1. By,
Samarjit Kachari
Asst. Professor
Dept. of Mass Communication
Pondicherry University

2.  Language not just a medium of interaction
 It plays a role in identity formation
 Channel by which we abstract reality
 It affects the way in which we think or
perceive reality
 Linked to our emotions

3.  According to Ethonologue: Languages of the
World (2009), Published by SIL there are 6909
languages
 Harrison (2007): Almost 80 % of the world’s
population speaks just 83 languages, 3000
languages are spoken by 20%, 3586 languages
are spoken by only .2% population.
 Krauss (1992): 50% of languages are likely to
become extinct by next century, another 40-75%
may no longer be spoken by children during this
century, only 5-10 % (300-600) are safe.
 International Conference of language
(UNESCO), concern began in late 1980’s and
resulted in the outcome of the book Endangered
languages (Robins & Ulenbeck 1991)

4.  Physical loss of speakers (due to genocide,
natural disasters etc)
 Disintegration of the language community
(displacement, assimilation, economic concerns)
 Homogenizing effect (in the form of dominant
language media)
 Forced abandonment of the language (through
overt suppression)

5.  Stephen Wurm (1992)
Potentially endangered, Endangered, Seriously
endangered, Moribund
 UNESCO (expert group on endangered languages)
Vulnerable: most children speak the language, but
it may be restricted to certain domains (e.g., home)
Definitely endangered: Children no longer learn the
language as mother tongue at home
Severely endangered: language is spoken by
grandparents and older generations; while the
parent generation may understand it, they do not
speak it to children or among themselves
Critically endangered: the youngest speakers are
grandparents and older, and they speak the
language partially and infrequently
Extinct: there are no speakers left

7.  Spoken by Bodo tribal spread across Assam
and parts of North Bengal
 Introduced as medium of instruction in
primary schools in Bodo dominated areas in
1963
 Got the status of co-official language of
Assam in 1984
 Recognized under the 8th schedule of the
Indian constitution in 2003
 UGC introduced Bodo as a subject in NET in
2011

8.  Bodo one of the 84 Indian languages
placed as vulnerable in UNESCO’s list of
languages in danger of extinction.
 Demography of the places inhabited by
Bodos not conducive for the growth of
the language
 Literacy rate low
 Attitude of the elite Bodos
 Political factors
 Government policies
 Media at a nascent stage, visibility very
low

9.  Internet enabled participatory communication
 Best reflected in Social Networking sites like
Orkut and Facebook
 Comments on Orkut community and
Facebook group in native language
 Images & videos depicting the culture of the
tribe uploaded

10.  5 FB groups observed for periods ranging
from one year-one month
 Comments both in Bodo and English
 Members include politicians, student
leaders, activists, diaspora, students &
litterateurs
 Number of members 20 -1500
 Uploads include
article, poetry, images, videos
 Except one group, activity not daily
 Comments and uploads on a single day range
from 0-80

11.  Threads on politics, language, culture, literature,
education
 One group completely based on literature
 Other group on sharing jokes
 Two on bodoland demand
 One group for connecting people of different Bodo
groups
 Materials (texts, videos, images) posted and
commented upon

12.  Articles and poems uploaded on the site.
 Some poems and articles published in
magazines
 Poets and writers sharing their thoughts
 Participants not knowing the language
seeking help to learn the language
 Exchanging the similarities in different Bodo
language

13.  Literature is being created apart from giving
Bodos the space to use their language
frequently and ensuring in its visibility
 Filling the void in mainstream media
 Facilitating regular use of the language
 Linkage with new generation

14.  Internet access is only increasing with time
and as it increases, it will only boost the
scope for further use of the technology to
strengthen the use of the language and
change the media habits of the people (right
now only english/assamese
newspapers/news channels with use of Bodo
media just being limited to video films and
music videos)

15.  Whatever the Bodo language has attained over
the years has all been due to the efforts by the
Bodo people in the real world (through
protests, agitations, awareness campaigns on the
importance of learning Bodo language)
 Internet can just be one of the many tools to
enhance the scope of the use of the language
and help it in staying alive and thriving.
 Bodos will have to take advantage of the
constitutional safeguards and use it for purposes
other than dealing with members of the family.

16.  Online platform gives a scope for filling up the
void due to the lack of mass media (newspapers,
tv, radio)
 Harnesses the literary talent of Bodos living
around the country and keeping in touch with the
roots
 Without increase in access, benefits doubtful.
 Social organizations will have to promote these
forums
 Political and economic status will play a role,
apart from media, in the survival of the language
and literature.