The work of making dictionaries describes impossibility because it is a daunting task to be carried out specifically by those from cultures which do not have the advantage of established and extensive documented history of literacy and lexical recording of their languages.

The task of compiling a document of indigenous lexicon for the use of the indigenous communities or for basic documentation so outsiders can learn about an indigenous community’s language is no mean feat. Yet for two strongly motivated individuals, that is what they have done on their own with minimal assistance. Their efforts to document and preserve their indigenous languages into ethnic dictionaries were shared in the second Brown Bag Seminar for Languages and Linguistics recently at Bilik Mesyuarat Utama, PPIB. The speakers, Datuk Cosmas Abah and Mr. Ricky Ganang, indeed provided powerful motivation for the younger generation interested in ethnic dictionaries documentation.

With the theme “Challenges and the Future of Ethnic Dictionaries in Sabah’, both speakers spoke on their individual journeys of developing their respective ethnic dictionaries which started as far back as 30 years ago. The audience were privileged to listen to first-hand information in the making of ethnic dictionary.

In his paper titled ‘Challenges of making the Dusunic dictionary and the future of unwritten languages’, Datuk Cosmas outlined the difficult challenges he faced in making the Kadazan Dictionary (in Tangaa Papar) which was published in 2016. The dictionary has 334 pages and contains four sections (Kadazan root words register, botanical terms, zoological terms, and English-Kadazan-Malay dictionary). It is a personal satisfaction to overcome the challenges given that Datuk Cosmas is an engineer by training and he had to learn linguistics on his own at the beginning of his venture.

The second speaker, Mr. Ricky Ganang, recalled how he started his Lundayeh – English dictionary before the age of computers and word processors. With basic pen and paper notetaking methods to the more systematically prepared present volume, the Lundayeh – English dictionary is a work of passion and love for his language which he feels is his contribution to his indigenous community. In summary, despite the challenges which are present in making dictionaries for indigenous language, the future is a positive one.

The speakers gave their talks to a full house with representatives from local partners such as SIL Sabah, the Kadazandusun Cultural Association, Sabah State Library, IPG Kent, Sabah Cultural Board, as well as students and academic staff from UMS. 

The Brown Bag Seminar Series features local and international speakers sharing and highlighting their research in the fields of languages and linguistics - two very rich sources of research data on Sabah's indigenous communities.

SELASA, 8 MEI – Sukarelawan Persatuan Belia Islam Nasional (PEMBINA), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) seramai 40 orang terdiri dari kalangan pelajar dari pelbagai fakulti telah menjayakan program ‘Teach The Needy’ di Kampung Numbak, satu perkampungan atas air yang terletak di belakang 1Borneo Hypermall baru-baru ini.

Pengarah Program ‘Teach The Needy’, Amirul Ismail berkata, program ini dilaksanakan sebagai satu wadah bagi menonjolkan UMS sebagai institusi ilmu yang diwakili siswa-siswi UMS sendiri untuk menyebarkan ilmu dan pengetahuan kepada 30 orang kanak-kanak kampung Numbak, di samping memupuk semangat kesukarelawan dalam kalangan mahasiswa UMS untuk menyantuni dan turun padang untuk berkhidmat kepada masyarakat.

“Sebagai pelajar universiti kita perlu cakna dengan keadaan masyarakat di luar sana dan program seumpama ini merupakan satu platform untuk siswa-siswi mendekati dan berbakti kepada masyarakat secara sinergistik, janganlah kita menjadi pelajar seperti katak di bawah tempurung yang tidak mengetahui keadaan mereka di luar sana,” katanya.

Program Teach The Needy merupakan salah satu produk Skuad Relawan PEMBINA UMS di bawah Pakej Bakti yang telah diadakan beberapa siri sebelum ini dari kampung ke kampung berfokus untuk mendidik masyarakat Sabah dengan harapan ramai lagi siswa-siswi yang akan menyertai program kemasyarakatan seperti ini.

Pada program tersebut, para sukarelawan PEMBINA UMS terlibat mengendalikan pelbagai aktiviti, antaranya ‘Explorace’ bersama kanak-kanak Kg. Numbak mengikut perhentian subjek Sains, Geografi, Matematik, Bahasa Inggeris dan Pendidikan Islam, projek membersihkan dan membaiki surau serta membuat kad hiasan bagi persediaan sambutan bulan Ramadhan.

TUESDAY, 8 MAY  – An ‘Educational Visit and University-Industry Interaction Programme’ was successfully conducted yesterday when 25 students taking tourist guide licensing course from Borneo Tourism Institute (BTI) visited Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) under the coordination with the UMS EcoCampus Management Centre.

The visitation and interaction programme was aimed at preparing the students with accurate information about UMS and its campus sustainability concept, named EcoCampus concept, besides introducing the students to various unique tourist attractions within the campus on nature, scenic views, architecture, galleries and museums, and local cultural heritage.

“UMS EcoCampus concept is very encompassing to include not just creating an eco-friendly higher learning environment for our undergraduates and postgraduates from all over the world towards a green lifestyle, but also providing a fresh tourist attraction for the tourism industry in Sabah based on a green campus initiative,” said Deputy Director of the EcoCampus Management Centre, Kueh Boon Hee during his briefing to the BTI students.

“The sharing of green knowledge by UMS equips tourist guide students from BTI with a special set of know-how that is in line with Sabah State Government plan – Sabah Long Term Strategic Action Plan (Sabah LEAP) 2016-2035, and even global agenda – Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015-2030 under the United Nations,” added Kueh.

Subsequently, the programme gave the students better understanding on the principles and framework pertaining to responsible and sustainable tourism which relates to Sabah LEAP and SDGs, as well as the Region Specific Tourist Guide Course being undertaken by them.

The students from BTI who will become licensed tourist guides upon passing the course in August 2018 were hosted at the EcoCampus Visitor Information Centre (EVIC) within the EcoCampus Park situated at Block C, Faculty of Science and Natural Resources.

EVIC functions as a first-stop information centre for tourists to UMS that contributes to the formation and enhancement of UMS reputation to the general public, locally and internationally.

After the briefing, they were brought around the park, and given a try of the electric pedal assisted bicycles (EPABs) that is a mean of green transportation in the campus for UMS staff, students, and tourists.

EPABs are indeed an effective way to reduce our carbon footprint in the environment we can use the bicycles to move around with ease, fun, and environmental conscience! Next, the students were brought to visit two of UMS’ 7 existing galleries and museums, namely UMS Museum and Galeri BORNEENSIS.

UMS Museum which is situated at the Chancellery Building exhibits the historical journey of UMS since the beginning in 1994, and shows the amount of natural environment that the university has opted to safeguard till now. On the other hand, Galeri BORNEENSIS at the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation showcases the wonders of Sabah and Borneo’s terrestrial biodiversity from insects to frogs and toads, and to the endemic Bornean Pygmy Elephant.

BTI students were impressed with the EcoCampus concept, and UMS initiatives and facilities under the concept. Many expressed their surprise and awe.

The half-day programme concluded with BTI students sharing their thoughts and suggestions with Kueh and his EcoCampus Management Centre team. Present during the Programme was BTI Training Coordinator, Janice Hiew.

ISNIN, 7 MEI - Seramai 20 peserta menyertai Bengkel Pengkulturan Tisu Tumbuhan anjuran Unit Kajian Orkid (UKO), Institut Biologi Tropika dan Pemuliharaan (IBTP) Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) baru-baru ini.

Ketua Unit Orkid, Dr. Nor Azizun Rosdi berkata, peserta bengkel selama tiga hari itu terdiri daripada kakitangan Taman-Taman Sabah, Syarikat KB Agrotech Kota Belud dan Pejabat Hasil Bumi Sabah (NRO).

“Penganjurannya antara lain bertujuan memperkenalkan pengetahuan am tentang kultur tisu bagi tumbuhan, menjelaskan teknik steril dan penyediaan media kultur tisu serta  menyediakan latihan bagi penyediaan media asas.

“Selain itu bengkel ini juga menyediakan latihan bengkel bagi kultur tisu mengikut jenis tanaman yang berbeza, di samping menjadi latihan sebagai input awal bagi peserta melaksanakan projek pertanian moden kultur tisu,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Menurut Dr. Nor Azizun, bengkel itu telah dikendalikan pensyarah berpengalaman dalam bidang tersebut di UMS yang juga merangkap Dekan Pusat Penataran Ilmu dan Bahasa (PPIB), Prof. Madya Dr. Jualang Azlan Gansau dan Pengarah Pusat Instrumentasi dan Perkhidmatan Sains, Prof. Madya Dr. Zaleha Abd. Aziz.

“Mereka menerangkan berkaitan dengan konsep, teori dan aplikasi kultur tisu selain demonstrasi dan sesi latihan komprehensif di Makmal Agrobioteknologi Fakulti Sains dan Sumber Alam (FSSA) UMS,” jelasnya.

Beliau menambah, kursus terbabit turut merangkumi topik berkaitan penyediaan stok media, penyediaan hormon, teknik aseptik (steril) dan penyediaan eksplan padi dan orkid.

“Peserta juga turut diajar kaedah untuk mengkulturkan biji orkid dan padi dalam media yang berlainan,” ujarnya lagi.

Kemuncak acara menyaksikan para peserta dianugerah sijil penyertaan yang disampaikan Pemangku Pengarah IBTP, Prof. Madya Dr. Monica Suleiman.