Lack of quality documentation : Plaque to the growth of a language

Posted by abdul  at December 28th, 2012

Written texts, including transcribed, translated, and annotated audiovisual recordings of natural speech are good examples of Language documentation. The type and quality of existing language materials need to be identified. This type of information helps members of a language community to formulate specific tasks, and enables linguists to design research projects together with members of the language community.
From observations made by Igalapedia in the course of the effort to develop Igala Language, there are very little articles or books written in Igala Language to meet up the demand for digitalizing the language, in another sphere of the same issue, many Igala books written are not actually exposed to the target audience. Many world languages who see the need to grow their local language go far beyond writing books but also using digital media to secure and disseminate the language materials.
By nature and mode of dissemination, digital medium is the fastest and the most reliable means of developing and securing Languages today, the end product reaches out to the target audience at an unimaginable speed. Igalapedia took the challenge of digitalizing the Igala language from a corner of a room and today we have successfully written a program that convert number to Igala words which is under review, A world class digital Igala Dictionary is currently in a lab with built in features to accommodate other world languages. If this is supported to be released, anybody whether Igala children or not should be able to learn how to speak the language without an instructor. This will put the Igala Language at the forefront of effort to liberate African Languages from extinction.