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I che’cho’ i maripasa yan maribisan i Diksionarion Chamorro/English sen na’magof yan bunitu mo’na i hinananao-na. I sigiente na aktibidat siha ha nota kadda manali’e’ i gurupu ni kumabesasayi mo’na i che’cho’ i maripasa pat maribisan i presente na diksionario, parehu ha’ i inali’e’ i gurupon Kabesa yan i inali’e’ i gurupon i Tema. Guaha listan na’an hayi siha manmanayuyuda nu este na finacho’cho’. Yanggen intirisao hao manayuda, na’tungo’ i Ofisinan i Humanities Council ya un mana’i mas infotmasion.

SEPTEMBRE 2008
Septembre diha 24: Saipan
I finene’na na inali’e’ i gurupu ni kumabesasayi yan chumocho’gui i che’cho’ manripasa manasodda’ guatu gi ofisinan I PREL CNMI Service Center gi Septembre diha 24, 2008. Gumaige guini na dinanna’ si Sinot David Omar, Direktot i Ofisinan Chamorro/Carolinian Language Commission yan si Sinot Gonzalo Santos, Direktot i Ofisinan Indigenous Affairs. Este i dos na ofisina sumen impottante pattisipasion-niha yan ayudon-niha guini na finacho’cho’. Lokkue’ gumaige i dos na Prinsipat na Inbestigadora (PI) as Dr. Sandy Chung yan si Dr. Elizabeth Rechebei. Si Dr. Rita Inos gume’hilulu’i i gurupu para manripasa yan i tema siha. Si Cameron Fruit ma kontrata pot areklamenton teknikat yan kompiuta siha na banda sa’ para u mana’halom todo i infotmasion gi kompiuta yan gi repositu ni gaige gi University of California, Santa Cruz.

Gumuaha inagang hunta pat inali’e’ ayu siha na los prohimos i manmarekomenda ginen i kominidat komu siha sina maninterisao manmanayuda. I primet yan prisisu na asunton kombetsasion guini na dinanna’ era ayu i para u matungo’ la’yiyi hafa ginagagao gi che’cho’ manripasa yan kao guaha interes gi entre i manmatto put este na inagang. I manmatto ya ma’atiende i inagang hunta giya Saipan si David Omar, Gonzalo Santos, Paz Younis, Bernadita (Bernie) Sablan, Carmen (Ame’) Taimanao, Viola De Leon Guerrero, Rita Guerrero, Danny Quitugua, yan Noel Quitugua. Manmafaisen lokkue’ i mansaonao guini na dinanna’ hayi otro tiningo’-niha sina magof dumanna’i este na cho’cho’ yan lokkue’ u fana’asangani unos yan otro gi kominidat put este na finacho’cho’. Sumen impottante lokkue’ i gumaige-na si Dr. Sandy Chung sa’ guiya lokkue’ mas pumula’ yan moppe siha finaisen put teknikat yan asunton i fina’tinas diksionario.

Septembre diha 29: Saipan
I inali’e’ gurupu guini na ha’ani gi diha 29 gi Septembre mas ma’umentayi i pattisipasion i para u finotma i gurupon i Kabesan i finacho’cho’ maripasa/maribisisan i diksionarion Chamorro yan English. Manggaige gi hunta ayu i manmatto gi diha 24 gi Septembre yan mandinanna’i as Jose (Joe) Sanchez, Bernadita(Bernie) Sanchez,William (Bill) Macaranas, yan si Vicente (Ben) Borja. Ti pumusepble i pattisipasion ginen Tinian yan Luta, lao, esta mofo’na na makombida i miembron i Kumision Lingguahi ginen este i dos isla (si Angie C. Fitial ginen Tinian yan si Tita A. Hocog ginen Luta) para u saonao lokkue’ gi gurupon i Kabesan i finacho’cho’.

Gi duranten este na dinanna’ anai mafotma kuatro na gurupu para u mas libi’anu i che’cho’ – Guinifi, Attu’asi, Sussupe, yan Langat. Gi kadda gurupu guaha tres ha na miembro. Manmapatte kadda miembro singko (5) pahinan diksionario para u ma’ina yan u maribisa sigun gi Fotma ni mapresenta para u giniha este na cho’cho’. Pot todu, kadda gurupu guaha kinse (15) pahina para u ma’ina yan u maripasa sigun gi ginagagao. Lokkue’ manmafaisen kadda unu para u hasso na impottante lokkue’ na u ma’umentayi i presente na diksionario nu ayu na palabra siha i ti mansaonao gi anai ma’emprenta i presente na diksionario. Manmana’i i gurupu tiempo para u macho’gue i che’cho’ ya masinala’ na i otro na inali’e gurupu para i Nobiembre diha 6, 2008. Este lokkue’ na tiempo nai para u mana’halom i finacho’cho’-niha nu i singko (5) pahina kadda miembro.

NOBIEMBRE 2008
Nobiembre diha 6: Saipan
Manali’e’ i gurupon i Kabesan i maripasan diksionario guini na ha’ani guatu gi PREL CNMI Service Center giya Oleai – Guinifi, Attu’asi, Sussupe, Langat, Tinian yan Luta. I Direktot Kumision i Lingguahen Chamorro yan Carolinian manofrese para u fanayudu numa’fatto pattisipasion i miembron Komision ginen Tinian as Angie Fitial yan Luta as Tita Hocog. Ti pumusepble este na diniseha, sin embatgo, matto ya sumaonao i meimbron gurupon Tinian as Angie lao ti pumusepble i miembro ginen Luta put rason na ti makatga gi batkon-aire.

Sumaonao (gi tilifon) guini na dinanna’ ginen Santa Cruz, California si Dr. Sandy Chung – ha giha mo’na kombetsasion yan fina’na’gue put ma’umentayen palabra siha – mafa’nana’an “derived words”. Sen maolek yan masenagradesi este na fina’na’gue yan kombetsasion anai para u matutuhon mahasso hafa na palabra debi u guaha entrada-na gi lepblon diksionario yan hafa na palabra ni ma’umentayi (affixes) ti prisisu na u guaha entrada-na maisa.

Manma’entrega ta’lo tres (3) pahinan entradan diksionario kadda miembro. Lokkue’, manmafaisen i gurupu put i che’cho’ nui esta mapapacha gi maripasan i diksionario – sigun gi primet na tinare’an pahina siha (5 pahina). Magahet na gi tutuhon, i sinentien kadda unu ilek-na na ti mappot yan ti u ginasta bula na tiempo para u macho’gue hafa ginagagao. Lao, umannok na yanggen para u maolek yan u kabales mo’na i rinipasa sigun i kualidat ni ginagagao, i gurupu manmamaisen na manisisita mas tiempo sa’ magahet na manisisita mas tiempo para i pahina siha ni manmantarea.

Madisidi na u fanali’e’ ta’lo i gurupu gi Ineru diha 15, 2009 ya este na inali’e’ nai u ma’entrega i komplidu na finacho’cho’ kadda gurupu.

INERU 2009
Ineru diha 15: Saipan
Manali’e’ i gurupu guini na ha’ani gi Kolehu - NMC. Gumaige i Direktot i Konsihilion i Umanidat as Sinot Tony Leon Guerrero ya manna’i mensahi para i gurupu. Lokkue’ gumaige si Dr Debra Cabrera, ofisi’at i Konsihilion i Umanidat yan Dean i Depattamenton i Academic gi NMC.

Ginen i ayudon i Kolehu na pusepble para u saonao si Dr. Sandy Chung manpresenta ginen i VTC (video-teleconferencing). I presentasion-na para i gurupu put “Patten I Sinanga”. I che’cho’ i maripasan diksionario ginagagao na debi u ma identifika hafa patte-na i palabra gi sinanga (part of speech). I otro na presentasion pat fina’na’gue para pa’go na inali’e’ gurupu put i Utugrafi’an Chamorro. Si Sinora Carmen Taimanao yan Sinot William Macaranas kumondukta este na fina’na’gue yan diskutasion para i gurupu.

Si Sinot Herbert Del Rosario, Archivist i CNMI Archives ha kuentusi i gurupu ya ha na’fanmanungo’ mas put i guinaha yan i che’cho’ i CNMI Archives. I CNMI Archives nai manggaige siha infotmasion yan tiningo’ put antes yan manmaloffan siha na sinisedden i tiempo gi CNMI. Gaige este na ofisina gi Kolehu – NMC.

Ineru diha 16: Saipan
Primet na inali’e’ i gurupon i Tema siha gi Sentron ManAmko’ giya Garapan. Este siha na miembron i maripasa/maribisan i diksionario mana’fandanna’ put manansianu gi che’cho’-niha; guaha mas ekspiriensian-niha put kostumbre yan i kuttura; pat guaha espesi’at na tinigo’ siha gi bandan lina’la’ ManChamorro. Tat komu bandan fanggualu’an; lancheria; peskan tasi yan halomtano’; hinengge; trastes yan atte siha; gobetnamiento; kustombre; yan otro siha na tiningo’ yan uson taotao manChamorro.

Manna’i mensahi para i gurupu si Sinot Howard Macaranas, komu guiya i Direktot i Ofisinan Setbisio para ManAmko’. I manmatto umatiende i hunta guini na ha’ani si Herman Q. Leon Guerrero; Herbert Del Rosario; Jose Ch. Camacho; Isidoro Cabrera; Manny Borja; Herman Tudela; John S. Castro; Howard Macaranas; Ana Nakatsukasa; Felisa Basa; Danny Quitugua; Donald Mendiola;

Ineru diha 30: Saipan
Manali’e’ put sigundo bi’ahi i gurupon Tema gi Sentron ManAmko’ giya Garapan. Este na inali’e’ nai manaonao i bisita siha gi Guahan, kinendudusi mo’na gi as Sinora Zita Pangelinan ginen i Haya Foundation yan I Commission on Education in Micronesia yan si Rufina Mendiola, miembron i Board Chamorro Affairs yan Ge’hilo’ gi Otganisasion i Manma’estro/an Chamorro giya Guahan.

Put i manggaige i mane’lu ginen i bisinu giya Guahan, gumuaha chansa para u fanadingan i gurupu didide’ put hafa masuseseddi put bandan che’cho’ diksionario yan i che’cho’ i fina’na’guen i lingguahen Chamorro. Guamuaha lokkue’ ehetsisio para i gurupu put para u matungo’ yan u mali’e’ mas klaru hafa taimanu i che’cho’ i manripasan i diksionario.

Ineru diha 31: Tinian
Manali’e’ si Dr. Elizabeth Rechebei yan si Dr. Rita Hocog Inos yan i gurupon i Kabesa yan Tema giya Tinian. Este na hunta nai mandanna’ unos kuantos na miembron publikon Tinian ya madeskuti i programman i maripasa/maribisan i Diksionarion Chamorro yan English. I hunta makondukta gi eskuelan Tinian Junior and Senior High School. Guini na inali’e’ nai madeskuti hayi siha gi kominidat ma tatanga para u danna’i i presente na gurupu guini na impottanten finacho’cho’. Madisidi lokkue’ na i na’an i gurupon i Tema para PIKA yan i na’an i gurupon i Kabesa para DADDAO. Rason na ma’ayek este i dos na na’an put Tinian nai gaige i mas daddao yan mas pika na donne’ sali.

I manmatto para este na inali’e’ si Angie C. Fitial; Diane H. Borja; Florine Mendiola; Lucia Blanco Maratita; David Q. Maratita; Esther B. Basa; yan si Maria Rios. Si Angie guiya kabesan i gurupon Daddao ya si Florine guiya i kabesa para i gurupon Pika. Siempre ha’ mas ma’omentayi i dinanna’ i gurupu siha sa’ manmafaisen i manggaige guini na dinanna’ para u ma’eppok yan u makontinuha manmamaisen pattisipasion gi kominidat.

FEBRERU 2009
Febreru diha 5: Luta
Este i primet na inali’e’ put Tema giya Luta. Si Sinot Joseph S. Inos, Atkaden i Islan Luta bumaba i hunta anai ha na’i filisitasion i gurupu ni mandanna’ put i che’cho’ i diksionario. Lokkue’, i Atkade ha na’oppan na guiya lokkue’ intirisao yan magof manayuda put para u ma’na’ mas kabales i diksionarion Chamorro. Ha ofresi lokkue’ ayudu i gurupu na gi kadda guaha inasodda’ este na cho’cho’, ha aturisa hayi na emple’ao ni intirisao manayuda na u ma suppotta para u saonao manayuda. Lokkue’, i ofisinan i Atkade para u na’guaha unos kuantos na lepblon diksionario para u mana’setbe nu i gurupu gi duranten i finacho’cho’.

I umatiende i hunta gi Sengsong Chamorro (DCCA) si Sinot Atkade as Joseph S. Inos, si Tita A. Hocog, si Tomas D. Mendiola, si Julita A. Calvo, si Magdalena SN Mesngon, si Aniceto H. Mundo, si Victorina T. Barcinas, si Bobbie DLC Taisacan, si Ray T. Sablan, yan si Martin T. Mendiola. Madisidi na i na’an i gurupon Tema para Gilita Ham yan Luta na’an i gurupon i kabesa.

Mana’fakpo’ i dinanna’ anai madisidi na para dos bi’ahi kada mes u fanali’e’ i gurupu. I otro na dinanna’ masinala para Huebes, Febreru diha 26, 2009 guatu ha’ ta’lo gi Sengsong Chamorro gi tatten i ofisinan I DCCA.

Febreru diha 19: Saipan
Este na inali’e’ gurupu dumanna’ i gurupon Kabesa yan I gurupon Tema. Manali’e’ ta’lo gi Kolehon i NMC. Kada gurupu manna’i infotmasion put hafa che’cho’-nini yan hafa siha sinedda’-niha ginen i finacho’cho’-niha impottante para u ma deskuti. Ma’umentayi i gurupon Tema anai matto yan ha atiende i dinanna’ si Sinot Lorenzo Cabrera.

Si Sinora Carmen Taimanao ha kontinua umeksplika yan mama’na’gue nu i Uttugrafi’an Chamorro anai i gurupu para u mas makomprende yan u ma’usa di’ariu i ma’aprueba na uttugrafia – sisteman mandilitre’a. I ha eksplika guini na leksion ayu i Mina’singko na areklo yan i Mina’sais na arekko – put a’gang yan ti a’gang na buet siha.

Mana’fakpo’ i dinanna’ i gurupu ya manakomfotma na i otro na inali’e’ para i Abrit diha 13.

Abrit Diha 13, 2009: Saipan
Manali’e’ ta’lo i gurupon Kabesa yan Tema gi Northern Marianas College put para u ma konsigi i tietenan na che’cho’ I maripasan i diksionarion Chamorro. Guaha unos kuantos na mannuebu na mangga’chong gi bandan Tema manmatto put primet biahi. Si Sinora Frances M. Sablan, si Sinot Jesus Sanchez yan si Dr. Larry B. Hocog . Guamaige lokkue’ si Sinora Anicia Tomokane, guiya lokkue’ manayuyuda gi manrikon estorian taotao tano’ gi kominidat ya manmarikokot este siha na estoria gi “video-tape” para u mafa’maolek yan u masosodda’ mo’na ni manmamamaila’ siha na hinirasion Chamorro. Na’magof sa’ mientras tiempo, mas guaguaha intires yan pattisipasion ginen difirentes patte siha na interes taotao tano’.

I tinintuhon i dinanna’ manmana’i tiempo kada gurupu, parehu ha’ i Kabesa yan Tema, para u masangan put i che’cho’-niha esta pa’go na tiempo, hafa malili’e’ na minaolek yan hafa na asunto manmanlago’ para u mana’tungo’ i pumalu siha yan u ma diskuti. Magahet na na’magof i ripot kada gurupu sa’ uma’annok na maseha mamakkat put bula otro siha na tinanne’ gi entre familia yan kominidat, mananimu yan sigi ha’ masu’on mo’na i tarehan-niha.

I otro ta’lo na masuseddi guini na dinanna’, si Sinora Carmen Taimanao ha kontinuha i leksion utugrafia ginen I ma’pos na dinanna’ ya pa’go nai sen munhayan. Magahet na mansen attitu i gurupu ya guaha mas kinemprende put bandan mandilitre’a gi fino’ Chamorro.

Si Doktora Sandy Chung lokkue’ manpresenta para i gurupu taimanu nai sina mas manmanodda’ hit nuebu na palabra para ta umentayi i diksionario. Ha sangan na bula palabra ni guaha siknifikasion-na gi kutturan i Chamorro manaigue gi 1975 na diksionario. Este na palabra siha manggaige na para i gurupon Tema para u inumentayi. Lokkue’ guaha siha manotdinario na palabra ni mana’fansesetbe di’ario manaigui gi 1975 na diksionario. Manna’i ihemplo put este siha na palabra. I konsehu-na si Dr. Chung put taimanu para ta sodda’ este siha na palabra – a) ta ekungok gi kombetsasion palabra ni ti di’ariu ta hungok; b) kombetsasion gi entre i taotao ginen i isla siha kao guaha palabra mas ma’u’usa di’ariu tat komu “hos” pat “tilipas”; c) ta ekungok lokkue’ kombetsasion gi entre i manhoben-ta siha, guaha na palabra mana’fansesetbe di’aru nai manhoben mas umu’sa, tat komo, “Kunu” inlugat de “kumu”; d) palabra ni manma’ayao lao guaha ha’ palabra gi lingguahi; e) palabra siha gi difirentes manera, tat komu sunidon ga’ga’ siha, pusturan taotao, yanggen guaha ti minagof-mu, yan bula mas; f) guaha lokkue’ palabra sina ta sodda’ yanggen mananaitai hit lepblo gi fino’ Chamorro. Lokkue’, ha akonseha hit si Dr. Chung taimanu para ta aligao kao gaige pat taigui i palabra gi diksionrio. Manggaige este siha na abisu gi presentasion-na “powerpoint” – Capturing New Words.

I palu siha na asunto madiskuti put planu para u guaha konferensia gi mamamaila’ na tiempo put bandan lingguahi. Taya’ trabiha fotmat na diskutasion yan disision, na era hinasso ha’ trabiha. Gi uttimon i inali’e’ manmapatte ta’lo i gurupon Kabesa nu i tietenan na pahina ni manmatare’a i gurupon-niha. Na’magof sa’ este i manmapatte uttimo na pahina siha gi diksionario. Kada petsona gi Kabesa matare’a tres (3) pahina para u cho’gui.

Guaha planu na i sigiente na inali’e’ para I Hunio diha 5, 2009. Ta na’i agradesimiento ta’lo i Northern Marianas College, espesiatmiente i ofisinan i Presidenta, i Ofisinan i Board of Regents, yan i Ofisinan i Instructional Technology, put todu i suppottasion yan atension duranten este na dinanna. Espesiatmiente para si Helen Camacho, si Frankie Eliptico, yan si Butch Wolf yan todu ayudanten-niha nu i estudianten i NMC.

Principal Investigators Dr. Sandra Chung, left, and Dr. Elizabeth D. Rechebei, during a recent meeting of the dictionary working groups.

Dr. Rechebei will oversee a working group, headed by Dr. Rita  H. Inos, that will revise the existing Chamorro-English Dictionary. Dr. Rechebei will also oversee a project to videotape the life histories of Chamorro elders.   Dr. Chung will prepare a Chamorro reference grammar and conduct workshops on descriptive linguistics for members of the working group.

The project's goals are to revise and update as much of these entries as possible by the third year of the project in 2011.  Additional project goals and issues are discussed in Derived Words and Affixes, Parts of Speech, and Capturing New Words.

The six working groups of three members each are headed by Carmen S. Taimanao, Bernie P. Sablan, Jose Sanchez, Vicente Borja, Tina Hocog, and Angie C. Fitial.  Dr. Chung will also produce a new Chamorro reference grammar.

The first working meeting was held on September 24, 2008 at the PREL CNMI Service Center. Two key agencies on language and culture were present: The Chamorro/Carolinian Language Policy Commission and its director, Mr. David Omar, and the Office of Indigenous Affairs headed by Mr. Gonzalo Santos. Other presenters include: Principal Investigators for the project, Dr. Sandy Chung and Dr. Elizabeth Rechebei, the Working Group and Thematic Group Leader, Dr. Rita Inos, and the Technical Consultant, Mr. Cameron Fruit.

The first working group meeting was called to convene those individuals who have been recommended by the community to assist with the revision project. The presenters, Rita Inos, Sandy Chung and Liz Rechebei talked about the purpose of the project, the source of funding that made it possible, the collaborative aspect that is critical for its success, procedures that would help in the revision process, identification of additional individuals who might be interested, technical issues to consider when making recommended revisions, and the suggested formation of working groups so that they may start working independently within their respective groups. The initial working group members present at this meeting were: Bernadita Sablan, Carmen Taimanao, Viola Deleon Guerrero, Rita Guerrero, Paz Younis, Daniel Quitugua and Noel Quitugua.

At the September 29, 2009 meeting held in Saipan, more individuals were present to formalize the group members. Additional members present were: Jose (Joe) Sanchez, Bernadita (Bernie) Sanchez, William (Bill) Macaranas, and Vicente (Ben) Borja. The Rota and Tinian participants, Tita Hocog from Rota and Angie Fitial from Tinian, who are also members of the Chamorro/Carolinian Language Policy Commission were not able to attend but will be attending future meetings.

Four working groups were formed consisting of the following: Guinifi, Attu’asi, Sussupe, and Langat. Each group was given 15 pages of the original dictionary (hard copy) and the format for making the revisions. They were also encouraged think of new words that are not in the current dictionary.

The November 6, 2008 Working Group meeting was held again at the PREL CNMI Service Center in Saipan. All four groups were present. Rota group leader, Tita Hocog, was not able to get a seat on the flight to Saipan. Tinian group leader, Angie Fitial paid her way to Saipan for this meeting. Dr. Sandy Chung conducted a Power Point Session on “Derived Word” from the University of California, Santa Cruz, via teleconference. This was followed with questions and answers and further discussions on affixes and related issues. The groups were given additional three pages for each group member. At first, it was felt that the revision will be relatively easy but the members later realized that the process they need to follow requires a lot of discussions, deliberations and decisions if they are to do the revisions well. The group requested for additional time to submit their drafts.

It was decided that the next meeting will be January 15, 2009. The group agreed to finish their pending revisions by this date.

The January 15, 2009 meeting in Saipan was held at Northern Marianas College. Tony Guerrero, Executive Director for the NMI Council for the Humanities, gave a brief remark noting that the group is involved in a very important project for the people of the CNMI. He also distributed information about the Council. Dr. Debra Cabrera, Chairman of the Council, and also Dean of Academic Affairs at NMC, was also present and also offered her support and assistance.

A video-teleconference presentation on the “Parts of Speech” by Dr. Chung from California was made possible through the generosity of the Northern Marianas College. The revision process requires that the parts of speech of every word be included. Mrs. Carmen Taimanao and Mr. William Macaranas also gave a presentation on the Chamorro Orthography published by the Chamorro/Carolinian Language Commission. This Orthography is now considered as the official Orthography for Chamorro in the CNMI. Mr. Herbert Rosario, CNMI Archivist, shared very interesting information about what is available at the Archives located at NMC and the oral history project that he directed about the Chamorros who are now living in Brisbane, Australia.

The first meeting of the Thematic Group was held January 16, 2009, in Saipan, at the Aging Center, Garapan. Experts in the arts, culture, traditional medicine, government, fishing, agriculture, and other specialties who are familiar with words not normally used in everyday setting were invited to assist in the revision and inclusion of new words. Mr. Howard Macaranas, Director of the Aging Center, gave a brief remark and also welcomed the group to the Center. Individuals who attended this meeting were: Herman Q. Leon Guerrero; Herbert Del Rosario; Jose Ch. Camacho; Isidoro Cabrera; Manny Borja; Herman Tudela; John S. Castro; Howard Macaranas; Ana Nakatsukasa; Felisa Basa; Danny Quitugua; Donald Mendiola;

The Thematic group met again for the second time, January 30, 2009, in Saipan. The Aging Center graciously hosted the meeting. A delegation of Chamorros and other guests led by Zita Pangelinan, President of the Commission on Education in Micronesia and the Haya Foundation (non-profit organization), and by Ms. Rufina Mendiola, Chamorro Affairs board member and an officer of the Chamorro Teachers’ Organization, participated at this meeting. CNMI and Guam participants shared experiences and ideas about the revision of the Chamorro dictionary and the teaching of the Chamorro language.

The thematic group was formed and members assigned. There was a lively discussion about the various themes and how they may be identified and related with each other. It was decided that the entries should focus on the words associated with the themes as well as other usages that may not be related with the theme in particular.

The first meeting in Tinian for the thematic group was held on January 31, 2009 at the Tinian Jr./Sr. High School and hosted by the participants. Working Group Leader Inos and Principal Co-Investigator Rechebei facilitated the meeting. Participants included: Angie C. Fitial; Diane H. Borja; Florine Mendiola; Lucia Blanco Maratita; David Q. Maratita; Esther B. Basa; and Maria Rios.

This meeting also included members of the community who were interested in learning more about the project as well as joining the thematic or working groups. Participants agreed to organize and laid out their plan of action for the next few months. They identified themselves as Daddao for the Working Group, and Pika for the thematic group (Tinian is famous for its tiny hot peppers—pika means hot like hot pepper). Copies of the form to use and handouts from previous presentations by Dr. Sandy Chung were given to each participant for their reference. They were also advised to visit the Humanities website for more information.

The first Rota Thematic Group meeting was held at Sengsong Chamorro on February 5, 2009. Working Group Leader, Dr. Rita Inos, facilitated this meeting. Mayor of Rota, Joseph Inos, opened the event and also decided to join the thematic group to support the project’s effort. He also announced that individuals who are helping with the project will be authorized to do so if they are working for the Mayor’s Office. Mayor Inos offered to purchase more copies of the original dictionary for the Rota group members if needed. Participants included: Tita A. Hocog, Tomas D. Mendiola, Julita A. Calvo, Magdalena SN Mesngon, Aniceto H. Mundo, Victorina T. Barcinas, Bobbie DLC Taisacan, Ray T. Sablan, and Martin T. Mendiola. They chose group names: Luta for the Dictionary Revision Group, and Gilita Ham for the Thematic Group. The groups decided to meet twice a month. The next meeting was scheduled for February 26 at the Sengsong Chamorro next to DCCA building.

The Working groups from the three islands and the thematic groups met on February 19, 2009 at NMC. The meeting was facilitated by Working Group Leader Inos. Each group gave an update of work progress to date, challenges they encountered, and issues that need to be discussed. Mr. Lorenzo Cabrera joined the thematic group at this meeting. Ms. Carmen Taimanao continued her previous presentation about the Chamorro Orthography focusing on Part 5 and Part 6 of the Orthography related to the vowel sounds.

The next meeting for the groups is scheduled for April 13, 2009.

Note: The dictionary revision working groups and thematic groups have been meeting on a regular basis or as needed on their own. The NMI Humanities Council Office collects all submissions, files a copy for the record, duplicates copies for Rechebei and Inos, and forwards copies (electronic) to Cameron Fruit to archive electronically and make them accessible to the Team members (Sandy Chung, Liz Rechebei, Rita Inos and Cameron Fruit). As the work progresses, working group members (those who have access to Internet and computers) will begin using Toolbox to enter their revisions. Dr. Inos and Dr. Rechebei will review the work submitted, and will enter edited versions, if any, into Toolbox. Dr. Sandy Chung will also be reviewing and editing the submissions. Mr. Cameron will submit all submissions into the Repository for access by the Team (Cameron, Rechebei, Chung and Inos).

There is a great deal of excitement about this project among the working groups (revision and thematic) as well as in the community. The sense of urgency is clear judging from the increasing number of individuals who have joined the group and those who are encouraging the project’s success. The work remains a very tedious process at times but a very satisfying exercise due to the new or not commonly used/understood words encountered during deliberations, surprising many of the working group members. There is also a sense of enjoyment and humor among the group when they try to define or use certain words in a sentence and how some words are pronounced differently depending on the speaker and the usage in the sentence.

The great support from various agencies to let us use their facilities and technical staff including the videographers from the Language Commission, Alejandro Agulto, and James Guerrero from NMC, is very much appreciated. Video recordings of events will be archived as part of this project.

We extend appreciation to all who extended their support:

PREL Service Center, Saipan; Northern Marianas College (facility, video teleconference, videography), Office on Aging (facility and administrative support), Language Commission (video and copies of orthography); Office of the Rota Mayor for facility and administrative leave for employees involved in the project; Tinian Jr/Sr. High School (facility, hosting); and others who have contributed their time, expertise, and even personal funds to help host the meetings. We also thank the Guam group who attended and offered their support as well as refreshments from Guam, and the Public School System for attending some of the meetings and for their support.

The principal local partner in this project is the Chamorro/Carolinian Language Policy Commission.  Other supporters of the project include the Joeten Kiyu Public Library, the Public School System, Office of Indigenous Affairs, and several other organizations and volunteers in the CNMI and Guam.

Everyone is encouraged and invited to contribute words that are not in the current dictionary by contacting  Dr. Elizabeth D. Rechebei or Dr. Rita H. Inos.  Guidelines and forms for submitting suggested revised or new word entries may be downloaded here.