National workshop on tribal languages begins
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, March 07 2013:
A national workshop on Tribal and Endangered Languages of North Eastern States of India was held at Manipur Press Club today in Imphal jointly organized by RCTEL Guwahati, CIIL Mysore and Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India.
Dr.Ganish, member of Assam State Board of Secondary Education, Professor Ch Yashawanta, Professor Department of Linguistics, Manipur University, Saratchan Thiyam, writer and Alam Azad, former Counselor of Manipur University attended as a chief guest, president and guests of honour of the workshop.
Dr.Th Chandramani, Project Director RCTEL giving his keynote address said that in Manipur about thirty three tribes are known that have their own languages or dialects but these languages or dialects are endangered.
He urhed intellectuals of these communities to take responsibility while safeguarding the endangered languages or dialects.
He further said that only nine tribal dialects are recognized by the Manipur government.
These dialects are mentioned in the school syllabus up to class 10 level.
Professor Ch Yashwanta attributed worried that modern gadgets and other advanced communication techno-crafts are threats to the extinction of endangered languages/dialects.
"If we lose our languages we will lose our culture, so protecting our languages is protecting our culture," Prof Ch Yashwanta said.
He also said frequent holding of workshops on languages are very important to save the endangered languages.