Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 9) — For the team behind online dictionary Marayum, their mission could not be any clearer: help the country’s indigenous communities keep their treasured languages.
The dictionary-making tool, which is financed by the Department of Science and Technology, currently has 186 languages — 34 of which are in trouble, 11 dying, and two extinct.
“When a language is lost, you lose the spirit of the culture. It’s really heartbreaking,” project leader Mario Carreon told CNN Philippines.
“One of the things that is new about Marayum is that it is the community that is the one who uploads and maintains their dictionary. What the website does, it just simply abstracts the community,” explained Carreon, an assistant professor at the Department of Computer Science of University of the Philippines Diliman.
Native speakers of an indigenous language can serve as contributors, he said, adding the team recommends individuals that have linguistic training serve as reviewers or editors.
“You don’t have to learn IT or be an expert linguist to contribute to your language dictionary. All that is needed is that you speak it,” Carreon said.
The Marayum team is comprised of UP graduates from various disciplines.
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