Mai Vi Hao and Pinang Bao record the language used by the ethnic minority group Raglai for use in their mobile app for smartphones. (Photo: VNA) Ninh Thuan (VNA) - To preserve the Raglai ethnic minoritylanguage, two students at the Pinang Tac Ethnic Minority Boarding High Schoolin Ninh Thuan province have developed a mobile phone app for self-study.
The software developed by 12th graders Mai Vi Hao and Pinang Bao won thirdprize in the province’s 2019 Youth and Children Innovation Contest.
“My school is for ethnic minority students, and most of them are Raglai. However,when I communicate with my friends who are not Raglai, they don't understandwhat I say,” Pinang Bao told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
The two students recorded words from the language to set up a database and usedthe popular programming language Java to encode the Raglai language into many groupsdivided by topics.
The mobile app runs on the Android operating system and can be downloaded on CHPlay.
Because many old Raglai words have multiple meanings, the students had to studydocuments and consult with experts to learn the exact meanings.
Three months after study and implementation, they completed the software whichcontains 15 text boxes with a user-friendly interface.
Bui Huu Pha, the school rector, said that students have used the software andfurther studied on the internet.
Since very few Raglai know how to write or read their native language, thesmartphone app has been useful for them.
The Raglai tradition contains many epics, mythologies and tales withhistorical, artistic and educational values. However, most of these have beenpreserved by word of mouth.
The app has also helped officials at State offices improve communication withmembers of the Raglai ethnic group and better understand their culture andcustoms.
Hao and Bao are collecting more Raglai words to upgrade the software andimprove its interface./.
The software developed by 12th graders Mai Vi Hao and Pinang Bao won thirdprize in the province’s 2019 Youth and Children Innovation Contest.
“My school is for ethnic minority students, and most of them are Raglai. However,when I communicate with my friends who are not Raglai, they don't understandwhat I say,” Pinang Bao told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
The two students recorded words from the language to set up a database and usedthe popular programming language Java to encode the Raglai language into many groupsdivided by topics.
The mobile app runs on the Android operating system and can be downloaded on CHPlay.
Because many old Raglai words have multiple meanings, the students had to studydocuments and consult with experts to learn the exact meanings.
Three months after study and implementation, they completed the software whichcontains 15 text boxes with a user-friendly interface.
Bui Huu Pha, the school rector, said that students have used the software andfurther studied on the internet.
Since very few Raglai know how to write or read their native language, thesmartphone app has been useful for them.
The Raglai tradition contains many epics, mythologies and tales withhistorical, artistic and educational values. However, most of these have beenpreserved by word of mouth.
The app has also helped officials at State offices improve communication withmembers of the Raglai ethnic group and better understand their culture andcustoms.
Hao and Bao are collecting more Raglai words to upgrade the software andimprove its interface./.
VNA
