Of languages without a dictionary

While I was researching about the 3 most widely-spoken languages of Sarawak and the 3 most widely-spoken languages of Sabah. Only Iban and Kadazan have their own dictionaries according to Ethnologue and both of their dictionaries are out-of-print. Melanau, Bidayuh, Murut , and Bajau do not have their own dictionaries.
The language statuses for them are a follows: Iban is 3(Wider communication), Bidayuh 5(Developing), Melanau 3(Wider communication), Kadazandusun 5(Developing), Bajau 6B(threatened) and Murut 6B(threatened). The smaller the number the greater the usage. For example English would be 0.
This is the scale as explained in Ethnologue.
If this is the status of the major languages one shudders to think of the other smaller language groups. However one can also look at it on a positive note and treat this as a call to arms for people who use it as a first language to develop their mother tongue. In order to do so one need not look any further than the history of English.
In a nutshell English was a language that even the ruling and intellectual elites of England did not use. Latin and French was much preferred. How did it become so dominant? One can say it was an accident of luck and history but then it wouldn't be instructive and denigrate the diligence of the English in developing their language. Though all the steps were more or less concurrent but for simplicity sake I have spread them out.
The first step actually involves the compiling of a dictionary. This enables the standardisation of the language and spelling. Second involves the translation of important foreign works into the language. This not only enriches the vocabulary of the language through borrowing but also the minds of the speakers with new ideas, concepts, creations and inventions. This paved the way for the indigenous production and creation of not only works of literature but also scientific discoveries. The works of literature incentivised mass literacy and the scientific advancement enabled it to conquer other nations as well as forcing the intellectual elite of other nations to learn English in order to catch up. Currently the United States of America is holding the baton upholding the place of English in the world with it dominance of scientific advancement and mass media. This is a simplification but if we are to learn anything the lesson would be a need for lexicographers in Sabah and Sarawak to start compiling.