Native language and nature protection — global issues

Although Nami and Tomoyuki were both born on Okinoerabu Island (currently a population of only 12,000), they did not learn to speak Shimamuni, a local variant of Kunigami, fluently as children.

Kunigami was added to UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages ​​at Risk in 2009, listing it as a “certainly endangered language” to raise public awareness that “children no longer learn the language at home as their first language.” .

FAMILY TAKES ACTION

After learning that Okinoerabu Island’s indigenous language was officially endangered, the couple and their four children took it upon themselves to turn their love of the language into impactful action that resonates far beyond the island.

Okinoerabu Island residents are not only concerned about the loss of their language, but are also increasingly alarmed by the rapid increase in marine debris. What started as an assigned school project during summer vacation, the Sao children decided they could solve two problems at the same time by doing a daily beach clean-up while simultaneously recording their day through language activities such as singing and journaling in shimamuni. -Today’s progress.

The Sao family has used the Simamuni language as a thread of shared local identity that connects people from all walks of life, expanding their conservation efforts to include cooking local delicacies, providing haircuts to nursing home residents, and learning arts and crafts at a community center. Participate in the “Shimamuni Salon” where language classes are offered and local environmental issues are discussed regularly. Our goal is to nurture the next generation of environmentally conscious Shimamuni speakers.

“Without these community-driven activities, languages ​​would become extinct as older people pass away,” said Dr. Sumittra Suraratdecha, assistant professor of linguistics at the Institute of Asian Languages ​​and Cultures (RILCA) in Thailand.

Linguistic diversity and sustainable development

When asked about the underlying motivation for the family’s involvement in such a wide range of activities, the thoughtful Tomoyuki noted the urgency of achieving the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Rather than imparting to children knowledge acquired through formal education 20 or 30 years ago, he felt it was better to support learning through practice and promote the accumulation of real-world experience that could make a difference. .

As it turns out, the Shimamuni language is not only a means of transmitting local knowledge, such as recipes for traditional desserts, to the island’s youth, but also improves the effectiveness of communication about environmental issues to the older people who were once part of the island. It is a misconception that marine debris should be left to decompose on its own.

Given the current global reality of the proliferation of non-biodegradable waste and microplastics, Shima Muni’s native language helps communicate the true extent of the problem more immediately to older people.

Reflecting on the situation of the Sao family and their creative response to local eco-cultural issues, Kyungah Bang, Multilingual Education Consultant at UNESCO’s Bangkok Regional Office and Coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Multilingual Education Working Group, said: Diversity can be an effective tool and solution for achieving the SDGs at the local level.”

Recognized on the global stage

In October 2023, the Sao family had the opportunity to present their moving story at the 7th International Conference on Language and Education in Bangkok, Thailand.

As a representative of Okinoerabu Island, I participated in a major international conference co-hosted by UNESCO, and attended this event attended by over 450 language experts and participants from around the world.

The Sao family gained island-wide support by having the island’s two major cities unite to prepare a presentation video for the family and cover part of their travel costs.

“While these conferences bring together a variety of stakeholders – policymakers, practitioners and researchers who share their experiences of language in education – we often forget that sustainability is driven by whole teams, communities or, in those cases, families. Linguistic diversity is important,” said Brandon Darr, education consultant at UNESCO’s regional office.

For Tomoyuki, gaining recognition on the international stage only helps strengthen his family’s sense of leadership purpose.

“Our goal is to live a spiritually rich life,” he said.

His wife also agreed.

“Our children can grow up and live anywhere. But I want my children to keep their language and culture in their hearts,” she said.