Topic: 2024-Indigenous Languages
Country: Thailand
Delegate Name: Harriet Ogilvie
SOCHUM
Indigenous Languages
Thailand
Harriet Ogilvie, Forest Hills Northern High School Indigenous people globally have enriched our culture and society today speaking over 4000 different languages even though they make up only 6% of the population. However due to many factors including, continuous urbanization, Indigenous people are under increasing pressure to assimilate into society’s norms leaving behind their languages. Even though this assimilation of language might be convenient, it is of vital importance to stabilize and protect the Indigenous languages as it is both a method of communicating and an expression of their religious beliefs, political structures, and who they are.
The Kingdom of Thailand finds it of the utmost importance to protect the many indigenous languages, not only throughout the world but also within our own country. Thailand’s Indigenous minority, the Hill Tribes, refers to the Karen, Hmong, Lisu, Akha, Lahu, and Mlabri people. Each of these minorities has a specific language that has been passed down through hundreds of years. Their language and culture have enriched Thailand’s farming, medical, and artistic practices, allowing the country’s economy to prosper in tourism and agriculture. However, Thailand is struggling with continuous urbanization and a need for a united language to communicate policies and programs without translating them into many different languages, for this method is not cost-efficient.
To take steps towards protecting the Indigenous languages Thailand is promoting education programs, for example, the Patani Malay-Thai Mother Tongue Bilingual Education Program in 2012. This program introduced bilingual education programs this way Indigenous children can learn not only the passed-down language but also the national language, Thai. The hope is to improve literacy and cultural retention. Additionally, Thailand has continued the attempt to protect Indigenous languages by making efforts to preserve other aspects of the Hill Tribes’ culture. In the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, Thailand continues the preservation as the government supports cultural festivals, Indigenous storytelling, and traditional art forms. From the Songkran, the traditional Thailand New Year festival to Nora, a traditional acrobatic dance. Additionally, in the 2017 Constitution of Thailand, there is a reference to the protection and promotion of human rights of all groups, without discrimination, including the right not to be subjected to forced assimilation or destruction of their culture.
The Kingdom of Thailand is working to extend the 2012 Patani Malay-Thai Mother Tongue Bilingual Education Program, to reach a larger group of the population. Thailand is determined to work to bring more money and advanced technology to assist the efforts of countries to protect Indigenous languages. Thailand furthermore suggests additional communication between government officials and Indigenous individuals for them to have active participation in decision-making processes regarding their linguistic and cultural preservation.
