The Kosrae Dictionary and Curriculum Development Project

This paper reviews work being done as part of a three-year project to help preserve a small Micronesian language. The project, which began in 2001, is funded by a science and research grant from the Japan Ministry of Education and Science. Kosrae is the easternmost state in the Federated States of Micronesia, with a population of just under 9,000. In 1999, the Kosrae State Department of Education requested assistance in revising the Kosraean dictionary and developing educational materials to help preserve the language by using it as the primary medium of instruction in grades K-12. This paper summarizes the scope of the project, gives an overview of work completed during the first year, and outlines upcoming tasks.