Why we must save India’s dying languages

Each language can provide insights into the linguistic capacities of our species

India is a diverse country. This line has been drilled into our heads since the time we were in school. Unfortunately, we have been unable to protect that diversity, especially when it comes to language. In the 1961 census, there were 1,652 mother tongues. That came down to 808 in the 1971 census. In those 10 years, what happened to the rest? This question prompted GN Devy, an academic, to do a survey of all living languages of India. The result: The People’s Linguistic Survey of India report, which was released in Delhi last week.

He is also working on a Global Language Status Report, which proposes to cover nearly 6,000 living languages spoken in all parts of the world. Beginning with the languages in Africa and Australia, covered in the first phase, it hopes to assess the viability and the future of every language. The study will be done in collaboration with a large number of research institutes and universities and with the help of experts and activists. The results of this study will start getting published from 2022 and the final report will be out by 2025.

All this brings us to a basic question: Why must we preserve dying languages? Other than being a part of living heritage, languages convey our unique culture; it also carries so much traditional wisdom. And more importantly, each language has its own world view and can provide insights into the neurology, psychology and the linguistic capacities of our species. For people, language is also power. Take for example, the plight of tribals in Chhattisgarh. There is an acute disconnect between them and the administration and one key reason is that while they cannot speak Hindi, the administrators cannot speak their local language. And as they say, much gets lost in translation. At the release of the report, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that much more needs to be done to preserve languages. We agree wholeheartedly.