OKM initiates measures to promote Ao language

Ongpangkong Students’ Conference (OKM) has initiated a project named as “Tetsu Oshi Wazuka Ayuba Mapatong” (Initiation to preserve Ao language).

ALIBA — In an effort to promote Ao language, Ongpangkong Students’ Conference (OKM) has initiated a project named as “Tetsu Oshi Wazuka Ayuba Mapatong” (Initiation to preserve Ao language).

Towards this end, OKM has organised a programme in Aliba village under Mokokchung district on August 12 to promote Ao language among the younger generation.

Speaking on the occasion, OKM president, Limatongzuk Jamir, said “Our language is our very culture. It is our mother tongue that gives us our identity. If we don’t remember our own mother language, the race and tribe will cease to exist, therefore, we should recognize its value.”

The OKM president said that a language is a repository of thousands of years of social and historical experience and accumulated traditional knowledge. He added that it would be impossible to revive one’s own mother tongue if it becomes seriously endangered.

“Numerous initiatives have been launched to preserve and promote the Ao language by the Ao Senden so that Ao language is not flagged as vulnerable to extinction level but to preserve the language and promote it among the people,” Jamir said.

OKM president asserted that they have rediscovered and gained knowledge many lost cultural practices enriched with sophisticate philosophy and meaning behind the rich linguistic heritage through array of competitions held in phase-wise manner during the course of nearly nine years in its pursue to preserve and promote Ao language under the banner “Tetsu Oshi Wazuka Ayuba Mapatong.”

He stated that in the fourth phase of the competition, OKM delved deeper to bring out the inner talents in the form of Ao song- self composition in quartet format for the participants to express their inner emotions and beyond enthralling gathering with folk fusion melodies.

He asserted that mother tongue is a powerful tool in advancing the learning in people and also develops a child’s personal, social and cultural identity.

He observed that many youngsters living outside Mokokchung have totally abandoned their mother tongue because of cross-culture communication. He cautioned that mother tongue would gradually die out when no speaks.

Speaking on the occasion, president of Ongpangkong Tetsur Mungdang (Ongpangkong women’s conference), Akumchila, said, “If you love and appreciate our language; want to keep our language alive, then let us speak, write and read our language.”

In the Ao song competition (self composition), Mokokchung Students’ Union was declared as the winner, while Aliba Students’ Union and Soyim Students’ Union were adjudged as first and second runner-up respectively.

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