Topic: 2024-Indigenous Languages
Country: Morocco
Delegate Name: Rosalia Lascola
Great Lakes Invitational Model United Nations Conference
Delegation: Morocco
Committee: Social, Humanitarian, & Cultural Committee
Only about 6% of the world’s population is made up of indigenous people but 60% of languages spoken in the world are indigenous languages (Indigenous). There are groups of indigenous people all over the world, with most groups having their own languages. As a result of all these different languages, most indigenous people speak 2-3 languages, (their indigenous language, the language spoken by society around them and any other language they may need). For many years, indigenous languages have been disappearing. The United Nations predicts that more than half of the indigenous languages we know now will be extinct by 2100 (Indigenous). The UN also predicts that 96% of all the languages in the world will be extinct in the next century (Indigenous). This is a problem because the languages that these people speak are a significant part of their history. Most of the time, indigenous people start using the common language in the area around them because it is easier to communicate with everyone. After many years, indigenous languages start to disappear. Indigenous groups losing their languages, usually leads to groups losing more of their history over time. These indigenous languages are hard to be preserved in society as there are so many of the languages. In some countries, the indigenous language in that area may be taught to help preserve it and sometimes teachers who know the languages will be hired to help indigenous students. Other than people knowing about indigenous languages, there is not much that the world is doing to help preserve these languages for the groups.
In Morocco, there are a few different indigenous groups. The one that is most popular with over 100 tribes is Amazigh (Amazigh/Berber). In 2011, the language of Amazigh was recognized as one of Morocco’s official languages (Safaa). Since 2011 and even before that, schools across Morocco have been teaching Amazigh. In 2024, 31% of Moroccan schools teach Amazigh and there has been a 50% employment increase for Amazigh teachers (Safaa; George). Most of these schools that are taking a step to include the Amazigh people more are in areas around an Amazigh group. This step allows for any Amazigh student that might be attending the school to feel safer and for the students to know the history of the people around, them even if they are not Amazigh. The Moroccan Government has also recently taken many steps towards more Amazigh inclusion. There are plans to have Amazigh taught in 50% of schools by 2026 and in all schools by 2030 (George). In Morocco, other than Amazigh, there are a few different indigenous groups but nothing as big as the Amazigh group. As a result of this, Morocco’s focus is on integrating the Amazigh language into everyday lives more before bringing in other groups languages. This would make life for the Amazigh people much better and allow for more people in Morocco to know about their history.
There are many ways that countries around the world could integrate indigenous languages into daily lives, but they must start small first. Teaching the common indigenous language in the area around them would be the first step. Schools would be the best place to start this transition. The Global Language Network (GLN) could help fund the language classes in less affluent areas (Indigenous). Other ways to be more inclusive towards the indigenous languages could be as simple as writing signs in both the common language and the indigenous language in that area. People who do not know the indigenous language would become more familiar with starting conversation in that language. Governments in the individual countries could incentivize this change through allowing places that do this, better benefits.
The Amazigh/Berber, Morocco’s impressive people. SAHARA DESERT TOUR. (2021, January 6). https://saharadeserttour.com/the-amazigh-berber-moroccos-indigenous-people/#:~:text=There%20are%20well%20over%20a,unique%20customs%20and%20cultural%20practices.
George, A. (2024, August 12). Morocco implements Amazigh for all. Language Magazine. https://www.languagemagazine.com/2024/08/20/morocco-implements-amazigh-for-all/#:~:text=Amazigh%20is%20now%20being%20taught,to%20incorporate%20the%20Amazigh%20language.
Indigenous languages. (n.d.). https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2018/04/Indigenous-Languages.pdfhas context menu
Safaa Kasraoui – Morocco World News. (n.d.). 31% of Moroccan primary schools teach Amazigh language. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/01/360030/31-of-moroccan-primary-schools-teach-amazigh-language
