PENAMPANG: The third Volume of the Kadazan Flash Cards application was launched here yesterday in conjunction with the International Mother Language Day 2024.
Penampang Member of Parliament Datuk Ewon Benedick, who launched it online at J Borneo Lok Kawi, said the mother tongue should be dignified on the world stage, while harmonising voices in the International Decade of Indigenous Languages as recognised by UNESCO.
“According to UNESCO, 40 per cent of the world’s population do not have access to education in their native language. This situation poses a significant challenge to the inclusivity of education and the preservation of linguistic diversity.
“In my opinion, we must master our mother tongue in addition to our national language and at least one international language.”
The Federal Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister also said native language students are very fortunate to have materials that can assist their learning.
Since its introduction in 2018, the Kadazan Flash Cards application has become an effective medium for cultivating an interest in learning the Kadazan language among the youth.
Starting with the basics of the language enriched with illustrations and pronunciations in the First Volume, then progressing to more interactive lessons in the Second Volume, this application has evolved with the times, he said, adding that the Third Volume goes even further by adding new categories and more complex expressions, enhancing the ability of this application to meet the increasing learning needs and ensuring that the Kadazan language remains relevant in the 21st century.
“Such applications are tools for preserving the language that not only teaches but also revives our heritage in an engaging digital format,” he said.
Saying the Kadazandusun Language Foundation (KLF) should be commended for this progressive effort, he hopes that the launch will sow the seeds to ensure the preservation of the language and culture in the future.
