A registry of words and dictionary of the Melanau language into Malay is expected to be published by next year.

According to a former senior lecturer of the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communications, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Mohd Sharifudin Yusop, the dictionary will focus on the Melanau language in the Matu, Daro and Pulau Bruit areas.

“The Unesco/Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka/Education Ministry project began in January this year and is 60 percent completed. We expect it to be published next year,” he said in Daro, Sarawak, today.

Mohd Sharifudin said the phonetics of the language will also be included in the dictionary.

“This is to ensure that the Melanau language in the area remains intact in pronunciation in the future,” he said, adding that the dictionary will be called the Mato-Daro-Malay Dictionary.

Mohd Sharifudin said there is no major difference in the Melanau language of the Matu, Daro and Pulau Bruit areas but it differs from that spoken in other areas like Belawai-Rejang, Mukah, Dalat, Balingian, Bintulu and Miri.

- Bernama