In a modern world where information is king, there are still small remote pockets of people who rely only on tradition and custom, each with their own unique language and ancient way of life. These groups are quickly becoming eroded, as was revealed in Unesco’s recently released comprehensive database of endangered tongues.
Education is not free in the 83 tropical islands of Vanuatu, (New Hebrides), which boasts a staggering total of 110 living languages, in the tiny South Pacific nation. Only Papua New Guinea has more. According to 1997 statistics, which have changed very little, 55.8% of children reach year 6; 26% never go to school at all and only 18.2% have the opportunity to go to high school. Many of their parents can neither read or write and live on under $1 a day.
The International year of languages saw a diverse group of adults from various islands in Vanuatu come together in a workshop, to learn to translate their oral language into the written word. Most only had very basic primary school education. The distinct customs and traditions of their people have been handed down orally over the generations.
“It is the first time most of us have left our remote island home and flown in a plane, or crossed an ocean,” explained Jesse, a mother of two. For most of the students it was the first time they had seen their language in the written form.
Vanuatu is a nation of many endangered languages, with Ifo already extinct on the southern island of Erromango.
· Only one person can speak Aore in East Santo
· Ura, another Erromanga language, has only 6 remaining native tongue speakers
· Only 8 people are able to speak Araki on the southern part of Santo Island
· 10 people only speak Maragus on the island of Malekula
· Sowa on Central Raga Island has 20 native speakers
· 20 people people speak Nasarian on the Southwest coast of Malekula
· Tambotala on Southwest Santo has 50 people who can speak the language
· 50 people speak Mafea on East Santo
· Dixon Reef is used by 50 people in Southwest Malekula
· 90 people on East Malekula Island speak Repanbitip
· Lehalurup has only 90 speakers of the language on Ureparapara Island
· Maii is spoken by only 100 people in the southwest of Epi island
· Wailapa is used by only 100 people in Southwest Santo
· Only 105 people can speak Koro on Gaua Island
· Hiw is used by only 120 people in the Torres Islands
The Island of Santo has a further 8 languages where only 150 people are able to speak them. A further five languages have 200 users, or less.
The question has to be asked, do you spend time and money on trying to keep these ancient languages alive, while the majority of children remain without education, qualifications or any prospects of a job? While we value the beauty of ancient languages, is there a choice between saving the dinosaurs of a living language, or educating the next generation?
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Tags: endangered languages of the world, endangered languages of Vanuatu., extinct languages, languages of Vanuatu, South Pacific, tropical islands, Vanuatu
2 Responses to “Save The Dinosaurs Or Educate The Next Generation?”
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February 23rd, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Save the Dinosaurs Or Educate The Next Generation?…
UNESCO’s report reveals that 2,500 languages are under threat of extinction worldwide. Vanuatu, with 110 distinct languages, has many that are under threat, with one extinct already….
February 24th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
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