{"id":57449,"date":"2016-01-07T11:14:04","date_gmt":"2016-01-07T06:14:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pamirtimes.net\/?p=57449"},"modified":"2016-01-07T13:14:30","modified_gmt":"2016-01-07T08:14:30","slug":"linguistic-suicide-in-gilgit-baltistan-mominaaki-language-is-dying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pamirtimes.net\/en\/2016\/01\/07\/linguistic-suicide-in-gilgit-baltistan-mominaaki-language-is-dying\/","title":{"rendered":"Linguistic Suicide in Gilgit Baltistan!\u00a0 ‘Mominaaki’ language is dying"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Roshan Bano\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Note:Mominaaki instead of Domaaki is used after I got inspired \u00a0and convinced by article titled \u201cNo more Domaaki, please!\u201d written by Ijlal Hussainpur. The article itself is a rationale for my preference to use Mominaaki.)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

GBian A:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Linguistic Suicide- What does this mean? I heard of Language loss and language endangerment but not Linguistic Suicide!<\/p>\n

GBian B:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Linguistic Suicide refers to situations where parents who are speakers of a minority language deliberately choose not to teach this language to their children and instead adopt a majority language in their home.<\/p>\n

The principal reasons for the cessation of language transmission are the low prestige attached to the minority language and concerns about the children\u2019s ability to achieve fluency in the socially prestigious and economically-dominant language.<\/p>\n

GBian A: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Ju Ju for reply. By the grace of Allah- all the languages of GB- Wakhi, Khowar,Brushaski, Shina – are living and thriving languages spoken by respective speakers. By the way why you are saying Language Suicide in GB<\/p>\n

There are societies, forums etc. working for the preservation of their respective language. There are online communities, face book pages, websites, blogs, and what not! Debates, Discussion, Seminars, sessions and workshops are held regarding script, literature, and many other aspect of each language<\/p>\n

\u00a0Studies and researches are being done by both national and international academic institutes and other organization! Plenty of scholarly literature is available in form published articles etc. It means it\u2019s recognized by intelligentsia not limited to just native speakers!<\/p>\n

And you know what; languages of GB are not only being preserved locally but also brought into notice and attention of outside world (nationally and internationally).\u00a0 They are actually getting noticed and recognized by masses of our country. And I am hopeful that a time will come when Languages of GB will be recognized officially. Be Positive!<\/p>\n

You talks useless – linguistic suicide in GB is a False Claim to damage reputation for its linguistic diversity! Bus karo, chop hojao (Stop it,,,,,,,,,)<\/p>\n

GBian B:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ju Ju !\u00a0 jazbaati mat ho khuda k liye ! puri baat toa sonu os k baad jo ji may aye keh dena !<\/p>\n

(Ju Ju! Don\u2019t get emotional! Let me complete my point first. Say what you feel like to say later on)<\/p>\n

You know there is one more language in addition to Wakhi, Khowar,Brushaski, Shina .It is called\u00a0 Berishki in \u00a0Hunza,\u00a0 and\u00a0 Domaaki in other parts of GB.( l am using Mominaaki instead of Domaaki from now onwards)<\/p>\n

It used to be a living, thriving language spoken by its speakers just like Wahki ,Khowar,Brushashki, Shina\u00a0 is spoken now.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately; It\u2019s no longer spoken by the current generations its speakers. They adopted the language of the dominant linguistic community of the area they reside in .When among Brusho \u2013 they adopted Brushashki, and when among Shina speakers they adopted Shina. They are called Bericho in Hunza and Doms in rest of parts of GB. (Let call them Mominaaki Speaking Community\/ Mominaaki Speakers instead of Dom\/Bericho from now onwards)<\/p>\n

Mominaaki is at verge of extinction-a loss for linguistic Diversity of Gilgit Baltistan!\u00a0\u00a0 Not to forget cultural loss for Mominaaki Speaking community.<\/p>\n

GBian A:<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a surprise both positive and negative, Positive because I came to know of one more linguistic community of GB. And negative because that language is vanishing! Lots of questions are rising in my mind \u2013 Who, Why, How, when etc.<\/p>\n

Who were they? Where are Mominaaki Speakers now?\u00a0 Why did Mominaaki Speakers opt for language suicide instead of adhering to their native tongue? <\/strong><\/p>\n

GBian B:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I will reply language related question only. <\/strong>Answers for these questions are neither easy nor simple! Let contextualize the matter first.<\/p>\n

Just until recent past the area that we call now Gilgit Baltistan has not this current political structure. Instead there were number of autonomous Princely States\/Principalities- Astore, Baltistan, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Punial, and Yasin and few other unorganized areas.<\/p>\n

Under undemocratic traditional power structure – Principalities \/Princely States and tribal societal setup – Mominaaki Speaking community was assigned the lowest social position. There were prejudices about this particular linguistic community. Its members were considered inferior. The community got discriminated and stigmatized not only by ruling elite of the Principalities they reside in; but by the ordinary masses as well. So they fall prey to both institutionalized and societal discrimination.<\/p>\n