"Very excited!" Purbu Zhaxi, a Tibetan young man living in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region, said on Thursday when he successfully sent a short message in Tibetan via mobile phone to his close friends far away.
"I wouldn't dream of sending a short message in my mother language," he said. But now, a Tibetan language processing system for mobile phone help his dream come true.
Jointly developed by Tibet University, Tibet TeleCom and Shenzhen Runhui Technology Company, the system can offer mobile phone an input-and- output interface in Tibetan language.
The research on wireless communication system in Tibetan language started in November 2003 by Tibet University and its partners. After a series of technological conundrums were tackled, the processing system came into being in August this year.
"This kind of Short messages can be easily sent even for those Tibetan with basic literacy," said Nyima Zhaxi, professor with Modern Education technology Center under Tibet University.
"Joining traditional Tibetan language and modern communication tools can play an important role in carrying forward traditional Tibetan cultures," said Nyima.
According to Li Xiaohua, general manager of Tibet TeleCom, the system can be used in 220,000 registered Haoyitong mobile phones, scattered in over 1,000 villages of 72 counties in the Tibet Autonomous Region.
"Short messages in Tibetan can help make a full use of Tibetan culture resources among native-born farmers and herdsmen," said Sanggyae Dawa, a technician with Tibet TeleCom.
(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2005)
