The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s “Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger” has identified nearly 2,500 languages endangered out of the nearly 7,000 languages spoken across the world. Out of the 2,500 odd endangered languages, India tops the list with 197 endangered languages. It may be recalled that the Ao language, along with all the other native languages of Nagaland, was listed by UNESCO as “vulnerable” among the endangered languages.
Spurred by the UNESCO’s 2010 revelation about the country’s grim situation of lesser known languages, the Government of India instituted the Scheme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India (SPPEL) in 2013 for the revitalization of endangered languages and for a reverse language shift (RLS). According to information available at the official website of SPPEL, saving and preserving through digital documentation and archiving of the endangered languages of the country is the mission of the SPPEL. It will be interesting to know if any institution in Mokokchung has any collaboration with SPPEL or not. Perhaps we should take advantage of SPPEL or similar schemes and projects to protect and preserve the “vulnerable” Ao language.
Efforts have no doubt been made by the community to promote the native Ao language. The existence of Ao Senden Literature Board (ASLB) and the publication of vernaculars, Ao Milen and Tir Yimyim, are reassuring signs of conscious efforts being made by the community to further the cause of developing the Ao Naga language.
Nonetheless, it is felt that alternative and creative approaches, in tune with the times, need to be conceived and adopted to promote Ao language. In this respect, making use of the foreign English language to promote the native Ao language could be an option worth giving a try.