The MOOC on Introduction to Dongba Scripts is an international project in language and culture protection implemented under the collaboration of three higher institutions in three countries: Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) in China, the National Institute of Oriental Language and Civilization (INALCO) in France, and the University of Geneva in Switzerland. The project develops in-depth Dongba scripts resources, and spreads the knowledge of Dongba scripts and Naxi culture to the world through MOOC, so that more people can understand, learn, and use Dongba scripts, and the endangered Dongba scripts can be preserved as a precious cultural heritage for the mankind.
Dongba scripts are used by the Naxi ethnic minority (about 300,000 people) in East Tibet and North Yunnan, China. There are about 1,400 single characters in total. Studies show that Dongba scripts are the only pure pictographs still in use in the world. Although Dongba scripts can still be seen in the daily life of Naxi people today, the only person who is really proficient in Dongba scripts is Dongba, a Naxi priest who presides over religious ceremonies.
Nashi Manuscript Collection,Asian Collections, Library of Congress
Dongba hieroglyphs are a unique representative of Dongba culture, and its profound cultural heritage is mainly reflected in two aspects. On the one hand, Dongba script is a primitive pictograph that has been handed down to these days and is known as the "living fossil" in writings. The precious heritage of human civilization deserves to be fully protected. On the other hand, Dongba script is an important manifestation of Naxi’s faith and culture, showing the backbone of the Naxi’s multi-religious beliefs. That is particularly evident in the Dongba priests.
Roofs of Lijiang, Yunnan, China
As far as we know, there are no specialized courses on Dongba scripts on the world major MOOC platforms. Therefore, it can be said that the MOOC has been developed for the protection and inheritance of Dongba scripts one of the innovations in the field of language and culture protection.
The MOOC on Introduction to Dongba Scripts is an introductory course for understanding Dongba Scripts and Naxi culture. Its main targets include social enthusiasts, language and culture students and researchers in related fields. The content of the MOOC includes 180 commonly used Dongba hieroglyphs and related cultures. The first unit is a course overview, and learners can have a preliminary understanding of the basic knowledge of Dongba Scripts and Naxi culture; From the second unit to the seventh unit, 30 Dongba hieroglyphs and Naxi culture of a certain theme will be taught in each unit. Learners can recognize the Dongba scripts, understand the selected Dongba texts, and relate the learned hieroglyphs and texts to the cultures.
Types of quizzes, writing exercises, case studies, mutual evaluations of homework, forums and other activities are designed to help learners to consolidate what they have learned and make more active and constructive exchanges. In addition, several Dongba priests will be invited to give live-streaming lectures during the course.
Different from other language learning MOOCs, the MOOC on Introduction to Dongba Scripts is positioned to protect the endangered world language and culture resources. Therefore, the MOOC will make full use of the massive online communication in four languages—Chinese, English, French and German, to quickly cover learners from all over the world, awakening their awareness of the protection of Dongba and Naxi culture to the greatest extent. Having completed the design and plan, the project is advancing the interview and filming, and the team members will choose the right time to travel to Yunnan to carry out field investigations and interviews.
Project background
The MOOC on Introduction to Dongba Scripts is a scientific research project jointly developed by INALCO, ACLR of BLCU, ELCF and MdL of the University of Geneva. The project was initiated by Professor Joël BELLASSEN, and was highly recognized and supported by Professor LI Yuming. Currently, Dr. WANG-SZILAS Jue from the University of Geneva is responsible for the implementation and coordination. Dr. YANG Yihua (Naxi) from South West University and Dr. ZHOU Yin from Chongqing Jiaotong University are participating in the curriculum design as important members of the team.
INALCO, the initiator, provides human and material resources for the project, carries out standard and program design, organizes the course video filming process, and ensures the smooth production and dissemination on the well-known French MOOC platforms.
ACLR, the main partner of the project, is responsible for jointly formulating project planning and design plans, producing MOOC videos, evaluating MOOC quality and conducting promotion and spreading (Going online on China's mainstream MOOC platforms)
The ELCF and MdL of the University of Geneva are in charge of organizing the multilingual translation of the MOOC, carrying out scientific research in the multilingual field related to the project, and promoting the MOOC in Switzerland.
Group photo of the collaboration teams in May,2019
Group photo of ACLR, BLCU and the University of Geneva in May,2019
Team working photo in Chongqing in October, 2019
