Our catch phrase is on its way.
Dear Fellow Earthlings,
Recently the people of Scotland voted to remain a part of the United Kingdom. One of the main reasons why the vote did not carry Scotland to independence is that the people of Scotland do not have their own language. It is true that the people of Scotland refuse steadfastly to “sound English”. But -- sadly – most Scottish people can’t speak their traditional language, Scottish Gaelic. This lack of ability in their traditional language makes it difficult for them to have their own nation. Scotland’s population is about 5.3 million, but fewer than 100,000 can speak Scottish Gaelic.
During the time that I have been working trying to save the Seneca language from extinction, I have become painfully aware of the factors that contribute to the demise of a language. The chief factor is when the children of native speakers opt for a different language than that of their grandparents when those children are speaking among themselves.
Such is the case in Japan, where children are growing more and more adept at speaking English – and less and less adept at employing the expressions and vocabulary – and sometimes even the sounds that their parents and grandparents employ.
In the search to find a way for Japan to be a bigger part of the world community, government officials in Japan are moving recklessly along as they continue to permit (and - often - even encourage) Japanese children to eschew Japanese words and expressions in favor of English ones. What those officials do not realize is that once Japanese is dropped as the language of large companies and as the use of more words and expressions taken from English are used in its place, the cycle will take on a life of its own.
With Japanese children of even one and two years of age being encouraged to learn English, it will not be long before those children begin to consider the language of their grandparents to be anachronistic and out of style.
Much as Seneca was “flooded out” when John F. Kennedy did not halt construction of the Kinzua Dam back in 1965, the Japanese language may very well be inundated and sent to oblivion by the flood created by the teaching of English to elementary school students.
It would be best that Japanese children gained a deeper feel for their own language – and then (with the help of “The Jingles”) begin acquiring nativelike English pronunciation after attaining puberty.
Steve Walker, Earthsaver and Jingles Creator
© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.