Root-Oriented Words Generation: An Easier Way Towards Dictionary Making for the Dusunic Family of Languages
Abstract
Dictionary production is one of the most effective methods of preserving languages and cultures. The Dusunic Family of Languages (DFL) in Sabah, Malaysia would have welcomed the efforts to document their languages through dictionary production as there are still lacking of dictionary, vocabulary and phrase books. Furthermore, more than half of the languages in DFL are unwritten. However, making dictionary conventionally is tedious and time consuming. The Dusunic Family of Languages which are facing extinction threats do not have the luxury of time to wait for dictionary production via the conventional method. Hence, this study explores the use of a method called Root- Oriented Words Generation (ROWG) which is formulated based on spelling orthography of DFL to generate one and two-syllable words list. From the words list, root words registers were compiled which can then be used as database for dictionary production. Findings of this study showed that ROWG was able to generate an exhaustive word lists of DFL and compile a large volume of root words register in DFL. Hence, this study was able to highlight the feasibility and viability of using ROWG to produce root words register of DFL which could possibly reduce the time for dictionary production significantly. In future studies, it is recommended that the ROWG is extended to include more than two syllable words. This study showed the potentiality of ROWG to address the looming demise of DFL by providing a more efficient way of compiling root words for the purpose of making a dictionary.
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