SAVING MORIBUND FILIPINO LANGUAGES

 SAVING MORIBUND FILIPINO LANGUAGES 

The Merriam-Webster dictionary says that “moribund” is an adjective that being in a state of dying or being in a state of inactivity or obsolescence. Other dictionaries define it as “being in a state of death”, or “being in terminal decline”, or “lacking in vitality or vigor”. All told, the dictionaries all say that “moribund” does not necessarily mean dead, at least not yet. 

Going back to my days as a student of political science, I was taught that a “state” has four elements, namely territory, population, government and sovereignty. To that, I will now add culture, which of course includes language or languages. I think that a “state” that does not have its own culture has no backbone at all. 

There are about 120 to 195 languages in the Philippines, depending on who is counting, and what their criteria are. At any given time, no one really has any idea as to how many of these languages can already be considered as “moribund” or even extinct, which is the worst-case scenario. Among others, I am particularly concerned about “Butuanon”, the ancient language of my hometown that could either be considered as “threatened” or “moribund” as the case may be. Apart from a few passionate native speakers, very few seem to be seriously attending to its “recovery”, it being in the “emergency room” now. IKE SENERES/05-03-2024 


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