DILI, 14 october 2022 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste is committed to protecting and preserving Timor-Leste’s endangered mother tongues.
The Director-General of the Secretary of State for Art and Culture (SEAC), Manuel Smith said the Government of Timor-Leste, in collaboration with the Timor-Leste National Commission of UNESCO (NATCOM), with Civil Society, development partners, and local NGOs are currently working to protect and preserve the endangered languages in the country.
“One of Timor-Leste’s endangered languages in the town of Tutuala in Lautem Municipality, known as Makua, is in great danger of extinction. Therefore, we are working closely with NATCOM to continue to preserve our endangered dialects,” Smith made the comments during the press conference held at the SEAC office to commemorate the 8th National Culture Day.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission of UNESCO in Timor-Leste, Francisco Barreto said to preserve Timor-Leste’s endangered indigenous languages, the country should establish a National Center for Linguistic Diversity.
Timor-Leste is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, with more than 30 indigenous languages and two official languages used across the country.
Timor-Leste takes the 31st spot in the Linguistic Diversity Index (LDI) among 232 countries.
As of 2019, NATCOM has been working on the promotion and development of two of the most widely spoken mother tongues in the country, namely Mabae and Bunak. In addition, seven small indigenous languages, including Bekais in Balibo, Dadua in Laklo, Lolein in Aileu, Laklein in Manufahi, Mantla in Liquiça, Naueti in Uatocarbau, and Makalero in Iliomar are also on the protection list.
“We have produced a number of books in these mother tongues. In 2019, NATCOM produced three books entitled “Istoria Tradisionál no Lia-Dadolin iha Lian Mambae Suku Goulolo”, “Istória Tradisionál no Lia-Dadolin iha Lian Bekais Suku Leohitu”, and “Istória Tradisionál no Lia-Dadolin iha Lian Bunak Suku Tapó.”
Barreto said NATCOM would continue to cooperate with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Culture (MoHESC), the Secretary of State for Art and Culture (SEAC), and partners to promote and preserve the indigenous languages of Timor-Leste.
Besides Portuguese and Tetum as the official languages, Timor-Leste’s Indigenous languages include Baikenu, Bekais, Galoli/Galolen, Habun, Idate, Isni, Kairui, Kemak, Lakalei, Lolein, Makuva, Mambai, Midiki, Nanaek, Naueti, Tetun Terik, Tokodede, Waima’a, Bunak, Fataluku, Makalero, Makasae, Sa’ani, Adabe, Atauran, Dadu’a, Rahesuk, Raklungu, Resuk, and Mantla.
Among these indigenous languages, Makuva is one of the mother tongues to become dormant or extinct as no one can speak it anymore in Tutuala of the Lautem Municipality. It became doomed as the latest generation of children in Tutuala no longer speak the language.
Based on the 2010 Census, a number of several existing indigenous languages are endangered, including Makuva with only 56 speakers, Atauran with 147 speakers, Adabe with 181 speakers, Nanaek with 297 speakers, and Isni with 703 speakers.
According to a study conducted by Catharina Williams-van Klinken and Rob Williams in 2015, there are about 18 native Austronesian languages on the mainland of Timor-Leste, as well as 5 languages classified as Papuan, and six indigenous languages are spoken on Atauro island.
Indigenous languages by the total number of native speakers recorded in the 2010 Census: Major Austronesian languages in the mainland included: Baikenu (62,201 speakers), Bekais (3,887 speakers), Galoli / Galolen (13,066 speakers), Habun (2,741 speakers), Idate (13,512 speakers), Isni (703 speakers), Kairui (5,993 speakers), Kemak (61,969 speakers), Lakalei (3,250 speakers), Lolein (1,130 speakers), Makuva (56 speakers), Mambai (131,361 speakers), Midiki (9,586 speakers), Nanaek (297 speakers), Naueti (15,045 speakers), Tetun Terik (63,519 speakers), Tokodede (39,483 speakers), and Waima’a (18,467 speakers). Meanwhile, the major Papuan languages in the country included: Bunak (55,837 speakers), Fataluku (37,779 speakers), Makalero (7,802 speakers), Makasae (101,854 speakers), and Sa’ani (4,763 speakers). There are six mother tongues on the Island of Autauro, including Adabe (181 speakers), Atauran (147 speakers), Dadu’a (3,146 speakers), Rahesuk (1,015 speakers), Raklungu (2,220 speakers), and Resuk (1,691 speakers).
UNESCO revealed that 43% of the 6.000 languages spoken worldwide are currently at risk of extinction.
The United Nations General Assembly (Resolution A/RES/74/135) proclaimed the period between 2022 and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL 2022-2032), to draw global attention to the critical situation of many indigenous languages and to mobilize stakeholders and resources for their preservation, revitalization, and promotion.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
