Protecting mother tongue and nature – a global issue

Though Nami and Tomono had been born on Okinagabu Island (at present house to solely 12,000 residents), neither Nami nor Tomono discovered to talk fluent Shima Muni (a neighborhood variant of the nationwide dialect) as youngsters.

In 2009, Guotou was included in UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages ​​in Hazard and categorised as “categorically endangered” to lift public consciousness that “youngsters are now not studying the language as their mom tongue at house.” .

The household takes motion

After studying that the indigenous language of Okinaga Rabu Island was formally thought-about endangered, the couple and their 4 youngsters determined to show their love of language into impactful motion past the island. It resonated.

Residents of Okinagabu Island are usually not solely frightened about dropping their language, however are additionally more and more involved concerning the proliferation of marine particles. In a college challenge assigned through the summer time, the Sao youngsters determined they might remedy each issues by doing each day seaside clean-ups alongside language actions reminiscent of singing and journal writing on the Island Muni – At present’s Progress.

Utilizing the Shimamuni dialect as a thread connecting individuals from all walks of life to a standard native id, the Sao household has expanded its conservation actions to incorporate cooking native delicacies, offering haircuts to nursing house residents, and attending “Shimamuni salons” the place they study arts and crafts at a neighborhood heart , providing language programs and often discussing native environmental points. The aim is to create the subsequent technology of eco-conscious Shimamuni audio system.

Dr. Sumittra Suraratdecha, assistant professor of linguistics on the Institute of Asian Languages ​​and Cultures (RILCA) in Thailand, mentioned: “With out these community-driven actions, the language will proceed to develop because the language is spoken. Extinct because of the dying of outdated individuals.

Linguistic range and sustainable improvement

When requested about his household’s underlying motivation for taking part in such a wide-ranging marketing campaign, a considerate Tomoyuki cited the urgency of attaining the formidable Sustainable Growth Targets (SDGs) by 2030.

He believes that as an alternative of passing on to youngsters the data gained by formal schooling 20 to 30 years in the past, it’s higher to assist their studying by follow, thereby serving to them accumulate real-life expertise in order that they’ll make a distinction.

The island Muni language has confirmed to be not solely a instrument for spreading native data reminiscent of conventional dessert recipes to the island’s younger individuals, but in addition improves the effectivity of speaking about environmental points with older islanders, a few of whom as soon as harbored faulty beliefs concerning the ocean. Rubbish needs to be left to degrade by itself.

Given the present world actuality of accelerating non-degradable waste and microplastics, Island Muni Native Language helps talk the true extent of the issue extra on to older adults.

Reflecting on the scenario of the Sao household and their inventive responses to native eco-cultural challenges, Kyungah Kristy Bang, Guide on Multilingual Training on the UNESCO Regional Workplace in Bangkok and Coordinator of the Multilingual Training Working Group in Asia, mentioned: Variety is usually a downside on the native degree Efficient instruments and options to realize sustainable improvement objectives.

Acquire recognition on the worldwide stage

In October 2023, the Sao household had the chance to current their inspiring story on the seventh Worldwide Convention on Languages ​​and Training in Bangkok, Thailand.

They attended the large-scale worldwide convention co-sponsored by UNESCO as representatives of Okinagabu Island, which attracted greater than 450 language specialists and individuals from everywhere in the world.

The Sao household has obtained island-wide assist, with the island’s two principal cities banding collectively to assist put together the household’s presentation movie and pay for a few of their journey bills.

“Whereas the convention introduced collectively quite a lot of stakeholders, together with policymakers, practitioners and researchers, who shared their experiences in instructional language, we frequently neglect that it’s typically a whole workforce or neighborhood, or on this case a single Households, Brandon Darr, Training Guide on the UNESCO Regional Workplace for Sustainable Growth mentioned:

For Chiyuki, gaining recognition on the worldwide stage solely strengthens his household’s guiding sense of goal.

“Our aim is to dwell a spiritually wealthy life,” he mentioned.

His spouse agreed.

“When our youngsters develop up, they’ll dwell wherever,” she mentioned, “however I need them to maintain their language and tradition of their hearts.”