Why every language holds a key to our world

Originally published in Manila Bulletin

This past month, I had the distinct honor of addressing the 12th National Congress of the Association of Special Libraries in the Philippines. The conversation with the dedicated attendees centered on a silent emergency: the rapid disappearance of the world's languages. Each time a language falls silent, it is not merely a mode of communication that is lost. It is a unique window onto the human experience, a library of knowledge, and a pillar of identity that crumbles, leaving our collective understanding permanently impoverished.

Languages are the living vessels of culture. They carry within them the poetry, the songs, the stories, and the values of a people. More than just words, they contain entire philosophies. The specific term an elder uses to describe a medicinal plant encodes generations of ecological wisdom. The subtle grammar of a story-telling tradition reflects a unique way of perceiving time, relationships, and our place in the natural world. This knowledge is often not written down in textbooks; it is embedded in the language itself. When a language dies, this intricate cultural and intellectual archive is lost forever.

The librarians of the Philippines, stewards of a nation rich in linguistic diversity, understand this deeply. They see themselves as guardians of these living archives. Their work goes beyond preserving books; it involves preserving voices. They are the bridge between generations, connecting the wisdom of elders with the curiosity of the youth. In a world where globalized media often marginalizes local tongues, the library becomes a sanctuary where a community's native language is valued, studied, and celebrated.

The task is urgent. Language preservation is not an academic hobby; it is an act of safeguarding human heritage. It requires active documentation—recording the stories, compiling the vocabularies, and capturing the nuances that make each language a unique masterpiece of human thought. It demands revitalization, creating resources and spaces where languages can be spoken and thrive, especially among younger generations.

The energy of the 12th National Congress solidified a clear call to action. We must support the institutions and individuals on the front lines of this effort. This means investing in our libraries, providing them with the resources to document oral histories, create community language archives, and host cultural programs. It means celebrating linguistic diversity as a strength, not treating it as a barrier.

The future of our shared story depends on the voices we choose to preserve. Every language is a key that can unlock a different part of what it means to be human. By standing with librarians and communities in their vital work, we do more than save words; we honor the breathtaking diversity of the human spirit and ensure that no part of our story is forgotten.

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