Upholding the Voice of Tibet: Efforts for Preservation of Tibetan Language and Cultural Identity
Abstract
Since the Chinese occupation of 1959, Tibetans have endured years of displacement, and have been forced to migrate to different countries, particularly in South Asian countries like India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Forced to live in a culturally different space, Tibetans have often expressed concern over a possible erosion of their linguistic heritage and cultural identity. This study primarily uses a qualitative approach involving the use of both primary and secondary sources to examine the repercussions of Tibet's occupation and their relocation on their lives at present, both in terms of identity and language preservation. The findings of this study illustrates that while the first-generation immigrants only spoke Tibetan, the second generation of Tibetans, despite the migration, were fairly proficient in Tibetan language, particularly in its spoken form, due to consistent interactions in their native language at home. However, upon relocation, the second and third generation Tibetans were often forced to inculcate second and third languages, such as Hindi and English, both as principal mediums of education due to demands of a globalized market. The adaptation of culturally unfamiliar languages was described to have created significant anxieties and insecurities among the community regarding the possible loss and replacement of their cultural identity. Through an exploration of local, national and international language preservation efforts, this paper aims to provide a phenomenological interpretation of language conservation and preservation among Tibetans.
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