Decline and future of languages

declinlangues2

Sorosoro is not only interested in preserving languages. We consider that it is just as important, during filming, to hear what our speakers have to say about contemporary topics.

For example, our teams question them about how they have coped with the transition from a traditional life to a more urban, technological way of life, about the problems that such changes engender and about how they envisage their own futures.

Concerning the language, we ask them what they believe is causing its decline and if they think that it will survive as it comes into contact with the external world and in the context of globalisation. And often it turns out that, from one part of the world to another, the same causes have the same consequences, and often the situations described are similar.

Akele

Nowadays, Akele, also known as Mutumbudie (or Metombolo), is spoken by no more than around fifty people who dwell in the Lake region of Gabon. Sorosoro has asked two of them, Théodosie and Jean Kédine, to tell us about the fate of their language.

Punu

Punu is the language of the Bapunu, second largest ethnic group in Gabon in terms of population. It’s a Bantu language, spoken in the Tchibanga area. The increasingly important movement of Bapunu people towards larger urban areas is causing a gradual loss of their language and cultural knowledge.

Sorosoro asked a speaker, Kwenzi Mickala, what he believes is causing the decline of his language.

Mpongwe

Following the Akoa Pygmies, nowadays extinct, the Mpongwe people are the first inhabitants of Libreville, on the north bank of the Gabon estuary. The number of Mpongwe speakers has now dropped under 5000. In awareness of their traditional heritage being threatened with extinction, the Mpongwe have created structures for the protection of their language and culture.

Sorosoro invites two members of the Mpongwe community from Gabon, Henriette and Kialla, to tell us how they envision the future of their language.

Watch all the videos in Mpongwe

The evolution of Mpongwe by Henriette

The evolution of Mpongwe by Kialla

Linguist : Patrick Mouguiama-Daouda
Image and sound : Muriel Lutz
Editing : Caroline Laurent

Kaqchikel

Kaqchikel is one of the 30 Mayan languages (21 are spoken in Guatemala, 9 in Mexico). Kaqchikel counts around half a million speakers, it one of the most widely spoken Maya languages. Despite accounts of a promising demography, Kaqchikel lacks diffusion among the young generations and faces serious decline.

The following is an interview of master of ceremony B’alam Tija telling us about the progressive decline of his language and culture.

Watch all the videos in Kaqchikel

Linguist: Nikte Sis Iboy
Image & sound: José Reynès
Translation: Juliana Sis Iboy
Editing: Caroline Laurent

Tamasheq

Tamasheq language, the Tamazight variant spoken by the Tuareg, is still very much alive, with over a million speakers. But what does the future hold for this language of the desert in an ever-more urban and globalized context?

What is to become of this particular culture when more and more youngsters are choosing to leave? Why is oral language not enough,and why should focus be drawn to the teaching of writing? What would the world lose if it lost the Tamasheq language…?

See all videos in Tamasheq

Image & sound: Arnaud Contreras
Editing: Caroline Laurent

Xârâcùù

Xârâcùù is one of the 28 Kanak languages, spoken in New Caledonia, actually the fourth most widely spoken Kanak language following Drehu, Nengone, and Paicî – it is also one of the best maintained: spoken in every municipality of the Xârâcùù language area, it reaches over 90% of the population in Canala.

Identity issues, with Marie-Adèle Jorédié

Here’s a first interview with teacher and activist Marie-Adèle Jorédié, known as the creator of the Bb-lecture program aiming to familiarize Kanak little children to the concept of books. She tells us about her relation towards her own language, what it represents for the Kanak, the necessity to have it handed down, especially using means imported by “the White”, namely the school system and books.

Marie-Adèle Jorédié and the Bb Lecture program in Xârâcùù

In the mid 80s, Marie-Adèle took part in the creation of the language immersion Kanak Popular Schools (EPK). Then in 1999 she put together the Bb Lecture program, an introduction to books geared towards young children before they start attending the White’s school. At the same time, she still teaches Xârâcùù in junior high school in Canala…

Quite a background, which she tells us all about here inside her own classroom, a classroom with stories of elephants and song-based alphabet exercises…

Linguist: Claire Moyse-Faurie (LACITO/CNRS)
Image & sound: José Reynes, assisted by Karl Jorédié
Translation: Annick Kasovimoin (Académie des Langues Kanak – ALK)
Editing: Caroline Laurent