Ministry proposes colloquial language study in universities

Malaysia’s Ministry of National Unity has proposed incorporating the study of colloquial language and local dialects as part of the language studies syllabus at higher education institutions, reports Bernama.

Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said this initiative could be realised through close cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education. “Educational programmes that include storytelling, poetry and performing arts in colloquial languages can enhance students’ appreciation of their linguistic heritage.

“Once we gather information on various languages, the next step is for higher education institutions to incorporate it into the syllabus,” he told reporters after officiating the National Colloquial Language Convention: Sustaining Community Language Vitality 2024. Aaron said in the effort to develop a standard language, he suggested including dialects and colloquial languages, particularly lesser-used local languages, into dictionaries. “This can enrich the vocabulary and contribute to the national, official and educational languages,” he said.
Full report on the Awani International site