Survival and Hope for Indigenous Languages

Akangjungla

Indigenous language is not essentially a national language but it is undeniably the language of the indigenous peoples belonging to a particular region which is not always defined by fixed boundaries. It is the central to the identity, culture, heritage and element of self-determination of indigenous peoples. 

“For indigenous peoples, languages not only identify their origin or membership in a community, they also carry the ethical values of their ancestors – the indigenous knowledge systems that make them one with the land and are crucial to their survival and to the hopes and aspirations of their youth,” describes Minnie Degawan, an advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples. 

In the recent decades, the accelerating disappearance of indigenous languages has become a worldwide occurrence. Studies and researchers commonly indentify contemporary global challenges like pluriculturalism, multi-ethnicity, climate change, and migration to urban areas, social disintegration and so on for causing the disappearance of indigenous languages. 

A publication of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues reports, at present, 96% of the world’s approximately 6,700 languages are spoken by only 3% of the population. Despite the fact that less than 6% of the population is indigenous peoples, they speak more than 4,000 of the world’s languages.

The publication suggested that more than half of the world’s languages will become extinct by 2100. The greater worry is that the majority of the languages under threat are indigenous languages. It is estimated that one indigenous language dies every two weeks.

Taking note that indigenous languages are particularly at risk, the Los Pinos Declaration was adopted during the ‘Making a decade of action for indigenous languages’ event which was organized by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) and Mexico on February 27-28, 2020 in Mexico City. The Declaration for the decade of indigenous languages (2022-2032) places indigenous peoples at the centre of its recommendations under the slogan “Nothing for us without us.”

According to a linguistics expert from the Nagaland University, out of the 187 endangered languages in India, 64 are in northeast facing the threat of extinction. 

In Nagaland, State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT) the academic wing of the Department of School Education and the Centre for Naga Tribal Language Studies, Nagaland University are also engaging more consciously to formulate curriculums and trainings with focus to work on development of Naga languages and literature. 

Sunday school as a place to teach and learn indigenous language, loosely translated as “mother tongue”, is the popular idea in Naga context. However, the core component of Sunday school is religious education and therefore, it does not serve the purpose of this popular idea. 

The approach of adopting remedial measures in educational institutes or place of worship, as much as it is appreciated, might not be enough to pass on the knowledge system of indigenous language. 

The hope for indigenous languages will thrive only when there is an understanding that indigenous languages is the priceless knowledge that connects communities with their ethical values, land, history, birthright and identity. 

Ultimately, the survival and revitalizing of indigenous languages will depend on the influence of the communities which speak them, followed by clear policies, generous funds and an all-encompassing will power to create an environment for upholding indigenous languages.

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