Ahad Hossain :
The issue of language death in Bangladesh has gained attention following a report by the International Mother Language Institute, which revealed that 14 languages spoken by tribal communities have either died or are on the verge of extinction.
Other research institutions, such as the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL), have also acknowledged this reality.
The endangered languages include Mundari, Malto, Kheyang, Khumi, Kol, Chak, Pangkhwa, Patra (also called Laleng), Lusai, Khariya, Shoura, Koda, Kando, and Rengmitca.
Revitalizing these languages is crucial for both language documentation and the preservation of ethno-linguistic diversity. Without revitalization, mere archiving efforts will be ineffective.
The first step is to understand why these languages are in decline or have become extinct. It has been noted that social, political, and economic factors are the primary causes of ethnic language death.
Various programs have been introduced by authorities, including a 2013 initiative by the Bangladesh government to teach tribal children in their mother tongues from pre-primary to level two, after which they would learn Bangla alongside their native language.
While books were distributed to five ethnic communities, the results were unsatisfactory due to a lack of research on their cultures and communities.
From an ethno-linguistic perspective, understanding a language requires an understanding of the cultural behaviors of its speakers.
Revitalising ethnic languages requires focusing on the behaviors, norms, everyday activities, beliefs, regional cultures, agricultural practices, oral storytelling traditions, and communal learning methods of these communities.
Simply introducing mother tongue-based education in tribal and non-tribal areas is not enough to prevent language extinction. It is important to remember that the ethnic communities’ cultures and lifestyles are different from the mainstream.
For instance, they often live in the hilly regions, hunt for recreation, and preserve food for sustenance. Teaching new concepts to these communities requires an understanding of their traditional cultures and beliefs, which is where anthropologists can collaborate with linguists.
Anthropologists play a vital role in studying cultural behaviors, social norms, attitudes, communication methods, and societal structures. Their insights can aid linguists in revitalising extinct languages. While introducing mother tongue-based education is one approach, the primary goal should be to encourage reading and writing habits.
However, many languages have survived without formal writing systems, being used primarily for oral communication. Therefore, it should not be mandatory to develop writing scripts for every language, especially when it is impractical.
To develop a literacy system for an ethnic community, careful consideration of language density, vitality, attrition, literacy rates, population size, attitudes, and levels of language decline is essential. Based on the perspectives of ethnic people, several steps can be taken to revitalize language vitality:
1. Preserve cultural values by using language as a tool for cultural revitalization.
2. Establish dedicated areas for ethnic children to receive mother tongue-based education for two to three years, monitored by relevant authorities.
3. Ensure ethnic languages are used in religious and cultural programs.
4. Promote the use of ethnic languages in daily conversations within their communities.
5. Prioritize existing writing systems for ethnic languages; if none exist, consult community leaders to develop alternatives. However, reviving a writing system is not the sole solution.
6. Broadcast ethnic cultural programs on TV, radio, or online platforms in their native languages.
7. Install billboards in ethnic areas, with images described in their languages.
Language revitalisation should also raise awareness of social, economic, political, and religious rights. One reason ethnic communities abandon their languages is that they are not suited for modern communication, business, or political engagement. Thus, language revitalization must consider the political domain. The case of the Cornish language serves as a powerful example. After Cornish declined due to the spread of English in areas such as religion, education, and economic activities, it was revitalised through the efforts of the Cornish movement and the dedication of scholars.
(The writer is a researcher and anthropologist at the International Mother Language Institute).