Literature and Education Ministry of Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang organised a special programme on ‘Promoting the Ao Language’ for pastors.
Impur, February 19 (MExN): The Literature and Education Ministry of the Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) organised a special programme on “Promoting the Ao Language” for pastors from Zones 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
The event, held at Impur, brought together 58 pastors representing 53 local churches.
Recognising that pastors play a pivotal role in guiding individuals, families, and communities, the ministry emphasized the importance of using the mother tongue as the golden rule for effective communication. With the growing demand and challenge of preserving the Ao language, the program sought to strengthen its proper usage within the community.
Two topics were highlighted during the session: “Uniformity of Writing the Ao Language” and “The Ao Language is the Basis of the Culture.”
The speakers included I Temjen Tzüdir, Coordinator of Ao Riju, and Padma T Senka Ao from Mokokchung, who shared their insights on the linguistic and cultural significance of Ao.
Dr Lanurenla Principal, Saochang College, Tuensang, raised a pressing concern in her sharing over the endangered status of the Ao language. She emphasised that the survival of the language depends on strengthening intergenerational transmission, institutional support, and organizational commitment. “The need of the hour is to ensure that our language is passed on meaningfully to future generations,” she stated.
Rev Temsü Jamir, Executive Secretary of ABAM, delivered a caution about the erosion of indigenous tongues.
“We live in a time when languages are murdered or killed. Unless we become serious about the loss of our language, we will face a time of bewilderment,” he cautioned.
Rev Jamir noted that neglect begins even at our mission to others, we preach the gospel but often neglect to share the importance of the language. This should go hand in hand. He urged that the effort to preserve and promote the language must begin at home and extend to schools, institutions, and community platforms.
