Promoting a lingua franca | A Threat to the Ethnic Languages and Cultures

This write-up explores the recent collaborative effort by the Central University of Odisha (CUO) and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to develop primers for the Desia and Kui languages spoken in the southern districts of Odisha. The initiative, motivated by the Government of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aims to document and promote these languages as a medium of education.

The primers provide a foundational resource for native speakers, covering the alphabet, vocabulary, sentence construction, and conversational forms, supported by a pictorial glossary. The successful completion of this project within a limited timeframe highlights the dedication and expertise of the collaborating organizations.

The status of Kui and Desia as independent languages

As a linguist and cultural studies practitioner with over four decades of experience working with tribal communities in India and Odisha in particular, I have examined the initiative to develop primers for Desia and Kui languages from a unique perspective. While I support the preparation of a Kui language primer, I have reservations about promoting Desia and developing teaching-learning materials for it.

Kui is the language of an ethnic community, while Desia is a dialectical variety of Odia spoken in southern Odisha. Odia linguists classify it as a “dialect” or “upabhasaha“, as evidenced by its frequent reference in Odia language and literature textbooks and research studies. My perspective differs from the mainstream view, as I do not consider Desia a separate language like Kui. Given its use in a larger linguistic domain and by various ethnic communities with their independent languages, I recognize Desia as a link language or lingua franca used in a specific geographic area for trade and everyday communication.

Indigenous languages and Indigenous empowerment

Indigenous community languages are a vital link between the past, present, and future, reflecting unique cultural histories, worldviews, and spiritual connections to the land. These languages foster a sense of continuity, connecting present generations with their ancestors and ensuring the survival of indigenous identities. Indigenous languages often demonstrate a deep connection to the natural environment, encompassing specific terminologies, place names, and descriptions of the land, plants, animals, and natural phenomena. Through language, indigenous communities maintain a holistic relationship with their ancestral territories, demonstrating their profound understanding of ecological sustainability.

As a fundamental aspect of Indigenous identity, language provides a sense of belonging and reinforces community bonds. The speakers’ fluency in the community language is crucial for accessing and comprehending valuable knowledge, ensuring its continuity and relevance in contemporary contexts. Preserving community languages is essential for Indigenous empowerment, reinforcing Indigenous voices, perspectives, and rights within broader societal frameworks. Indigenous communities uphold their identities through language, often named after their languages. They share their narratives, express their emotions, and celebrate their cultural aesthetics, contributing to the richness and diversity of intangible cultural heritage. The use of a lingua franca in place of native languages poses significant challenges to the preservation of these unique linguistic and cultural resources.

A dominant lingua franca may lead to the death of native ethnic languages

The phenomenon of a lingua franca, a common language used by speakers of different native tongues, often emerges in multilingual and multicultural settings. When a lingua franca dominates a community’s language landscape, it can have profound sociocultural, linguistic, and ecological consequences.

The prevalence of a lingua franca can lead to a decline in the use of native languages. As individuals increasingly rely on the lingua franca for communication, they may become less proficient in their native tongue, resulting in language shifts and loss. Given the close connection between language and culture, the dominance of a lingua franca over ethnic languages can also lead to cultural shifts as the lingua franca culture influences indigenous community traditions, values, and customs.  Throughout history, we have witnessed the rise and fall of various lingua franca, each serving as a common language for communication and exchange in specific regions and eras. Examples include Latin in Europe and Classical Arabic in the Islamic world.

Additionally, pidgin and creole languages have emerged as lingua franca in contact zones across different parts of the globe. In India, the concept of a lingua franca is not unfamiliar, with various languages serving this role in different regions. However, more severe challenges arise when the native language of one community becomes the dominant lingua franca of a particular region. A range of historical, socio-political, and demographic factors influences the outcomes and dynamics of this linguistic shift.

The dominance of a lingua franca in multiple domains, such as education, media, government, and business, can marginalize indigenous languages. As the lingua franca gains prominence and is supported by teaching-learning materials, textbooks, and other resources, indigenous linguistic communities may receive less attention and recognition for their native languages. The situation can reduce opportunities to use these languages in education and public discourse.

Promoting a lingua franca leads to the loss of linguistic and cultural diversity

As a linguist, I have observed a recurring pattern in regions where a lingua franca is aggressively promoted. Adopting a dominant language often leads to a significant decline in linguistic diversity, posing a threat to preserving indigenous languages and cultures. Besides, my research indicates that language and culture are inextricably linked. The loss of a language can have profound implications for the erosion of cultural identity, as indigenous tongues carry unique cultural knowledge, oral traditions, and worldviews. When a lingua franca becomes the primary mode of communication, there is a risk of homogenization, leading to a loss of the region’s cultural richness.

Moreover, adopting a lingua franca as the medium of instruction in schools can create barriers for indigenous children who need to be proficient in the dominant language. Such adoption can result in educational disadvantages and contribute to a cycle of language shift and marginalization. Limited access to education in one’s native language can hinder cultural transmission and the development of indigenous knowledge systems.

On the survival of Indigenous languages and cultures of the region

As a scholar deeply involved in studying language and culture, I have consistently advocated for preserving linguistic and cultural diversity in Indigenous communities. My research has highlighted the profound interconnectedness between language and culture, emphasizing that the loss of a language can lead to the erosion of cultural identity.

Indigenous languages carry unique cultural knowledge, oral traditions, and worldviews essential for understanding the world. The dominance of a lingua franca poses a significant threat to preserving this cultural richness and diversity. Additionally, the adoption of a lingua franca as the medium of instruction in schools can create barriers for indigenous children, leading to educational disadvantages and a cycle of language shift and marginalization. Recognizing the value of linguistic diversity and preserving indigenous languages is imperative. The widespread adoption of a lingua franca without fully leveraging the strength of the mother tongue of many communities is a concerning trend. This situation calls for urgent attention and action to address deep-rooted problems and conserve indigenous languages and cultures.

A critical question arises—do we want the ethnic languages of the region to survive, or do we want Desia, primarily a variety of Odia, to flourish at the expense of these Indigenous languages just because Indigenous communities of a region use it for communication among themselves? Our choice will have profound implications for the region’s future of linguistic diversity and cultural heritage. In conclusion, the dominance of a lingua franca can harm linguistic diversity and cultural heritage. Recognizing the importance of language preservation and supporting policies that revitalise Indigenous languages and cultures is imperative. The choice between promoting a lingua franca and preserving Indigenous languages is complex. As we strive to promote linguistic diversity, we must ensure our efforts do not inadvertently erode these valuable cultural resources.