Since the beginning of history, communication has played an important role in shaping the evolution of human behaviour. Human beings are the only creature who can communicate via sound. The use of voice to effectively convey different ideas to one another has played a pivotal role in shaping culture and societies all across the world. Thus, with variation in culture resulted in different dialects and a wide array of languages. Such geographic and cultural separation has resulted in indigenous knowledge and ideas that has been passed on from this generation to another in the form of stories, poems and phrases.
But, this wealth of information may soon be lost forever. This is mainly because of globalisation. With the availability of technology where one can connect to anyone and everyone throughout the world, it has become increasingly important to have a common language so that there are virtually zero barriers to communication.
Such a role has been taken by the English. When the British Empire conquered half of the world, they did not just invade and defeat kingdoms. They also enforced all subjects to learn English, thus effectively wiping thousand of dialects and cultures in a single clean sweep. The result is that almost everyone worldwide knows basic words and many countries have unofficially accepted it as a common language in that territory. Although, I don't think there is an escape from the inevitability of English as a global dialect, yet we need to find a harmonious balance so that our local dialects flourish. This can easily be done by taking the following measures.
Firstly, every family should proudly nurture and pass on their mother tongue to the next generation. In fact, families should make it a point to talk only in their mother tongue at home. I have already experienced such an idea, where everyone is proud of their dialects and have the highest respect for it.
Secondly, all schools should offer multilingual courses for their young students. This, would ensure that at an individual level, there arises a love for words. Also, it has been observed that children can learn to understand new languages quite easily and faster than adults can. And making this as a prerequisite in academics would ensure that they take learning seriously while at the same time ensuring that dialects don't go extinct. Many American schools have started offering courses to college going kids in Navaho and other regional dialect so that there is a revival of the speaking base of these native tongues that would have been lost forever.
Finally, technology should be used to record all words in written as well as spoken form. Such archives would ensure that the seeds of hope are sown for the future generation to experience upon the rare and distinct cultural knowledge long after there are not native speakers available.
In conclusion, we possess the key to unlock the secrets of history that has been passed on to us and it is our solemn duty and responsibility to pass on this rare gem of information into future by taking conscious efforts in the conservation of a local identity while striking a balance without compromising on our global identity.
Since the beginning of history, communication has played an
important
role in shaping the evolution of human
behaviour
. Human beings are the
only
creature who can communicate via sound. The
use
of voice to
effectively
convey
different
ideas
to one another has played a pivotal role in shaping culture and societies all across the world.
Thus
, with variation in culture resulted in
different
dialects
and a wide array of
languages
. Such geographic and cultural separation has resulted in indigenous knowledge and
ideas
that has
been passed
on from this generation to another in the form of stories, poems and phrases.
But
, this wealth of information may
soon
be lost
forever. This is
mainly
because
of
globalisation
. With the availability of technology where one can connect to anyone and everyone throughout the world, it has become
increasingly
important
to have a common
language
so
that there are
virtually
zero barriers to communication.
Such a role has
been taken
by the English. When the British Empire conquered half of the world, they did not
just
invade and defeat kingdoms. They
also
enforced all subjects to learn English,
thus
effectively
wiping
thousand
of
dialects
and cultures in a single clean sweep. The result is that almost everyone worldwide knows basic words and
many
countries have
unofficially
accepted
it as a common
language
in that territory. Although, I don't
think
there is an escape from the inevitability of English as a global
dialect
,
yet
we need to find a harmonious balance
so
that our local
dialects
flourish. This can
easily
be done
by taking the following measures.
Firstly
, every family should
proudly
nurture and pass on their mother tongue to the
next
generation. In fact, families should
make
it a point to talk
only
in their mother tongue at home. I have already experienced such an
idea
, where everyone is proud of their
dialects
and have the highest respect for it.
Secondly
, all schools should offer multilingual courses for their young students. This, would ensure that at an individual level, there arises a
love
for words.
Also
, it has
been observed
that children can learn to understand new
languages
quite
easily
and faster than adults can. And making this as a prerequisite in academics would ensure that they take learning
seriously
while at the same time ensuring that
dialects
don't go extinct.
Many
American schools have
started
offering courses to college going kids in
Navaho
and other regional
dialect
so
that there is a revival of the speaking base of these native tongues that would have
been lost
forever.
Finally
, technology should be
used
to record all words in written
as well
as spoken form. Such archives would ensure that the seeds of hope
are sown
for the future generation to experience upon the rare and distinct cultural knowledge long after there are not native speakers available.
In conclusion
, we possess the key to unlock the secrets of history that has
been passed
on to us and it is our solemn duty and responsibility to pass on this rare gem of information into future by taking conscious efforts in the conservation of a local identity while striking a balance without compromising on our global identity.