Conservation of language

Photo: A.M.Ahad / Drik News

Heritage does not solely mean something concrete in structure, there are some intangible heritages and one of them is language. Language is the most powerful instrument of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage.
It is important for all communities to preserve their languages for the growth of their culture and social progress. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues shall serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education, but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.
There are more than 6,000 spoken languages in the world and most of them are under threat due to powerful languages like English, French, Spanish and German. Languages are not only extremely adequate tools of communication; they also reflect a view of the world. Languages are vehicles of value systems and of cultural expressions. They also constitute a determining factor in the identity of groups and individuals.
Linguistic experts estimate that 96% of the world's languages are spoken by 4% of the world's population. One language disappears every two weeks on average. At least 80% of the African languages have no orthographic. Bunuba, an Australian aboriginal language, has no more then 100 speakers left, most of whom are older people. The Bunuba elders try to pass on the ancestral language through telling stories, as was done in the past.
Ainu is a moribund language and has been endangered for at least the past few decades. Most of the 1, 50,000 ethnic Ainu in Japan speak only Japanese. In the town of Nibutani (part of Biratori, Hokkaido) where many of the remaining native speakers live, there are 100 speakers out of which only 15 used the language every day in the late 1980s. But due to positive intervention the language has been preserved in Japan.
Similarly, some languages have become moribund, especially in places where aboriginals still live -- Australia and New Zealand. Aka-Jeru (also known as Jeru, Yerawa) is a Great Andamanese language, but there is some dispute as to whether Jeru is extinct or not. But reports from different sources say that there are not more than 20 speakers of this language.
Chittagong Hill Tracts is also a rich area in the perspective of languages and dialects. There are many dialects in this district zone. Bandarbans, Rangamati, Khagrachari, Sylhet, Mymensingh have many dialects. In the whole of Bangladesh in fact, different languages or dialects have been used by native people.
Unesco has developed a Red Book on Endangered Languages of the World. Languages were originally divided into five categories; a sixth -- potentially endangered languages -- was added later. The categories are extinct language; early extinct language (with maximally tens of speakers, all elderly); seriously endangered language (with a more substantial number of speakers, but practically without children among them); endangered languages (with some children speakers at least in part of their range, but decreasing); potentially endangered language (with a large number of children speakers, but without an official or prestigious status); not endangered language (with safe transmission of language to new generations).
Some of the extinct languages in Europe are: Kemi Sámi, Southern Mansi , Polabian and Slovincian, while some of the potentially endangered languages in Europe are Piedmontese, Ligurian, Lombard, Emilian and Corsican. More reseach is needed for documenting other endangered languages in other parts of the world.
Different initiatives have been started around the world to preserve the languages which are endangered. As linguistic and cultural diversity represents universal values that strengthen the unity and cohesion of societies, the 30th session of the General Conference of UNESCO in 1999 decided that the organisation would launch and observe an International Mother Language Day on February 21 every year throughout the world. The day has been observed every year since 2000.
How lucky and gifted we are that because of our language movement in 1952, which got us independence too, people across the world are now more aware of their mother tongues.
In the age of cyberspace and digitalisation it is important for people and communities to preserve their mother languages. A powerful language like English has dominated the education system, and children and young people try to learn it for a better career. There is no doubt that a good career is always important for all of us, but we need to know that preserving the mother language is also important, especially for communities which are rich in culture and tradition.
The celebration of mother language day plays a significant role internationally. From the perspective of linguistics, different initiatives should be taken across Bangladesh as this is a land of many language and dialects. It is important for the young people to learn and respect their own language; else there is every possibility that many languages or dialects spoken among Adivashi brothers and sisters shall become extinct some day.

The writer is a national tourism worker.