Pros and Cons - Debbie Newman, Ben Woolgar 2014

Indigenous languages, protection of
Section F. Culture, education and sport

Many countries have minority, indigenous languages spoken within their borders (for example, the Basque language in France and Spain, or Welsh in the UK). There is a debate that can be had about the principle of protecting these languages, or you could look at specific policies such as broadcasting quotas or compulsory teaching in schools. There is also a related issue of protecting the purity of a country’s dominant language (for example, protecting the French language from the influence of English).

Pros

[1] Languages are a rich and valuable part of culture in their own right and should be protected as part of a country’s heritage like old buildings or works of art. Language provides the key to literature, history, traditions and psychology which cannot be properly understood or appreciated if a language becomes extinct.

[2] Allowing a more powerful language to subsume an indigenous language is an aggressive type of cultural imperialism. Speakers of dominant languages such as English and Spanish have a duty to protect what came before them, not trample other cultures out of existence just because they can.

[3] Indigenous languages do need state support to survive and thrive. Bilingual street signs, television programming, music, parliamentary business and classes in schools all keep the language alive and give it an equal status, thereby providing the incentive to speak it. The Welsh language is protected by legislation and this has helped to stop its demise.

Cons

[1] A language only has the value that people place on it. If people of a certain culture feel that the language is key to them, they will keep it alive. They may, however, feel that their culture has moved on and they should not be forced to remain static. A language can always be studied by academics so you do not lose the insight into the past. Latin and Ancient Greek are widely learned in order to study ancient civilisation; it does not matter that the languages are not living.

[2] Cultural practices, including languages, evolve. A dominant language may emerge, but it will have taken on features of the indigenous languages it has encountered and been enriched by them. The resulting ’soup’ can be claimed and celebrated by all.

[3] It is the responsibility of communities to protect their own languages. Often it is the older generation who will need to persuade the youth of the value in carrying the language forward. A community that is proud of its culture and language will speak it as a badge of that pride. It is patronising and inappropriate for the state to intervene.

This House would protect its language from outside influences.

Possible motions

This House believes that the state should protect indigenous languages.

This House believes that there is a duty to keep endangered languages alive.

Related topics

Arts funding by the state, abolition of

Cultural treasures, returning of