Why Y'all Should Larn Together With Verbalize 'Less Prestigious' Languages

David Yoong

Linguist at the University of Malaya who spends a lot of fourth dimension examining how people interact amongst ane another. 

Time together with fourth dimension again, nosotros listen of people inwards power emphasising the hollo for to use 'standard language' - proper pronunciation, proper spelling, together with proper grammar. We are told of the dangers of non beingness able to work a 'standard language': people won't empathize us, nosotros volition non hold upwards able to engage amongst others globally, together with nosotros volition non hold upwards able to participate inwards cognition acquisition. Additionally, socialisation amongst our leaders, teachers together with fifty-fifty parents puts ideas into our heads that sure enough languages (e.g. Standard English linguistic communication together with Standard Mandarin) are to a greater extent than of import than others because these volition help keep the condition quo together with growth chances of upward social mobility. 

Sometimes children are told that at that spot is no hollo for to larn other 'less important' languages similar indigenous languages together with vernacular languages (e.g. Telugu, Hakka, Teowchew, Bahasa Temuan, etc.). In schools, nosotros are indoctrinated to believe that the rules of grammer create upwards one's heed if linguistic communication work is 'right' or 'wrong'. Using linguistic communication 'wrongly', nosotros are too told, is a sign of beingness uneducated (or sometimes, stupid). 

At this juncture, I should explicate 2 things: First, I write every bit a Malaysian linguist. So, don't hold upwards surprised if the examples provided are from a Malaysian's dot of view. Second, I work 'language' inwards this weblog post to refer to 'a organisation of communication' that includes conventional concepts of 'dialects' (different linguistic communication extended families e.g. Chinese - Cantonese, Hokkien) together with 'lects' (different levels of hierarchies e.g. Standard English, Malaysian English, 'broken'/'mixed up' English). Trivia: Believe it or not, at that spot are linguists who are challenging the conventional feel of 'language' together with fence that fifty-fifty 'dialects' are 'languages'. As interesting every bit it may be, this volition hold upwards a theme for to a greater extent than or less other day. 

What our esteemed leaders together with purpose models fail to admit is that such a simplistic prescriptivist approach to linguistic communication tin hold upwards unsafe together with fifty-fifty real harmful to one's self together with to others. Let me explain. 

It is crucial to realise that languages are strongly tied amongst identity. People tend to bring those who speak similar them, together with they frown upon those who speak using a lower prestige language. As alluded earlier, speaking using 'broken grammar' or 'wrong' pronunciations risks someone viewing together with treating yous similar an uneducated (and/or stupid) mortal whose points are non to hold upwards taken seriously. On the other hand, people may too run across those who speak the linguistic communication of the rich together with educated (e.g. Queen's English), every bit arrogant, detached together with out of impact elitists. This happens because people are only naturally tribalistic. 

People may too bring cues from someone's work of linguistic communication to grade them either every bit beingness component division of the ingroup or outgroup. This social categorisation leads to exclusivity together with otherness. In sure enough contexts, it tin Pb to racism, discrimination,  xenophobism, together with loss of economical together with social opportunities. In to a greater extent than or less instances, people tin hold upwards singled out together with punished if they practise non speak the linguistic communication of the powerful dominant ingroup. 

Political together with social pressures that displace languages to lose popularity tin too displace the extinction of civilization together with local knowledge. Children are told to larn English linguistic communication together with Standard Mandarin because these are to a greater extent than powerful than the linguistic communication of their grandparents together with ancestors. If a linguistic communication shift were to occur, where afterwards generations lose their might to speak the natural language of their ancestors, cultures inwards stories, songs, idioms, metaphors, together with fifty-fifty subtle withal pregnant local cognition e.g. institute names, traditional medicines, tin hold upwards forever lost. 

So, coming dorsum to the championship of this post ('why yous should learn together with speak 'less prestigious' languages')...

Having the might to conform communicatively amongst dissimilar groups of people inwards dissimilar social situations enables ane to navigate to a greater extent than easily inwards complex societies. Those who await downwards on 'less prestigious' languages neglect to run across the might of these languages inwards getting things done. 

Just imagine interacting amongst a fishmonger inwards a Chow Kit moisture marketplace position inwards downtown Kuala Lumpur. Imagine speaking to them using Standard English. Now compare that amongst a colloquial English linguistic communication variety.

-"Dear sir/madam, could yous kindly sell me a kilogramme of fish?" (Queen's English).  

-"Aunty/Uncle ah, this fish cheaper la, tin or not? Aiyah, I e'er come upwards dorsum ane la!"

Which trend of interaction practise yous intend volition help yous cast bonds amongst the fishmonger, together with to acquire yous a ameliorate deal? 

Here is to a greater extent than or less other scenario. Imagine yous are an Indian pol entering a Hokkien community to brand your presence known. And you desire them to similar you, together with then that they volition vote yous into office. Unlike your Indian competitor, yous tin speak Hokkien fluently. Who practise yous intend the community is probable to support? The same principles apply amongst concern pitching together with sales. 

Now, practise yous run across why our ideas of 'less prestigious' languages are truly flawed? 

Being fluent inwards all sorts of linguistic communication systems too makes ane realise that fifty-fifty the ones deemed every bit Bahasa Rojak or 'spoiled' language, may truly non hold upwards 'spoiled'. Rather, they may request creative expressions, peculiarly if at that spot is consistent application of linguistic communication rules. Note that I'm non disputation that nosotros should encourage disfluency. Neither am I maxim that schools should comprehend these 'less prestigious' languages inwards the classroom. 

What I'm maxim instead is, at that spot are a fourth dimension together with house where these 'less prestigious' languages tin outshine the stereotypical notions of 'prestigious languages'. Educators should help students realise when both 'prestigious together with non-prestigious languages' are appropriate, together with according to what genre of interactions. Educators should non shell downwards 'less prestigious' languages, but realise their potentials. 

Long story short, learning together with beingness competent inwards all variations of languages volition truly opened upwards doors together with empower the user inwards diverse aspects of life, compared to those who are alone able to work the 'prestigous' variety.

tl:dr - larn to speak amongst people

keywords: prestigious languages, non-pretigious languages, diglossia, dialects, linguistic communication policies, linguistic communication education