SHILLONG: Indigenous languages are becoming endangered because people living in today’s world hardly speak in their native tongue.
Speakers at a two-day event on indigenous languages while raising concern said that the conservation and strengthening of a language should start from within and should be inculcated by the individual as institutions can only play a limited role in this aspect.
The Department of English and Communication of Martin Luther Christian University held the two-day event that concluded on Wednesday to commemorate the 2016 resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly proclaiming 2019 as the ‘International year of Indigenous Languages’.
The event aimed to raise awareness on the crucial role that languages play in people’s lives along with the consequences of the endangerment of indigenous languages across the world and to establish a link between language, development, peace and reconciliation
The event also aimed to create awareness on the vital role played by each indigenous language spoken in North East India and to protect, preserve and promote linguistic diversity.
The event kicked off on Tuesday at the MLCU main campus in Nongrah with a panel discussion on the topic ‘Protect, preserve, promote the indigenous languages of the Northeast’.
Fabian Lyngdoh, former MDC and faculty of MLCU, SK Singh, head of the Department of Linguistics, NEHU and Lorinda D Marak, assistant professor of the Department of Garo, Shillong College were the panellists during the discussion.
The panellists were of the opinion that oral traditions cannot be relied on anymore as the tool for the preservation of language.
In this regard, suggestions were made concerning the measures that can be taken to preserve indigenous languages.
The inauguration ended with the display of traditional attires including dance forms of all Northeastern states and a fusion of the dance forms of the indigenous communities outside the North East. There was also a food tasting event on indigenous food.
The second day of the event started off with a story telling programme where students from different communities narrated folktales.
A number of traditional games were also organised for the participants.
Meanwhile, the Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage in association with the Department of Cultural and Creative Studies, North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) will organise a workshop on scientific preservation of indigenous languages on Friday at the New Guest House, NEHU in Umshing, Mawkynroh.
The inaugural session will begin at 10:30am.
