Abstract
This chapter explores language reclamation in the Ryukyu Islands. Language reclamation is defined as “a larger effort by a community to claim the right to speak a language and to set associated goals in response to community needs and perspectives” (Leonard, 2012), and therefore differs from language learning. Drawing on data collected from 13 semi-structured interviews with individuals who are learning or have learnt a Ryukyuan language, we zoom in on their personal experiences to highlight the unsettling effects of language reclamation on their identity (including national identity), emotions, and interpersonal relationships. We then consider the societal and political implications of reclaiming a language in a sociocultural environment which has been hostile to diversity and therefore calls for a critique of the current attitudes, practices, and policies.
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- 1.
Madoka Hammine shared her conceptualization of language reclamation with us. We are grateful for her suggestions and help. We are also indebted to the editors of this book for their thoughtful comments on earlier versions of this chapter. Research and writing of this chapter have been equally shared between us. The author order simply reflects the alphabetical order of our family names.
- 2.
In the following, we use the generic term ‘Ryukyuan’ to refer to the six Ryukyuan languages which are themselves made up of about 700 local varieties. Note that ‘Okinawan’ is but one Ryukyuan language. The heavy emphasis on Okinawan in Ryukyuan Studies, including in this chapter, should not mislead readers to think that these issues can only be studied with regard to Okinawan. On the contrary, much more research should be devoted to the remaining five Ryukyuan languages.
- 3.
Yumiko Ohara kindly read and discussed our interview questions before we conducted the interviews.
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Appendix
Appendix
Open Questions
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1.
How long have you been interested in learning Ryukyuan? When did you start to become more serious about learning it? What happened then?
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What languages did you study before learning Ryukyuan? Do you think that this experience had an impact on why you learned Ryukyuan? Did this experience also influence your studies of Ryukyuan?
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The majority never learns Ryukyuan languages. Why is it you who is learning Ryukyuan (as opposed to all those who do not?). Does learning Ryukyuan involve emotions? Do you feel rebellious about learning Ryukyuan?
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What is for you different in learning a foreign language like English and learning Ryukyuan? Is it more difficult to learn Ryukyuan? More fun? Why?
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In the past, people in the Ryukyus were discouraged to speak their language. Do you feel an effect thereof when learning Ryukyuan?
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What’s the benefit of speaking Ryukyuan (vs., e.g., English) for you? Do your friends and family also benefit from it? Does Ryukyuan society benefit from it?
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Do you think that individual acts of learning and speaking Ryukyuan can contribute to social, cultural, or political change?
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Do you think that your status in society changed due to speaking Ryukyuan? Did you expect a change of status?
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Does learning Ryukyuan invite you to reflect on larger issues (e.g., race, gender, class, and social justice)?
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Can we ask you something very personal? On a scale from 1 to 10, how happy do you feel now? Does speaking Ryukyuan contribute to this sense of happiness?
Sentence Completion Task
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When I think of Ryukyuan, my first memory is …
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I chose to learn Ryukyuan because ….
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Learning Ryukyuan for me is like ….
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Speaking or listening to Ryukyuan for me is like ….
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When I speak or listen to Ryukyuan, I become more ….
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I use some Ryukyuan when …
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I think it is helpful for me to speak Ryukyuan because ….
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I think Ryukyuan language can do …. better than Japanese language.
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The main problem of Ryukyuan language learning is ….
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I wish there would be more support for Ryukyuan language because ….
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Before I studied Ryukyuan, I was more ….
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If I had not learnt Ryukyuan, then ….
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By learning Ryukyuan, I want to become more ….
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Before learning it, I never thought that speaking Ryukyuan implied …
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By speaking Ryukyuan, I hope I can contribute to ….
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Heinrich, P., Valsecchi, G. (2022). Ryukyuan Language Reclamation: Individual Struggle and Social Change. In: Mielick, M., Kubota, R., Lawrence, L. (eds) Discourses of Identity . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-11988-0_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-11988-0_8
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