it hits cinemas nationwide on July 13. The movie is spoken in the Iban language and was filmed in Kuching. I went for it with an open mind as I told him that I did […]
Fanciful names, thanks to imaginative Iban parents
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. – William Shakespeare, English playwright, poet and actor WHILE serving in a teachers’ college and later in a few schools from Kanowit to Bau and of course going around the longhouses in Krian, Saribas, along the Rajang […]
Empower Iban language right up to university: Sikie
BY NEVILLE TIMOTHY SANDERS & ABIDGAIL MERTA GANGGANG KUCHING: The Iban language needs to be empowered, beginning from primary and secondary school level right up to higher education institutions. Minister in Premier’s Office, Datuk John Sikie Tayai said this is important so that the language can be fully mastered and synchronised. “We all know the […]
Upholding and strengthening the Iban language
MIRI: Senator Datuk Dr Nuing Jeluing says the use of the Iban language should be applied and improved so that it is in line with the use of other main languages in the country. According to a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) report, he added that towards this, the Dayak Association Miri (DAM) organised a […]
My Iban book
If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it. – Toni Morrison, American novelist Two days ago I was awakened by my own acclamation in my own mother tongue. Somebody in my dream was asking me about what happened to my Iban book that […]
