Inner Mongolia compiles dictionaries to save endangered ethnic languages

Northern China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region will publish visual dictionaries to save three endangered ethnic languages, according to the region's nationalities affairs committee.

The dictionary collecting the historical, cultural, religious and economic texts and files of the ethnic minority of Daur has been published and the other two dictionaries of Oroqen and Ewenki are in preparation for publication.

The dictionaries use colorful pictures, cartoons and illustrations to explain the words and phrases of the languages along with Mandarin descriptions and dialect pronunciation for each entry.

Language training classes are also being organized in communities of the three ethnic groups to encourage the younger generation, especially students in primary and middle school, to learn their ethnic languages and culture.

The three small ethnic minorities of Oroqen, Daur and Ewenki do not have their own written languages, and many of their records were in Manchu and Mongolian.