KOTA SAMARAHAN – The opening ceremony of the International Conference on Borneo Lexicology and Lexicography (PALBORNEO 2023) and the launch of the Sarawak-Malay Dewan Dictionary took place on 25 October 2023. The prestigious event was inaugurated by YB Datuk Hajah Rosey binti Haji Yunus, Deputy Minister of Women, Children, and Community Welfare Development (Women and Children Development, Sarawak), representing Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg.
This launch signifies a historic milestone for Sarawak, where 13,000 entries or vocabulary inputs are compiled as one Sarawak ethnic dictionary, the Sarawak-Malay Dewan Dictionary. The dictionary officially introduced to the market at the price of RM85. Some of the words included in the dictionary are ‘lengis,’ ‘merarau,’ and ‘lengak.’ This comprehensive dictionary, complete with example sentences for daily use, is seen as a step towards preserving the indigenous language. It is hoped that this initiative will enable the language to be learned collectively, ensuring it does not fade away amidst the currents of globalization.