Importance of your Native Tongue

By the 20th century, English has become a dominant global language. Out of the approximately 7.6 billion people who are currently present in this world, at least 1.5 billion inhabitants speak English.
For 1 language, out of 6909 living languages, to have such a wide reach is impressive.

English has imbedded into our schools, our workplace, our government policies, our mass media and much more. The influence that English has upon us is so immense that when I was reading Amy Tan's article, 'Mother Tongue', which explores the issues that come with being a non-native English speaker, it raised a strong concern within me about the importance of your native language.

Because within the 1.5 billion people who speak English, only 360 million people consider it as their first language. There are a far exceeding amount of people who, whilst knowing their own regional language, decide to still learn and implement English into their lives.

This does has its benefits; it can break any language barriers amongst each other, especially when staying abroad, and it also allows us to undergo enculturation. So if you're in a foreign country and don't know how to speak their language, don't fret. By now, there are probably multiple signboards written around in English, some even leading you to the nearest Starbucks.

English is also a symbol of social status and your extent in education, so knowing it can provide you with many other benefits in life, such as getting good jobs.

Yet, it is important to consider that as we human beings continue to globalize,  the influence of the English language will continue to grow and grow, until finally it is one of the only spoken languages in the world. In fact, by 2115, Columbia University linguists predict that only 600 out of 6909 languages will remain due to globalization and migration. And this raises the issue of the extinction of native languages.

Lesser known languages will flicker like a candle on a windy night, until the flames finally quench, and only the widely spoken languages such as English will remain. This can happen when parents decide to stop passing down their languages– if they don't deem it to be useful or if it's an inter-racial family– which will lead many languages to their demise.

Protecting languages aren't just about the language itself, but it's about protecting your heritage, your culture, your identity. Language is a window looking out to the world, it allows us to see and express things differently than others, so when it dies, a beautiful way of communication dies alongside.

In Hindi, the word 'masakali' has no direct translation to English, but it refers to a pigeon that aspires to soar high in the sky and symbolizes peace, liberation and innocence, and is used as an adjective. This is just one example of how inspiring and descriptive a language can be, so imagine what all other extinct languages could have offered us.

Living in the age of digital media doesn't make things easier. Its tendency to abbreviate every phrase or word threatens other languages. However, unless we as a society are willing to speak 'Emoji' by the next 40 years, we better start appreciating what our cultures have given us.

Nelson Mandela once said, "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." This nicely accentuates how necessary it is to ensure that your native language is being practiced and passed onto younger generations, even when you prioritize global languages.

Because to lose your native language, is to lose a part of yourself.




Sources:

"17 Beautifully Untranslatable Hindi Words You Should Add To Your Vocabulary Right Now." Buzzfeed, 2015, https://www.buzzfeed.com/andreborges/beautifully-untranslatable-hindi-words?utm_term=.rmv0qV4X0#.peZJ2mjMJ.

"How Will We Speak In 100 Years? There Could Be Just 600 Languages." Mail Online, 2015, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2910238/How-speak-100-years-90-languages-extinct-migration-linguist-claims.html.

Ltd, St. "How Many People Speak English In The World." Stgeorges.Co.Uk, http://www.stgeorges.co.uk/blog/learn-english/how-many-people-in-the-world-speak-english.

"The Importance Of Keeping Your Native Language Alive." The Odyssey Online, 2016, https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-importance-of-keeping-your-native-language-alive.