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Matt
Joined: Jul 15, 2005
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Country: New Zealand
Province/State: Auckland
City: Manukau
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Language "Minorities"
July 18, 2005 - 01:16 AM
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Following a two second conversation with someone the other day, I remembered that I can't speak two of the official languages of my country. And that the learning of these languages at high school / college is only optional. The compulsory education received at primary school when i was but a young 10 years old was one hour a week of learning Maori and 1 visit by someone who taught us basic sign language.
So of the three official languages i speak one.
Where are all the books in Maori in the bookshops?
Why was there only smatterings of teaching at primary school?
Is this the same for the rest of the world where english is the dominant language?
Kaipai Maori television... you've taught me all i know.
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Katharine
Joined: Feb 2, 2004
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Province/State: Texas
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Re: Language "Minorities"
July 18, 2005 - 05:24 AM
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I think that the evolution of languages is quite natural. Just as certain words or dialects have found its way into people's conversations, certain languages and dialects have left.
I think that it is necessary to preserve these languages, but it shouldn't be mandatory for students to learn these languages. Language is a way to communicate, and with the continual globalization it is difficult to predict what will happen to these languages and if they will become practical to learn for the future. While people should always care about their roots and embrace their country's history, I think that it might be better for schools to educate for the future rather than educate to preserve the past. I think people are just taking the practical fool-proof route instead of the romanticized one... it seems like the popular thing to do.
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Dr.M.Mukhtar Alam
Joined: Mar 6, 2001
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Province/State: Delhi
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Representations of languages
July 18, 2005 - 06:20 AM
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I think establishing the relevance of a language is a political need of a linguistic group and its is linked with the growth of the children. English does happen to be in ascendancy all over the world even though there are strong policies for the preservation of the local languages. There are other languages with global reach. At UN , recognized languages are Chinese,English,French,Russian and Spanish. Protection of the languages is the duty of the state.
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Matt
Joined: Jul 15, 2005
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Country: New Zealand
Province/State: Auckland
City: Manukau
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Re: Language "Minorities"
July 18, 2005 - 06:43 AM
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so why then would the state allow such laxness in the preservation of the language?
And what if there is no growth in the population which speak that language?
Irish is the "national language" of the The Republic of Ireland, although it is spoken by only a small fraction of its people. English, which is spoken by the majority, is described only as the second official language.
Would there be any way to revive the language if it was lost?
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Saladin
Joined: Oct 1, 2002
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Country: Egypt
Province/State: Al Qahirah
City: Cairo
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Re: Language "Minorities"
July 28, 2005 - 03:26 AM
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Well, Arabic too has been recently recognized by the UN.
On the other hand, it's not a new thing if I say that I did not choose my own language, but it's a matter of belonging...e.g. my mother could probably be not the best mother, but I love her,....same goes for my language...Arabic.
I've travelled to Syria, Lebanon, Morocoo, Tunisia, and different regions in Egypt, and I am really amazed of that thrilling difference in Arabic dialects. However, I think the Qur'an has played the major role in the preservation and the revival of Arabic language.
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Matt
Joined: Jul 15, 2005
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Country: New Zealand
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City: Manukau
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Re: Language "Minorities"
July 29, 2005 - 12:42 PM
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thats a reason why i dont speak Maori, there wasnt a big push to learn it at school, and back in those old days, i wasnt someone who would do anything extra while at school, didnt like it very much. So the promotion of learning the Maori language in NZ is very poor.
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jisrael5
Joined: May 3, 2004
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Country: Mexico
Province/State: Yucatan
City: Mérida
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Re: Language "Minorities"
August 11, 2005 - 04:22 AM
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Hi this is Israel Herrera from México.
Is good to know what's happening in other places of the world.
I live in the mayan area of mexico, the south. Here we have 63 different lenguages, and 53 ethnic groups. But the officla lenguage is spanish.
Until 2002 there was not official recognition to the other lenguages spoken in Mexico apart from the official one.
Now there is an institute for the promotion of the lenguages which belongs to the minister of education.
But there are many problems that can not be solved only with an institute, like the segregation that the indigenous people which speak that lenguages suffer everiday, the discrimination, and the lack of resources to invest in them.
Mexico, like many others, is a country where there is many discriminaiton to the people who speak a lenguage or can not speak spanish. Is more easy to learn german, french, lenguages from europe, than any of the 63 ethnical lenguages.
What do you think??? how is it in your countries???
Keep well
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Anu Jaanu
Joined: May 3, 2005
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Country: Canada
Province/State: Ontario
City: Mississauga
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Re: Language "Minorities"
August 14, 2005 - 01:25 AM
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It is always a good idea to learn your mother/father tongue. I've noticed that people who speak more than just English tend to be a lot more creative. The cultures are a lot more diverse.
- MMeX
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