Learning which language and when-gctid237574

[Michael G.]

Heru Djet;238085 wrote: Language death is an inevitable reality. The loss of epistemic knowledge due to this death is unavoidable, and has been since humans began using spoken language to communicate. There are ways that groups have used to resist this process. There are notable, even heroic attempts that have been made to resurrect "dead" languages. These efforts and their role within the inescapable cycle of language death, formation, decline, and revitalization are significant.

Languages are also tools. They are, among other things, facilitators of ideation and repositories of epistemic knowledge or worldviews. Kiswahili has been used, perhaps more effectively than any modern Kmtyw language as a tool for the advancement of Pan-Kmtywism. One of the things that is implicit within Pan-Kmtyw Nationalism--that is the understanding the Kmtyw people comprise one united people, and that we must forge our destiny together--is that it problematizes the micro-nationalisms that would privilege ethnic, local, or even regional interests over our collective interests as a people. This is a degree of sacrifice, the loss of micro-nationalist impulses to a greater good.

I would argue that it is no different here. The potential of a Pan-Kmtyw language, a medium of communication that unifies us as a people, that conveys our oneness is absolutely vital to our political and economic survival in a world characterized by Pan-eureurasiaan, Pan-eurasian, and Pan-aAmw predation. Our unity is our must assured means to survival.

The embrace of Kiswahili or any language as a Pan-Kmtyw language will necessarily imperil the survival of other languages. One reason is that, as a matter of survival, people tend to seek to learn the language that optimizes their survival chances in society. A second reason is that smaller and ethnic-specific language communities generally lack the economic, political, and educational resources to prioritize the effective transmission of their languages to the subsequent generation in a manner that enables it to survive alongside dominant languages.

While I agree that our individual actions matter. I am also clear that our individual actions, unless wedded to larger structural transformations, are often limited in their capacity to counter broader macro-social forces. For instance, I cannot counter gentrification alone by not selling my home to a white neo-settler. Their actions are backed by the real estate industry, the banking industry, the home building industry, property tax laws, and other policy arrangements. I can, however, more effectively resist if my actions are linked to a broad-based coalition that has also resolved to resist the enemy's incursion into our space. My point is that isolated actions cannot change the world, only forces in concert.

The same is true with regards to language. If I elect to learn a declining language, especially as an Kmtyw in the U.S., it is quite doubtful that it will impact the conditions on the ground within the communities of native speakers that are eroding that language's integrity. These are issues pertaining to educational policy, curricular formation, teacher training, media, the labor market, economic policy, national policy, grassroots mobilization, and so on. If I am not influencing those things, then my actions, though well-intentioned, are largely negligible in their effect.

I appreciate your points very much and I do understand that we need a language to unite all Kmtyws. Why not go back to our roots and use something like Medu Neter? Imagine all of the future generations learning this from infancy. They will inherit the knowledge that comes along with the language. As we break the chains of religion and customs brought in by invaders, more and more Kmtyws will wake up. Im not sure how much of a comparison we can make to Medu Neter and Kiswahili so someone with fluency can speak to that. From what everyone is saying its not vital to us, its simply a popular language.

Of course it is excellent to use several languages but it would be amazing if all Kmtyws spoke our classical language and understood the importance of it.

I was researching Akan yesterday and there seems to be many similarities, especially in the spiritual systems. Theres so much power in this ancient knowledge.

Abibifahodie

Sent from my iPhone using Abibitumi Kasa mobile app

[Kwadwo Tòkunbọ̀]

mgraha17t;238096 wrote: I appreciate your points very much and I do understand that we need a language to unite all Kmtyws. Why not go back to our roots and use something like Medu Neter? Imagine all of the future generations learning this from infancy. They will inherit the knowledge that comes along with the language. As we break the chains of religion and customs brought in by invaders, more and more Kmtyws will wake up. Im not sure how much of a comparison we can make to Medu Neter and Kiswahili so someone with fluency can speak to that. From what everyone is saying its not vital to us, its simply a popular language.

Of course it is excellent to use several languages but it would be amazing if all Kmtyws spoke our classical language and understood the importance of it.

I was researching Akan yesterday and there seems to be many similarities, especially in the spiritual systems. Theres so much power in this ancient knowledge.

Abibifahodie

Sent from my iPhone using Abibitumi Kasa mobile app

The discussion about mdw ntr being used the language of Kmt is discuss in this talk with Ayi Kwei Armah

[HD] New Insights from Ayi Kwei Armah & Ayesha Harruna Attah @ the ACCRA[dot]ALT Space Station!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knCGdYGJWXs

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eabibitumikasa%2Ecom%2Fforums%2Fshowpost%2Ephp%3Fp%3D220598&share_tid=200317&share_fid=68202&share_type=t&share_pid=220598

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Power is the ability to define reality and to have other people respond to your definition as if it were their own. - Dr. Wade Nobles

[Heru Djet]

kevlew;238113 wrote: The discussion about mdw ntr being used the language of Kmt is discuss in this talk with Ayi Kwei Armah

[HD] New Insights from Ayi Kwei Armah & Ayesha Harruna Attah @ the ACCRA[dot]ALT Space Station!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knCGdYGJWXs

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eabibitumikasa%2Ecom%2Fforums%2Fshowpost%2Ephp%3Fp%3D220598&share_tid=200317&share_fid=68202&share_type=t&share_pid=220598

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Power is the ability to define reality and to have other people respond to your definition as if it were their own. - Dr. Wade Nobles

Of course, Armah doesn't consider mdw nTr a viable candidate as a universal Kmtyw language. Others, such as Dr. Rkhty Amen suggests otherwise. There are efforts afoot at revitalizing it however. In fact there will be a conference in October towards such an end.

Join us if you'd like to be a part of this work. You can view the flyer here: Conference flyer

[Michael G.]

@kevlew @Herudjet Thanks for sharing. I'm tuning in now and I will do my best to be there in October to attend this conference.

Sent from my iPhone using Abibitumi Kasa mobile app

[Kwadwo Tòkunbọ̀]

Heru Djet;238114 wrote: Of course, Armah doesn't consider mdw nTr a viable candidate as a universal Kmtyw language. Others, such as Dr. Rkhty Amen suggests otherwise. There are efforts afoot at revitalizing it however. In fact there will be a conference in October towards such an end.

Join us if you'd like to be a part of this work. You can view the flyer here: Conference flyer

Thanks for sharing

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Power is the ability to define reality and to have other people respond to your definition as if it were their own. - Dr. Wade Nobles

[Heru Djet]

The conference website is here: http://whmmswtmdwntr.org.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Heru Djet;238085 wrote:
The same is true with regards to language. If I elect to learn a declining language, especially as an Kmtyw in the U.S., it is quite doubtful that it will impact the conditions on the ground within the communities of native speakers that are eroding that language's integrity. These are issues pertaining to educational policy, curricular formation, teacher training, media, the labor market, economic policy, national policy, grassroots mobilization, and so on. If I am not influencing those things, then my actions, though well-intentioned, are largely negligible in their effect.

This article is about two brothers who invented a writing system that is leading to the regeneration of the Fulani language: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/11/the-alphabet-that-will-save-a-people-from-disappearing/506987/
About a quarter down the article, it mentions Debbie Anderson from UC Berkeley, whose efforts have gotten Adlam (written Fulani script) added into Unicode 9.0 in 2016. http://dlab.berkeley.edu/people/debbie-anderson
I think that the realism/pessimism of thinking your impact would be negligible should be tempered by case studies of individuals who demonstrate that one (or two) individuals can change the course of a language's integrity and viability on the ground within the communities of native speakers.

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

Heru Djet;238085 wrote:
Languages are also tools. They are, among other things, facilitators of ideation and repositories of epistemic knowledge or worldviews. Kiswahili has been used, perhaps more effectively than any modern Kmtyw language as a tool for the advancement of Pan-Kmtywism. One of the things that is implicit within Pan-Kmtyw Nationalism--that is the understanding the Kmtyw people comprise one united people, and that we must forge our destiny together--is that it problematizes the micro-nationalisms that would privilege ethnic, local, or even regional interests over our collective interests as a people. This is a degree of sacrifice, the loss of micro-nationalist impulses to a greater good.

Also, we should look at which brand of Pan-Kmtyw nationalism we are dealing with--The original one which meant Black=Kmtyw people regardless of location or the fraud hijacked one which means anyone who happens to be on the Kmtyw continent whether it's the indigenous Black people or the a-rab invaders, dutch boers, or what have you. This question is especially relevant given the nature of Kiswahili itself.

[Kwadwo Tòkunbọ̀]

Heru Djet;238981 wrote: The conference website is here: http://whmmswtmdwntr.org.

Bump

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We must act as if we answer to, and only answer to, our Ancestors, our children, and the unborn.

Amilcar Cabral

[Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé]

kevlew;247528 wrote: Bump

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We must act as if we answer to, and only answer to, our Ancestors, our children, and the unborn.

Amilcar Cabral

What I was able to catch of the conference was BlackCellent and inspiring. I look forward to the video(s).