Today, we remind ourselves that our mother tongue is the foundation of identity, the heart of culture, and the essence of history. Indigenous groups in Cambodia who possess their own mother languages include: Pnong, Kuy, Tumpuon, Jarai, Kreung, Brao, Kavet, Stieng, Kraol, Mel, Thmoon, Kachok, Por, Khaonh, Chorng, Suoy, Thmon, Lun, Sa’och, Rode, Khneang, Roeung, Stong, L’eun, Samre, and other ethnic groups.
Challenges Leading to the Loss of Mother Languages:
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The use of the national language as a replacement for mother tongues.
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A lack of documentation and textbooks in mother languages.
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Relocation and migration.
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The influence of technology and social media.
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A lack of policy support.
Solutions and Preservation Measures:
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Promoting Multilingual Education (MLE).
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Creating documentation and mother-language textbooks.
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Encouraging the use of native languages within the family.
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Utilizing technology for beneficial preservation.
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Securing support from the government and NGOs.
Families, communities, and schools should teach and encourage children and youth to use their native languages to preserve their identity and pass knowledge down to future generations. Language is not merely a tool for communication; it is a way to maintain traditions, customs, and human wisdom. For indigenous communities, language is the soul of their culture. If a language is lost, the knowledge of ancestors and their identity may vanish as well. Therefore, using and conserving one’s mother tongue is an act of preserving the soul and pride of the community.
By Sreylin, Education Champion Youth, NEP
Reference: https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/…/ethnic…/
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