Indigenous languages carry a person’s identity, heritage, collective memory and knowledge system.
Without their language, a person simply lives without a soul because languages connects them to land, membership to tribes, identity, and their origins.
They are also gateways to diversity (SPC, 2022) https://en.unesco.org/news/cutting-edge-indigenous-languages-gateways-worlds-cultural-diversity.
The United Nations General Assembly designated the years 2022 and 2023 as the International Decade for Indigenous Languages.
To raise attention towards the endangering indigenous languages in the world and to stimulate ways to preserve, revitalise, and promote them.
An estimate of about 50 per cent of spoken languages would be extinct or critically-endangered by 2100 — therefore — humanity shall be left with only 300-600 surviving oral languages (UN Development). The recommended slogan is ‘Nothing for us without us’.
Indigenous language helps preserve the indigenous knowledge of biodiversity, climate change, food security, water and land management, health, cultural and natural heritage, which are valuable for sustainable development (En.unesco.org, January 10, 2022).
Reports also claim that every two weeks, a language disappears due to globalisation, with it, an entire cultural, knowledge and intellectual heritage vanishes (Kamal, allfrica.com, February 21, 2002).
The highest number of indigenous people comes from Asia and the Pacific region, followed by Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, so the people and organisations should realise the gravity of the extinction of the indigenous languages and support usage and empower language users.
The op-ed reflects the snapshot of the crisis of endangered indigenous languages and measures to preserve, protect and sustain them.
Indigenous languages
UNESCO estimates that half of the world’s 7000 languages will be extinct by the end of the century.
The UN designated 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, initiating a worldwide awareness campaign for all indigenous languages, with a rationale of ‘indigenous peoples face tremendous challenges such as assimilation, enforced relocation, and unequal access to education that may eventually lead to the weakening of a language to the point of disappearance’; another rationale was the stigma associated with the use of indigenous languages and pressure to use mainstream language in society (IYIL, UNESCO, 2019).
These languages represent cultural identity (arts, music, dance, songs, stories, handicrafts, tales, ceremonies and much more), historical narratives, traditional knowledge and a sense of historicity (see ICH Convention, 2003- https://ich.unesco.org/en/convention).
Several measures are taken to preserve the linguistic diversity of indigenous languages in many Pacific Island nations. The mother tongue or first language is highly treasured, as the human mind is programed to think in the first learned language, so it is always reflected in their identity, tradition, and cultural heritage.
Prof. R. Subramani had shown concern to take measures to safeguard the endangered languages of Fiji, by explaining, “simply because there is no writing in the language. I’m concerned that the indigenous iTaukei language is not being enriched by writing. And when the language is not enriched by writing, it is not recorded in writing.
Then there’s a gradual demise of the language.” (RNZ, October 6, 2019). Many scholars believe numerous indigenous languages are on the verge of extinction, and many are disappearing at an alarming rate and emphasise the need to promote these (see, e.g. Konai H. Thaman, 2019).
Indigenous languages: Historical discourse
Numerous former colonies of Western nations are facing the colonial legacy of the domination of the colonial language, especially in relation to language used in formal education.
After political independence, the change in the nation’s official language was not done in many Pacific Islands.
Many of these colonies were multi-ethnical and multilingual, so opting for one language over the several other local languages to replace the former colonial language is a challenging task, as it may create a sense of charges of ‘internal colonialism’ by those whose language may not be adopted as nation’s language (White, 2002).
Furthermore, White (2002) said many nations had retained the official language symbol of their former subject status and promoted local indigenous language in the education sector.
This has led to a neocolonial impact in the post-colonial world in former colonies.
The impact of this phenomenon led to a loss of indigenous languages, but in recent times, there has been an awareness to safeguard the indigenous languages and the emergence of the renaissance movement to rediscover the indigenous culture and language (see for e.g. Rethinking Education for Pacific by Pacific Initiative-RPEIPP- Nabobo-Baba, 2013).
Safeguard measures
Languages are valuable as a part of human heritage and a storehouse of knowledge, culture, and tradition passed on to generations.
Many Pacific Islands are working to safeguard the endangered indigenous languages, e.g. Fiji being a multi-ethical and multilingual nation, has been working toward promoting, preserving and protecting the country’s indigenous languages.
The i-Taukei (Fijian indigenous language) is now required to be taught in elementary school to protect the endangered indigenous languages. Fiji is a multicultural and multilingual nation, so assistance needs to be given to other languages also such as Hindustani, Rotuman and others.
Historical records, archival artefacts, museums and heritage sites should be preserved and promoted as they are considered spaces that can revitalise indigenous languages.
Many believe measures that can strengthen these objectives is teaching education in the mother tongue from elementary to higher education.
Students need guidance to use indigenous language at home and use it in formal language learning.
The entertainment industry needs to expand by giving preference to indigenous languages in telecasting news and daily soap. The government needs to lead from the front to invest heavily in encouraging the usage of indigenous languages. Electronic and print media is a meaningful means to expand the usage of indigenous languages.
Newspapers, magazines, and brochures shall be beneficial to expand indigenous language usage among children, youth, and the masses. Indigenous music, films, documentaries, and television programmes are crucial to developing and preserving these languages.
Conclusion
Every formerly colonised individual has to decolonise the mind to eradicate the language imposed by the colonisers over the colonised.
It requires some instrumental efforts from the masses and government to take practical measures.
If the language is not preserved, it can loosen cultural, traditional and historical heritage.
Establishing social and linguistic bonds with the diaspora community can come in handy in these efforts.
It is now or never, if appropriate initiatives are not undertaken, then humanity may lose the rich treasure house of indigenous languages.
- Prof. Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, Dean and Professor in Education, College of Humanities and Education.
- Dr Sakul Kundra is an assistant professor in history and Acting Head of School, School of Arts and Humanities, College of Humanities and Education, at Fiji National University. The views expressed are their own and not of this newspaper or their employer.
