Advisor IT, S&T and N&RE, Mmhonlumo Kikon releasing the ‘Anglo-Lotha Dictionary’ at the Wokha District Planning and Development Board meeting held on September 15. (DIPR Photo)
Advisor Kikon lauds Department of Art & Culture, Lotha Academy and NU professors Yanbeni Yanthan and Dr Imlienla Imchen
Wokha, September 15 (MExN): An Anglo-Lotha Dictionary was released on September 15 during the monthly meeting of the Wokha District Planning and Development Board (DPDB) by Advisor IT, S&T and N&RE, Mmhonlumo Kikon.
At the meeting held at Deputy Commissioner Conference Hall, Wokha, Kikon expressed gratitude to thethe Department of Art & Culture (DA&C) and Lotha Academy for coming together in publishing the dictionary, which he noted, was a significant for the Lotha community.
The Advisor also commended Yanbeni Yanthan and Dr Imlienla Imchen, Assistant Professor, Centre for Naga Tribal Language Studies, Nagaland University for taking the initiative of bringing out the dictionary with phonetic symbols properly ascribed, a DIPR report informed.
While the concerned department has had been undertaking lot of activities and programme on promoting art and culture of the State, he said that the DA&C initiative to document the regional language of the Nagas was very significant for the Naga people.
Stating that activities may come and go but the book would remain, he expressed hope that it will be used properly.
Giving a background regarding the initiative, DA&C Director Adela Moa informed that the Planning Department had asked the DA&C in 2018 to take up some programme of the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs Government of India (GOI).
Bringing out dictionaries of different Naga Languages is one such programme, she noted, adding that language is the basic foundation on which societies are build and knowledge system sustained.
It is not only essential for communication but it is the storehouse of communities’ historical legacies as well as development of a community literature, she said. Having a data base in regional language would enable people as well as interested scholars to learn the language, she added.
As per the DIPR report, the DA&C director further stated that the ‘Anglo-Lotha Dictionary’ was the first Naga regional dictionary to use the International Phonetic Alphabet and expressed hope that it would be beneficial for the Lotha language speakers as well as students and scholars, to use the phonetic transcription for pronunciation.
On behalf of the people of the District Vice/Chairman DPDB Wokha and DC Wokha, Orenthung Lotha thanked the Department for the initiative.
Meanwhile, the DPDB Wokha also recommended to the higher authority for consideration on up gradation of Government High School Sanis to Government Higher Secondary School.
The Department of Agriculture also presented PowerPoint on the department activities in the district. Chief Medical Officer, Dr CW Tungoe also highlighted on COVID-19 scenario in the district.
The board also welcomed the following members, SP Wokha Menangmeren; Asstt. District Education Officer, K.RubyHumtsoe; SDEO Sanis, S.LichioYanthan; and DEO (EVL), DFO DoyangH.TokughaChopy, the report added.
