The 3-day workshop on digital technology for language preservation began at the University of Goroka yesterday.  The proceedings began at noon with lunch and formal introductions coordinated by Robert Baraka (lecturer, Dept of Language and Literature), involving Anne-Marie Wanamp (Head, Language and Literature), David Avei-Hosea (Dean, Humanities), and Prof Gairo Onagi (Vice Chancellor).  They expressed the University's commitment to the workshop, and for activities to promote language preservation using appropriate technology.  The dean's address is posted here.

Thirty one Papua New Guineans are participating, speaking 25 languages from across PNG including the following provinces: Bougainville, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Morobe, Sandaun, Simbu, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands.  Twelve are UOG staff, 5 are senior representatives from the local Alekano community, and 14 are third or fourth year students taking courses in the Department of Language and Literature.  Three SIL members have come across from Ukarumpa to support the workshop.

The program includes short presentations on language preservation, demonstrations involving the BOLD methodology, sessions where participants go out in pairs and practice eliciting oral discourse and do the respeaking and oral translation tasks.  In the summary sessions each day, participants demonstrate to the class what they have learnt, and we rectify any remaining issues with recording techniques.  We close with volunteers singing songs from their villages, to remind us that our real purpose concerns language, not technology.