Practical Tips for Language Preservation

Preserving a language means preserving a culture, so it is important for all of us to play our role in language preservation.

Language forms the basis of communication and interaction amongst people. It tells a story about the culture and history of a nation. This is why language preservation is considered so important and being worked on so much.

Here are some tips for language preservation that can reshape today’s society:

1.      Documenting and recording

The first and most important thing you can do is document the spoken language in the form of recorded and printed sources. Rather than orally transmitting it to the next generation, it is better to write it down.

This can be done by anyone with enough knowledge and information. Even committed citizens to work individually to create a historical background of an almost extinct language. Interviewing, recording and listening to stories can be the first step in today’s world of media.

2.      Developing interest in language preservation

This includes both learning and teaching a language. When you learn something new, you share it with others around you. There is always a chance that you develop a keen interest in the subject and influence others. This creates a community of appreciation and understanding of the language.

There are dozens of programs available online as well as in real life where you can learn a language on the verge of extinction. Then, later on, you can create a community of interested people and share this knowledge with them.

3.      Using digital society

Although it is true that social media is the devil in this matter as it is erasing all traces of other languages except English. But on the other hand, there is a bright side to it. It’s all about how people use and manage it.

Individuals and groups who want to preserve an old language target the audience they wish to provide information with. As there are no other faster means of information and communication other than this, they make the best use of it.

It’s all about attraction and charm. Creating courses and fun challenges on YouTube and websites regarding the language is an easy method. Making fun catalogs and magazines in the fading language also helps keep a record in audio and written form. Another idea is the karaoke versions of songs and dubbed movies.

4.      Speaking your own mother tongue

Certainly, one of the most important tips for language preservation is sticking to your own mother language. As an individual and as a part of a society, this step is necessary for promoting a language.

This can be done by speaking it within your own group of people, in society, schools and businesses. The more you speak your own native language, the less you fall prey to another group’s language. When you respect your own language, people will respect it too.

Keeping a language alive means speaking it. No matter how small it seems, it is enough to live up to its value and importance of it. So, speak your own language whenever and wherever you can. We here at Charity NZ have a language preservation program for all age groups. Join this program and make the change!