Opinion Language and Identity By DAVID ZOPPETTI	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
言語と自己認識 言語と自己認識 英語は国際社会における重要な言語だ。 しかし、それぞれの土地の言葉も守らなければ 人々が自尊心を持って生きることはできない。

Last winter I visited a small Eskimo community on the Bering Strait in Alaska to do some research for a novel I am writing. A few days after my arrival, one of the elders passed away and I attended the funeral together with the other villagers.

At the end of his sermon, the priest declared: "The deceased devoted his existence to teaching the following generation the traditional ways of life of the Eskimo people as well as their original language. I wish that you shall follow in his footsteps so that the language of your ancestors will not die off."

This young priest had obviously forgotten that it was another man of the church, the Presbyterian minister Sheldon Jackson, who established the educational system in Alaska in 1867 and blind to the culture of the Native Alaskans, made it mandatory that English, and only English, be used in schools.

To me this was a typical example of the church's hypocrisy and arrogance in imposing on a native population and then pretending nothing ever happened. This incident made me reflect on the ever-growing importance of English in our society and on the relation between language and identity.

English is undoubtedly the most widely spoken language in the world. Needless to say, the existence of such a common language is not only convenient, it is also a prerequisite for the proper functioning of the society we live in. But this shouldn't make us forget something of equal importance.

The expansion of English is causing other minor languages and local dialects to become gradually extinct. To those who happen to belong to the mainstream of English culture by "accident of birth," this is not considered as being very important, but I am not sure we should be so happy about this situation.

Language has much to do with identity. It is the first and primary expression of a person's culture. Feeling comfortable with one's identity leads to self-esteem, pride and confidence. It makes you strong and generous as a human being. This is why keeping languages alive is so important.

For instance, the imposition of English on the native communities of the Arctic - combined with a number of other factors - provoked a strong sense of loss of identity among its members. This in turn led to serious social problems such as suicides, drug or alcohol abuse, domestic violence, etc.

Today, these communities have reintroduced the study of their ancestral language in schools as a first step toward regaining their sense of values. Although their efforts may appear very "local" and lack the flashiness of the common language of the Internet, I believe they are striving to achieve a task of major importance.

Of course, English is a tool everyone should possess to be able to participate in the politics and economics of the international community. Yet on the other hand, as the globalization of society progresses, I believe it will become more and more vital for individuals to be able to relate closely to their roots and original culture. And this obviously starts with the ability to speak the language that defines this culture.

The imposition of one common language amounts to the denial of ethnic diversity and is a threat to cultural identity. I hope that the Japanese in their fervor and enthusiasm to learn English, won't forget that it is equally important to keep closely in touch with their own language and roots.

Shukan ST: Sept. 15, 2000

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