Online Ojibwe dictionary to be launched

The University of Minnesota's Department of American Indian Studies is launching a new online Ojibwe People's Dictionary.

College of Liberal Arts dean James Parente, Jr., says the dictionary sets a standard for how indigenous languages will be preserved in the future.

The Ojibwe People's Dictionary is an expansion of a printed dictionary. While the printed book contains 7,000 words, the new website has 30,000 and is growing.

The dictionary is being celebrated at a launch party from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at the McNamara Alumni Center. Ojibwe elders who contributed to the project will attend.

Officials say the dictionary provides words, context and pictures, as well as audio clips. Like other indigenous languages, Ojibwe has been in decline in recent years.

The dictionary can be found at: http://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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