General : Digital Technology, AI Can Become Potential Mediums To Preserve Dusun Language - Joachim

KOTA KINABALU, October 11 — Digital technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), holds the potential to serve as a vital medium for preserving the Dusun language, ensuring that this community's heritage remains accessible, learned, and passed down to future generations, according to Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam.

The deputy chief minister highlighted various ways modern technology can be utilized, such as digital dictionaries, recordings of Dusun speech, podcast production, and the development of online learning materials. He emphasized that these initiatives must be bolstered through the engagement of the younger generation, educational institutions, and local communities to ensure the Dusun language remains relevant and integrated into daily life.

Joachim stressed that when a language is used less frequently, it risks leading to the loss of a significant part of their community's identity and heritage. He asked, "In the next 50 years, will our children and grandchildren still be able to speak their mother tongue and comprehend the history, customs, and culture that underpin their identity?"

Joachim, who also serves as Sabah’s Minister of Works and Utilities, made these remarks during the closing ceremony of the Ranau Dusun Language and Culture Festival in Ranau. He further urged schools, colleges, and universities to collaborate with cultural organizations and local communities to gather and document materials related to Dusun history, language, and culture for educational and research purposes.

Joachim clarified that the responsibility of safeguarding the Dusun language lies not solely with specific individuals but rather requires the collective commitment of the entire community, particularly parents and the younger generation, to maintain the use of their mother tongue. He expressed his hope that the efforts to enhance the Dusun language would not cease after the festival but would continue through education, documentation, research, and the everyday application of the language within community life.