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June 2004: Languages
Languages are fundamental to communication and cultural expression, determining worldviews and ways of meaning-making; statistics like "one language disappears on average every two weeks" are particularly alarming in this light. The extinction of languages is both an effect and cause of cultural hegemony, which is why language has always been a site of power struggles. The Internet, then, must be placed under special scrutiny. Currently, most online content being produced is in English (like this very paragraph). What does this mean for the thousands of languages in the world? What are ways in which technology can help preserve linguistic diversity? What language do you speak? Can we understand each other?
featured writing
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The Glory of Language by Shahjahan Siraj, Bangladesh
A language is not just combination of words or phonetics. It is the history of a tribe or a nation; result of thousand years of experiences, glorious lifestyles, and means of communication as well as the expression of a people’s heart, which precedes civilization.
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Languages in the Information Era by Laouini Amel, Tunisia
[ View this article in French ]
A language is before all a means of communication between individuals of the same population or the same race. Men started to express themselves with signs and illustrations on the walls of the caves, then the languages...
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Living Languages by Martín Miguel Arias, Argentina
[ View this article in Spanish ]
We can define a Language as:
“The expression of a culture, a means of communication; language is an instrument serving the community which uses it; always evolving”. (UNESCO)
In the month of...
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Will the Ainu Language Die? by Karen Shim, Canada
Northern Japan’s indigenous culture and language are being revived. But will it last?
If you haven’t heard of Ainu before, it’s probably because the language had almost disappeared. In its 1993 Red Book on Endangered Languages in Northeast Asia, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) listed Ainu among...
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White Slang by melanie mae, United States
The article that I chose to comment, using personal observations, was Black Children, Black Speech by Dorothy Seymour. The article by Barbara Mellix, From Outside, It reminded me of other autobiographical readings from Richard Rodriguez and Ngugi wa Thiong’o as the author related her personal experiences growing up in the country speaking Black English. When I thought...
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Language Genocide by Vibek Raj Maurya, Nepal
Expression is an exclusive human attribute. No other life form has been able to express abstract concepts and thoughts as humans. Language is the foundation of every culture. People invariably depend upon it for the use and transmission of the rest the culture.
Most linguists believe there are about 6,000 languages spoken worldwide. The world’s...
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The Many Dimensions of Language by Dumisani, Zimbabwe
How they Affect The Way We Understand and Participate in Our World
Introduction
One of the most empowering human acts is that of expression; transforming an inner thought, emotion or idea into a form that others can understand and share. Language in itself is a fascinating concept—that sounds, which become known as words, carry meaning and convey...
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Ne gardez pas votre langue dans votre poche! by Keyvan Sayar, Netherlands
Quand j’étais petit, la maîtresse nous disait toujours qu’il fallait apprendre l’anglais, comme ça quand on deviendrait grands on pourrait voyager et découvrir le monde.
C’est vrai qu’aujourd’hui cette langue est devenue ce que le latin était il y a quelques siècles : une référence, un formidable outil de communication. Personnellement, elle...
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