EXTRACT FROM MEMORANDUM ON THE OBJECTS OF THE

CONFERENCE.

SECRETARIAT FOR EDUCATION, HEALTH, ETC.,

KHARTOUM.

30th October, 1927.

It is proposed to hold a Language Conference at Rejaf in Mongalla Province consisting of representatives of Government and of the various Missionary — Societies interested in educational work in the Southern Sudan.

The date selected for the opening of the Conference is 9th April, 1928, and the probable duration of the Conference will be about a week.

This Conference will be known as the “‘ Rejaf Language Conference, 1928 ”’. The objects of the Conference are the following :—

(1) To draw up a classified list of languages and dialects spoken in the Southern Sudan.

(2) To make recommendations as to whether a system of group languages should be adopted for educational purposes and, if so, what languages would

be selected as the group languages for the various areas.

In this connection the following considerations will arise :—

(a) Whether owing to their kinship two or more languages or dialects can share a single literature.

(b) Whether a local vernacular can be expanded, particularly i in the matter of borrowing words from foreign sources, to convey new meanings.

(c) Whether any particular vernacular is worth adopting and developing on the grounds that there is a definite demand for education among the people speaking it.

(3) To consider and report as to the adoption of a unified system of Orthography.

It is suggested that the most practical means of attaining this end is to consider and report as to whether the Memorandum issued by the International Institute of African Languages and Cultures can be adopted with or without modification.

(4) To make proposals for co-operation in the production of text-books ; and the adoption of a skeleton grammar, reading books, and primers for general use.

It will be seen that in many respects this Conference will be carrying on the valuable work initiated at the Conferences held at Arua in 1918 and Aba in 1924.

I hope very much that it will be possible to make the Conference fully representative.

Through the good offices of the International Institute of African Languages and Cultures we have been fortunate enough to arrange that Professor Westermann,

one of the Directors of the Institute, should be present at the Conference as our expert adviser.

J. G. MatTHew,

Secretary for Education, Health, etc.