Heart of language beats at home (fwd)

[Matthew Ward]

I once had a young Chamorro man as a roommate.  He had grown up largely
in the mainland US, so he understood Chamorro more than he spoke it, but
I was impressed that when his girlfriend and some other college students
from Guam came over, they spoke largely their own language to each
other.  They were very passionate about protecting their language; they
spoke a lot about efforts in Guam to raise the status of their own
language.

They told me that in 1925, the US authorities gathered together all of
the Chamorro dictionaries and burned them.  The old standby, beating
children who spoke their native language in schools, was also used.
 Since Guam is a US territory, we are really looking at yet another
indigenous American language, facing the consequences of years of abuse.

phil cash cash wrote:

>Heart of language beats at home
>http://www.guampdn.com/news/stories/20040314/localnews/73664.html
>
>By Oyaol Ngirairikl
>Pacific Daily News; ongirairikl at guampdn.com
>
>Chamorro language teachers have spoken of the loss of the Chamorro
>language. Many have noted fewer members of the younger generations of
>Chamorros can speak the language.
>
>With the month of March being Chamorro Month, the emphasis on learning
>the language has been amplified.
>
>Chamorro language teachers said there are resources available to
>Chamorro people and others who want to learn the language.
>
>Teachers said the Chamorro language is an integral part of the culture
>and the identity of a Chamorro person.
>
>Peter Onedera, a Chamorro language teacher, playwright and author, has
>said the Chamorro language is the "soul of the culture."
>
>"If the language disappears, the culture will slowly disappear also,"
>Onedera said.
>
>Ann Rivera, administrator of the Department of Education Office of
>Chamorro Studies, said the language holds the values of the culture.
>
>Rivera gave the word chenchule as an example. One of the more common
>meanings of chenchule is gift or present.
>
>"These days, when you think of chenchule, many people think of the
>envelope with money that you bring to the christening or wedding,"
>Rivera said.
>
>"But those who speak the language of Chamorro know there is more to
>'chenchule' than that," Rivera said.
>
>"The word 'chenchule' speaks to the value of family and community. It's
>the reciprocation of assistance to someone in the community who is in
>need."
>
>"The Chamorro people, we always understood that no matter where you are
>in life, you're going to need help one of these days. So you have the
>cultural value of 'chenchule' to remind you that no one can live
>independently of everyone else," Rivera said.
>
>Rosa Salas Palomo, who works at the Micronesian Language Institute at
>the University of Guam, said there are resources available to those who
>want to learn the language.
>
>"We just have to harness them so we can ensure we learn the language,
>and our children learn the language," Palomo said, quickly adding that
>the home is the best place to teach and learn a language.
>
>Palomo said she is familiar with some families who are immersing their
>children in the Chamorro language at home.
>
>"They speak only Chamorro at home," Palomo said. "It is a conscious
>effort on their part to teach their children the language and really
>that's the best way for children to learn."
>
>Onedera said grandparents and aunts and uncles also can be tapped in the
>learning process.
>
>"Find someone who knows the language who can teach you," Onedera said.
>
>But what about families who don't speak Chamorro?
>
>Rivera said students are required to take Chamorro language courses in
>public schools. Onedera said the university offers Chamorro language
>courses.
>
>The Guam Community College also offers courses, said GCC spokeswoman
>Cathy Gogue, adding accommodations can be made for groups of at least
>10 people.
>
>"We have done it in the past where we've created a class for people who
>say are going to be doing a presentation and want to make sure they put
>together a well-written speech in Chamorro or have all the
>pronunciation right," Gogue said.
>
>
>