An opportunity for citizens to learn Amerindian languages with ease will now be possible with the release of four dictionaries and a teaching guide by the Health Sector Development Unit (HSDU).The release of the books represents a part of an Indigenous Peoples Project, which was funded by a US$600,000 grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that was engaged three years ago.Director of Regional Health Services,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, Dr Narine Singh,Cheap NFL Jerseys, presented the reading materials to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr Frank Anthony, at a simple ceremony at the Walter Roth Museum, yesterday.According to Dr Singh, the project was in fact the brainchild of the Minister when he held the capacity of Head of the HSDU.He pointed out that the main objective of the project was to help improve access to health in Amerindian communities and to keep the language and culture of the Amerindians alive.Dr Singh noted that as it relates to health care,Authentic MLB Jerseys Online, many Amerindian people fail to adhere to health messages because these are worded in the English language rather than in their respective dialects.Among the book titles presented to the Minister yesterday were: A Short Dictionary of the Warau Language of Guyana; Scholar’s Dictionary and Grammar of the Waspishana Language; An Arawak English Dictionary with an English word list; A Short Grammar and Dictionary of the Akawaio and Arekuna Languages of Guyana; and Twenty-Eight Lessons in Loko (Arawak) – A teaching guide.It was initially anticipated that the project would have been completed last year,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, which was designated as the International Year for Languages by UNESCO.In expressing gratitude that the project had finally come to fruition, Minister Anthony reflected on its progress.According to him,NBA Jerseys China, with the funding that was secured from the IDB, it was decided that materials should be developed, which were culturally appropriate to Amerindian communities.“When we discovered that these dictionaries were at Walter Roth we thought that it was important to print them in sufficient quantities so that we could get them out into the communities.”However, the Minister added that the materials are not simply intended for members of the Amerindian communities but also for Guyanese in general so that they could gain a better understanding of the languages.The availability of the materials will be complemented by classes that are offered at the Museum.“This will help us in a lot of ways to keep the languages alive. A number of children would come here (the Museum) on Saturdays and in a very small way one of the things that we have been doing is teaching them a few words in these languages.I think if this can be done in various schools across the country it would really help to keep these languages alive.”Teaching young children in this regard is very essential,Stitched NFL Jerseys, the Minister noted, even as he observed that there are just a few persons who are able to speak the languages, thus the need for broadening the speaking base to ensure continuance.Members of the public, he said, will be able to access the materials at the Research Centre located at the top flat of the museum.However, the materials will not be for sale, Administrative Manager of the Walter Roth Museum, Jennifer Wishart said.Apart from those that will be available for research, Wishart said that some of the materials will be distributed to the Amerindian communities in order to encourage them to speak their languages and to help them to continue to develop them.“We already have reports from St Cuthbert that they have a little unit where they are working on the Arawak language.So we will be able to send some there. In Kumaka too there is also another group there.”In essence, Wishart pointed out that the materials will be sent to working groups that will be able to further develop the languages. (Sharmain Cornette)