Language learning not complete sans knowing culture of native speakers

EM Bureau
Dmp/Mkg, Feb. 21 (EMN): Dr. Pangersenla Walling, Assistant Professor, department of Linguistics, Nagaland University, on the occasion of International Mother Language Day, said that people learn new languages intentionally or unintentionally but learning languages through technology is not enough without knowing the tradition and culture of the particular native speakers.

Walling added that globalisation has no boundaries and has affected the habits and culture of communities. According to a pilot survey done in 2015 in Mokokchung, she said Ao language will be severely affected or might even become extinct within 25 years if this trend continues.

Walling was speaking at a programme organised by Dimapur Watsü Telongjem and Dimapur Ao Lanur Telongjem at Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo (DABA) on the theme “Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities” on Monday.

Walling said that people try to learn a new language with two types of goals, called instrumental and integrative in linguistics.

She said that learners with an instrumental motivation want to learn a language because of a practical reason such as getting a job promotion or to become a translator. Whereas, learners with integrative motivation want to learn the language so that they can better understand and get to know the people who speak that language.

Walling said that during the 11 and 12 century, Ao people had a good relationship with the neighboring people residing near the Brahmaputra border. During that time, few Ao people might have learned the language of the neighboring people.

She added that during the Ahom reign, they also had a good relationship with the Ao and Konyak tribe. The main reason the Ahoms maintained good relationship with Konyak tribe was because they had salt springs and therefore did business with the Konyak people, whereas the they maintained a good relation with Ao tribe so that when Burma attached the Ahom kingdom, they would make allies with Ao people and defend together.

Walling said the Ao people learned Ahom and Assamese language for instrumental purposes in order to do business, and it has led Aos to become multilingual people. She added there were many ways of teaching and learning a language and one of the earliest methods was the ‘grammar translation method’.

She said that grammar translation method is used even today in Nagaland to teach Hindi and English language.

International Mother Language Day observed across state

AKM: Coinciding with observance of International Mother Language Day, AKM launched its own Project AKM- a decade long initiation for the promotion and development of Ao language at its Conference Hall on Monday.

Padma Shri awardee T Senka Ao was the main speaker at the event. He asserted that “language is power and when you lose your language you are no better than a slave.”

Ao, who is also the former president of AKM, also dwelled on the importance and difficulties faced by Ao language. He maintained that a dictionary is never complete with words, however, there should be no error in the interpretation of the meaning of  the words.

He also stressed on the spelling challenges faced by Ao language and opined that it would be solved through combined acceptance. He also urged the churches to write articles and contents which will attract the young generation to infuse interest in Ao language.

Further, stressing that language is technical, science and culture, Ao also called upon the participants to become the middlemen of Ao language, where you teach others what you know, besides learning more from elders, which would be treasured for generations to come.

Ao also urged the Ao Senden, Watsu Mungdang and AKM to strive towards developing the Ao language, so that one day it would be recognised under the Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution.

PVHSS: Pranab Vidyapith Hr. Sec. School Dimapur observed Matribhasha Diwas along with the rest of the country at its school auditorium. An update from the school said that various speeches were presented from students and teachers, while songs were also presented to mark and pay the rich tribute to their own mother tongue.

Chang Baptist Church Dimapur: The first revised edition of Chang-English, English-Chang dictionary was released on Monday in observance of International Mother Language Day 2022. The revised edition was released by Bangchung, Chairman of the Chang literature Board (CLB). The dictionary was compiled by (Late) Achilla Imlong Erdican and was revised and edited by Dr. Wongto Chingmak. The Mother Language Day was organised by Phinjem, the media organisation of Chang Baptist Church Dimapur.  

CCHE: Capital College of Higher Education (CCHE) observed International Mother Language Day on Monday at the college premises.

‘There is a growing need to make young people aware of their own cultural roots and educate them about their own identity,’ an update form the college said

The college therefore organised an event to commemorate the day through which the students were provided with the opportunity to work with their own mother language and thereby gain more insight about it.

The one-day event had Theja Lohe, Asst. Professor, department of Tenyidie as the introductory speaker.

It said that he deliberated on the need for young people to step up in the preservation of one’s gradually eroding cultural heritage.

‘While highlighting that the young people today are unaware of their own mother language, he emphasised on the need to explore various platforms through which the mother language can be used,’ it said.

This was followed by a translation activity in which all the students participated.

Dr. Zokho Venuh, Principal, CCHE said that ‘the tragedy facing the young today is the loss of one’s identity’.

“The young today do not give importance to one’s own cultural roots. There are many today who do not even know basic vocabularies in their own mother language”, he said while stressing on the need to preserve and promote one’s own mother language. He concluded by saying that the college should undertake more such activities in the years to come where students will have hands-on experience with learning.

C-Edge College: C-Edge College Dimapur celebrated International Mother Language Day on Monday to promote and preserve multilingual diversity. Key speaker of the event, Bendangyala Jamir, Associate pastor Women, Naga United Ao Baptist Church, highlighted on what is ‘mother tongue, the alarming issues on the fast deterioration of language and also emphasised on measures to save and promote Mother Tongue.  

It said that the students presented various folk songs in Naga dialect, while an enactment based on how languages hold strategic importance for people and can advance the process of education and development was presented by the English honours students.