Talisunep Jamir (right) with Kili Kiba, moderator, during the lecture on "Endangering the Endangered: Challenges for Naga Languages in the Digital Era,” at Patkai Christian College on April 29.
Chümoukedima, April 30 (MExN): The existential challenges facing Naga languages were highlighted during a talk on “Endangering the Endangered: Challenges for Naga Languages in the Digital Era” at Patkai Christian College on Wednesday.
The lecture, the fourth and final session of the Academic Engagement Series organised by the Patkai Reading and Writing Club, was delivered by Assistant Professor of English at the college, Talisunep Jamir.
Chairperson Leiyolan Cecilia, in her remarks, expressed appreciation to attendees and said the club aims to create meaningful academic spaces for thoughtful engagement on important issues. She noted that the topic encouraged reflection on indigenous languages and identity in a rapidly changing digital world.
Moderator Kili Kiba introduced the theme, stating that the session would examine both historical and contemporary challenges faced by Naga languages, particularly in the context of social change and digital transformation.
In his address, Jamir explained the concept of language endangerment, noting that languages decline when they are no longer transmitted to younger generations or used in everyday communication. Referring to global trends, he said many languages are now spoken by only a small number of people, placing them at serious risk of extinction.
He said language endangerment may result from external forces such as military, economic, religious, cultural or educational subjugation, as well as internal factors, including a community’s negative attitude towards its own language. Internal pressures, he added, are often rooted in external influences, and both disrupt intergenerational transmission of linguistic and cultural traditions.
In the Naga context, Jamir highlighted the impact of historical developments such as colonial education and the adoption of English as an institutional language. He acknowledged that English has also contributed to preserving Naga languages through documentation and the use of the Roman script. However, he noted that Naga languages have limited presence in digital spaces, making younger generations more inclined to engage with dominant languages.
Warning of broader implications, Jamir said the extinction of languages leads to the irreversible loss of unique cultural, historical and ecological knowledge. Each language, he added, represents a distinct way of understanding the world, and its disappearance reduces insights into human language, prehistory and ecosystems.
An interactive question-and-answer session followed, with participants raising concerns and sharing experiences. Responding to a query on language transmission, Jamir observed that younger generations are increasingly losing touch with their mother tongues, even within families, due to limited exposure and changing communication patterns.
Participants also discussed the role of parents, the influence of English as a status symbol, and the lack of learning resources for children in indigenous languages. Jamir said while parents play a key role, the issue is also linked to the absence of accessible materials such as children’s books and digital content in Naga languages.
On language standardisation, he cautioned that such efforts may unintentionally marginalise smaller dialects, a process referred to in linguistics as “linguicide”. Addressing questions on digital tools, he said developing resources such as digital dictionaries would require institutional support, funding and collaboration.
He further noted that languages lacking digital presence face a significantly higher risk of decline as communication increasingly shifts to digital platforms.
