This article https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/10/macau-city-losing-language-china-portuguese-macanese caught my attention for two reasons. I have noticed that our new generation is losing their language identify. As a Hispanic and Spanish speaker I have realized that other Hispanic people do not speak the language of their parents or ancestor. This sometimes occur due to only their grandmother used to teach them, or speak their native language, but unfortunately they are not longer alive, and their parents just talk to them in English. This not only happen to Spanish speakers, but to others spoken languages. In my opinion this is disconsolate because language is a part, an identity of our culture, a way to communicate with our past generation and I feel this new generation is losing that.
Even thought I just speak two languages, I am a languages’ lover. Specially dialects or languages base on other languages, such the Patuá that was created by incorporating other languages (Creole, Cantonese, Spanish and others). That is fascinating how we can combine different languages to create another. That is what make cultures different, their own way to speaks, communicate with others.
I think we should not let the languages or dilates of our ancestor behind in the pass just because this is a new generation. We should keep bringing it with us, because as I said before that’s what make everyone of us different from others cultures.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/10/macau-city-losing-language-china-portuguese-macanese
I completely agree that the younger generations have lost their language identity. I have so many Indian friends who are too embarrassed to speak in their language because they claim that they sound horrible and can’t speak the language properly. I am incredibly grateful that my grandmother lived with me while I was growing up because she is the reason I am fluent in her native language of Gujarati. In fact, even though I was born in America, Gujarati was my first language.
I also believe that language is a part of one’s identity because it is one of major ways I identify myself and it is such an important part of my culture. At all family gatherings, my cousins and I speak to each other interchangeably in English and Gujarati and at home it is the primary language I communicate in. I hope to pass on the Gujarati language to my future children and grandchildren.