New Children’s Book promotes the value of all languages
What makes us human is the work of Brazilian linguist and writer Victor Santos, with illustrations by the Italian artist Anna Forlati.
The book uses the form of an enigma to introduce young readers to the concept of language while emphasizing the need to preserve all languages in the world.
“I have been there for a long time, longer than toys, dogs or anyone you know,” begins the book.
“My roots date back to several centuries. Some are still much older. I am everywhere, in all countries, in each city, in each school and in each house … ”
Linguistic diversity in danger
Unesco estimates that there are some 8,324 languages spoken or signed, with approximately 7,000 still used today. However, linguistic diversity is threatened because many languages disappear at a rate of acceleration due to globalization and societal changes.
To help protect this heritage, UNESCO joins forces with publishing houses around the world to translate What makes us human In as many languages as possible, with a particular accent on indigenous languages.
For example, it is now available in Mapuzugún, the mother tongue of Mapuche people in Chile.
Nevenca Cayullán, a Mapuche educator, wearing traditional clothes and jewelry.
Love for mother tongue
Nevenca Cayullán, a traditional educator from Mapuche, translated the book into her mother tongue. She expressed her love for Mapuzugún in a recent interview with UN News.
“My mother taught me, and that is why I wear it in my skin, in my heart and in my head,” she said, speaking of Araucanía, the heart of Mapuche.
“I do it present in all territories, wherever I am. Language is the engine that preserves culture, spirituality, vision of the world of our Aboriginal people, respect and the value of life. »»
For 25 years, the UN has celebrated International Language Day On February 21, to highlight the importance of preserving linguistic diversity and promoting all mother languages, which in the simplest definition are those which are naturally acquired without being officially taught.
‘A living treasure’
Ms. Cayullán believes that everyone’s “mother tongue” is much more than that.
“It is a living human treasure, which is why it must be transported, taught and educated in establishments where children are confined to monolinguism but have the capacity to learn the culture of indigenous peoples, the land – in this case , Chilean Chilean territory and all territories, ”she said.
With this conviction, she has enthusiastically joined What makes us human Project When Planeta Sostenible, the publishing house co-editing the bilingual Mapuzugún-Spanish version of the book with UNESCO, proposed that it translates it.
“In the end, it is not only about translation, but also the interpretation of the book. Being a translator and interpreter of the Mapuche language allows me to have the knowledge and the ability to understand a text as important as What makes us human“She said.
“It was very relevant because the voice of my people, the voice of my ancestors, will reach other countries, other countries, other territories, which will learn my culture. For me, it was incredibly important.
Book cover what makes us human in its bilingual edition Mapuzugún-Spanish
Recover “ what was already there ”
Ms. Cayullán lives in the lively capital of Chile, Santiago. She said that the book shows how to recognize the simple things of life.
“He talks about the games or toys that children use and how we get them, as well as the value of these games or toys, which are often forgotten. Before all this globalization, many things existed, which also includes knowledge of the language, which was already there.
“However, over time, everything has been left behind. The book explains how to recover what was already there, how to understand the knowledge provided by what existed before globalization. »»
She said it was particularly true for indigenous languages, “in particular the language of Mapuche people.”
Language makes us human
When asked what makes us human, Ms. Cayullán underlined the values of respect and appreciation of linguistic and territorial identity.
“For us, it is a living treasure that must be transmitted, generation after generation. Language is the means that we must communicate between us and share our culture, which is why this book says is so important, and it also says it in Mapuzugún, “she replied.
What makes us human Was very well received in Chile, where it was initially distributed in cities where children only speak Spanish.
“I was at an event where many books were distributed, and I obviously went with my Mapuche clothes,” recalls Ms. Cayullán.
“The children thought that Mapuches no longer existed; They thought I came, I don’t know, another planet. They received the books very happily, excited to see me and have a book translated into Mapuzugún. It was a very emotional event. »»
History of repression
When the Spanish conquitadores Arrived in what is now Chile in the 16thth Century, Mapuzugún was talked about the Chiloé island to the South.
At that time, several groups shared this language. Faced with the Spanish presence, they gathered and strengthened their links, finally forming the identity of Mapuche.
Mapuche are the largest Aboriginal community in Chile, more than 1.4 million. They live mainly in the central part of the country, but there is also a small group in the province of Neuquén in Argentina. Most live in urban areas.
Unfortunately, due to a story of repression, only 10% Mapuche speak Mapuzugún today, and only an additional 10% understand it.
Mapuche Children from the young Tirúa orchestra during the launch of the “Mucho Chili” campaign in the capital, Santiago, in 2019.
Defend and encourage
When asked if What makes us human Could help children recover the pride of Mapuzugún, Ms. Cayullán’s response was clear.
“Yes, of course,” she said. “Yes, because it is a very easy book to understand. I believe that the texts must be made in mind with the monolingual children. I have faith that it will have an impact on society and the new generation. »»
It is categorical that the defense of its mother tongue and encourages its use is a duty.
“I am responsible for transmitting knowledge. This is why I have this team of traditional educators where I promote Mapuzugún speech in a city because we all live in Santiago.
“But from here, we work with traditional educators who are currently in schools, teacher at these monolingual students from different municipalities in the metropolitan region.”
‘My grandmother speaks like you’
Ms. Cayullán explained that efforts to revitalize her language slowly begin to bear fruit thanks to the support of the Chilean Ministry of Education which helps disseminate What makes us human in schools.
She noted that since 1992, the schools located in the territories of Mapuche have been teaching Mapuzugún as part of their study program.
“The child recovers his identity by seeing someone, perhaps in traditional clothes, perhaps wearing Mapuche jewelry. They will recover their identity. “Oh, my grandmother speaks like you, or my grandmother dress like you, or my aunt” … it’s so important.
Fear and discrimination
Mapuche’s educator recognizes that, despite these advances, there is always a “red zone” in southern Chile where the Mapuzugún speech is prohibited.
“It is forbidden to be native; Cultural rallies are prohibited. And this happens as a daily war in the red zone, “she said.
“If we pass near the highway, we see Chilean Garde, where they violate the rights of children but also indigenous communities. And these children do not speak Mapuzugún but they do not speak out of fear, not because they do not like it. »»
Unfortunately, Ms. Cayullán also noted some of the discriminatory incidents with which the natives are confronted because they are different.
“I walk around Santiago in my traditional outfit, and I have often been asked:” Do you come from the area where they burn trucks? ” It is a violation of people’s rights. If this is done to a child who just starts his life, he will obviously not speak Mapuzugún and will not recognize him either. »»
Respect for diversity
But What makes us human Promotes respect for diversity, which fills it with hope.
“We must learn to respect all the diversity because we live in a diversified world, and today we do not respect this diverse world,” she said.
“And this diversified world is made up of not only human beings but also everything around us, everything that has life. In this diversity, languages are included. »»
