Indigenous Language
Introduction
Language is a very essential communication tool across the globe. It is defined to be the capability to use and attain different systems of complex communication that people use. There are many different language systems that are used all throughout the numerous races in the world. Linguistics is the scientific study mainly focused on language.
Way back in the 20th century, there had been so many arguments about the origin or language. One is that language arose from the logical and rational thought while the other argument would be it arose from emotions; Immanuel Kant is one of the philosophers who believed that language came from logic. Moreover, as of today, it is estimated that there are almost 7000 different languages used by people. Confusion on the estimate happens when dialects are mistaken for language. The difference between the two is that languages considered as natural language are either signed or spoken but there are those which are encoded into other forms of media such as tactile stimuli, visual as well as auditory that come in braille and graphic writing.
Indigenous Language
Indigenous languages are native to a particular region or area in a country. It all started to be called as indigenous when people who migrated to a certain country with their own language have stated to settle there and flourished throughout the area. Hence, indigenous language is considered to be the minority language in that specific area because it is only spoken by the minority of the inhabitants; sometimes it happens that the language of the immigrants becomes the official language throughout the country since the majority of people use it. This scenario therefore results to the disappearance of the native language or it can be therefore downgraded to the minority. In addition, some people would have mistaken indigenous language to be national languages but they are not. There has also been the disappearance of the indigenous language because people chose to be in with the majority of inhabitants talking the new language.
Indigenous language disappears because the continuity of passion and love for the language is lost along the passing of time. For the case of the United States of America, specifically North America, there have been already an outstanding 52 native languages which already disappeared. With the enormous number of 7000 languages throughout the world, there are also additional languages which have not been included since these belongs to tribes secretly inhabiting the rural areas and are inaccessible to some extent. Unfortunately, with the “living’ languages existing in the world, about 6890, only 90% of it are still spoken by at least 100,000 persons; most of it are close to extinction.
Even developing countries are now facing extinction of their native language and one of the many examples is Oklahoma. Oklahoma is a city in the United States known for its high density of indigenous language which greatly includes those which are really original to the city as well as those which come from the tribes of Native America; this happened because of the fact that there were Native Americans who were relocated forcibly by their governments. Looking back to the 19th century, one of the many tribes that were manipulated by the government of United States was Yuchi; they were relocated to Oklahoma from Tennessee. Even if the Yuchis were subjected to a different environment with different language used, they were successful enough in preserving their native language until the 20th century. However, due to the severe treatment of the government to American Indians who were heard speaking their native languages, people have stopped using it frequently; American Indians who were attending the boarding schools were subjected to punishments.
With this example, it can be concluded that the continuity of native language is a victim of many things such as racism, economic developments worldwide, imperialism, militarism and colonialism; there is a huge effect of dominance among people living together and this shows that the passive ones are being eaten by the stronger and aggressive ones. Many native languages have been lost n a very rapid manner throughout the century. Losing the indigenous language ones used by people native in the place goes to show that the autonomy, cultural heritage, connectivity among people and power are also lost (First Peoples Worldwide, 2013).
Many races have been enthusiastically using their native language since it is a mirror of how rich their culture is, however, if not properly preserved, it can be included in the world’s list of endangered languages that eventually come to extinction. It is not only the above-mentioned reasons that language becomes extinct, other reasons may be because of genocide and wars and natural disasters that these native speakers experience. It is very important that people are knowledgeable about the almost extinct languages so as to help it be preserved and revived. The indigenous languages play a vital role in the way of living of its users (Harries, 2010); it gives them confidence and sense of satisfaction that they are still able to use what they grow with. The following indigenous languages to be enumerated are included in the world’s 25 most endangered languages:
Ainu, the first on the list is a dialect native to Japanese which is one of the rarest indigenous languages in existence. Ainu is also known to be an ethnic group in Hokkaido, Japan and their language is not known to have any association genealogically with other languages known to man. However, with researches regarding the indigenous language, scientists have found out that there are still people in the Kuri Island who use it. There have been attempts and programs formed that aimed to revive the dying language with which to this date has only a small population of 300 identified users and only fluent speakers of 15.
Apiaka on the other hand is the indigenous language of people inhabiting Mato Grosso, Brazil. As of today, people belonging to the Apiaka tribe are now speaking Portuguese and those members who happened to marry from other tribes are known to be speaking the language of their spouses. Apiaka is included and is sixth of the Tupi language recognized by the UNESCO as a severely endangered language given the fact there is only one fluent speaker up to date. Attempts and programs to revive the language had been unfortunately unsuccessful but there were groups of people who still have the determination to do so and even producing a textbook entitled “Apiaka Word”.
Bikya is also commonly known to many as Furu is the indigenous language of people from Cameroon. It has been in the spotlight ever since the English Linguist David Dilby roduced and directed a film wherein an old woman, 87 years of age is speaking her native language Bikya throughout the film. Unfortunately, there were only four known fluent speakers recognized during the 1986 and to this date, the language is said to be already extinct, though, there are no proofs to support the claim yet.
Chamicuro is the indigenous language of people included in the aboriginal tribe of Chamicuro residing in the South America and only has at most 20 people for its population. People of this tribe are now known to speaking Spanish even if there has been the publication of a dictionary for the Chamicuro language.
Chemehuevi is an indigenous language that is a combination of the succeeding: Northern Uto-Aztecan, Uto-Aztecan and Southern Language. It is common to the Chemehuevi tribe in Colorado as well as in the south Nevada, northern Arizona and Utah. Though, the language is popular among these areas, only three people are known to fluently use the language.
Dumi, another indigenous language prone to extinction is spoken by people living in the Khotang District Mountains and Rava rivers in the country of Nepal. There are only eight known people who are still speaking the language. The Dumi is part of the Tibeto-Burman language and is now being revived and preserved with efforts of publishing books and dictionaries which use the language.
Dusner on the other note is the native or indigenous language of people inhabiting Papua, Indonesia with only three known fluent speakers whom regrettably, were injured during some natural disasters which happened years ago. Of course, there are also efforts to preserve the language and especially those linguists who come from the Oxford University given that out of the three known speakers, only two were able to survive from the disaster.
Kaixana known as the indigenous language of Japura, a state in Amazon only has its one and only fluent speaker who are at his old age of 78. The language becomes extinct when Portuguese inhabited the Japura river.
Kansa is a language used by the Dheqihan ethnic group situated in Oklahoma and was once used by the tribe of Kaw. The last known fluent speaker of this language already died by 1983 in the name of Walter Kekahbah. Luckily, linguist Robert Rankin managed to meet Kekahbah just before he died as well as other remaining speakers: Maud McCauley Rowe and Ralph Pepper. Linguist Rankin was able to make and produce all-encompassing recordings of these three native speakers and was able to publish learning materials with the goal to preserve, revive and flourish the Kansa language.
Lemerig has another story of being spoken in the islands of Pacific Ocean with only two speakers who still remain to use it. The language also has dialects which are now almost extinct.
Njerep is also known as an indigenous language to the Cameroon but is most commonly used in the Mambila, Nigeria. Conversely, there have been many replacements for this with other dialects namely Myop and Ba. By the year of 2007, the number of fluent users and speakers of this language greatly declined to four and are almost at their old age of 60 which makes the Njerep severely in danger of extinction.
Ongota, the 12th on the list is almost already extinct and is known to be used by the villagers of southwest Ethiopia with only six fluent speakers. Due to migration and flocks of other inhabitants, people of the tribe now use the Tsamai as their language. Surprisingly, based on the study of Aklilu Yilma, a proferssor from the University of Addis Ababa, the indigenous language of Ongata has the structure that follows the common to English language: subject accompanied by an object and a verb. Now known to include both the Nilo-Saharan and Afroasiatic heritage, the language is as powerful as it can be if revived.
Patwin is the language of Native Americans residing mostly in the western part of United states and its members are now situated in Colusa and Cortina; however, the sole fluent speaker of this language was documented almost two three decades ago already, 1997. Fortuitously, by the year 2010, classes teaching with this language were started in a tribal school known as Yocha Dehe Wintun. By the efforts of the people of California, they were able to pull off a massive collection of the materials for Patwin language in their California Library Indian collection.
Pazeh, an identified indigenous language of Taiwanese people merely came from Austronesian semantic. Pan Jin-yu is the sole speaker of the language had successfully thought a massive number of 200 students from Taichung, Puli and Liaoi before she rest in peace; she was 96 years of age when she taught the children.
Puelche is a native to people of Argentina and is a known isolated language greatly associated to the Chon language. Still alive, the language has its remaining six fluent speakers up-to-date.
Qawasqar on the other note is determined as the indigenous language of people of the Kawesqar tribe residing in southern part of Chile. The language has remaining 20 fluent speakers and has dialects associated with it.
Tanema unfortunately is a critically endangered language that is used by people in the Solomon Island’s eastern provinces, Emua village and Temotu province. By the year of 2012, only Lainol Nalo is the known speaker of the language who eventually speaks a different language already.
Taushiro is the language spoken by most of the people in Aucayu River and Tigre River in Peru as well as that in Ahaurua river. Most of the remaining members and speakers of the tribe already married from other tribes and have adopted Spanish and other dialects as their language.
Tinigua, known for the people in Colombia only has a sole speaker residing in the Guayabero. The tinigua is known to originate from Pamiqua, a language which is now extinct. No known people are determined to be speaking the language to this unfortunately.
Tolowa is mainly used by the Native American tribe of Tolowa in the Smite River in Crescent City, California. There are many known related languages to this indigenous language but by the year of 2008, only one was determined to be speaking it.
The 20th on the list is Vilela commonly spoken to the Argentina people but only a few elders are using and speaking it; most of them are residing in the Paraguayan border and Resistencia area in the country of Argentina. In addition, most of the members of the tribe are being transferred through marriage into Spanish-speaking communities, hence, the probable extinction of the language.
Volow which are popular with the people of Motalava islands are included in the Austronesian language. As of the year 2008, only one person is known to speak the language.
Wintu-Nomlaki on the other hand is used by people of Wintu tribe situated in California; the language is known to be compost of two dialects one of which is Wintu and the other is Nomlaki popularly spoken by people who lives in the south Savramento River. Only a few speakers of this language were found by researchers during 2008.
Second to the last is the Yaghan which is commonly used and spoken by people of Chile, specifically, Tierro del Fuego. The language was attempted to be associated with other languages like that of Chon and Kawesgar; it was eventually included in the list of languages spoken by South Americans by missionaries and explorers from the European countries. Cristina Calderon, known as the only speaker of the language was identified by the year of 2005. She is now residing in the Navarrino Island in the country and is more commonly known to be Abuela.
Last but not the least is Yarawi, in which it is the indigenous language of people in the Morobe Province in Papua, New Guinea. During the 20th century, the language was greatly used and spoken by the people however; it already came to extinction when the natives learned a new new language known as the Binandere.
All of the listed indigenous languages were from the repost of David Pegg way back in the 28th of June 2013 for the purpose of enlightening the eyes of many people all over the world to the great culture and the vast variety of languages that are now coming to their deaths.
Reviving the Indigenous Language
It is very necessary that the indigenous languages will be preserved, revived and eventually protected because it reflects both the dignity and cultural identity of our indigenous groups. There are many reasons that people should be motivated enough in helping these indigenous people revive their dying language. One is that the laws protecting them are set out of their language and if eventually, the specific language becomes extinct, there could be a lot of miscommunications and that outside people will not be able to comprehend the system that enables them to survive this ever developing world. Moreover, the extinction of the indigenous language greatly implies that the spirituality, identity and most especially the cultural diversity of the people are forgotten among the population and every individual in the community. In addition, the continuity of culture, customs and tradition will be entirely lost; these things are mostly passed on through teachings and words and are unfortunately, both irreparable and irreplaceable (UN Org, 2008). Last of all, losing the indigenous language compromises the maintenance of biological diversity as well as that of the linguistics given the fact that there are reinforcing factors for the challenges faced throughout all God's creations.
Indigenous language may be protected and revived through great efforts of the indigenous people with the help of the government, private and public sectors; programs, policies should be well planned and implemented so as to make sure that once started, it will be an on-going program so that indigenous language will once flourish. Here are some of the methods that the United Nations group for Rights of Indigenous people created mainly for the protection of their culture and rights: first and foremost is the budget allocation for the resources required for the development and preservation of the languages included and characterized as indigenous. Second would be the immersion programs focused on language that will cater the indigenous adults and children of different communities. Third would be the widespread promotion of the indigenous language through academic institutions as well as public firms; it is a big leap and help if the indigenous language is endorsed throughout the whole community, not just for the people in the tribes because it also promotes appreciation and eventually, usage of the language. Fourth is that political texts and laws should be translated to the specific indigenous language to aid the indigenous people in understanding and participating in every legal and political fields. Last but not the least, the easiest way to keep the indigenous language alive is to include it in the curriculum of schools may it be for indigenous children or not; people should be aware of the history and the rich cultural capacity of the language. More importantly, indigenous children should be allowed to use their mother-tongue language in schools so that they will not be hindered in using it and spread the richness of their language. There should also be laws protecting the rights of people in using their own indigenous language; punishments for users of indigenous language should be prohibited especially in schools.
References
First Peoples Worldwide (2013) “Celebrating and Preserving Indigenous Language” Retrieved from http://firstpeoples.org/wp/celebrating-and-preserving-indigenous-language/
Harries, J. (2010) “Importance of Using Indigenous Languages in Africa” Retrieved from : http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/resources/detail/10258#.VwZYUZx96pa
Pegg, D. (2013) “25 Most Endangered Languages in the World” Retrieved from http://list25.com/25-most-endangered-languages-in-the-world/
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2008): “Indigenous languages” Retrieved from http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/Factsheet_languages_FINAL.pdf
