Preserving Identity through Language

Language is more than just a medium of communication. It is the soul of a community, the living thread that ties generations together. Language shapes our world, and the way we use it is important. It forms a fundamental part of our identity. From our accent and choice of words to the language we speak, every aspect of speech reveals something deeper about who we are and where we come from. For the Naga people, who belong to various distinct tribes, our languages are deeply rooted in our identity, traditions, and worldview. Yet today, these precious languages are at risk of vanishing. Language not only expresses identity but is also closely linked to power relations. Throughout history, it has often been used as a means of control, with dominant groups imposing their languages on others. This can be seen in the expansion of colonial languages such as English, during which many indigenous languages were marginalised or suppressed. Even today, these power dynamics remain visible in global business and education, where certain languages, especially English, are often given greater prestige and importance than others, sometimes at the expense of indigenous languages.

The Nagas, despite our strong connection to tribal languages, do not have a native script of our own. As a result, we adopted the Roman script introduced by British Colonial Administrators and American Christian Missionaries. English eventually became the official language among the Nagas, serving as the common mode of communication across tribes. Alongside English, Nagamese is also commonly used to bridge communication gaps between different Naga tribes. However, each tribe maintains its own linguistic heritage. Language and ethnicity are closely connected for many communities. Ethnic identity is often strongly associated with the language people speak. Language plays a vital role in preserving cultural heritage and strengthening ethnic connections. National identity is another area in which language has significant importance. Many nations define themselves through a common language. For example, in France, the French language is deeply embedded in the nation's identity, while in Japan, the Japanese language serves as both a national and cultural marker. However, not all nations are monolingual. Countries such as Switzerland have multiple official languages, and these contribute to the rich and complex nature of national identity. In such societies, language serves as a means of navigating multiple cultural identities within a single nation. Similarly, for the Naga people, each tribal language is not merely a tool for communication but a living repository of ancestral wisdom, cultural practices, and collective memory.

The current reality is heartbreaking. Some of the Naga youth today can barely speak their own tribal language properly, let alone read or write it. This erosion of language is not just a cultural loss but a loss of identity, of heritage, and of ancestral wisdom. Compounding this crisis is the attitude of some parents who, whether out of ignorance or misplaced aspiration, neglect to teach their children their valued mother tongue. Many parents believe that speaking only English will give their children an advantage in the modern world, unaware that this approach often comes at the cost of their children's cultural grounding. As a result, children grow up not knowing how to speak their own mother tongue, let alone read or write it. This parental oversight, though often well-intentioned, inadvertently contributes to the very erosion of identity we seek to prevent. Furthermore, we must honestly acknowledge that many children today are easily impressed by foreign languages and find it fashionable to learn them. Whether it is Korean, Japanese, Hindi, or Burmese, young people often gravitate toward these languages, seeing them as symbols of modernity, sophistication, or global citizenship. While there is nothing inherently wrong with learning foreign languages, as it is a valuable skill in our interconnected world, the troubling reality is that this enthusiasm is rarely matched by a similar pride in their own mother tongue. Children embrace foreign languages while remaining ignorant of their own rich linguistic heritage. This is not a matter of choosing one over the other, but of striking a balance that honours both.