Russia has laws to protect its language from excessive foreign borrowings, especially from English.

The law restricts foreign words, except those without Russian analogues, and requires Russian language use in areas like consumer information and education.

Countries like Egypt, Qatar, and Italy have implemented language protection laws to preserve their national languages and limit foreign influence.

These laws often require the national language's use in official contexts, imposing fines for non-compliance.

UNESCO and the Council of Europe support language protection efforts and promote linguistic diversity.

UNESCO declared 2019 the Year of Indigenous Languages and launched the Decade of Indigenous Languages from 2022 to raise awareness about language extinction.

The use of English as a global language can lead to the neglect of other languages, highlighting the need for language protection laws.

The effectiveness of language protection laws depends on enforcement and public support.

Language protection laws are essential for preserving national languages and promoting linguistic diversity.

Countries like Russia, Egypt, and Qatar have implemented language protection laws to preserve their national languages and limit foreign influence.

Language protection laws are crucial for preserving national languages, cultural identity, and promoting social progress.

Russia has laws to protect its language from excessive foreign borrowings, especially from English.

Title:

Content: city news Yelets, news Yelets, Yelets news, Yelets newspaper, Red banner
Better than any passport.
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The Russian government has submitted to the state Duma a bill to protect the Russian language from excessive use of foreign words.
The document implies control over the observance by officials and citizens of the norms of the Russian literary language and the inadmissibility of the use of foreign words, with the exception of those that do not have common analogues in the Russian language.
"Wet feet"
by "toptalische"
Fighters for the purity of the native language waited, because the discussion about it among linguists, writers, scientists goes on constantly, then quiet, then flaring up with renewed vigor.
The initiative of the Government of Russia, which decided to wedge itself into the disputes of professionals, is quite understandable and understandable.
Today, when the United States and the entire Western world are in a rush to destroy, eradicate, wipe out all Russian, the frequent use of Anglicisms in everyday life is at least unpatriotic.
In fairness, it should be noted that borrowing from other languages is a constant process.
Lenin also proposed "to declare war on the use of foreign words unnecessarily", and the intricacies of relations and mutual accusations of Slavophiles and Westerners entered the textbooks, as well as the textbook proposals to replace other people's "galoshes" with their "wet feet", and "sidewalks" - with "toptalisches".
In the 1940s, a new wave: the struggle against cosmopolitanism suggested “for everything Russian against foreign ”, including in the language.
A printer is a printer?
Meanwhile, all – both supporters and opponents – agree that there are concepts in their native language that came after the phenomena, realities created in other countries, and therefore the words denoting them, well, not ours, but they can not do without them.
A striking example is the computer, IT technologies and everything related to them.
The word “printer ” cannot be replaced by a Russian translation from English, since“ printer ” does not mean a device for printing, but a person engaged in this process.
By the way, this phenomenon is not new: even under Peter I, who “cut through the window to Europe ”, dozens of Dutch and German words for technologies and mechanisms poured into Russia.
And in opera, many terms are borrowed from Italian and have long been part of the Russian language.
And we calmly use such words as “federation ”,“ sphere ”, “national ”,“ commission ” and many others that came from foreign languages, but are firmly entrenched in our own.
How to be
in one bow
Meanwhile, one cannot but agree with the authors of the bill: recently, the speech of deputies of different ranks, officials, political and economic experts, heads of federal and regional, and sometimes local authorities is simply replete with foreign words that have simple and understandable analogues in their native language.
And if we are almost reconciled with merchandisers (commodity scientists in our own way), then what do you think of the expression from the fashion world “in one bow ”?
The well-known vegetable has nothing to do with it: in English look - look, therefore, in Russian it is an image, appearance, look, etc. In texts related to business, "marketplace" (literally from the English place of trade), as well as "startup" (start, start, take the first steps) or "webinar" (training video conference live).
In the field of education, they like to talk about “bullying prevention ”: this word means ridicule, bullying of children at school by peers.
Increasingly, “campus ” sounds, while the translation from Latin is a familiar campus for many of us, or“ coach ” instead of the usual “coach ”,“ mentor ”.
Abilympics
with WorldSkills
I will also swing at my favorite “quest ” recently: again with the English“ game, search ”.
I do not like the sequestered budget, because it is “cut ”, but transparent is more to my liking, because it is“ open ”, “transparent ”.
And who will prove to me that “exchange of practices ” is better than the usual“ exchange of experience ”?
Or for days on TV reported about the participation of Russians in the championship "Abilympics".
You will break the language by pronouncing, although this is only a competition in professional skills among the disabled, in another way they are also called the “Olympics of opportunities ”.
From the same series, the widely distributed “WorldSkills ” (WorldSkills) is also a competition, but students studying a particular profession.
We have such competitions took place in the times of the USSR, then they were safely forgotten, and now they are back again, only in a Western manner.
And here is another illustrative example: the all-Russian social project “Agrofoodsharing ”.
We divide abracadabra into parts: agro - of course, something related to agriculture.
In English, food – food, share – share.
As a result, we get a movement of agricultural producers who want to share with other people the surplus of their crops.
The idea, of course, is good, right, but why break the language?
And finally from the sore: "solving cases." Brilliant!
In English, the word “case ” has two meanings: a briefcase, a suitcase and the second – circumstances.
Therefore, in Russian literally "the decision of circumstances" or, as the know-it-all Internet interprets, "the study of the situation and the choice of a suitable solution."
They will leave themselves
on your own?
Most likely, the desire to cleanse the language by introducing a law at the state level is an attempt to distance oneself from the West, its influence, to isolate oneself from someone else ’ s and alien mentality, lifestyle and dubious values.
However, it is not very clear what it will look like in practice: will there be lists of prohibited words and expressions or just recommendations, and addressed to high-ranking officials and other “persons in the TV ” – after all, it is with their filing that all sorts of newfangled borrowings from foreign languages often go“ to people ”.
However, a few decades ago, our teachers at the Yelets Pedagogical Institute hammered us, students, that the language is a self-cleaning system, and all harmful, fake after a while will simply disappear.
It has always been so, and I want to believe it will be so.
KSTATI:
I assume that all borrowings are from our haste, eternal saving of time even on pronunciation and writing of words.
We usually write in sms a short, indifferent “OK ”.
While in the native language for this almost a dozen words: “good ”,“ okay ”, “agree ”,“ give ”, “let ”,“ good ”, etc. No wonder there is a catch phrase: “Speech is better than any passport ”...
Tatyana SHCHERBATYKH
VRF News

The law restricts foreign words, except those without Russian analogues, and requires Russian language use in areas like consumer information and education.

Title:

Content: The ban on foreign borrowings in the Russian language - what should be feared - RIA Novosti Crimea, 16.02.2023
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Radio "Sputnik in Crimea"
The ban on foreign borrowings in the Russian language – what should be feared
Philologists: in the fight against foreign borrowings in the language, it is important to prevent excesses
© Fotolia / daria rizaDictionary of the Russian language.
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SIMFEROPOL, Feb 16 – RIA Novosti Crimea, Alexey Goncharov.
The main risk of the law adopted by the State Duma on the restriction of the use of foreign words is the excesses that can be allowed in the struggle for the purity of the Russian language.
This opinion was expressed by the interviewed website RIA Novosti Crimea and radio "Sputnik in Crimea" experts.
Chancellery is no less an enemy
On Thursday, the State Duma in the second and third reading adopted amendments to the federal law "On the state language of the Russian Federation".
The law, in particular, prohibits the use of foreign words at the state level, with the exception of those that do not have common Russian-language analogues.
Deputies also approved a list of areas where Russian is mandatory for use.
These include information for consumers of goods, works and services, as well as the education sector, state and municipal information systems.
Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor of the Institute of Philology of the Crimean Federal University.
Vernadsky Vladimir Orekhov believes this law is correct and necessary, since the Russian language needs protection.
However, the main problem is how this document will work in practice.
"Indeed, there can be excesses, and on the part of officials, who in many cases are themselves a source of stupid borrowing.
It is this category that often distorts the Russian language with stationery and borrowings, inventing some new formulas.
To make a beautiful project or report, you need to call the old with new words, preferably foreign, and, passing the old for new, somehow raise your prestige.
And then it already diverges, ” the expert explained in comments to RIA Novosti Crimea.
Orekhov also does not believe that young people are the main source of borrowing in the language.
According to him, youth slang is changing so quickly that such loanwords rarely take root for a long time.
At the same time, what is recorded in official documents, already, as they say in a well-known saying, "you can not cut down with an axe."
Down with the Chancellery: Officials Were Requested to Speak Human > >
“Most of the borrowings that this law is designed to save us from are in official documents of different levels.
This also applies to the capital institutions, but to a greater extent provincial.
This is a kind of fashion – to show your knowledge using incomprehensible foreign words.
How to deal with it, I have no recipe.
On the other hand, this law in itself can change this fashion in the administrative environment.
In this case, he by the very fact of his existence will correct the situation, ” the philologist suggested.
Russia will support the creation of an organization to promote the Russian language – Putin
According to Orekhov, the mechanisms that will be able to effectively implement the norms of this law should be developed through a wide public discussion, with the involvement of school teachers, university teachers, cultural figures and all those who are involved in the development of the Russian language.
Define clear criteria
Director of the Crimean Republican Institute of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education, Doctor of Philology, Professor Alexander Rudyakov is also sure that the law adopted by the State Duma and the protection of the Russian language in general is a good thing.
But the question arises: where is the criterion that distinguishes foreign words from non-foreign ones.
After all, in our language there are many Russian words that are originally borrowed from other languages.
"My wife is a German, we often argue with her.
She believes that the word "barrier" is a German word.
And I, a simple Russian, I am convinced that this is a Russian word.
Therefore, it is important that there are clear criteria for all this.
That's what we're talking about.
The law is excellent, but it is important how it will be applied and what criteria will be there, ” the expert said on the radio “Sputnik in Crimea ”.
Another important fact to pay special attention to is professional universal terminology, said Rudyakov.
“In many branches of knowledge, say, in the banking sector, there are words that are, in principle, international.
It is probably not very smart to isolate yourself from the terminology that is inherent in this area.
Another thing is not to drag it into our public vocabulary.
This is also very important to understand and comply with, ” explained the philologist.
"Adapt and switch to Russian": how the schools of Kherson region work > >
At the same time, the professor agreed that today in a number of areas, including administrative and media, there is an excessive use of foreign words, which can be easily and simply replaced by Russian-language analogues.
"When you hear 'communicate', 'collaboration' - the hand reaches for the gun.
Somewhere I read the information that a "Children's Collaboration House" was built in Vladivostok.
That's what's scary, you know.
These are obvious excesses, ” said the doctor of science.
Rudyakov, who is also a member of the Council on the Russian language under the President of Russia, assured that he will raise questions regarding the new law at the next meeting of the organization on March 2.
Read also on RIA Novosti Crimea:
Quoting the classics: how and why great writers quarreled
Than English-language words interfere in advertising – the opinion of senators from the Crimea
Russia will support the creation of an organization to promote the Russian language – Putin
Leave the “barn ” and“ dog ” alone: a linguist about the law on the protection of language
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Countries like Egypt, Qatar, and Italy have implemented language protection laws to preserve their national languages and limit foreign influence.

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Content: Italian govt drafts bill that seeks to ban English language

RomeEdited By: C KrishnasaiUpdated: Apr 01, 2023, 03:15 PM IST

Calling for the Italian language to be protected and nurtured, the draft bill claims that English “demeans and mortifies” Italians, and called on all public and private bodies to use the “language of Dante” to promote their goods and services, reports Reuters news agency. Photograph:(Reuters)

Story highlights

The bill, which has been drafted by lawmakers of the nationalist Brothers of Italy party, aims to promote Italian language and imposes a fine of up to 100,000 euros ($108,750) if found violating the rule

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party has proposed legislation that seeks to prohibit public and private bodies in the country from using foreign terms, especially English, in official communications.

The bill, which has been drafted by lawmakers of the nationalist Brothers of Italy party, aims to promote Italian language and imposes a fine of up to 100,000 euros ($108,750) if found violating the rule.

In order to become a law, the bill has to be approved by both houses of parliament. But there was no indication of when this might happen.

“It is not just a matter of fashion, as fashions pass, but Anglomania (has) repercussions for society as a whole,” said the text of the draft bill.

Calling for the Italian language to be protected and nurtured, the draft bill claims that English “demeans and mortifies” Italians, and called on all public and private bodies to use the “language of Dante” to promote their goods and services, reports Reuters news agency.

The draft also specifies that all job related applications, including names and acronyms, should be spelt out in Italian, with foreign words allowed only if they are impossible to translate.

The bill said the widespread use of English in Europe was “even more negative and paradoxical” given that Britain had quit the European Union.

The draft bill comes at a time when the incumbent far-right government takes measures to what it calls preserving the local culture.

Recently, it banned the use of laboratory-produced food to safeguard the country’s agri-food heritage.

When the Brothers of Italy party took office last October, it added the English term “Made in Italy” to the name of the industry minister, while Meloni occasionally drops foreign words into her speeches.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Title:

Content: parliamentary action to protect it.
"Together to Support the Arabic Language" Campaign in Qatar to Defend the Arabic Language
Qatari Minister of State Hamad Al-Kuwari stressed that "the protection of the Arabic language is a protection for the cultural security of society, and that cultural and national security is no less important than political and economic security."
DOHA – A campaign has been launched in Qatar to support the Dad language and empower it in society, emphasizing that any nation without its own language is a weak nation with no identity, easy to contain and control and cultural hegemony.
The campaign, led by Hamad Abdul Aziz Al-Kuwari, Minister of State of Qatar, Chairman of the Qatar National Library and former Minister of Culture, pointed out that in light of the era of globalization and technological expansion, the Arabic language is greatly threatened, stressing the need for educational institutions in the community and local centers concerned with this language to stop its deterioration.
Under the hashtag "Together to support the Arabic language", the campaign stressed the responsibility of everyone in society to learn and spread the Arabic language, starting from the family, through the school, the media and other state institutions.
Protection of cultural security
In conjunction with the massive campaign to support the Arabic language, the Shura Council referred the Law on the Protection of the Arabic Language to the Cultural Affairs and Media Committee to discuss the means of activating it, where a number of members called for the speedy activation of the law and the imposition of sanctions on violators to protect generations.
Qatar ’ s Minister of State Hamad al-Kuwari, who was hosted by the council, stressed that “the protection of the Arabic language is a protection for the cultural security of society, and that cultural and national security is no less important than political and economic security. ”
He pointed out that the process of renaissance and development experienced by the Gulf countries and the State of Qatar in particular necessitated the existence of many cultures and languages in society, and that this situation, although there are positive aspects to it, there are negative aspects that should not be overlooked related to our attitude towards these languages and cultures.
He stressed the importance of the role of the family and the mother in raising children and teaching them the Arabic language properly, and the importance of simplifying their education in accordance with modern methods that desire to learn the mother tongue.
Deep traces.
For his part, Abdul Aziz Al-Subaie, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the World Organization for the Protection of the Arabic Language, former Minister of Education, who was also hosted by the Council, called for the intervention of the competent authorities to modify the course of teaching the Arabic language through practical measures, stressing that governmental and non-governmental bodies are responsible for the implementation of the law.
Dr Imad Abdullatif, Professor of Rhetoric and Discourse Analysis at Qatar University, said: “Campaigns in support of the Arabic language are important at various levels in our Arab world, putting the challenges it faces at the heart of public debate and providing an opportunity to understand the major risks it faces in a world that is steadily moving towards a global dominance of the English language. ”
Abdullatif adds that these campaigns also gain importance from their role in clarifying the fact that the dangers faced by the Arabic language have profound implications for the future of Arabs, as the voluntary abandonment of the mother tongue and the adoption of English as a language of thought, communication and writing literally means a total break with the Arab identity with its values, ideals and heritage.
He explains that the child not only acquires English language skills, but subconsciously imbues with values, ethics and beliefs rooted within the language, adding: “Wherever we turn our faces we will find various traces of the conflict of identities with linguistic roots. ”
A remarkable paradox.
Professor of rhetoric and discourse analysis at Qatar University pointed out that the Arab Mashreq lived for a long time without radical problems in language politics compared to some countries of the Arab Maghreb, which suffered from the penetration of the language of the colonialist coercion and authoritarianism, as was the case in Algeria.
“But over the past two decades, a remarkable paradox has emerged that deserves widespread scholarly, societal and political attention: some Levantine countries have chosen to adopt the language of former colonialists voluntarily, because of the distorted claims of globalization and the dreams of mimicking the Western model of life. ”
Abdul Latif believes that Arab societies will suffer many crises due to the turbulence of language policies, the effects of which will not only be limited to the field of communication, but will extend to various aspects of society, some of which may have a radical impact on their future.
In conclusion, he expressed the hope that the campaigns calling for the support of the Arabic language will be an opportunity for quiet reflection and thorough research of local and regional language policies in the Arab world.
In January 2019, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, issued a law on the protection of the Arabic language, stipulating that all governmental and non-governmental bodies must protect and support this language in all activities and events, and use it in meetings and discussions and in visual, audio or readable advertisements.
Annually, the world celebrates World Arabic Language Day on 18 December, the anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly ’ s decision to adopt Arabic as one of the official languages of the world body.
Source: The Island
About this story
Arabic poetry and literature constitute one of the most prominent interests of Mauritanians, and a pillar of folklore and heritage.
In some parts of the capital Nouakchott is the phenomenon of poetry sessions that bring together tasters of poetry and lovers of the Arabic language.
The French magazine L ’ Obs met the philosopher and professor of Arab philosophy, Jean-Baptiste Brunet, to talk about the challenges that the monthly open meetings of the general public organized by the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris might raise.
Published On 14 / 10 / 2021
After years of debate over the status of the Arabic language in educational circles in Algeria, official institutions and civil society activists are trying to launch initiatives that encourage the presence of the Arabic language in public life, especially in technical sciences.
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Content: Secretary of Al-Khalidin Complex for Sunrise: No nation in the world excels in its language except Arabs - Sunrise Gate
Tuesday 7 December 2021 11: 24 AM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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Secretary of Al-Khalidin Complex for Sunrise: There is no nation in the world that exaggerates its language except Arabs
Bassent Sharqawi
Published on: Tuesday 7 December 2021 - 11: 10 AM | Last updated on Tuesday 7 December 2021 - 11: 10 AM
We call the series Arabic.
Foreign languages dominate the population.
We don ’ t fight learning foreign languages, we insist on it.
* Major violations in advertising and we will impose the writing of signs in Arabic
* The law provides a grace period for correcting the situation
* The law preserves the national and Arab identity
"We will reverse the deterioration in the media.
And we see the wrong headlines of major newspapers.
* Not all Axis ads should be in either colloquial or English
The House of Representatives is preparing to ratify the “Protection of the Arabic Language ” bill submitted by the Arabic Language Academy (Al-Khaldeen Complex) in Cairo, in a move to preserve the prestige of the Arabic language and national identity.
Among the most important provisions of the law is the obligation of shop owners to change the signs of their shops to Arabic to avoid paying a fine, and the law requires government agencies to conduct an Arabic language test for applicants to fill government jobs.
"Al-Shorouk" interviewed Dr. Abdel Hamid Madkour, Secretary General of the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo (Al-Khaldeen Complex), to identify the most important objectives guaranteed by the draft law to protect the Arabic language and see its application in the fields of education, advertising and media in general.
Madkour says that this is not the first time that a law has been issued to protect the Arabic language, as previous but partial attempts to control road signs were made in 1957 and then in 2008 a law was issued through the People ’ s Assembly, which also relates to signs and the Council ’ s supervision of the implementation of this law.
“The aims of the law. ”
Gross violations in the media and advertising
Madkour pointed out that three years ago, the Academy considered submitting a draft law on controlling the ways of using the language, and seeks to achieve a number of objectives, including instilling the value of belonging to the Arabic language, because of the factors it faces to reduce them, especially among students of foreign languages and foreign universities where study is imposed in foreign languages other than Arabic.
He continued: "Everything is taught in Arabic except the study of the Arabic language, and it is not fulfilling his right, instead of studying history in a foreign language, which makes the student know the history of Western nations more than the history of his country."
The second goal among the objectives of the law is to preserve the national and Arab identity between the land, language, place, and religion in some cases, explaining that the Arabic language is the one that connects the people to their Arab homeland, and without it or if abandoned, the Arab contract will break down and turn into separate tribes as in the Old Testament.
Madkour added that the language must be controlled in the areas of education, and in life in general such as international conferences and forums: "There is no nation in the world that excels in its language except Arabs unfortunately, and the most prominent example is when America stipulated on Japan to speak English after the launch of nuclear bombs on it preferred the Emperor of Japan to die for speaking his people other than Japanese."
He pointed out that the third goal of the law is to correct the deterioration that is happening in the media and advertising together, expressing: "We see some major newspaper headlines with linguistic errors and this is not true, as well as administrative speeches and official statements, in addition to the appearance of many in the media who do not speak ordinary Arabic and even unqualified for decent speech.
Madkour pointed out that there are large excesses in the field of advertising in Egypt, where he stressed the need to have shops and ads in Arabic, and if the advertisement is for a foreign company, it must write its address in the language you love but under the title of the Arabic language large, and in a smaller pint and this is what the law calls for and in line with major companies that have a history and fear for their brand.
He continued: "Unfortunately, it is not right that all the ads on the axis of the city of the sixth of October are either colloquial or in English, and very little of them in Arabic and maybe it happened by chance, and sometimes I read in some newspapers ads in full English and here I wonder who addressed this announcement and we in an Arab country?!"
He says that the law requires the use of the Arabic language easy series and not the language of dictionaries, and that foreign languages should not be imposed on the people, expressing: "The people are not charged with speaking English instead of Arabic until we write ads in English or go to the bank or national airports to extract papers in English. It requires a linguistic auditor in each institution to check and correct, so that the language is written correctly.
As for scientific forums and research, Madkour said: "The service of translations must be provided to the members of the community, so that the participants understand what is being said, because the imposition of a specific language to speak is an occupation of minds and a domination of the people."
He pointed out that the law gives grace periods to amend and correct all the aforementioned situations, and then take some due measures.
"We do not fight the learning of foreign languages, but we demand and insist on learning and taking care of them to benefit from foreign scientific knowledge preceded by all, and to bring together the Hassanis to learn Arabic and foreign together, and that the Arabic language is the basic in teaching subjects that there is no scientific need to teach in English, such as geography and history.
Madkour called for attention to translations of other languages into Arabic to increase the sum of knowledge and to find those who want to learn references that help them to understand information, as well as courses must be studied in Arabic and Arabic, to increase understanding and achievement.
He stressed that the law does not fight speaking the colloquial dialect used among the people in public life: "We cannot go to the vegetable seller and talk to him in classical Arabic, which brings us into a wave of sarcasm similar to what was embodied in the old Arab cinema films and some plays, but also some of our homes should not turn to speak only English or schools oblige students to speak a foreign language."
"There are countries that have preceded us in protecting the Arabic language.
Dr. Madkour concluded: “We must cherish our Arabic language because the language is the identity of the human being, the English citizen cherishes his English and the German cherishes German, even the Frenchman when a passerby asks him in English does not respond because he wants everyone to speak French inside his homeland. ”
He continued: "Egypt must be a leader in the field of protecting the Arabic language, which was preceded by some Arab countries, because it is the most scientific and literary country and has a great position and must lead all Arabs in protecting their language, which we hope to achieve by the new law."
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These laws often require the national language's use in official contexts, imposing fines for non-compliance.

UNESCO and the Council of Europe support language protection efforts and promote linguistic diversity.

Title:

Content: The Latin American experience.
Revival of indigenous cultures and languages
“Indigenous studies and languages should be made part of the academic infrastructure, just as colonialist languages were made a tool of knowledge production in the past.
There is a good reason why speakers of these indigenous languages abhor the languages and culture of the colonists; they felt that their ancestral culture was vulnerable to being underestimated.
Spoken languages are not only a way of communicating but also express multiple ways of seeing the world, and despite the existence of more than 7,000 languages in the world, the risk of the disappearance and extinction of nearly half of these languages at the end of the century - according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - threatens to lose different visions of the world and the human knowledge contained in these ancient languages.
Despite the growing awareness of indigenous issues around the world, few still respect and appreciate the knowledge wealth of indigenous peoples, many of whose cultures have been wiped out or completely destroyed, including their languages and sciences, since the era of geographical exploration and the colonization of the "New World" in the Americas, Australia and New Zealand.
The UN ’ s Atlas of World Languages in Danger reveals that a language goes extinct every two weeks, meaning that 25 languages go extinct every year, and although the future and fate of these languages as well as the fate of hundreds of others seems bleak, linguists and language lovers around the world are making efforts to preserve these languages that are struggling to survive in human speech.
Latin America
Across Latin America, millions of people speak indigenous languages that the United Nations classifies as endangered.
Americo Mendoza Mori, an academic lecturer in Latin Studies in the United States, seeks to help these peoples revive their indigenous cultures and languages, free from marginalization or ready-made stereotypes.
In a report published by Harvard Gazette, the official journal of Harvard University, Nikki Rojas says that Mendoza Mori ’ s activism in Latin culture in the United States and in the lives of Latin communities in the country has led him to notice the lack of academic work and research papers on indigenous languages, which still rely heavily on oral tradition.
He became particularly interested in the Inca language of Quechua, which is now spoken by 8 million people in the Andes mountain range on the west coast of South America.
The Inca civilization has ruled the west coast of South America since the beginning of the 12th century AD and for hundreds of years it controlled the vast lands stretching from Colombia to Chile, and the Inca is known as a mysterious empire that was considered the most developed society in the Americas before the arrival of the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in 1492 AD.
“There is a social movement of speakers of this language, who are not only seeking to preserve it because it is endangered, but are seeking to build a complete cultural movement to revive it, not only in the Andes, but also among the various Latin communities in the United States, ” Mori said.
Mendoza Mori hopes that universities and research centres will devote more attention to indigenous languages, so that there will be additional opportunities for researchers and students interested in this field and awareness of indigenous peoples will be increased.
“We understand that not many people can attend classes in Quechua or indigenous culture, but we want this to be just as natural as attending classes in other areas of knowledge. ”
Languages of the Colonies
“Indigenous studies and languages must be made part of the academic infrastructure, just as colonialist languages have been made a tool for knowledge production in the past.
There is a good reason why speakers of these indigenous languages abhor the languages and culture of the colonists; they felt that their ancestral culture was vulnerable to being underestimated.
Mendoza Mori points out that academia still carries a colonial legacy and is based on a specific organizational structure that sends negative messages to many cultures and communities.
He adds that most academics have treated indigenous cultures as a thing of the past, rather than focusing on their current success in resisting change, thriving despite circumstances, and seeking to engage in contemporary dialogues at the national and global levels.
Cultures of indigenous peoples
The author points out that these indigenous peoples have finally gained an important boost in the arena of social networks and digital technologies, so that these cultures are not limited to the history books.
For example, the popular TikTok entertainment platform has spread to creators of content that defines indigenous culture and languages, based on the hashtag # Native _ tik _ tok, which has garnered billions of views.
Mendoza Mori believes that academic institutions and international organizations such as the United Nations can play an important role in providing a platform for these languages, customs and traditions to gain recognition.
For example, this Peruvian activist and researcher points out that the United Nations has declared 2019 the Year of International Celebration of Indigenous Languages and has decided to make 2022 the beginning of the Decade of Indigenous Languages, both of which represent an opportunity to raise awareness of these cultures.
Mendoza Mori is not only active in these languages, but also investigates the complex nature of the cultural identities of the various components of the Latino community in the US, and the inequality and injustice they may suffer in the US.
In this framework, he offers a lesson on Latin indigenous peoples, focusing on race, immigration, rights, and stereotypes about Latinos, which place them all in the same basket regardless of their race, language, and legal status on American soil.
Mendoza Mori says, “There is an idea that is beginning to spread in the South and North America that Latinos have intermingled and have a single stereotyped identity.
The Latin heritage is diverse, and reducing it to a single model reduces its value, which is the same mistake that African culture has suffered in the United States. ”
As an example of these ready-made stereotypes, "Central American immigrants, descendants of the Maya civilization, are referred to as Latinos or Hispanics (cultures historically associated with Spain) even though they do not speak Spanish at all."
Mendoza Mori hopes that these lectures and research on Latin studies in the United States will enable Harvard University to engage in contemporary conversations about cultural diversity and encourage the display and celebration of cultural diversity.
Source: Al Jazeera + Websites

UNESCO declared 2019 the Year of Indigenous Languages and launched the Decade of Indigenous Languages from 2022 to raise awareness about language extinction.

The use of English as a global language can lead to the neglect of other languages, highlighting the need for language protection laws.

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Content: advertisement
Science News
from research organizations

Going beyond English is critical for conservation

Date:
March 21, 2023
Source:
University of Queensland
Summary:
Research in languages other than English is critically important for biodiversity conservation and is shockingly under-utilized internationally, according to an international research team.
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Research in languages other than English is critically important for biodiversity conservation and is shockingly under-utilised internationally, according to an international research team.

Dr Tatsuya Amano, from The University of Queensland's School of Biological Sciences, led a worldwide study that investigated national reports on biodiversity conservation in 37 countries and territories where English is not an official language.

"Non-English-language literature is almost entirely neglected in global biodiversity assessments," Dr Amano said.

"This means there's a serious risk that the world's existing global assessments overlook important conservation science by ignoring non-English-language literature.

"For example, in the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) reports, only 3.4 per cent of references are those published in non-English languages -- a shockingly low figure.

The team found that non-English-language literature was extensively used in the national reports of most individual countries, but had failed to be reflected in global reports.

Dr Tatsuya said, despite the benefits of a common language, having diversity of input was essential to saving the world's species.

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"English has been used as the common language of science for decades and this makes international communication much easier," he said.

"But so much research in the biodiversity conservation space is still being published in other languages too.

"Ignoring it could be a big issue, as we often don't know much about what to conserve and how to conserve it."

The team suggest that further international collaboration is essential to developing more effective conservation science, and therefore more effective policy interventions.

"Our research project is a great example of how cross-language, international collaborations can lead to better scientific outcomes," Dr Amano said.

"We've collaborated with over 100 people, who are collectively native speakers of about 20 languages, to identify important science available only in non-English languages.

"The use of machine translation tools would also help solve this problem more broadly, but it still would require validation by human native speakers.

"And developing multilingual databases of relevant literature is also effective, just like we did in a recent paper, in collaboration with the Conservation Evidence project.

"With these approaches, the world would be able to use the best scientific knowledge available, regardless of the language in which it is published."

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Queensland. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

  1. Tatsuya Amano, Violeta Berdejo-Espinola, Munemitsu Akasaka, Milton A. U. de Andrade Junior, Ndayizeye Blaise, Julia Checco, F. Gözde Çilingir, Geoffroy Citegetse, Marina Corella Tor, Szymon M. Drobniak, Sylvaine Giakoumi, Marina Golivets, Mihaela C. Ion, Javiera P. Jara-Díaz, Ryosuke Katayose, Felicia P. S. Lasmana, Hsien-Yung Lin, Erick Lopez, Peter Mikula, Lucia Morales-Barquero, Anne-Christine Mupepele, Juan P. Narváez-Gómez, Thi Hieu Nguyen, Sá Nogueira Lisboa, Martin A. Nuñez, Diego Pavón-Jordán, Patrice Pottier, Graham W. Prescott, Farah Samad, Marko Šćiban, Hae-Min Seo, Yushin Shinoda, Flóra Vajna, Svetlana Vozykova, Jessica C. Walsh, Alison K. S. Wee, Hui Xiao, Veronica Zamora-Gutierrez. The role of non-English-language science in informing national biodiversity assessments. Nature Sustainability, 2023; DOI: 10.1038/s41893-023-01087-8

Cite This Page:

University of Queensland. "Going beyond English is critical for conservation." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 March 2023. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230321112517.htm>.
University of Queensland. (2023, March 21). Going beyond English is critical for conservation. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 24, 2023 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230321112517.htm
University of Queensland. "Going beyond English is critical for conservation." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230321112517.htm (accessed September 24, 2023).

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The effectiveness of language protection laws depends on enforcement and public support.

Language protection laws are essential for preserving national languages and promoting linguistic diversity.

Title:

Content: MyVoice: Views of our readers 15th March 2022

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MyVoice: Views of our readers 15th March 2022

Highlights

Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Germany, France, Russia, Germany, and Israel using exclusively their own languages blow the myth of a connection between English medium and economic prosperity.

The English medium myth

Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Germany, France, Russia, Germany, and Israel using exclusively their own languages blow the myth of a connection between English medium and economic prosperity. By making English compulsory in schools and colleges as a medium of instruction, there is a destruction of culture and a deracination of its citizens. By trying to make English medium compulsory at primary level instead of allowing an Indian to reach the highest levels of arts and sciences in any vernacular language of comfort, our state policies are only hastening the demise of the great Indian culture based on Sanskrit and a huge number of vernacular languages (equally or more advanced than English). A destruction which even our colonials could not achieve.

Dr Pingali Gopal, Hanamkonda

Apropos "Telugu teachers face testing time over teaching in English medium" (14 March). English language politics both by the Centre and the state government continues to ruin the future of the students still in school/colleges and those who have completed. Leave alone Telugu teachers, even other languages including those who have completed their studies in English are not fully competent in English language. We can't blame them for being victims of unclear English language policy. Our policy makers continue to treat English as a subject and not as a skill. No wonder English teachers are also asked to teach Social Studies/EVS. If the classroom size is reduced and teachers are allowed to train the children in the English language, we can expect a change. A crash course for two months can't make a teacher competent.

Nagarajan, Hyderabad

EPF Trust stance not justified

Those were the days when EPF contributors were benefited with 12% interest. This rate of interest came down to 9% and now it is brought down further to 8.1%. The claim of the Employees' Provident Fund Trust that still the rate of interest is more than that is offered by the banks makes it clear that the Trust is viewing its activity mainly as a business rather than a Social Security related activity. The Trust has around Rs 9 lakh reserve, out of which it invests around 45% in government securities and around 5% in share market. It earns a good amount every year and therefore it should not be a problem to extend a higher rate of interest to contributors. It is time the government intervenes and ensures a higher rate of interest to its contributors to prove its benevolent character.

AG Rajmohan, Anantapur

Pak concerns on missiles valid

Pakistan raised meaningful questions and India should look into the technical malfunction that led to the accidental firing. Whatever has happened only confirms that in the army merit has been compromised to a large extent. Pakistan saved the subcontinent from unnecessary misery by its presence of mind and wisdom by not jumping to dangerous presumptions. It is now left to us to prove to them that the violation of their air space and putting their lives in danger was indeed an accident caused more by negligence and not by intent. Technical answers sought by them should be taken in a professional sense without needless nose lifts from both sides. We are indeed grateful to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for its presence of mind. Its very presence is indeed a boon to the subcontinent. Maybe you can your friends there to display the same presence of mind and wisdom to not sponsor terror attacks against Bharat.

CK Subramaniam, Mumbai

That Pakistan seeks joint probe into missile misfiring incident of India is a bit absurd. Pakistan has nothing to do with the incident, though its concern over the lapses is understandable. But India should take a serious note of the misfiring incident and fix the problem so that such blunder should never happen again. There should be zero tolerance for any error in highly sensitive areas like defence of the nation.

Dr DVG Sankararao, Vizianagaram

Gandhis a huge liability for Congress

Won't the Congressmen ever learn? If they're serious about forming an alternative to the BJP government, or, to at least function as an effective opposition so crucial in a democracy, it must be shepherded by somebody who is genuinely interested in the same. The present representatives of the Nehru-Gandhi family have been a colossal failure in infusing life into an organization that seriously lacks life.

Dr George Jacob, Kochi.

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Countries like Russia, Egypt, and Qatar have implemented language protection laws to preserve their national languages and limit foreign influence.

Language protection laws are crucial for preserving national languages, cultural identity, and promoting social progress.

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Content: Shxts’n’Gigs, podcast hosts James and Fuhad. Image: Instagram via @shxtsngigs

Podcast hosts’ apology sparks a dialogue on cultural sensitivity

UK podcasters James and Fuhad faced heavy fire from Mzansi after they made comments on South African vernacular.

Shxts’n’Gigs, podcast hosts James and Fuhad. Image: Instagram via @shxtsngigs

In an age where social media and podcasts are the dominant force shaping public discourse, it has become increasingly important for individuals in the public eye to exercise caution and sensitivity when discussing cultural and linguistic matters.

A recent incident involving UK podcast hosts James and Fuhad serves as a pertinent case study, highlighting the potential consequences of insensitivity and the power of social media backlash.

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PODCAST MISHAP

The incident in question began when the best friends, during an episode of their podcast, Shxts’n’Gigs, expressed their inability to understand South African vernacular reports IOL.

They referred to it as ‘gibberish’ and suggested that South African tweeps stick to English. Unsurprisingly, this commentary triggered a fierce backlash on social media.

This highlights the significant influence of online communities and podcasts in holding individuals accountable for their statements. This is important irrespective of their geographical location.

The incident underscores the importance of cultural sensitivity and respecting local languages and vernacular in general and on podcasts, especially in an era of globalized online communication.

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CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Cultural diversity is a source of strength and richness, and in the interconnected world of the internet and podcasts, it is crucial to acknowledge and respect these diversities.

The incident involving podcast hosts James and Fuhad serves as a reminder that we must be conscious of the diverse backgrounds of our audience and avoid making sweeping generalizations or derogatory comments about any culture or language.

In response to the backlash, the podcast hosts issued an apology. The effectiveness of such apologies, however, is often questioned in the digital age. While some believe these apologies are sincere and well-intentioned, others see them as damage-control tactics.

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ACCOUNTABILITY

This case highlights the need for public figures to think before they speak, as their words can have far-reaching consequences. It also underscores the importance of genuine remorse and a commitment to learning from one’s mistakes when issuing apologies.

Language is an integral part of our identity, and it plays a significant role in shaping cultural diversity. In the context of the internet, English has emerged as a global lingua franca, allowing diverse communities to communicate.

However, this can sometimes create tension between global languages and local dialects. The incident involving James and Fuhad raises questions about how individuals from different linguistic backgrounds can better navigate this linguistic diversity while fostering understanding and respect for all languages and cultures.

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PUBLIC OPINION

the incident involving James and Fuhad is a vivid illustration of the power of social media backlash in holding public figures accountable for their words. It also highlights the critical need for cultural sensitivity and respect for linguistic diversity in our interconnected world.

Podcasters and influencers should recognize the significant role they play in shaping public opinion and be mindful of the impact of their words. As we move forward in this digital age, a commitment to responsible language use and cross-cultural understanding is more important than ever.

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