Experts bat for promotion of local languages

DIBRUGARH: In line with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for developing and operationalising a curricular framework to actualise the benefits of learning in mother tongue in educational institutions, experts have called for the promotion of local and regional languages to achieve that objective.

This observation was made during a five-day workshop on the preparation of multilingual glossary (Assamese-Bodo-Mising-Tai-English) organised by the Centre for Studies in Language, Dibrugarh University from December 19 to 23.

The organisers said the main objective of the workshop, which was organised with the support of the 'Bharatiya Bhasa Samiti' of the ministry of education, was to bridge the link between the different languages of the various communities in northeast India. As per the emphasis of the NE on multilingualism and the promotion of regional languages, the glossary is expected to help the language learners achieve multilingual skills. Moreover, the learners would also acquire the knowledge of Assamese as lingua franca, the organisers said.

Arpana Konwar, chairperson of the Centre for Studies in Language, Dibrugarh University said the glossary would help in establishing national integrity in the multilingual state of Assam. Jiten Hazarika, vice-chancellor of Dibrugarh University, appreciated the objective of establishing a coordination among the linguistic communities of Assam.

Lexicographer Basanta Kumar Goswami delivered a lecture on the 'Importance and preparation of Multilingual Glossary' underscoring the need to understand the interconnectedness among the multilingual communities of Assam.