Abir Soni,III, B.Tech(IT), Jaypee University of Information Technology, Solan:
Not being comfortable with speaking one’s native language is never considered a challenge, unlike the inability to speak in English. Our language is our heritage, historically, and is our ancestors’ legacy which connects our past with the present, and gives us an understanding to envision the future. Everybody needs to join hands to save endangered languages. Schools must organise various programmes to promote culture, art, and languages. Folk groups should launch awareness campaigns in order to encourage people to speak in their native languages without feeling ashamed about it.
Manasa Nagarajan, III, B.A. Journalism, M.O.P Vaishnav College for Women, University of Madras:
Language is important for determining one’s culture. There are many factors that endanger a language. Most people feel that languages like English are superior and forget to realise the beauty of their own language. They inculcate the same idea to the upcoming generations. We need to start educating children about the importance of languages and encourage them to speak and write them too. The preservation of language is important at an individual level as extinction takes place because of personal negligence of a language.
Adarsh, III, B.A. HEP, Christ University, Bengaluru:
With the advent of globalisation, native languages have become endangered. In order to save them, the government could ensure that regional languages are made compulsory at the primary level in schools. We need to encourage children to learn two languages, one being English and other being a native language. Technology could be used to make a record of endangered languages in order to preserve them for the future generations. The government should take extra efforts to promote native languages by encouraging literature, art, culture, and music in those languages.
Kopal Goel, III, B.A. Journalism, Kamla Nehru College, Delhi University:
The need to express oneself is growing with an increase in human interaction due to advancing technology. While communicating, we fail to realise how we are losing our reality due to lost regional languages. In order to preserve endangered languages, all types of literature must be translated into regional languages. Sign boards, government and official displays must be written in native languages to promote its usage and recognition in the society. Communities must organise festivals in order to celebrate languages as, with the death of a language, a system of communication also dies.
