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New CHamoru orthography launched
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Posted on Jan 26 2021
The Commission on CHamoru Language and the Teaching of the History and Culture of the Indigenous People of Guam announced Thursday last week the launch of its latest revision of the the 1983 CHamoru Orthography.
With the enactment of Public Law 33-236 re-establishing the commission came the responsibility to refine a standard way of linking the CHamoru alphabet to the sounds of our indigenous language. Commission members adopted changes to the 1983 CHamoru orthography and present an updated version of the booklet, which provides a more standardized approach to writing CHamoru.
“Agreeing on a shared way to use our Atfabeton CHamoru in writing is necessary in building proficiency and therefore, building stability into CHamoru as the mother tongue of our people of the Mariana Islands,” said Commission chair Hope Cristobal. “This booklet provides guidance in order that we do just that—communicate in a more standard way in CHamoru.”
The commission acknowledges that there may be dialectical, generational, island specific and personal preference in careful consideration of its movement forward. The commission believes the orthographic rules and use of the atfabeton CHamoru must also conform to the broader norms of language systems in society.
“The release of this updated orthography is timely in this revitalization period as we may have ten years or less to revive our language, considering the age of proficient CHamoru speakers whom we have left among us,” said commission administrator AnnaMarie Arceo. “This orthography will be a guiding document for all CHamoru language teachers who play lead roles in this revitalization effort.”
The Orthography Booklet is around 40 pages long, consisting of the Chamoru language’s symbols and abbreviations, 17 orthographic rules, and glossary. Hardcopies will be distributed to the CHamoru Language Teachers. The Orthography will also be available for download on the commission’s website (kumisionchamoru.guam.gov). (PR)
