Tyler and Emily in PNG

Over the past few weeks I had the opportunity to record both vernacular and Tok Pisin songs of four language groups that were attending the Elementary Prep Teacher Training Course that was being conducted by PBT. Back in January I made the statement that it was a goal of mine this year to do some audio recording. This tickled the ears of the course director and she later asked me if I would be interested in recording finger plays and alphabet songs. I said, lets give it a try as it would be my first time and a great learning experience.

This past month, I was given the opportunity to work four different languages groups. I recorded two alphabet songs, many finger plays, and also other school songs that students recite. It was neat to hear the different sounds of each unique language. Two of the languages have the New Testament in their language, Aruamu and La’o. Two others are working towards the completion of their New Testaments, Mborena Kam and Akukem. The Mborena Kam is hoping to finish and have their New Testament dedication in 2015.

I recorded songs for the schools such as: 5 Green Frogs, 10 Ripe Mangos, 10 Little Fingers, Small Spider, and Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.

To listen to 5 Green Frogs in Mborena Kam language – Click Here.

While working with these groups, we are encouraging the use of mother tongue language and the use of their language in their schools to keep their rich heritage and culture. These songs will be saved to SD card then played in many forms of audible devices such as boom boxes and mobile phones. Children will repeatedly play these songs until the batteries go dead or until the annoyed parents take away the device.

Bot Tok Pisin and English are growing and becoming more acceptable in every day language while their local mother tongue language is dying. By capturing the language audibly for the next generation of speakers, we hope to re-enforce the use and importance of their heart language.

Below are pictures of the four language groups that attended the course and that I got to work with to record their language.