Syrian Delegation
Death of Indigenous Languages
Jack Burlingame
Communication is the root of everything: it creates a unique culture in which people are
able to better understand one another and the places they have come from.
Communication does not have to take the form of words; culture can be expressed
through music, poetry, and dance. Though these forms of communication show true
meaning as to what people are thinking and feeling, they are less revealing than verbal
dialect. As indigenous languages are dying out, a lapse will be created in our national
and international diversity, and priceless histories, artifacts, and perspectives will be
rendered incomprehensible.
In many areas of the middle east, a panoply of different languages may be spoken
within a small area, possibly due to the rural way of life that many people in the region
live. Because of this, many indigenous languages still in existence in this region, which
is an area alive with many different cultures, most of which have their own languages or
dialects. These languages help to maintain the integrity of the different cultures and
without them the cultures will struggle to stay the same. Some people in Africa believe
that having so many different languages is a bad thing because it is difficult for groups
to communicate and understand each other when they don’t speak the same
languages. While this may occasionally hinder communication, minor barriers that
multiple languages cause are insignificant in comparison to the rich traditions that
linguistic diversity upholds.
Syria recognizes Arabic as the official language, though they have five other main
languages: Arabic, Aramaic, Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian, and Circassian. The main
language of education is Modern Standard Arabic, though it is not native to anyone and
is not spoken in the homes of Syrians. In the home setting, most Syrians speak dialects
of Levantine Arabic, specifically South Syrian Arabic. Through sharing a common
language, many of the Syrian people and those of the surrounding area are able to find
common ground, allowing cultural cohesion.
It is possible a solution could be found that would preserve indigenous cultures while
keeping people connected. This could be achieved by allowing indigenous languages
to be taught and used, while encouraging the learning of a common language that
would allow for communities to effectively share ideas and adapt to our ever-evolving
world.