Indonesian-Fijian dictionary

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Linguists from Cendrawasih University (Uncen) in Jayapura and Papua New Guinea's National University are working on an Indonesian-English-Fijian dictionary to bridge the gap between the countries.

Rector of the UNCEN, Frans A. Wospakrik, said here Tuesday the dictionary will be published early next year.

He said the dictionary would help ease communication problems between governments and the people of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. To date, language has been a handicap to communication.

"Compiling the dictionary was a goal of the International Melanesian Linguistic Conference held in Jayapura in 1994," he said.

Besides creating the Indonesian-English-Fijian dictionary, Wospakrik said the two universities had approved an exchange of students and lecturers.

"We have sent an Indonesian language lecturer to teach in NUPNG, while four students from the NUPNG have been learning the Indonesian language at UNCEN," he said. (swe)