10 Jul 2014

Recordings to preserve PNG's Motu language

2:50 pm on 10 July 2014

Audio recordings of the Motu language, one of PNG's official languages, are to be created to try preserve it for future generations.

About 40 thousand people speak Motu, but a senior lecturer who specialises in Motu at the Divine Word University, Dr Sibona Kopi, says the dialect could become extinct in 50 to 60 years.

One of the villages of Motu KoItabu, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

One of the villages of Motu KoItabu, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

He says many young Motuans do not know basic Motu, and the language is dying at a faster rate than some realise, but steps are being taken to try and ensure the language is saved.

"We are going to write a dictionary, and then after that we will set up the schools where we Motuans will be involved to teach our young our past. As well as recording of speech, we will preserve them for future generation."

Dr Sibona Kopi says they will also create an online dictionary so it can be accessible to Motuans who are overseas.