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https://theconversation.com/how-social-media-is-breathing-new-life-into-bhutans-unwritten-local-languages-210280>
"Dechen, 40, grew up in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. Her native
language was Mangdip, also known as Nyenkha, as her parents are originally from
central Bhutan. She went to schools in the city, where the curriculum was
predominantly taught in Dzongkha, the national language, and English.
In Dechen’s house, everyone spoke Dzongkha. She only spoke her mother tongue
when she had guests from her village, who could not understand Dzongkha and
during her occasional visits to her village nestled in the mountains. Her
mother tongue knowledge was limited.
However, things have now changed.
With 90% of Bhutanese people using social media and social media penetrating
all remotes areas in Bhutan, Dechen’s relatives in remote villages are
connected on WeChat.
She is in three WeChat groups where people usually communicate through voice
messages in their native language. Most WeChat users in rural parts of the
country communicate in their oral native language.
“I learn many words. I learnt how to say a lot of things in my own language,”
the mother of two now living in Western Australia told me.
Dechen’s story is not isolated. Social media is giving a new lifeline to
Bhutan’s native languages, which do not have written script and lack proper
documentation. By communicating through voice messages, social media is giving
Bhutanese people in both urban and rural areas a new opportunity to use their
local language."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
