Experts are calling for immediate action to preserve Ghana's indigenous languages amidst the threats posed by technological advancements and insufficient mother-tongue education.
The School of Languages at the University of Ghana has raised alarms regarding the decline of indigenous languages in Ghana, attributing this to the rapid advancements in technology and the lack of adequate mother-tongue education. During a recent forum held in partnership with the United Nations Ghana and the African Women Leaders Network Ghana, the institution emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to safeguard these languages from further erosion. The theme of the event, 'Youth Voices, Multilingual Education and the Role of Technology in Advancing Linguistic Justice,' reflects a growing recognition that language preservation is critical to ensuring equality and cultural identity in a fast-evolving digital landscape.
Professor Isaac Wiafe from the University of Ghana's Department of Computer Science pointed out the intricate relationship between technology, identity, and linguistic justice, urging participants to consider how technological advancements may be both a threat and a tool for preserving languages. By posing a thought-provoking question regarding the role of technology in this context, the forum aimed to challenge attendees to rethink the traditional notions of education and communication in a multilingual society. The implications of failing to act could be detrimental not only to the languages themselves but also to the communities that rely on these languages for cultural continuity and individual identity.
As the digital age progresses, the intertwining of technology with education is becoming increasingly prominent; however, without a deliberate strategy focused on multilingual education, the gap between those who can engage with digital tools and those who cannot may widen. This scenario could lead to increased inequality, marginalizing speakers of indigenous languages further. Experts are thereby urging stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to collaborate on initiatives that promote linguistic diversity and support the use of indigenous languages in educational settings and technological platforms.
