Linguistic rights are human rights: Preserving dignity and identity

Originally published in Manila Bulletin

Telling someone their mother tongue is “backward” or “useless” is an act of cultural violence. The global crisis of language extinction is not a natural phenomenon; it's the direct result of historical oppression and ongoing marginalization. As we champion social justice, we must recognize that the fight for human dignity is inextricably linked to the fight for linguistic rights.

Language is far more than a tool for communication; it is the bedrock of identity. It carries the weight of ancestors, the rhythm of poetry, the logic of philosophy, and the humor of inside jokes that only make sense within a specific cultural context. When a child is punished in school for speaking their heritage language, the message is clear: your identity is a liability. When government services are only available in a dominant tongue, the implication is that your community’s needs are irrelevant. This is not merely inconvenience; it is a denial of personhood. Forcing communities to abandon their languages through discriminatory policies, economic pressure, or simply a lack of educational resources is a profound violation of their right to self-determination. It severs a vital link to history and undermines the very foundation of a community’s dignity.

This erosion is not accidental. From residential schools that systematically targeted Indigenous languages to the global dominance of a few “commercially viable” tongues, language loss has often been a tool of assimilation and control. The consequence is a deep, intergenerational wound. The loss of a language leads to the loss of unique knowledge systems, oral histories, and cultural practices, creating a void that cannot be filled. To view this as a passive, inevitable process is to ignore the power structures that perpetuate it. True justice requires active healing, and that begins with empowerment.

Therefore, language preservation must be recognized as a critical human rights issue. It is an act of justice that empowers communities to reclaim their narrative and heal historical wounds. We must move beyond mere tolerance and actively champion policies that celebrate linguistic diversity as a strength, not a problem to be solved.

The call to action is clear. We must push for robust public education systems that offer genuine bilingual instruction, ensuring children become fluent in both a global language and their mother tongue without sacrificing their identity. We must demand that essential public services, from healthcare to legal aid, be accessible in minority languages. And as advocates, we must consistently frame linguistic diversity not as a barrier to unity, but as the rich, complex tapestry that it truly is. The preservation of every language is a victory for human dignity itself. Our collective voice depends on every single one of them.

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