Nagamese a threat to indigenous Naga dialects

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Feb. 20 (EMN): The coarse dialect “Nagamese” and its entry into every Naga family, particularly those living in the urban areas, is one of the most dangerous forces that may in the long term result in the demise of the Nagas’ mother-tongue. This is one of the concerns expressed by academicians and professionals who advocate Naga dialects even as languages across the world are disappearing.   

Language is important tool for communication with its uniqueness in natural sociality without which communicating in signs and gestures would have been the only option to express feelings, moods, ideas, information, and experience. This year, the International Mother Language Day’s theme is “Languages without borders.”

The history of International Mother Language Day dates back to 1999 when the UNESCO announced the day, February 21, to celebrate cultural diversity.

It is recorded that there are roughly 6,500 spoken languages in the world today. Yet, approximately 2,000 of these languages have fewer than 1,000 speakers. The most widely spoken language in the world is Mandarin Chinese with 1,213,000,000 people in the world who speak the language.

The Census 2011 data shows that Nagaland has 14 languages and 17 dialects with the Konyak having a large share of 46 percent.

Speaking to Eastern Mirror, the state’s advisor for advisor for Information Technology, and New and Renewable Energy Resources, Mmhonlümo Kikon said the ‘mother tongue is essential to seeding culture.’

“It is the genetics of culture, and preservation of culture cannot be successful without the promotion of our mother tongue.”

According to Kikon, mother tongues are ‘not really at threat because the majority still prioritises it although the urban areas privileges English as a medium of power.’

A professor of Tenyidie at Nagaland University, Metuo Liezietsu, opined that “with the fast changing world, this generation is somehow really ignoring the mother tongue.” He rationalised that in the case of the Naga people, ‘We don’t have a common language. The medium of instruction was purely in English.’ He added that ‘we really don’t value ourselves.’

Liezietsu added that learning and preserving one’s mother tongue has no demerits. “It connects with one’s culture and roots and without which you are just a mere being. Cognitive and intellectual development is also faster through mother tongue. It helps your confidence in every field.”

The professor also opined that in the Naga society, the present generation should be taught to love and learn their mother tongue, although some are working tirelessly in preserving and promoting the mother tongue. He expressed fear that ‘we might be outcasts in our own God’s given land.’

Future of Naga dialects very bleak

According to an academician and a member of the Chokri Chakhesang Literature Board, Dr. Zhokho Venuh, “As far as the perpetuation and development of the mother tongue in Nagaland is concerned, the future of many Naga languages appears very bleak.”

Referring to the UNESCO list of endangered languages in India, he said that all the indigenous languages of Nagaland are listed as vulnerable.

Presently, the Government of Nagaland has permitted four Naga linguistic groups namely the Angami, Ao, Lotha, and Sema to teach and promote their mother-tongue at the higher education levels.

He said that the four linguistic groups had advanced. However, the same yardstick has not been applied nor the resources of the state been utilised for the development of other indigenous dialects of the state.

Venuh pointed out that the formation of the Association of Nagaland Literature Boards (ANLB) consisting of 13 linguistic groups had ‘submitted representation to the government, and the governor, for redress of their grievances, but to no much avail.’

Speaking about the condition of the Chokri dialect, he said, “Though the mother tongue was initially taught in the schools, the department stopped printing textbooks after 1989, and Chokri was no longer studied, and was replaced by Angami.”

“It was only after the Chokri Chakhesang Literature Board (erstwhile Chokri Chakhesang Literature Committee) took up the matter that in 2010 Chokri was reintroduced in the primary level (up to class two). At present, Chokri is being taught up to class VIII (as it is with the other dialect groups in the ANLB).”

Venuh stated also that the ‘government’s refusal to post-create language teachers for the 13 linguistic groups, those linguistic groups face immense hurdles.’ He said, ‘In the case of schools in the Chokri and Kuzha areas, those language teachers who have been appointed against Angami language teacher posts are made to take up teaching Chokri or Kuzha. In most cases, however, language teachers in these areas are not trained personals but only because they voluntarily take up the responsibility.’

Also, pointing out that the government’s policy is to phase out Alternative English, he said, “Since the 13 linguistic groups are not allowed offering mother-tongue in the secondary level, this would mean that students belonging to the 13 tribes have to take up either Hindi or another mother-tongue subject. This will however destroy the career of the students. So far, government has not brought out any viable option for the 13 groups.”

Speaking about the threat against dialects of the Nagas, Venuh pointed to the invasion of Nagamese into every Naga family, particularly those living in the urban areas in a corrupted form of Assamese/Akhomia, with no grammar, but used as the lingua-franc among different Naga tribes. He said, “It has become endemic and is certainly one of the most dangerous forces which may in the long term result in the demise of the mother-tongue.”