Preserving mother tongues is preserving identities

Preserving mother tongues is preserving identities

Preserving mother tongues is preserving identities

Feb 21 is International Mother Language Day

 

Vishü Rita Krocha
Kohima | February 20


There are roughly about 6,500 languages in the world, but a language disappears and dies every two weeks. International Mother Language Day is observed every year on February 21 since 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. 


This year, the theme for International Mother Language Day is “Indigenous languages matter for development, peace building and reconciliation.”


Nagaland is the most linguistically diverse state in India according to the 2011 census wherein the state has 14 languages and 17 dialects with the largest language (Konyak) having a 46% share. 


Languages play a pivotal role in the overall development of a child, not only as a means of communication and education but also as a means of preserving one’s unique culture and identity. As an example, Sarhünyi Stephen Dukru, a father of five children ensures that they speak in their mother tongue as far as possible, especially while at home.


Having married an Angami, while he belongs to the Chakhesang community, which has again multiple languages, Dukru says, “My children speak both Poula (one of the dialects of the Chakhesang tribe and predominantly spoken by those from Razeba area under Phek district) and Tenyidie.” 


“They speak Poula most prominently as my wife learnt to speak Poula early on,” he states and goes on to add that, “sometimes, English and Nagamese are also spoken especially because of a babysitter they had a few years ago, who only communicated in Nagamese.”


However, he states that “I do not encourage my children to speak other languages at home other than Poula and Tenyidie. I feel home is the most appropriate place or perhaps the only place for those of us who live in towns where our children can learn their mother tongue correctly and fluently.” 


“It is good to learn other languages, but learning to speak fluently in one’s mother tongue should be a priority as it is an essential part of preserving one’s identity,” he maintains.


Meanwhile, a common trend in many families nowadays is that most children communicate in English at home. 


Mother of one, Sophy Lasuh Kesiezie feels that, “these days, we have pre-schools where children as young as 2 can interact in a schoolroom ambience with other children. English is used as the primary medium of communication. This could be one of the reasons why English as a language dominates in almost every family.” 


The other reason, she says, could be inter- community marriages. She herself belongs to such a set-up, and “so technically, I should be able to speak 3 tribal languages. English language becomes an escape,” she expresses.


Whiled articulating the advantages offered by acquiring proficiency in any extra language, she states: “I regret not being able to communicate fluently in my own mother tongue. But I haven’t given up. I am still learning and at the same time, trying to learn my husband’s language (Tenyidie) as well. I am so relieved that my child can learn his mother tongue as a subject in school, it was a privilege I did not have.”


And yet, she further says it is also important to understand that the primary role of any language is to communicate. 


“While we cannot undermine the importance of knowing your mother tongue, the deaf and the mute still communicate with sign language. So be it English, Hindi and any other language, learn to communicate articulately”, she puts across.


With more government initiatives to increase education in mother tongues, and families holistically encouraging children to learn their own while not being averse to the other, a linguistically rich environment like Nagaland can contribute more weight to the celebration of the International Mother Language Day.