Indigenous Languages and National Development

This set of flashcards covers key concepts from the lecture on Indigenous languages in the context of national development, focusing on their role in education, health, economic empowerment, and the challenges they face in a globalized world.

What is the significance of Indigenous languages in the context of Nigerian development?

Indigenous languages are viewed as a pillar of national development, contributing to sustainable progress and cultural identity.

What statistic from UNESCO highlights the urgency of language preservation?

Every two weeks, a language dies with its last speaker.

What is the dominant development model's view of linguistic diversity?

The dominant development model sees linguistic diversity as an obstacle to progress and promotes the adoption of a national or global language.

What is the basic concept of Development as per the lecture?

Development is a multi-dimensional process encompassing economic growth, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, well-being, and the expansion of human capabilities and freedoms.

What is the Logic of Assimilation?

It is the historical view that promotes a single language for efficiency and unity, often marginalizing Indigenous languages.

What are the consequences of the Deficit Model?

It labels Indigenous languages as 'primitive' and 'backward', leading to language shift, cultural loss, and erosion of traditional knowledge.

How do Nigerian languages contribute to education and cognitive development?

Nigerian languages support Mother-Tongue Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE), improving comprehension, enrollment, and reducing dropout rates.

What role do Indigenous languages play in environmental sustainability?

Indigenous languages hold Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) that is vital for understanding local ecosystems and biodiversity.

What is the impact of Indigenous languages on health and well-being?

Effective healthcare communication is enhanced when services are provided in a patient's mother tongue, improving diagnosis and treatment adherence.

How do Indigenous languages contribute to economic empowerment and governance?

They enable cultural industries, protect traditional knowledge, and enhance civic engagement through political participation.

What are some challenges faced in the revitalization of Nigerian languages?

Challenges include lack of political will, limited resources, dominance of global media, and intergenerational gaps.

What strategies are suggested for language revitalization?

Implement supportive legal frameworks, education reform, community-led initiatives, technology and media use, and documentation efforts.

What major relationship between language and development did the lecture highlight?

Language is a significant variable that can empower communities or create barriers entrenched in poverty.

What is the digital divide concerning Indigenous languages?

The prevalence of a few dominant languages in the digital sphere creates new forms of exclusion for speakers of Indigenous languages.

How does globalization affect local languages?

Globalization can lead to cultural homogenization, accelerating the decline of Indigenous languages.

What is the role of technology in the context of Indigenous languages?

Technology can both threaten language vitality through homogenization and serve as a tool for documentation and revitalization.

What principle should trade policies consider to protect Indigenous languages?

Trade policies should integrate linguistic impact assessments to safeguard cultural diversity and Indigenous languages.