I watched a video where a lady was interviewed on a big event, and she was asked to say I love you in her dialect. She smiled and said she didn’t know.
At first, it sounded cool in her mouth, but honestly, it was painful to watch.
How did we get to a point where people can speak foreign languages confidently yet struggle to express simple words in the language of their own roots?
This is not to mock anyone because many young people today grew up in homes where speaking their dialect was discouraged. English became the acceptable language, and slowly, many people lost touch with their mother tongue without realizing it.
But language is more than communication.
Our dialect carries culture, identity, history, stories, and connection. When we lose it, we slowly lose a part of ourselves, too.
That is a fact that many have failed to acknowledge and understand.
That is why some children can not communicate properly with their grandparents because they do not understand their own language. Very sad!
Knowing your dialect does not make you backwards or less exposed. You can speak excellent English and still proudly speak your mother tongue. Both can coexist.
Children and young people need to learn this early. Learning your dialect is not old-fashioned. It is preserving identity and honouring where you come from.
In a world that is becoming more globalized every day, we should grow, evolve, and still never lose ourselves in the process.
This message may have been said repeatedly, but it will never be enough.
✍️ Amara Ann Unachukwu
