The Director General of the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), Sultan Muhammad Nawaz Nasir, on Thursday, acknowledging social media\u2019s role for preserving Pakistan\u2019s endangered indigenous languages like Yidgha, Wakhi, Burushaski, Brahui and others, said, \u201cIt is the most relevant platform to preserve country\u2019s rich linguistic mosaic.\u201d
\nAccording to the latest data from Ethnologue, there are approximately 7,159 living languages worldwide. However, 75% of the global population communicates using just 20 languages. In Pakistan alone, around 80 languages are spoken, including 68 indigenous and 12 non-indigenous ones. While Urdu is the national language and English a co-official one, regional languages remain a vital part of the country\u2019s cultural identity.
\nLanguages like Wakhi, Burushaski, Brahui and others are at risk. However, community-driven efforts are helping to preserve them. For example, the Wakhi Culture Association is using radio, social media, and cultural events to promote the language. Wakhi speakers, known as Xik, maintain a strong cultural identity across borders\u2014from China\u2019s Tashkurghan to Afghanistan\u2019s Wakhan Corridor.
\nBurushaski, a language isolate with no known relatives, is spoken in the Hunza, Nagar, and Yasin valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan. Its speakers are increasingly turning to platforms like Facebook and TikTok to share content, promote cultural pride and keep the language alive.
\nA 2020 article titled \u201cChallenges and Opportunities for Brahui Journalism in Balochistan\u201d emphasized the role of digital media in connecting people globally. Experts noted that blogs, websites, and other user-generated content platforms provide opportunities for self-expression and cultural preservation.
\nSonaina Hamiya, who was graduated from the National College of Arts (NCA) belongs Hunza, designed Burushaski alphabets for her thesis on preserving the language. She noted that many young Burusho, especially in cities, are shifting to dominant languages. Her work aimed to creatively preserve Burushaski by making it accessible and relevant to younger generations.
\nInternationally, digital campaigns like Chile\u2019s Kimeltuwe, which promotes Mapuche culture and has over 216,000 Facebook followers, show how social media can revitalize languages. In Pakistan, similar initiatives like the Youth Engagement and Resilience Initiative (YERI) are building digital literacy, promoting online safety, and incorporating indigenous languages into peacebuilding efforts.
\nPAL is actively using its own digital platforms to highlight such initiatives and raise awareness about endangered languages. Through e-learning and social media, youth are being empowered to celebrate diversity, counter hate speech, and become responsible digital citizens, while also helping preserve Pakistan\u2019s linguistic heritage.
\nUNESCO warns that over 40% of the world\u2019s 7,000 languages are at risk of disappearing. Languages like Naiki (10,000 speakers), Phalura (8,600), and others with just a handful of speakers, such as Juma (5) and Yuchi (4), are facing extinction, threatening to take centuries of cultural traditions with them.
\nExperts and organizations like PAL stress that preserving language is preserving identity. With sustained commitment and digital innovation, Pakistan\u2019s rich linguistic mosaic, and that of the world, can still be protected for future generations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Director General of the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), Sultan Muhammad Nawaz Nasir, on Thursday, acknowledging social media\u2019s role for preserving Pakistan\u2019s endangered indigenous languages like Yidgha, Wakhi, Burushaski, Brahui and others, said, \u201cIt is the most relevant platform to preserve country\u2019s rich linguistic mosaic.\u201d According to the latest data from Ethnologue, there are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":486668,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-486657","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n