The importance of the Nuba languages
It is our sincere pleasure to address the issue of
the importance of a language for the new new generation in Nuba Mountains:
the Economic and Social. Benefits of Languages education. Language is obviously
a vital tool. Not only is it a means of communicating thoughts and ideas, but
it forges friendships, Cultural ties and economic relationships. Throughout
history, many have reflected on the importance of Language. For instance, the
scholar Benjamin Whorf has noted that language shapes thoughts and emotions,
determining one’s perception of reality. John Stuart Mill said that
"Language is the light of the Mind." Actually it may be unthinkable to
talk about the richness of the cultures of any society with out hinting on the basic
role of the language. For the linguist Edward Sapir, language is not only a
vehicle for the expression of thoughts, perceptions sentiments, and values
characteristic of a community; it also represents a fundamental expression of
social identity. Sapir said: "the mere fact of a common speech serves as a
peculiar potent symbol of the social solidarity of those who speak the
language." In short, language retention helps maintain feelings of
cultural kinship. Language, of course, is knowledge, and in our world today
knowledge is one of the key factors in competitiveness. Brains and knowledge
are what create the prosperity and growth we tend to take for granted.
Nuba Mountains region of Sudan is hallowed with some of the
most fascinating languages of this world. Not only that but they also possess some
of the richest and most attractive cultures such as the Nuba body paintings,
Nuba traditional wrestling, dances of different occasions to mention but a few.
The Nuba languages are also rich
with tales and poems that have been passed on for several centuries, these tales,
poems and songs are normally passed
on to the youth from generation to
generation in the evenings around the fire places by the elders who also got them
from their ancestors in a similar manner.
All these wealth of Nuba wisdom is instigated in their rich endangered
languages. The Nuba languages are facing the most difficult times in their
history. This is mainly due to the influence of the Arabic language and
cultures which have destroyed and are continuing to threaten the existence of
the Nuba languages and traditions through their education system which is disrespectful
towards other indigenous languages and traditions of Sudan. They Nuba languages have
never been given any attention in the Sudanese education curriculum. This is evidently
seen in the lack of representation and access to the national media. As a result
of these most of the Nuba youth in the urban centers of Sudan do not
know their own languages. Most of these children look at their languages,
cultures and traditions as inferior and backward. They prefer to speak the so called Arabic
which they imagine as the language of the classy. Even some of the next of kin
(parents) especially those living in the urban centers of Sudan are
ashamed to speak their own mother tongues. They never instruct their children
to embrace their marvelous traditions and languages. This partly explains why
most of their children are ignorant and biased of their languages. The children
are left with no other option but to admire the Arabic and forget about their
own local languages. These next of kin (parents) who are not proud of being
Nuba themselves identify themselves and their children as Nuba yet they have no
traces of Nubasism such as the Nuba languages Nuba names and traditions. Each
tree is identified by it fruits, leaves and appearance but most importantly the
roots keep it living. What of the
society?) About 70 %( hypothetical) of
Nuba children born out side the Nuba land or livings in Khartoum or other urban
centers of Sudan have no idea about their own languages, cultures and
traditions. This is very dangerous, sorry state and overwhelming for any one
interested in the Nuba languages and traditions. If this trend continues in about 100 year’s
time we will have no Nuba society any more but disguised Nuba Arabs who have no
background and tradition to keep them up to the mark. We are not being racist
or tribalistic but we want to say that the Nuba have got to be given a right to
national media and their languages must be included in the school curriculum.
The parents must educate their children about the Nuba languages and the Nuba
cultures and traditions since the language and cultures go hand in hand. The
secrets of the land and success of any prosperous society is rooted in their
language, traditions , and intuitional settings the way they perceive
themselves as one solid body protective of their identity. Yes it is necessary
to open up to the world but not to the extend of losing ones identity.
By Kwumi Sefedin ( Kwumi Tôr tithi Kwundathy kwithi
Bǝ̂tǝ̂)
