Save our languages before it is too late

THE influences of westernisation have grown roots in our nation.
Some of our cultures are influenced by this. We are slowly losing our cultures.
It is important that we take this as a national issue and lawmakers should act immediately before we lose our cultures to the Western influence.
We are losing our languages.
Papua New Guinea is the most ethnically and culturally diverse nation on the planet.
Some countries wish they are culturally diverse as PNG.
Recently, several studies have found the need to protect the country’s languages.
These languages would extinct if not protected.
A report in The National last Thursday by Dr Kilala Devette-Chee from the PNG National Research Institute stated that “if nothing is done to preserve and promote PNG’s language, they will be lost forever”.
She further urged the authorities to give more attention to the preservation of PNG languages.
It seems people prefer English and Tok Pisin over our own indigenous language. This is bad. In other words, you are saying that you should be under the captives of Western influences.
This is how powerful foreign influence can be.
It will be a big loss for PNG and the human race if we lose our languages.
I believe the reason for the near extinction of our languages is due to mass migration into urban areas where education and health services are more accessible and people use Tok Pisin and English to communicate to get by.
It is time the relevant authorities act to protect our languages.
We are part of a culture and we should be proud of that by learning and speaking our languages as much as possible.
Do something to protect our languages before it is too late.

Justin Max Torono,
Kuli Kombu Village