Why Would a
Cross-Cultural Worker
Make a Dictionary?
Ian Dicks shares about the major project he is
leading in Malawi and answers some frequently
asked questions.
F
or the last 12 years I have
been involved in a project
to construct a bilingual
dictionary in English and
Ciyawo, the heart language
of the Yawo people. For most
of these years I lived in Malawi
with my family, however, for the
last four years I have travelled
back and forth from Melbourne
to see the project to completion.
When I mention to people that
I am continuing to travel back
to Malawi, as well as what I am
doing there, it can elicit a number
of different responses.First,
shock that the Yawo don’t have
a dictionary like that already!
Second, amazement thinking that
I am doing the work on my own.
Third, wonder at why a cross-
cultural worker for a mission
organisation would be involved
in this sort of activity. In case
you find yourself wondering the
same things, let me share how I
answer each of these questions.
Yes, it is shocking to think
that there are children and
communities in the world
today that don’t have access to
necessary educational materials.
The Yawo who number more
than three million people and
live in Malawi, Mozambique and
Tanzania are one of the least
educated groups in the region.
One of the reasons for their low
level of education in Malawi is
Global Interaction · Page 3
because they are disadvantaged
when first entering school. The
vast majority of Yawo children
do not speak, read or write
either of the two languages
in which education is taught
- Chichewa and English. This
means Yawo children must learn
these languages before they
can progress in their schooling.
The English-Ciyawo learner’s
dictionary has the most important
and frequently used words
in English and will help Yawo
students overcome this obstacle.
It will help bridge the gap for Yawo
children, empowering the next
generation through education and
greater future opportunities.
Second, yes it would be amazing
if I had the ability to construct a
bilingual dictionary on my own,
but it would also
be dangerous,
and the finished
result would not
be representative
of the Yawo.
Above: Ian and the Malawian Minister for Education,
Science and Technology, Bright Msaka, at the official
launch of the English-Ciyawo dictionary. Right: The
published dictionary. Above Right: A gathering of
Yawo chiefs to review the dictionary.