Digital tools, AI can preserve Dusun language for future generations, says Sabah deputy CM

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 11 — The Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, has emphasized the potential of digital technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), to protect and promote the Dusun language for future generations. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Ranau Dusun Language and Culture Festival, Dr Gunsalam highlighted the development of digital dictionaries, recordings of Dusun speech, podcast production, and online learning materials as vital tools for preserving the language.

He stressed that it is crucial to involve the younger generation, educational institutions, and local communities in these efforts to maintain the language's relevance and usage in daily life. Dr Gunsalam, who is also the Minister of Works and Utilities, posed a critical question about the language's survival in the next 50 years, questioning whether children and grandchildren will still be able to speak and understand the culture and heritage tied to the Dusun language.

He called on schools, colleges, and universities to collaborate with cultural organizations and local communities to gather and document Dusun history, language, and culture materials for educational and research purposes. Dr Gunsalam stressed that the responsibility of safeguarding the Dusun language is a shared one, requiring commitment from the community, particularly parents and the younger generation, to practice their mother tongue.

He expressed hope that the momentum generated by the festival would lead to sustained efforts in education, documentation, research, and the active use of Dusun in community life, ensuring the language's continuity beyond the festival's conclusion.