Taufik says a two-day event was held in 2023 to teach members of the community how to create entries for the Mendriq dialect on Wiktionary. — ZAHIRULNUKMAN/Wikimedia Commons
THERE are an estimated 137 languages spoken by various ethnic groups in Malaysia. According to a report published last year, 80% of these languages are used by minority groups.
While Malaysia is rich in cultural diversity, this linguistic wealth is often under- represented. Taufik Rosman, treasurer of Wikimedia Community User Group Malaysia (WCUGM), shares that it has been a personal goal of his to bring more Malaysian languages to the digital sphere. He is concerned that if some ethnic languages practised by various communities in Malaysia fail to establish a presence online, they may fade away permanently over time.
