Heart of language beats at home (fwd)

[phil cash cash]

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.