ABC wa Oroko: Q&A about Reading & Writing Oroko

This post is the text from a brochure written by OLDA (previously called OLDC) to be distributed with copies of the ABC Chart.

1. Why should I learn to read and write Oroko?

It facilitates communication.
Reading for entertainment.
Selling our cultural values worldwide
For the improvement and preservation of our cultural heritage for posterity.
For eloquence – language is power.
Help researchers to investigate peculiarities of the language.
Read a translation of the Bible and other books.
To minimize performance and competence errors.
To understand the mind and thoughts of the Oroko person through their own language.

2. How personally do I benefit in learning to read and write the Oroko languages?

You will conveniently identify yourself and be identified in your ethnic group by the language
You will have easy access in your communication with all the clans in the Oroko tribe.
You will be able to lay a first language foundation of your dialect for your children in writing.
You will be able to discuss freely and privately with your family in the original language of your clan.
It will help you learn and preserve your original culture.
You personally enrich your vocabulary.

3. How do we get learning materials?

By being self-committed and self-supporting.
Through donations from social groups and the cultural associations of your clan.
From the work of OLDA (Oroko Language Development Association) and its Literacy Sub-committee.

4. Why do we choose sounds that are not found in English or have different pronunciations in English?

This is not an English alphabet, it is an Oroko alphabet. Oroko is not spoken like English is, it has different sounds and different dialects. Please accept that the Oroko alphabet will need to be unique from the letters also used in English.
We have decided to use <ë> in the place of d/l/r in order to have a unique and clear letter that will represent the sounds of these letters.
The sound<j> is used to represent the consistent switching of the sounds /y/, /ch/ and/j/ across different dialects.
We use<ñ> in the deep sounds of letter /n/ as in ñana "child"
These sounds are used in order that we could read, write and understand each other in our Oroko dialects. In time it will be very normal.

5. Do we all have to speak or write as one?

We would not have to speak the same way.
We are writing a common alphabet which can be used to represent words that may have different pronunciation in different dialects.
Everyone will pick up words that are found in his dialect and others from other dialects to enrich his vocabulary.
In writing, the symbols that have been accepted to be a standard representation of sounds will be used by everyone, but the pronunciation will be done as the dialect pronounces it in its own way.

6. Will my children be able to meet up?

The children who learn Oroko language will be able to meet up academically because if they have a mastery and think in their first language, they will be able to understand more easily in their second language.
The Oroko language is going to be part of the school curriculum as stated by the government policy on the promotion of National languages, as passed by parliament.
Trained teachers in the Oroko dialect should be able to train the children including their parents at home.
Teaching aids and materials should be made available to enhance the teaching and learning process to be made available by OLDC and Cultural Associations.

7. How, when, and where will children learn?

8. Am I too old to learn how to read and write Oroko?

Knowledge is never old.
Old people teach even better because they are patient.
Experience is the best teacher
When you are old, learning a new thing or new things makes you to become excited.
If old even learn the language, this will help children to overcome their mistakes.
If old people are willing to learn, this would be a good example to the youths to learn.

ABC wa Oroko