Northern Formosan languages

Transcription

Hello, my name is Ani. Hello, my name is Mayaw. Hello, my name is Omos. Hello, my name is Polo. Hello, my name is Akiko. When the children spend time with their grandparents, they are more likely to speak Amis. However, when they grow up and leave for the city for work... Or if their friends are Han Chinese... Or if they are required to learn English, etc... Even though many know how to speak Amis when they are young, they stop using the language later in life. Once they stop speaking Amis on a regular basis, it is much easier to forget the language. Most Amis may know how to speak it when they are young, but many forget it once they grow up. It's not that the parents like sending their children to Taipei. It's because the parents have no choice because there are no work opportunities here. Therefore, the parents must find work in Taipei. Thus, the parents also want to bring their children to the city. I don't think it's very positive. Very sad... Because, in this village, above thirty years old, ninety-five percent, they, don't speak the Amis language. That means one generation is lost. So it is helpless. The Amis who grow up in the north often forget the traditional cultural customs. I'm not very fluent in Amis. This is because I can't speak in full sentences. Our culture is disappearing very quickly. Actually, they [Amis teenagers and young people] are not interested in that. Because they know Amis language doesn't help them to have better jobs. I learn... English, Mandarin, Amis... Three languages. Mandarin and Amis. Mandarin, Taiwanese, and a little bit of Amis. There may only be two to three classes dedicated to learning Amis each week. That's too little. At school, there are many students from other indigenous tribes as well. For example, Han Chinese, Hakka, Min Nan. Therefore, schools may only teach one to two classes of Amis each week. Also, Taiwan particularly emphasizes teaching Mandarin and English. There have been a lot of Amis dances and performances recently. And some... cultural activities. Therefore, the Amis culture won't disappear so easily. Will you teach your children the Amis language? Yes, of course! Why? Because the language will help continue our culture in the next generations. It is part of the Amis heritage. The Church has helped us preserve our culture. This is because church services are conducted in Amis. We also have our language recorded using the English alphabet. In addition, the Church respects our own cultural traditions and activities. They also organize activities for our children. We teach Amis to our grandchildren. When we go to the church, we speak Amis at church. We are trying to preserve our language. Right now, the government is telling us we can't lose our native language. That's why we're teaching Amis in our schools. If the Amis language was critically endangered, our language would have already completely disappeared. But that is not the case. And it won't happen. We have recorded our language in written form. I'll bring it over and show it to you. Look. We have a written form of Amis, The Amis language will never disappear. The weather is sunny today. This means the sun. It means very hot. For example, There is a ceremony for praying to God for raining. But you know the weather forecast... Everybody knows the weather tomorrow. They don't need to pray to the Lord. Pray for the Gods. Pray for the spirits. When you lose your language, it means you lose your culture. And they will be... become Chinese. So, because they look similar, like us. So, thats why me and my wife are trying to preserve the culture, the language, preserve the songs... everything. Because my major is mass communications, especially, in the radio and something about production. So my major can help the local people do the documentary work. So I have done the, the audio recording for the young people. Because they move to the cities. Because of the economic problems. So... The cd's are so important, because they can learn their folk songs in the cities. They don't need to come back. The Amis youth definitely will not disappear. When we were young, they wanted us to speak Mandarin more. At school, we weren't allowed to speak Amis. If we spoke Amis at school, we would be punished. But it's different these days. Now, they want the children to speak their native languages instead. We are now using these sticks to create a roof for aesthetic purposes. It is also a tradition I have watched the adults perform since I was young. It has been passed down generations. We hope to continue these cultural traditions for generations to come. This is our home. The Amis culture is my home.